Today on The Handsome, we have Brendan who is married to Ellie Snow, of Mint. I actually met Ellie & Brendan at Alt 2010, they both went which I thought was super cute. I also think it's pretty rad that they're both graphic designers! I'd love for Nick to be a designer, but his heart & career belonged to video games ;) Hope you enjoy Brendan's interview!
Please tell us a little about you and what do you do: I am an art director at a mid size ad agency in Raleigh, North Carolina. I love to cook, but I love to eat even more; I love to play soccer, but I'm much better at watching it; and I love to design, but I hate writing about it. :) Oh, I'm also one of the editors at OK Great!
What are your thoughts about blogs + blogging? I'm not just the president of hair club for men, I'm also a member... ZING! Seriously though, I'm a big supporter of blogging for what it can do for one's personal & career development. It's the most cost effective marketing platform out there, and if you approach it sincerely, it can be a hell of a lot of fun.
How many hours a day does your wife spend blogging? Not as much as you'd think. This has changed a lot over the past two years for a couple of reasons. First, of course, is because of how much she has diversified her core business. For a while, I think, Ellie's blog was her priority, but she tried to always have side projects to keep her occupied. One of these projects, Hello Tenfold - her stationery shop, has really taken off and has definitely usurped Mint as her day to day priority. Secondly, she has become, quite simply, very good at blogging. It doesn't take her nearly as much time to put together a unique post as it did when she first started.
If we're talking specific hours a day, and I had a rubber band gun to my head, I'd probably say 1-2 hours.
What do you do during this time? If she blogs at night, then I just stare at her in boredom. If I get bored doing that, then I'll whip up dinner for two or watch Premier League replays. I got her hooked on Dexter recently, though, which meant all of her blogging was already done by the time I get home. How conveeeenient!
Any silly/crazy/funny stories or experiences related to blogging you'd like to share with the readers: I find it very amusing to try to explain blogging to someone my grandparent's age. I couldn't tell you the number of times we have had to explain to a family friend (or better yet a family member) that Ellie doesn't actually make everything on her blog and that it isn't all for sale. She's prolific, yes, but good lord!
Is there any one thing that annoys you most about having a blogger wife? She get's tons of free swag in the mail; she finds amazing things for our house while researching posts; she get's to talk design with loads of women her age; and she get's paid for all of this. Nope, nothing annoying about that.
Thanks for sharing with us today, Brendan!
ps: I think it's fabulous that Ellie spends only an hour or 2 a day
on the blog, I'm inspired to do the same but I get so sidetracked! ;)
Be sure to check out the old archives of The Handsome here! If you have a request or there's someone you'd love to see up here on the handsome or if there's a question you're wanting to ask the guys, leave a comment and let me know! Thanks to Melanie for coming up with the column name!
haha. from the interview, they sound like a cute pair....nice post! Have a nice day.
ReplyDeleteWhat an adorable couple and how interesting to hear about the evolution and relationship between her blogging and business.
ReplyDeleteWe got hooked on "Dexter" too!
xoxo,
Chic 'n Cheap Living
his bit about trying to explain blogging to family members is too funny!
ReplyDeleteSo cool that he is so openly supportive of her work! I love this column more and more each week :)
ReplyDeletei love how supportive all the husbands are in these series!!! i also love the pic of them - so cute!
ReplyDeleteI love Brendan's answer to the last question. : ) They sound like a great couple and this was such a fun interview!
ReplyDeleteP.S. When I read the 1-2 hours part, I was quite shocked, too!
He is HILARIOUS! What a fun household.
ReplyDeleteMy mom doesn't understand blogging either!
ReplyDeleteI love this whole series. Such a great insight into how blogging develops in a family dynamic.
:)
awww what a great interview! he is soo supportive!!
ReplyDeleteGreat interview! I love how witty he is, reminds me a lot of my husband. :)
ReplyDeleteI love OK Great! So funny to see him on here and that he's Ellie's husband because I love Mint too, of course. :)
ReplyDeletegreat piece - love this series!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing!
Congrats on being named a blog of note last month. Much deserved! If you have a moment, check out my A Camp Host's Meanderings blog at http://levonnegaddy.com
ReplyDeletehe's so funny! "I just stare at her in boredom" haha
ReplyDeleteHahaha...i just enjoyed this interview.
ReplyDeletei adore this couple! my hubby also watch premier league every single day.
ReplyDeletenice interview !
ReplyDeletehttp://andthespidersfrommars.blogspot.com/
Total side note: Ellie totally looks like Britta from Community in that pic!
ReplyDeleteGreat interview...
ReplyDeleteHave a nice day .
This is one of my favorite blogs that I check on a regular basis, so I was surprised to see a pair of faces I recognized in today's post! I met this dynamic duo a little over a year ago at a vintage craft show called Rock n Shop. They were lovely and I really enjoyed seeing their work. It is fantastic that they were featured on here and I am so happy for them! :)
ReplyDeletethis new series is just brilliant Danni!!
ReplyDeletethis new series is just brilliant Danni!!
ReplyDeleteI'm new to your blog and wow do I love it! This post cracked me up. I'm too addicted to blogging. I can't imagine how my boyfriend would answer. Sadly, I don't get free swag but perhaps soon haha!
ReplyDeleteLovely blog
xoxo
Katie
http://loveiseverywhere.blogspot.com/
I love these posts! :) So where does Nick work? My husband's heart and career also belong to video games! Sometimes to my dismay haha!
ReplyDeleteIs it wrong to have favourites?
ReplyDeleteThis was so much fun to read!
Love this feature! As a blog reader not writer I love getting a behind the scenes look into what some of my favorite bloggers other half thinks.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite design blogs is blog.effortless-style.com
Camila just moved her blog over from blogger and Carolynn of Two Brunettes who commented above designed it and it's beautiful!
Her husband always helps her out in her client work and home projects. Would love to see him spotlighted!
Ok huge comment.
-Katie