An Interview With Madolyn Thinks
Today's interview is with the beauty, fashion and lifestyle blogger Madolyn Thinks. It's always awesome to get to know a little more about the girl behind the blog and I hope you enjoy this chat with Madolyn as much as I did.
Can you tell us a little more about yourself?
I'm the writer of Madolyn Thinks: a beauty fashion and lifestyle blog. I love all things beauty and have quite a collection of make up, skincare and body products. I am a huge lover of history and will often be found curled up in bed watching a historical documentary or drama. That is if I’m not enthralled with some sort of crime/detective/murder series on Netflix. I am a huge book-worm and love the escapism of a great novel with a large pot of tea beside me.
And Madolyn Thinks? What was it that made you start blogging?
When I finished University I started to read beauty, fashion and lifestyle blogs in my spare time. I missed writing and being creative after my course had ended and so I dabbled with the idea of setting up my own blog. It started off pretty simple with the odd paragraph of writing and a quick picture that I had taken on my iPhone. As I learnt more about the world of blogging Madolyn Thinks evolved and become more and more of a hobby of mine.
Is there any advice you’d tell yourself if you could go back to before YOU started blogging?
Think about the ‘Brand’. When I first started blogging, I wasn’t one hundred percent sure what it was I was doing. I wish that instead of diving in head first, I had taken a step back and thought a little more about what I wanted my blog to be about, what the focus was, and what the blog should be called.
What sparked your passion for writing about beauty?
I have always loved beauty and make up and when I finished University I got a part-time job working in Boots on the Benefit Cosmetics stand. I loved coming to work and leaning about makeup and not just from Benefit but from all of the other counters. It was when I started working here that my interest for Madolyn Thinks grew and I started to head in the direction of more beauty based posts.
Can you share a few of your current favourite beauty products?
I am obsessed with the Urban Decay Alice Through The Looking Glass Palette. It is so pretty and versatile, and I have used it practically every day since buying it. I am also loving the Nars Matte Skin Tint. It is perfect for this time of year as it is so lightweight yet provides a great coverage.
What was it like doing a degree in History & American Studies?
I am a huge lover of History and American History and so I loved learning about the subjects on a deeper level for three years at University. It was very trying at times as they are both heavily essay based subjects and the fact that it was a Duel Honour’s Degree meant that I had to submit two dissertations in my final year which was quite a struggle. Overall though I loved my course and have dabbled with the idea of going back into education to study for a Masters Degree.
Do you have any advice for anyone who has gone to university this month?
I would suggest being as open minded as possible. At University you meet so many different people from all over the country, sometimes even outside of the UK, who all have different thoughts and ideas about life. I leant so much at University from the people I met alone. I also think that it is good to take a step out of your comfort zone. People can become very heavily focused on the education aspect of University. Obviously this is very important but I think it is also important to grow as a person. Diving in head first can seem a little scary but trying new things, joining groups and meeting lots of people will pay off in the end.
How do you keep on top of daily life and blogging? Do you have ANY tips for staying organised?
I have always struggled with being organised and so I have become an avid list maker. I make lists practically every day and often break them down into sub-lists so that I can stay organised at work, at home and with my blog. Working a Monday to Friday, nine to five job, I find that when it comes to blogging I need to be really organised. I usually like to spend one weekend day planning my blog posts for the next week, taking all of my pictures for each of these posts and then edit them all. I then like to write little bullet points in a draft version of each post. Then, depending on time restrictions, write as much as I can in advance. I usually write all of my posts in advance and then schedule them so that I have chance to check and proof read each one before it is published.
What'S your favourite things ABOUT blogging & any words of wisdom for anyone Just Starting?
I really enjoy collaborating with brands and attending blogging events to meet like-minded people. I love that companies are now realising the potential and influence that bloggers have and working with them on a new launch or release of a product is really exciting and insightful. To anyone starting a blog I would say that you should stick to what you enjoy. Don’t write something for the sake of it, it will come across in your writing if you’re not dong something that you love. Don’t force it, it’s meant to be fun!
FINALLY, WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE BLOGS?
Of course I am a huge fan of From Roses, but I also really enjoy reading Hannah Gale, The Sunday Chapter, World Of Wonderlust, Southern Curls and Pearls and A Pair And A Spare.
You can keep up to date with Madolyn over on;
