Ashley Veater Blogger Veater Family Adventures An Interview

Ashley Veater is a wife and mom of 2 girls who lives in Seattle, enjoys travel and writing about her family and doing product reviews.

Tell me about your Blog.

Veater Family Adventures is actually my very first blog, and it began as a family blog.  I used it mainly to post pictures of our first baby and descriptions of what we were up to, so that friends and family members who don’t live near us could see it.  So much has changed!  Now, more than two years after I started it, my blog is a whole hodgepodge of variety!  I include personal posts with lots of fun pictures, really great product reviews, and tons of fabulous giveaways!  My readers tell me they came first to enter a giveaway, but they come back to read my fun variety of posts.

How did you start blogging?

I started blogging because I live far away from my family, and they wanted a way to see photos as often as they want of my kids.  At the time, I just had one baby, and I used my blog as kind of a journal and a photo journal at the same time.

Do you take your own photos? They are lovely! Are you a photo buff, know about cameras, take any classes, etc?

I do take all my own photos!  I’ve never taken any classes, and my camera is the mid-range kind.  Not too fancy, but pretty nice.  I always take a MILLION pictures at a time, and that’s really the only way I ever get any good ones.  I seriously take way more than I think I will need, and then I go through them all, choose the best ones, and edit them on Picasa.  Picasa is really easy to use, and what an amazing difference it makes!

What is the biggest tip you would give to product reviewers?

Don’t be afraid to contact people!  The worst they can do is say no.  Whenever I find a company or designer that I think is very unique or adorable, I send them an email offering a review in exchange for a product sample.  Sometimes I don’t hear back at all, sometimes I am told they’re not interested, but lots of people are very happy and grateful for the opportunity to be featured.  So don’t be afraid. . . the worst they can do is say no!

Are you contacted by advertisers or do you contact them or both?

Both.  I contact companies or designers that I am especially interested in, but I have also been contacted by some really wonderful new companies who are trying to get the word out on their products.

What is your favorite product that you have reviewed?

How can I pick just one???  I LOVE all of the children’s clothing, hats, and hair bows that I have reviewed for my daughters.  It’s so much fun to take photos of them wearing the beautiful designs and post about them!

What do advertisers do that you wish they wouldn’t/ do that you like?

Some have contacted me multiple times, and even when I tell them I don’t choose to work with them they continue to send emails.  I wish they couldn’t do that! I really like it when they offer giveaways with the products that I’m reviewing.  My readers love giveaways, and I have fun posting them.  I always ask if they want to include a giveaway, even if they don’t offer it.

What advertiser would you like to work with given a chance?

I would love to review a stroller, double stroller, or one of the really cool and modern high chairs.  I haven’t been able to review anything like a stroller or a furniture item yet.

What is one thing about you that not many people know?

I am a certified scuba diver!  Some of my favorite places to dive have included the Great Barrier Reef, Hawaii, and St. Thomas.  Someday I would love to dive in the South Pacific, Belize, Cozumel, and the Red Sea.

What’s your favorite book?

I’m a sucker for the Harry Potter series and the Twilight series.  I also adore Gone With the Wind, The Brothers Karamozov, and The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Klay.

What is on your iPod?

Anything and everything!  Broadway, 60’s, 80’s, country, pop, classic rock, the list could go on and on.  Some favorite groups with MANY songs on my iPod include Coldplay, the Beach Boys, the Corrs, Ben Folds, Josh Groban, Abba, Heart, Boston, Billy Joel, Sarah McLachlan, Collective Soul, Rascall Flatts, Natasha Bedingfield, and the Beatles.

How do you prefer to communicate?

Email is the best way!  I check my email all the time.

Who would you recommend, and why?

Wonder Woman’s blog- http://amayzing-family.blogspot.com/
Just cuz it’s SO much fun to read!

A Little Bit of Kooky and a Whole Lot of Love- http://alittlebitofkooky.blogspot.com/
This girl (who happens to be one of my oldest best friends!) will make you laugh so hard your sides will hurt!

Our Best Bites- http://www.ourbestbites.com/
Really yummy recipes and tons of fun kitchen tips!

A Year of Slow Cooking- http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/
You can find every crockpot recipe imaginable here.  Perfect for feeding a family and not spending all day long in the kitchen.

Your Home Based Mom- http://www.yourhomebasedmom.com/
This lady is seriously amazing, and her recipes (and photos of them!) are mouth-wateringly good!

Baby Cheapskate- http://babycheapskate.blogspot.com/
Such great deals on baby stuff, updated all the time.

Frugal Girls- http://www.thefrugalgirls.com/
I really love all the deals these girls find.

What is one thing people can do for you?

Come enter my giveaways!  The chances of winning are always very good, and the prizes are so awesome!  Come follow my blog and enter to win fun free stuff!!!

Connie Roberts

ConnieFoggles