Over the years, Step2 has had the pleasure of working with incredible bloggers from all over the United States. This year is no different! This year, we will be highlighting the 10 Step2 Ambassadors in our new blog segment called Blogger Spotlight. Each month, we’ll be interviewing a Step2 Ambassador to find out a little bit more about them!
The first blogger that we would like to introduce you to is Courtney, author of the children’s book That’s How You Know and the blog Blessed by Brenna. We’ve had the pleasure of working with Courtney since early 2013. She first started her blog at the end of 2011 when her daughter Brenna was four days old and diagnosed with a rare and life-threatening skin condition called Harlequin Ichthyosis. Brenna’s birth inspired Courtney to begin writing to update family and friends about the condition of her daughter while educating readers about this rare skin condition.
Courtney’s favorite part of blogging is having a creative outlet to voice the challenges of parenting and providing health care for her daughter. She enjoys inspiring others through her writing. “I love to hear from other families who say, ‘I feel that way too. Thank you.’ Or people who tell me that I’ve helped changed their perspective or deeply inspired them with my writing,” says Courtney.
We spoke with Courtney about life behind the blog.
Step2: What does a typical day look like for you?
Courtney:
During the week, I always get up before my kids so that I can shower and write in the early morning quiet. The rest of our day is consumed with preschool for my son Connor, applying Aquaphor on Brenna’s skin 4-5 times a day, tube-feeding Brenna, playing and reading with the kids, running errands, and usually a doctor’s or therapy appointment thrown in there! After my husband gets home, we give Brenna a long bath, eat dinner and then put the kids to bed. In the afternoon, I also usually get another 30-45 minutes to work on blogging during nap time!
S2: What advice do you have for bloggers just starting out?
C: Find your own voice! This can be so challenging Blog about what you’re passionate about, and from your own voice. There are so many successfully written blogs out there, but don’t try to emulate any one of those because it won’t work for you.
S2: Do you have a specific piece you have written that you are really proud of?
C: I have a lot of pieces I’m very proud of! I try to always write from my heart, and therefore I’m proud of most of what I write. Specifically, some of my favorite posts are from Brenna’s 2nd birthday, when Connor started preschool, and a 5-part series I wrote about Brenna’s first week of life.
S2: What blogs do you follow?
C: Way too many! Some of my favorites are Money Saving Mom, Modern Mrs. Darcy, It’s The Small Things, Michael Hyatt, Momastery, Pioneer Woman, What Do You Do, Dear?, Bower Power, Blue-Eyed Bride, IHeart Organizing, Enjoying the Small Things (Kelle Hampton), Confessions of the Chromosomally Enhanced and Courtney DeFeo.
S2: What is your favorite activity to do with your family?
C: Life can get so crazy that when we have the opportunity on a weekend to just stay in, we take it! My favorite thing to do is to throw a pizza in the oven or have simple appetizers for dinner, pull out a blanket for a picnic meal in the living room, and watch a family movie. It’s so relaxing and enjoyable to spend low-key time together!
S2: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
C: There are very few places I wouldn’t go! I love to travel. I would say my top choice would be Europe – I’ve been twice, but there is still so much to see! I have loved everywhere I’ve been in Europe, and I can’t wait to visit more countries there. When our kids are grown, my husband and I want to live in Germany for a few months and travel around Europe J
S2: What do you like most about working with Step2?
C: I would say the marketing aspect of it. I always love learning about business and marketing, and it’s been so enjoyable to work with Step2 on promotions and programs to showcase their products. I also have to say that I absolutely love how caring and inclusive Step2 is with programs like Everybody Plays!
Thank you, Courtney, for taking the time to share your life with us! To learn more about Courtney, visit her blog Blessed by Brenna.
