Each week we feature an interview with a member of the Superstar Blogging community. These interviews highlight the ups and downs faced on the road to success, illuminating helpful tips and tricks along the way. If you want to get inspired and succeed in the world of travel blogging, video, writing, or photography then consider these interviews must-read material! This week we are featuring Daina, a member of the Business of Blogging course. She blogs at Headed Anywhere.
Tell us about yourself!
Hi, I’m Daina. I’m originally from Chicago and after a trip to Hawaii my husband and I decided to calculate how much and how long it would take to save money to live there without jobs for 2 years. We started squirrelling money away immediately. Then, after a trip to Dominica, my husband and I decided that Hawaii was going to take too long to wait for and we needed to move to a place that supported our outdoor lifestyle ASAP. So we quit our jobs, pulled up stakes, and moved west to San Diego. Two years later, we are loving the year-round SoCal sunshine and the outdoor activities available to us and going on adventurous trips around the world.
I can be a bit of a fish in that I love snorkeling and stand up paddleboarding, you may even see me out surfing sometimes (though I am horrible at it). Our travels are usually packed with hiking and adventure activities like kayaking, with little to no sitting around the pool. We want to experience ALL the adventures! I love that traveling takes me out of my comfort zone and motivates me to explore more of my local surroundings when I return home. I am a photo addict and I’m always trying to improve my photography. Aside from that, sunsets are one of my favorite things, along with pockets (especially if they happen to be in a dress).
How did you get started traveling? What inspired your wanderlust?
My wanderlust was ignited when I saw my older siblings travel to other parts of the world during their semesters abroad in college. I witnessed their unbounded freedom, exotic adventures, and stories of unfamiliar cultures. I wanted that too.
When I had the opportunity to study abroad in college I almost squandered it out of fear, but luckily the opportunity came again and I jumped at it. I was full of apprehension as I boarded that British Airways flight to Madrid. I was unsure of what living with a host family and a roommate I didn’t know was going to be like, I was anxious about not having a single friend, and I was self-conscious that my Spanish was less than fluent. The first two weeks were rough as I stumbled over my Spanish and missed the comforts of home. I wondered if living abroad was right for me.
But then it all changed in a matter of days. Something clicked and I fell in love with Madrid. I was making friends and making plans to travel around Europe. I was immersed in the Spanish culture and language. My host family welcomed me into their family (to their defense, they actually did on the day I moved in). I was living the unbounded freedom, the exotic adventures, and experiencing unfamiliar cultures that I desired. I traveled nearly every weekend that semester and vowed to myself that I would make travel and exploring a part of my life. I’m currently at 21 countries and counting.
What are some of your favorite places you’ve been to?
This is always a tough question to answer. I love Hawaii. My husband and I honeymooned in Maui and Kauai and we were both hooked after that. We’ve been back to Maui and Kauai another time since then and traveled to the Big Island last year. The natural beauty and ruggedness of the islands makes them feel magical.
One of my favorite trips to date was to Dominica. It’s called the Nature Island and it’s not hard to see why. Driving down the narrow roads you see men walking with machetes because they often have to hack their way through the brush and forest. We went on incredible hikes and canyoneering adventures and did lots of snorkeling. The hardest hike I’ve ever done was to Boiling Lake in Dominica. We met an amazing group of people that we still keep in touch with today. I will never forget that trip.
How long have you been blogging? What struggles have you had during your blogging career?
I started my current blog just over 3 years ago.
The biggest struggle I have is how overwhelming it can feel at times. Working a demanding full-time job and trying to carve out time for blogging is a perpetual struggle I have. I overcome it by setting small goals and tell myself to not be so hard on myself. But that is much easier much easier to say than do. I recently got this awesome content planner hat seems to be doing the trick for breaking my blog activities into digestible chunks.
What do you enjoy the most about blogging?
I love that I can help a wider group of people than just my immediate family and friends realize their travel dreams and goals. I also love that what I am working on is mine. I have creative freedom to craft content tailored to my audience.
What is one thing you wish you knew before you started blogging?
How much time it truly takes. It is like having another full-time job!
In addition to this course, what other resources do you rely on for help/information?
For business inspiration I follow Boss Babe Inc. and Jenna Kutcher on Instagram as well as their newsletters. I also subscribe to ConversionXL’s newsletter since I am a user experience and usability geek at heart. I just started following Melyssa Griffin as well, she has a lot of great free resources for bloggers.
What are some of your favorite travel blogs to read?
I read theblondeabroad.com, youngadventuress.com, and ordinarytraveler.com pretty frequently. Kiersten with The Blonde Abroad has served as inspiration for me since I started my blog, she is so hardworking and seems like such a nice/grounded person. She has amazing experiences that she shares in a relatable way. I would love to work with her if the opportunity presents itself. Liz with Young Adventuress has a no-nonsense, blunt approach to her writing. She lays it all out and if you are offended, then so be it. She’s not afraid to be who she is and I find that incredibly inspiring. I am finding my way to that point and both of these women are not afraid to let their personalities shine through (with zero f**ks given). Christy with Ordinary Traveler has beautiful photography and super helpful content. I find a lot of inspiration from her.
Why do you keep blogging?
I find it challenging and it allows me to share inspiring travel content with others.
What apps do you use that make blogging easier when traveling?
Since I am not a full-time blogger, I don’t really blog while traveling. I want to focus on experiencing the destination while I am there. I usually take notes before, during and after the trip in Evernote so that I can access it on my laptop when I get home.
What is one thing you can’t travel without?
Hands down a camera of some sort. Even if it’s just my iPhone’s camera!
What camera/video gear do you travel with?
- iPhone 6s for quick, in the moment shots or of food
- Lifeproof FRE waterproof case to protect my phone
- GoPro Hero for underwater and anything that I think would destroy my iPhone or Canon.
- Canon T4i usually with EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM for landscape photos
Do you have any blogging regrets?
That I didn’t start sooner! I have been a computer/internet geeks since I was a little kid (my family had a Tandy at home as our first computer and when my brother went to college we got a Juno email account). In college, I started a Geocities website that was so incredibly gaudy (think sparkling background and pictures of cats). I’ve also had a couple photography tumblrs, but it never really clicked in my head that I should focus what I was sharing on the web and funnel my energy into my love of travel until a few years ago. Now I feel like I am forever playing catch up.
What advice do you have to share with fellow bloggers?
You can’t do everything at once and success takes hard work and time so be patient! Remember why you started blogging if you ever get too hard on yourself (I should really write this down and keep it handy for myself!).
What are your travel plans for 2017?
2017 might be a year filled with traveling to visit friends we haven’t seen in awhile and family that have moved around the country. We are also aiming to take one big international trip this year. A lot is up in the air at the moment.
Places you may see popping up on Instagram and on the blog:
- Baton Rouge
- Tonga
- Chicago
- Southern California
- Baja Mexico
- Havasu Falls??
- New York??
- Sonoma??
- Joshua Tree?? (this is elusive, we’ve been trying to go since we moved to San Diego!)
What are your blogging goals for 2017?
For 2017 I’m making a big push to plan content better, promote my blog more, and expand my blogging/business knowledge. I have a few ways I plan to do this.
- Experiment with content creation such as video
- Network with other bloggers
- Create opportunities to monetize my blog
- Not being so hard on myself when I feel as though I fail or fall short of a goal
- Have fun!
What’s your final piece of advice for someone just starting out as a blogger?
Work hard, be patient and have fun!
Tell us about your blog and where we can find you on social media.
Headedanywhere.com is a travel and lifestyle blog featuring adventure travel tips, photography, and life hacks for the adventurer with a home base. We aim to inspire others to break out of their routine and explore the world from their own backyard to the furthest corners of the earth. You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr, and youtube.