I’m seriously loving my series on Mom’s who Blog and today I get to interview the fabulous Cindy Alfino from 3 kids 2 dogs and 1 old house. On the surface this family seems a little unreal, I mean really, all that good looking in one family?! are you sure this isn’t just a bunch of models put together for those photo frame photoshoots? hehehehe. I kid!
Cindy is super sweet and honest about everything from mixed marriages to skin problems and she has awesome birthday party ideas 🙂 Here is what she has to say
-What do you do when not blogging?
I am a Mom of 3 very busy little people – Kyla (5), Riya-Ray (4) and Knox (almost 2), so you can generally find me wiping bums or noses, making some sort of food, answering a million questions asked simultaneously or trying to keep them entertained with drawing/crafting or hide and seek (I’m really go at that one). When I am not with them I also work as a Short Term Insurance Broker at my own Brokerage in Cape Town.
-What made you decide to blog?
I started blogging way back in 2010, just before Riya was born. It started out as an online diary of our little adventures and milestones and blossomed into so much more. As it has grown I have had the privilege of connecting with other Moms that I can learn from and share with, which is a real blessing. Also, writing is cathartic for me, getting it out into words often stops the jumble of thoughts in my head and if those jumbled thoughts can help anyone else, then that’s pretty awesome.
-What was your concept behind the blog?
Initially our blog was names 3 Girls, 2 Dogs and 1 Guy or something, but then we had Knox and had to reinvent the title. We decided on 3 Kids, 2 Dogs and 1 Old House because it pretty much sums up our lives. Family is most important to us, but you will also find us doing a lot of DIY and crafts to make our Old House our own.
That being said, I always have this ridiculous thought in my head that I will die while they are still young, and so I hope that they will be able to read my words to them/about them/for them and remember a piece of me and how much I love them when I am not here to say it to them.
-Did you find yourself nervous at prospect of letting people into your life in this way?
A little. Sometimes we get spotted in public by people recognising our kids. That is a little bit scary. In the past I was very careless about what I shared, sometimes I look back on those posts and cringe. Anyway, the longer I am writing, the more aware I become of what is acceptable to share and what isn’t, so I am not really that nervous anymore.
-Do you ever worry that your kids will be like “mom why are you exposing my life?”
I have no doubt that they will roll their eyes at me in their teenage years, but I hope that they will move past that and realise the value in it. I try not to post too many personal details about them and rather post more situational things, if that even makes sense.
-Does your family read your blog?
I know my Mom reads every post and when my Dad was alive he read them too. I’m honestly not sure about the rest, I think they probably pick and choose the ones that catch their fancy. Honestly I still get surprised when someone says that they read our blog – it’s one thing seeing the stats and a totally different thing to put a face to that number.
-What do you hope to achieve through the blog?
Leave a little something for my kids to remember me by when I am gone and for me to look back on when I am feeling nostalgic. But besides that, I hope to continue to meet and build connections and friendships with others. Also, that by sharing our little story we inspire, encourage or even just commiserate with others, letting them know they are not alone.
-What do you think about the blogging culture in South Africa?
Don’t get me started on this one. I think for the most part everyone is friendly, encouraging and supportive but (as in every industry) you will always get those people who think they are better than everyone else. Eventually people will see through that fake image that they portray and leave them behind. I think that the day that I can’t be happy for someone else’s success is the day I need to stop blogging because then I’ve stopped doing it for the right reasons.
-What do you think makes for a “good blog”?
I’m drawn in to blogs by real people that post about real things. Yes, I love good recipes, fab crafts and beauty products as much as the next person, but if you don’t put enough of you in it then why bother, you know?
-How do you personally measure success in the blogging world?
“Success” – say that word over 30 times in your head. What a weird word. Anyway.
Success in blogging is so varied. Is making money from blogging being a “success”? Is putting out quality posts that resonate with people and make them think, mean that you are a “success”? I don’t really know the answer to this to be honest. I guess it’s a good helping of all of the above, being able to provide the right mix that keeps people coming back to read what I have to say is a “success” to me.
All of that being said, I was recently named in the Living and Loving magazine as an “A-Lister” in the Mommy Blogging category. I don’t know if that is considered success, but it absolutely made my year. (http://alfinos.wordpress.com/about-our-family/in-the-media/)
