Meet: Anna

Anna in three words: Reliable, Funny, Thoughtful
Anna’s dream dinner party guests: The Queen, Matt Bellamy, J.K. Rowling
Anna’s favourite post: 10 Years of Lovely Letters
Anna reads: Top with Cinnamon

Hello lovey-dovey folks! ’tis I, Noemi, and I am so excited to introduce you to one of my favourite bloggers, Anna! Some of you already met her when we were doing Blogmas together; so of course I could not resist and asked her for an interview. She did a really good job, as you’ll see, so pop over to her Blog and say hi.

Anna and I met in High School seven years ago where we were friendly but not friends. We had, however, the same two best friends, and they decided to leave us in the gutter and go on exchange. You can see where this is going, right? Around that time I had just discovered my love for James Blunt and when I found out he was doing a concert in Switzerland I wanted to go so bad! Alas, my best friend was busy partying in the US – BUT ANNA WASN’T! She agreed to go, and I in turn wound up going to a Hurts concert with her. Actually, she’s dragged me to at least three – but thus, our friendship was born. Heart warming, isn’t it?

Anna’s blog is called Tiny Trinket and it launched in 2014. It contains the bits and bobs of everyday life, thoughts and inspirations that haunt every twenty-year old, cat loving journalism student. She loves writing without having any reason to do so; and when you study something as fancy as JOURNALISM AND ORGANISATIONAL COMMUNICATION you are probably given LOADS of reasons to write, and I bet they’re not all as entertaining as observations of people at the gym or tellings of easter adventures at chocolate factories! On her little internet niche Anna is free to ramble, and she loves it!

Anna, apart from writing beautifully, is an amazing baker. In fact, I’ve already hired her to make the cake at my wedding (who needs a husband when there’s cake, right?). Back in High School we only had two classes together, and I remember those wednesday mornings in history, when she’d present me golden cupcakes and raspberry slices. She really made me love history classes! In the future Anna would love to post more recipes, and when she does I’ll volunteer to be the test eater and review them!

If Anna had the entire world’s attention for just one minute she would tell people to stop fighting over economic interests or religion. Afterwards she’d blush to a tomato sort of red because the entire world is watching her, and then she’d blush even more because she’s blushing, and then… well, you get the picture! Anna is all for the world being a brighter place, which is why she would love for Harry Potter to come to life. He fights for a good cause, doesn’t he! (although The Independent did call him a «whiny sprog whose main achievement is not dying» … lol… what?)

Every summer Anna goes somewhere new with the friends she met when doing equestrian vaulting (that’s right, she can do friggin’ stunts while being on a horse!). Some of her favourite memories derive from these travels; for example that one time in Prague when they came out of a club at five in the morning and it was raining so hard they had to take off their shoes, and they ran through the Old Town back to the hostel, laughing all the way. Another time the girls were backpacking in Ireland and had an AMAZING meal in Letterfrack. Anna just remembers being so, so hungry after an entire day of cycling, and that pasta tasted, in John Green’s words, «like God Himself cooked heaven into a series of five dishes»!

Anna’s just this really sweet person, wrapped up in smiles and bubbliness and all things pretty. She is the personification of a tiny trinket! And she can throw around smart expressions like no one – I asked her what her favourite word was, and it’s «Endoplasmic Reticulum». Try and bring that up in a conversation!

I love Anna and I love her blog, and you, too, should go give her some L-O-V-E! (and now I’ve got One Direction stuck in my head – «well if it was me/I wooouuuld!»)

Lots of love from the roots of my heart!
xxx

Meet: Aleks and Sophie

 

Aleks and Sophie in three words: Honest, Lighthearted, Fun
Aleks and Sophie read: Hannah Maggs
Find Aleks and Sophie online: http://www.sisterhoodofthetravelingwags.com

When Aleks and Sophie moved to Geneva because of their husbands’ jobs they had no idea that they would soon find a best friend in each other. Since then, two years have passed and they have launched their wonderful blog The Travelling Wags where they tell talk about their experiences, adventures and mishaps in Switzerland. I met them on a sunny autumn afternoon for a chocolate brioche in a lovely café called Mafalda Tivoli in Geneva and had them answer all my silly little questions.

Aleks and Sophie literally write each and every blog post together. They are such giggly ladies, it’s very easy to imagine how a post about hoo-has or drunk people in clubs came to be! They really do write about everything. «It’s a blog about day to day life,» they say. «We talk about marriage, friends, food – basically we wanted to create a blog people can turn to, especially those that find themselves in a similar situation as us. After all, living in strange city where they don’t speak your language can be really quite frustrating.» Having lived in New Zealand and Honduras myself, I know exactly what they are talking about. But every place has its plus side. Like the Wags’ favourite ice cream place, Manu Gelato, where they even sell Specculoos Gelato. «It’s life changing,» Sophie promises (Needless to say, I am extremely excited for my next visit to Geneva now!)

Sophie’s and Aleks’ most loyal readers are both of their mums who not only spot every little grammatical error but also gladly let their girls know when they look gorgeous in pictures! Family is very important to both of them. Even though – or rather, especially because! – they don’t live in close proximity with their families and loved ones, the Wags are really quite proud to have kept a good and loving relationship with the people closest to their hearts. Their husbands play a big part in their lives as well, and Aleks even goes so far as to calling meeting hers to be the best thing she has ever done! Sophie agrees, but then cheekily adds that if she could make any fictional character come to life, it would be Superman – then she’d date him!

There is a quote, that every two best friends can probably apply to themselves, that says: «You can always tell when two people are best friends because they are having more fun than it makes sense for them to be having.»
Sophie and Aleks can tell stories and giggle for hours on end. «One night out we put a really drunk friend into a taxi; as it was leaving we tried to get a picture of its number plate, but because our hands were shaky we ended up with a lousy picture – just the flash of the taxi taking the corner!» The memory actually brings laughing tears to their eyes. Then they remember that their special name for each other is Bertie. «That’s how we greet each other – by saying, Why, hello Bertie!»

An afternoon with these two is simply heart warming. Towards the end of our afternoon together, having finished up all the cake and extra pastry the chef had brought to our table, I ask them where they see themselves in twenty years’ time. «I just hope to be in a happy, balanced place,» Sophie says. Aleks nods and adds that maybe one day she’ll write a book. «Who knows. We hope we can keep inspiring people.» Is there anything they would like their readers to take with them? «Absolutely – Stop killing each other and be more tolerant – GIVE PEACE A CHANCE!» And on goes the giggling.

 

(Since writing the post, Aleks has sent me the following message: «Sophie has now also moved back to Singapore for her husband’s work! We will of course carry on the blog long distance and will now be including information about Singapore as well.» – Sounds like a fun reading experience, right?! :))

Meet: Deliah

Deliah in three words: Cosmopolitan, Creative, Impatient
Deliah’s dream dinner party guests: Clint Eastwood, Julie Andrews, Ellen DeGeneres
Deliah’s favourite post: Healthy Living: Chia Pancakes with Fresh Fruit Topping
Deliah reads: Negin Mirsalehi, Food52
(because my computer’s a bit poorly I can’t link anything at the moment. You can find Deliah and Lara on http://www.halfwaytobroadway.wordpress.com)

Deliah and I graduated together from High School in 2013, but lost touch soon after. I knew she was going to be an actress, and when I discovered the blog she keeps with a friend, http://www.halfwaytobroadway.wordpress.com, I couldn’t help but feel intrigued. I met Deliah in early October in Lucerne. Because of a play she was cast in, she returned to Switzerland for the term, thus making it easy to catch up. Of course we gossip all the way to the café we have our hot chocolates in. Who did we keep in touch with? Are these two still dating? Did that guy find a job? The talk evokes a burst of giggles from both our side and it takes a while until I finally get my tablet out and start with my questions.

Deliah and Lara are both completing their Musical Theatre Course in Hamburg and they soon found that very little is known about the Musical world. «When I tell people what I do, they often say, Oh, then you must be a good singer? – It’s a shame, because there is so much more to it than that!» Together the actresses decided to launch a blog where they talk about everything to do with acting and singing. «There is so much to be considered,» Deliah explains. «What food can I eat? What do I pack for tours? Which vitamins are essential? Musical is a serious sport!»

Being an actress holds many big plans in stock for Deliah. In twenty years she hopes to have lived in New York for at least a year and to have been invited to a Broadway Audition. «Being cast in a Broadway show would, of course, be a dream come true. But just being invited for an audition, that would already blow my mind!» Another secret little dream of hers is to study interior design, a little passion Deliah’s has always hoped to one day develop further.

Just as diverse are the plans for Halfway to Broadway. Deliah and Lara burst with ideas to write about. Their readers can look forward to reviews of plays the girls have attended, fashion posts and hair styles to try out. «One thing I would particularly like to write about is about dating an actor or actress. Being in a relationship with someone like us is very different from most other relationships. The other person has to deal with intimacy on stage and the stress of constantly being on the move. It’s not always easy.»

Deliah is very happy in her long-term relation with her boyfriend back in Hamburg. And she is incredibly proud to have pursued her dream. «I’ve been very lucky! But I also believe that we should not let our talents go to waste. If you’re good at something and if it makes you happy, then do it!»

As our time together ends we get off topic and down to business: Disney! «If I could make any fictional character come to life, it would have to be Mary Poppins!» Deliah grins. «She’s super cool – a nanny that’ll jump inside paintings with you? Come on!» But if she had to identify with one Disney character it would be Belle. «But I want Kristoff, not the Beast!» Now, wouldn’t that be a combination!

Deliah walks me back to the main train station later that day and explains her busy schedule at the theatre. I express my admiration for her work, but she just shrugs and says, «Being a professional means getting there on time, being prepared and not taking up everyone else’s time. That’s a quote I’ve taken very much to the heart.»

And as we hug good-bye, I’m sure this will not be the last I’ve seen of Deliah.

Meet: Ayden

Ayden in three words: Bubbly, Loving, Organised
Ayden’s dream dinner party guests: Katie Perry, Banksy, Tim Burton
Ayden’s favourite posts: My Tattoo Tour, Family Portrait
Ayden reads: A Rosie Outlook, Miss Westend Girl, From Gem With Love

While in Glasgow I met up with the gorgeous Ayden from the Little Blog of Horrors. We had coffee (well, she did – I had the best Chai Latte everrr!) in a café called Tinder Box (they didn’t bribe me, their Chai was truly amazing!). Ayden is a very upbeat lady who started her blog way back at uni where she was supposed to write about her experiences and reflections, and somehow she never stopped. Her blog, The little Blog of Horrors, talks about all the bits and bobs of everyday life – holidays, make-up, cats, tattoos… it is basically a «big old collection of everything,» as she puts it. «I suffer from anxiety a lot,» she says, «and that is a topic I would very much like to talk about in one of my future posts. If I could help anybody get through it by sharing my own experiences, that would be wonderful!»

Ayden’s most loyal reader is her boyfriend who proofreads each of her posts. «He’s my blog secretary,» she jokes. But then again she pressures that her blog is all about her enjoying it. While for now it’s «just» a part time hobby, whether or not she’ll one day do it full time, Ayden is still unsure. «I’m loving what I’m doing and that is the main thing I never want to change. What is the point in doing something if you hate it? People, they wait a lifetime for happiness, and they just don’t realise that happiness is the journey and not the destination – I think that’s something I would like to say to everybody!» She takes a sip from her coffee and sheepishly adds, «Also, eat a meal without taking a picture first!» That actually makes me blush, because if you follow me on Instagram you’ll know that I can hardly have an early morning snuggle with my cat without having the whole world know – let alone eat cake! But on that note I put her to the test: Belgian chocolate or Swiss chocolate? There is only one real answer (don’t give me evils, you know it’s true!). Ayden couldn’t have answered in a better way: «Swiss chocolate! Because I tried Belgian chocolate when I went to Belgium last year and it made me sick!»

When talking about food I always remember that one quote from John Green that says, «like God Himself cooked heaven into a series of five dishes»; Ayden is one of the lucky few to have tasted something that deserves this divine description. «It’s got to be my mum’s Christmas dinner! She does a beautiful beef filet with mashed potatoes, and oh god! It’s so delicious that I made it for my boyfriend’s birthday when I tried to win him over!» And obviously she succeeded, so hand over the recipe already, Ayden!

Being quite the adventurer it doesn’t come as a surprise that Ayden loves Adventure Time. If, like me, you have lived behind the moon for the past years and don’t know what in the name of sanity Adventure Time is – it’s a comic. It features a dog. Ask Ayden, she knows all about it! Make her summarise it. Or act it out. What I learned from her that day is that there are two main characters called Finn and Jake the Dog, and they go on adventures together, and if she could make them come to life, Ayden would join them, and they would give her advice on life and on how to be happy! Now I want to meet them to! Although, talking to Ayden, she doesn’t sound like somebody who needs to be taken on an adventure, she seems to be doing fine on her own! «A while ago I went surfing in Cornwall,» she remembers. «Suddenly the water went very still and it got really dark and the sky just lit up! I thought I was going to die out there, but at the same time it was one of the most beautiful moments I have ever experienced!»

There is an utter genuity about Ayden; «I love the word Irie,» she tells me. «It’s Jamaican and it kinda means “all right”. It’s just a very positive word, and that is something I want to hang on to in spite of all my struggles: Positiveness!»