If I had to choose a blog crush, it would definitely be
Take Courage. Just as Cat describes some of her favourite blogs below, her space on the internet is one that gives me a flutter of the heart every time I see a new post has been uploaded. With incredible photographs, she has the simple and creative excellence I take so much inspiration from. Living with her boyfriend, The Texan and her gorgeous cat Chutney in a
beautifully decorated flat in London, I’m continuously amazed by her ability to blog frequently whilst working 9-5 (which I can imagine is more like 9-9) as a lawyer. If you want a fantastically stylish blog with
enviable interiors,
lovely DIYs,
great recipes and
effortless style, as well as the
occasional post from the elusive Texan, this is the one to follow!
I have been lucky enough to grab a few moments with Cat where she’s answered some of the questions I’ve been dying to ask her, and to give you an (Italin/Keralan/British) taste for her blog. Over to you Cat…
1. How would you sum up your blog?
Take Courage is a mish-mash of fun DIY projects, outfits, interiors, recipes, travel guides and daily musings. It’s my little creative outlet, my space to share what inspires me and to keep me sane during the working week when I’m busy being a lawyer!
2. What is your favourite thing about blogging (and some of your favourite blogs)?
Take Courage started out as a way to keep the creative side of my brain ticking, but over time it has grown into something much more than I could have ever imagined. The fact that, inadvertently, I belong to a community of incredibly talented, interesting and inspiring bloggers is really special – I’ve met some amazing, like-minded people over the years through blogging, some of whom I’ve come to regard as good friends. My favourite blogs are Messyla (for beautiful lifestyle photography and recipes), Calivintage (for all my vintage fashion needs) and Junkaholique (for endless crafts and DIY inspiration) – my heart flutters a little every time those ladies post a new post!
3. Describe your ultimate meal (starter, main and pud)?
I love seafood and there’s a great Italian restaurant in Dulwich called Rocca which does a starter called “Gamberoni” – it’s chargrilled king prawns in the most delicious spicy sauce – my tummy is rumbling just thinking about it!
I also love Indian food, particular Keralan food, so a Malabar chicken curry with naan bread and pilau rice would be my perfect main.
For pudding – nothing beats bread and butter pudding with hot custard on cold winter days.
Hmm, I’m not so sure if my starter, main and pud would work well together!
4. If you were a vegetable what would you be and why?
A pumpkin! Because pumpkins are great! And orange!
5. Name the book/s that has had most impact on your life?
“A Handful of Dust” by Evelyn Waugh, it’s such a beautifully written, profound and underrated novel.
6. Describe one of the best adventures you’ve ever been on?
I just returned from two incredible weeks in Japan last month. We arrived in Kyoto to rain, but that wasn’t going to stop us exploring. We headed straight to Gion, which is geisha (or more accurately, geiko) district – its narrow streets of ochaya (tea houses) surround the blossom-lined canals that flow through Kyoto, and it is beautiful. We weaved in and out the maze of alleyways, and as we paused to take some outfit photos, we were literally stopped in our tracks when three geiko, on separate occasions but in just a matter of minutes apart, briskly shuffled past us. I had secretly hoped to see a genuine geiko during my travels – they are so intriguing and unfamiliar, and beautiful, to me – but I knew that it would be a long shot. So to see three in the space of 10 minutes, I was overwhelmed! I couldn’t believe how lucky we were – it felt like spotting a rare butterfly, a fleeting but very special moment.
7. In a film about your life, what would three of the tracks on the soundtrack be and why?
“Wannabe” by The Spice Girls – because it was the soundtrack to my childhood; I listened to that song and pretended to be Baby Spice probably a thousand times!
“Naive” by The Kooks – because it was the soundtrack to my time at university; I remember hearing it playing on every floor of my halls when returning home one day from an exam. That was such a happy time, hearing that song never fails to make me smile!
“Chicago” by Sufjan Stevens – because it reminds me of meeting the Texan, whilst interning in Austin almost a decade ago. Boy, this question makes me feel old!
8. What’s your go-to interesting fact about yourself?
I can play the ukulele – not very well, but I play nonetheless!
9. If you could have a superpower what would it be and why?
Time travel! I’m always so busy, trying to squeeze as much as possible out of my day, so I could definitely make use of the ability to move through space and time. I’d be much more productive that way!
10. Name three countries you haven’t been to yet on your travel bucket list?
Sweden – I love Scandinavian style with a passion, so I think I’d faint with excitement if I got the chance to go vintage hunting in Sweden.
India – I’ve always wanted to spend some time travelling around India (surely it’s on everyone’s travel bucket list?!); it’s long overdue so perhaps it will be our next big trip. The photo opportunities would be just incredible.
Cuba – its fractured relationship with the US meant that Cuba was previously off-limits for the Texan and me, but now things are improving I think we ought to plan a trip before it gets too touristy!
11. What would your patronus memory be?
Aww, definitely when I met the Texan on the number 1 bus in Austin, Texas in August 2006. I was interning at a pro bono law firm which represents people awaiting execution on death row, and was on my way home after my first day at work. The Texan’s car was in with the mechanics and he was taking the bus to a job interview. We started talking and the rest was history. All together now: awwwww!
12. What top tips would you give a new blogger?
The best advice I could give is to do what you love to do, and to not focus on what the other, big blogs are doing. Growing your blog takes time, so you need to really enjoy the digital space that you’re creating – it’s meant to be fun, not work! I used to get so hung-up on how other blogs were doing “better” than me – I was frustrated to see that they’d have so many more thousand followers, I’d get jealous of their perfect photos and their perfect lives, it was ridiculous! I realised that ultimately my blog is for me – it’s my creative outlet – and if other people want to follow along too then that’s fantastic, but popularity is not my end goal and nor is it a marker of a good blog. So, don’t concern yourself with others, do what you love to do and enjoy it!
