Blogging is not so uncommon, it’s the modern way of journaling – sharing your views with the world. However, what is uncommon is a blog with a purpose such as MyCandiShoppe. Created by Candice Horn, the Mother and Wife created a space that addresses everything from hair, fashion and beauty trends along with everyday life issues of not only a Mom and Wife, but also a woman. The purpose is to connect with women of all backgrounds on a level that informs, empowers and entertain. Learn more about our May COCOBlogger, Candice Horn.
Candice, tell us a bit about yourself and what you do.
Currently I am a Blogger + Influencer to those outside my home and a fabulous Mom + Wife to those inside my home. I like to think I influence my family as well but their actions (such as the literal writing on the walls in my home) convince me otherwise.
What inspired you to begin your blog, MyCandiShoppe?
Honestly, I was lonely! My extended family and close friends were miles away in NYC and ATL so I didn't have anyone to just chat it up with. I took to Blogging to share my experiences and connect with other women who were similar to myself. Years later, I now look at my Blog as a digital space where women can gather to share stories and chat about the things our husbands/significant others get tired of hearing about at home.
What has been some of the challenges you have faced maintaining your blog?
Consistency in Blogging as other channels/avenues are developed to share content has been a huge challenge for myself. I've seen much quicker growth on YouTube or Instagram which has sometimes unmotivated me to continue blogging. It's truly my readers and women who have subscribed to my Blog from the very beginning that get me re-energized.
As a Mom and Wife, how do those roles influence the content you put up on your blog?
Being a Mom and Wife GREATLY influences my posts. Initially, I didn't share family/mommy content (just beauty) but then I realized many of the women were also Mothers like me! Little by little, I began incorporating posts related to my life as a Mom/Wife and now those are some of my most read and popular posts to date. Don't get me wrong, the women who read my Blog still love to know what's in my bag but they also love to hear about how I keep my bag so organized with three children.
What advice would you give to a Mom and Wife who'd like to start a blog?
My advice would be to only start the Blog if you have a genuine desire to write and connect. Everyone hears about the money that can be earned and they see the online 'popularity' that can be gained. These things take a very long time before they come to fruition, which means that you're running on true dedication for possibly years before you make your first dollar. Start for the right reasons!
What's in the pipelines for MyCandiShoppe?
As different Social Media Networks have been created, I have tested them all and discovered that my audience loves to connect with me on a raw level. YouTube and Instagram are great but they can be very staged feeling. Recently, I decided to start a series called 'Coffee with Candice' on my YouTube Channel. If you follow me on SnapChat then you may have seen some hints of this coming. Basically this series will be short (10-15 minutes) video chats over a cup of coffee that cover various topics from family to beauty. I'm taking what I know my audience likes and delivering it to them in a way they would appreciate more.
What three items are in your Ultimate Beauty Arsenal--those Holy Grail items you can't live without?
Wow, just three items? First item would be my Clarisonic, which I've had for over four years. My husband even has his own now! LOL. I can't live without regular exfoliating or else my acne prone skin goes all types of crazy. The Clarisonic keeps my acne at bay and fades the dark spots that may appear. Next is the Ole Henriksen Truth Serum... yet another favorite over the years. This serum just keeps my oily/acne prone skin bright and even toned. For some reason, I keep going away from this product to try others but I always come back. The last item is a product fairly new as I've been using it for less than a year and that's the Pixi Glow Tonic. Everyone raved about this so much that I figured they can't all be lying and I immediately found out after a week of use that they definitely were not. This is yet another item that keeps my skin glowing, even toned and exfoliated.
Keep up with Candice via her social media platforms, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter.
Candice, tell us a bit about yourself and what you do.
Currently I am a Blogger + Influencer to those outside my home and a fabulous Mom + Wife to those inside my home. I like to think I influence my family as well but their actions (such as the literal writing on the walls in my home) convince me otherwise.
What inspired you to begin your blog, MyCandiShoppe?
Honestly, I was lonely! My extended family and close friends were miles away in NYC and ATL so I didn't have anyone to just chat it up with. I took to Blogging to share my experiences and connect with other women who were similar to myself. Years later, I now look at my Blog as a digital space where women can gather to share stories and chat about the things our husbands/significant others get tired of hearing about at home.
What has been some of the challenges you have faced maintaining your blog?
Consistency in Blogging as other channels/avenues are developed to share content has been a huge challenge for myself. I've seen much quicker growth on YouTube or Instagram which has sometimes unmotivated me to continue blogging. It's truly my readers and women who have subscribed to my Blog from the very beginning that get me re-energized.
As a Mom and Wife, how do those roles influence the content you put up on your blog?
Being a Mom and Wife GREATLY influences my posts. Initially, I didn't share family/mommy content (just beauty) but then I realized many of the women were also Mothers like me! Little by little, I began incorporating posts related to my life as a Mom/Wife and now those are some of my most read and popular posts to date. Don't get me wrong, the women who read my Blog still love to know what's in my bag but they also love to hear about how I keep my bag so organized with three children.
What advice would you give to a Mom and Wife who'd like to start a blog?
My advice would be to only start the Blog if you have a genuine desire to write and connect. Everyone hears about the money that can be earned and they see the online 'popularity' that can be gained. These things take a very long time before they come to fruition, which means that you're running on true dedication for possibly years before you make your first dollar. Start for the right reasons!
What's in the pipelines for MyCandiShoppe?
As different Social Media Networks have been created, I have tested them all and discovered that my audience loves to connect with me on a raw level. YouTube and Instagram are great but they can be very staged feeling. Recently, I decided to start a series called 'Coffee with Candice' on my YouTube Channel. If you follow me on SnapChat then you may have seen some hints of this coming. Basically this series will be short (10-15 minutes) video chats over a cup of coffee that cover various topics from family to beauty. I'm taking what I know my audience likes and delivering it to them in a way they would appreciate more.
What three items are in your Ultimate Beauty Arsenal--those Holy Grail items you can't live without?
Wow, just three items? First item would be my Clarisonic, which I've had for over four years. My husband even has his own now! LOL. I can't live without regular exfoliating or else my acne prone skin goes all types of crazy. The Clarisonic keeps my acne at bay and fades the dark spots that may appear. Next is the Ole Henriksen Truth Serum... yet another favorite over the years. This serum just keeps my oily/acne prone skin bright and even toned. For some reason, I keep going away from this product to try others but I always come back. The last item is a product fairly new as I've been using it for less than a year and that's the Pixi Glow Tonic. Everyone raved about this so much that I figured they can't all be lying and I immediately found out after a week of use that they definitely were not. This is yet another item that keeps my skin glowing, even toned and exfoliated.
Keep up with Candice via her social media platforms, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter.