“Every moment is worth it” – Interview with Aditi from Lyf&Spice

Photo provided by and used with permission from Aditi Shukla at Lyf&Spice

Today’s interview is with Aditi Shukla, a food and travel blogger at Lyf&Spice. According to her about page, “Lyf” is pronounced “life,” which “looks different from every angle. Add some spice to it & you have a zesty life! […] Lyf = a new angle to sprucing up life, might I add, with some flavor & spice!”

In this interview, Aditi shares some fun facts about herself, her bucket list, and the best advice she’s ever received.

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Name and blog:
Aditi Shukla at Lyf&Spice

Fun fact about you:
The thought of dipping my feet in water [used to] send shivers down my spine, but I’m now a certified Open Water Diver 😉

Funner fact:
I’m very bad at yoga, I skip work-out sessions, I can eat chocolate cakes all day. I am always positive, motivated, and always on time (rather… before time) for meetings and gatherings.

Funnest fact:
I collect bills [receipts] from dinner catch-up with friends, boarding passes, and small notes and scribbles from daily life for my scrap book. I label the collection and go through it once in a while.

What do you think has been essential to your success as a travel blogger?
I wouldn’t call myself successful yet, but my journey has been nurtured by consistency, hard work and the quintessential “never say die” spirit. It took me some time to figure out what I wanted to do with Lyf&Spice. It eventually grew to be about Travel and Food, and I spend all the time I can nurturing it. My aim is to help readers and fellow travellers with tips and tricks, and take non-travellers on a virtual trip through Lyf&Spice.

What was something that surprised you about blogging?
The amount of networking that needs to be done. To be noticed, you have to be seen first.

If you had to describe your blog in 6 words or less, what would you say?
Read – Travel – Drool – Repeat.

Who or what inspires you?
My mom, for the energy and confidence she exudes – her positivity always keeps me going.

What is your all-time favorite bucket list item (of yours or someone else’s)?
Well, besides wanting to travel the world with my travel buddy (hubby), I want to eat at every possible city of the world. Hosting a travel and food show ranks one on my (dream) list!

If you aren’t doing anything related to travel, what are you doing in your free time?
Writing, eating chocolate cake, hanging out with friends and family, or trying something new.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
From my dad – Celebrate life, ‘coz every moment is worth it!

Readers: Join me in thanking Aditi for sharing her time, stories, and advice with us! If you want to learn more about her, check out her blog Lyf&Spice, with all the links to the usual social media sites.

Want more interviews like this? Leave a comment and let me know who you would like to see featured, and be sure to sign up to stay updated on all the latest posts and interviews.

Also, get on the Insiders list, a monthly email with a summary of blog posts, cool surprises and printables throughout the year, invites to insider-only online events, and chances to be featured in the blog.

“Always say yes to the next adventure” – Interview with Susan McNulty of The McVagabonds

Susan and Ryan of The McVagabonds – Photo provided by and used with permission from Susan McNulty

Today’s interview is with Susan McNulty, a travel blogger at The McVagabonds, and a friend of mine. We met during our AmeriCorps VISTA year, and now she and her husband are adventuring in Europe after completing a long road trip from Seattle to Pittsburg!! In this interview, Susan shares about some of her travel and blogging journey so far, one of her ongoing Europe bucket list items, and the best advice she’s ever received.

Name and Blog:
Susan McNulty, half of The McVagabonds!

Fun fact about you:
I love food, both eating and cooking it. I love it so much that I decided to go to culinary school a few years ago, and trained at The Art Institute in Pittsburgh. I have a dream to one day eat my way through France.

Funner fact:
I’m working on getting to all four “corners” of the United States, a list that I made up a couple of years ago after moving to Seattle. I’ve been to Bellingham, Washington (top left); San Diego, California (bottom left); The Everglades, Florida (bottom right). Once we get back to the States next year I hope to make it up to NE Maine to get to all four points!

Funnest fact:
My husband and I are currently on our longest trip together: travelling around Europe for six months! We love to explore new places and have since the day we got married, but this is by far our biggest endeavor to date. We’re using it as a trial run to hopefully spend part of the year travelling from here on out.

What do you think has been essential to your success as a travel blogger?
I’m quite new to the blogging game, so I’m only just now starting to hit my groove. I think I’ve started having little milestones because I’ve been treating it like a job. Every day I have a certain amount of time set aside to write and edit posts, upload photos and reach out to other bloggers via comments. I think it’s been good in many ways, especially with helping to find my voice as a blogger.

What was something that surprised you about blogging?
How much I’m enjoying it! I’ve kept a journal since I was young, so I’ve always had a record of things that have happened in life. But with blogging, my journaling is taken to a whole new level. I’m able to add photos and include more facts and history. Plus I’m able to share my experiences with friends and family which they appreciate, especially when we’re abroad.

If you had to describe your blog in 6 words or less, what would you say? 
A collection of adventures and memories.

Who or what inspires you?
I think travelling, and all of the people I’ve met along the way, inspire me. There’s a big world out there, full of people so different from myself. I love meeting new people and learning from them. They inspire me to be a better, kinder and more conscientious person.

What is your all-time favorite bucket list item (of yours or someone else’s)? 
I have an ongoing bucket list item for our time in Europe: eat one pastry in every city we go to and document it. Before we left Pittsburgh a dear friend of mine told me I had to eat a pastry in Paris all by myself, no sharing with my husband. The idea not only stuck with me but it grew from there! It was the first item on my European bucket list and by far my favorite – who doesn’t love pastries?

If you aren’t doing anything related to travel, what are you doing in your free time? 
I’m an avid reader, so I’m always on the lookout for new and interesting books. I love going into second-hand shops and finding new-to-me books that have a history of their own! I’m also obsessed with my dog, who stays with my parents when we travel. We go for walks, try out new dog parks and area always on the lookout for new doggie recipes.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Always say yes to the next adventure, no matter what it is. Don’t be afraid of life! I’ve been living by this philosophy for the last couple of years, and it’s been working out pretty well so far!

Readers: Join me in thanking Susan for sharing her time, stories, and advice with us! If you want to learn more about her, check out her blog The McVagabonds, with all the links to the usual social media sites.

Want more interviews like this? Leave a comment and let me know who you would like to see featured. Be sure to sign up to stay updated on all the latest posts. Also, get on the Insiders list, a monthly email with a summary of blog posts, cool surprises and printables throughout the year, invites to insider-only online events, and chances to be featured in the blog.

“Follow your bliss” – Interview with Jill Weisenberger

Today’s feature interview is with Jill Weisenberger, dietitian, nutrition and diabetes expert, author, consultant, speaker, and spokesperson. I asked to interview Jill because I liked what she said in another interview: when asked about how she got into self-employed work, she replied, “Dreamed it and went for it.” Below, Jill shares her strategy for writing three books (and tackling other large projects), her four favorite foods, and the best advice she’s ever received.

Photo provided by and used with permission from Jill Weisenberger

Name and website:
Jill Weisenberger, MS, RDN, CDE, FAND, CHWC

Fun fact about you:
My four favorite foods are strong black coffee, dark chocolate, peanut butter and dry red wine. I like to say that if I didn’t have good portion control strategies, I’d be a hyperactive fat drunk.

Funner fact:
Most nights after dinner, I chase my dog and pretend to be one. It doesn’t matter how late it is or how tired I am, he rarely lets me escape this duty.

Funnest fact:
Other than eating a delicious, nutritious, home-prepared dinner, my favorite family activity is mountain biking.

What do you think has been essential to your success as an entrepreneur? 
I am forward thinking and very organized. I am able to look at a project, divide it into multiple tasks, anticipate obstacles, brainstorm possible solutions and execute a well-designed but flexible plan. That’s how I had the stomach to write more books after my first, Diabetes Weight Loss-Week by Week.

What was something that surprised you about entrepreneurship? 
It still amazes me just how many opportunities are out there for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists. I feel as if I have multiple professions: nutrition counselor, coach, recipe developer, author, freelance writer, media spokesperson and on and on.

If you had to describe your blog/website in 6 words or less, what would you say? 
Science-based, practical nutrition and health advice.

Who or what inspires you? 
My Registered Dietitian Nutritionist colleagues have inspired me so much over the years because of their great accomplishments and career paths that have seemed to be out of the box. It is my husband, however, who has encouraged me and led me to believe that I can do nearly anything I want to do.

What is your all-time favorite bucket list item (of yours or someone else’s)?
Most items on my bucket list have to do with traveling, including some type of an African Safari. One big one is to participate in a culinary course in Italy, France or other European country.

If you aren’t doing anything related to your businesses, what are you doing in your free time? 
Jogging, playing with my dogs, spending time with my daughters and husband.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? 
Follow your bliss.

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Readers: Join me in thanking Jill for sharing her time, stories, and advice with us! If you want to learn more about her, check out her website (which also has a blog with recipes, practical tips, and links to the usual social media sites).

Want more interviews like this? Leave a comment and let me know who you would like to see featured, and be sure to sign up to stay updated on all the latest posts!