UPDATE: I accidentally deleted the version of this post that had the images in it, but they’re back now! Yay!

Episode 1: Hannah @ Tween Peek

Hey daydreamers! Welcome back to another episode of the Emmie Show/another Bonus Wednesday Post! If you’re new, in this series, I talk with different bloggers all about their blogging journey, advice, and fun questions about them. (If you missed the first episode, you can check it out using the link above!)

In today’s interview, Diamond and I chatted all about blogging, as well as bullet journaling, the MCU, photostory and photography tips, Taylor Swift, and more! Let’s get right into it. My questions will be in bold font, and Diamond’s answers will be in regular.

Emmie: Hi Diamond, thanks so much for being on the series! Can you introduce yourself and tell us where to find you?

Diamond: Hi Emmie! I’m very honored to be here. I blog at Build a Bears Furever and I Have 12% of a Plan. I also run an Instagram account @buildabearsfurever. Build a Bears Furever is my main blog and I put a lot of time and effort into it. My purpose is to entertain others with my stories. If you check it out, I hope you like what you see!

E: What inspired you to start blogging? How long have you been blogging?
D: I initially started an American Girl blog in 2014. I wanted to share photo stories and crafts. I really just wanted to be a part of the blogosphere. I went through phases with blogging, but I started consistently blogging in 2018. Overall, I’ve been blogging for the better part of seven years!

E: Wow, that’s a long time blogging! Also, your bullet journal posts are so fun to read! What’s your favorite part of bullet journaling?
D: Aww, thank you! My favorite part of bullet journaling is that I’m able to document my life in a way that looks aesthetically pleasing. It’s fun to look back on.

E:Any blogging goals?
D: I have lots! I have quite a few photo series’s planned (Aftershock, Back in the Day, a few more I’ve teased on my blog) and I’m really excited about those. I also would love to get 1,000 followers someday, but that may never happen.

E: If you could pick any MCU character to hang out with for a day, who would it be?
D: Hm, that’s hard! I think it would be really fun to meet the entire Guardians crew, but if I had to pick just one it’d be either Groot or Peter Quill.

E: What are your favorite kinds of posts to make on Build-a-Bears Furever & I Have 12% of a Plan?
D: On BABF, I love doing my photostories and series. I love writing about the characters and telling their stories. On IH12OP, I enjoy posting about books and movies.

E: Any tips for photography and making photo stories?
D: For photography, get yourself a decent camera and learn how to best use it. Even if it’s just your phone, you can still take great pictures if you use it right. Try to find decent lighting, and even experiment with photo editing. Don’t compare yourself to others, just be sure you’re putting out your best content.For photo stories, you’ll want to pick your characters and your plot. Write the story before adding pictures. You can do it the other way (photos before the story), but I generally find it easier to add the photos after you know what’s happened. Don’t be afraid to let your post simmer for a while and edit it after some time has passed.

E: Favorite Taylor Swift album?
D: Red! I remember vividly when I first got this album and started listening to it. Aside from my nostalgia, it is still an album with songs that I enjoy listening to. I don’t think anything will ever top this one for me.

E: How do you plan Camp Happy Heart? 
D: I’ll typically start planning after I finish up with my Christmas events. Then, I’ll decide on the themes for the different weeks and what posts I want to include. I try to give each bear a chance to shine, so I also try to feature different bears on different days. In March or so I write up an announcement post. Then in May, I’ll begin writing the posts. Last year I only had about 5 posts done before camp started, but this year I had 15! I try to get my posts scheduled ahead of time, seeing as I often have summer vacations during Camp Happy Heart. Also, even without vacations, 45 posts in 2 months is a lot!

E: Best piece of advice for bloggers?

D: Make friends within the blogosphere. Some of my closest friends I’ve met through blogging. Obviously, you need to take precautions and keep certain information to yourself(like your address, full name, and other personal information), but online friends can be just as good as in-person friends! (or even better!)

D: A huge thanks to Emmie for interviewing me! She came up with amazing questions, and I had a grand time answering them.

E: Of course! Thank you for being on the show!

Thank you so much for reading this post! I hope you guys are enjoying this series so far, and enjoyed this interview with Diamond! Make sure to check out Diamond’s main Build-A-bear blog, her personal blog, and Instagram, and follow all of them!

If you’d like to be interviewed for a future episode or know someone who you think I should interview next, you can leave a comment or contact me on the “Collab With Me” page! I currently have a few interviews lined up, so I might not be able to get back with you right away.

Have a fantastic rest of your week!

If you could hang out with any Marvel character, who would it be? Favorite Taylor Swift album?