December 2017 Featured Blogger – Step Inside My Handbag

Our December 2017 featured blogger is Sainab, the founder of Step Inside My Handbag. Step Inside my Handbag is creative lifestyle blog which Sainab started after she moved into her new London flat. It’s a place where she documents her journey into decorating her home, designing quick-fix D.I.Y tricks and baby related bits and bobs. You’ll find a lot of ‘how to’s’, the latest on her fashion line and travels and of course, ramblings of motherhood!

WHEN AND WHY DID YOU START BLOGGING? 

I started the blog while I was pregnant with my first son. I didn’t take it seriously though until I gave birth to him. So I would say it has been around 2 years that I have been blogging. I started it as a hobby, a place to document the decorating process of my home as I go along. It then changed from just decorating my home, to my lifestyle which included fashion, beauty and even kids. 

HOW DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR BLOG NAME? 

Ah, choosing my blog name was one of the hardest parts of starting the blog. I wanted a name that would show people that it was a little bit like stepping into a part of what I am doing. There were loads of names I thought of but they were all taken, so I went for Step Inside My Handbag. I have always thought of a handbag as somewhere you put all of your really important things which you need to take around with you. So Step Inside My Handbag to me is the same kind of concept, it’s where you get to see important and enjoyable parts of my life that I want to share.

WHAT’S THE MOST CHALLENGING THING ABOUT BEING A BLOGGER AND BLOGGING? 

The most challenging part of it for me has to be the technical side of things and keeping up to date with everything. I absolutely love blogging, It’s my creative outlet where I get to make, design, and take pictures of thing I love. But I feel like I don’t get as much time to do it as I’d like because there is so much more to blogging than just creating content.

AS A MOTHER, A BUSINESS OWNER AND BLOGGER DO YOU STRUGGLE TO FIND THE TIME TO BLOG?  HOW DO YOU ORGANISE YOUR TIME? 

Yes yes yes! It is really hard finding the time to blog. I run an abaya-making business called Barakah with my sister. When running a business everyone knows how time-consuming it can be, so on top of that blogging can get quite difficult. But I try to make as much time as I possibly can because I find it so enjoyable. Also I am a huge believer that if you are passionate enough to do something, you’ll make the time to do it. On top of that, Alhamdulillah I have a huge support system. My business partner (my sister) and our team in Barakah are all very supportive of each other.

I usually have certain days I work in the business and certain days I work on the blog. All of that revolves around my children. When I get time during the day (for example when they are napping) that’s when I take the time to work.

HAVE YOU EVER FELT OVERWHELMED WITH RUNNING YOUR BUSINESS AND BLOGGING ASWELL? 

Yes, definitely, especially when it comes to meeting deadlines. I sometimes have blogging deadlines I need to meet and sometimes it clashes with the business and making abayas on time for clients. I find planning ahead in advance and organising my time usually helps.

HAVE YOU HAD ANY OPPORTUNITIES ARISE AS A RESULT OF BLOGGING? 

Yes definitely. Alhamdulillah, I am so grateful for a lot of the opportunities that have come since I started blogging. A lot of the opportunities have also helped me with my business which makes it feel like even more of an achievement.  One thing I have found though is that not only have opportunities come, but I have met some of the most wonderful people since starting. Both bloggers and non-bloggers, the support is just amazing. And the Muslimah Bloggers community is a gift honestly! The support and some of the wonderful sisters I have met, it makes blogging even more worth it!

WHERE DO YOU SEE BLOGGING IN 5 YEARS? WILL YOU STILL BE DOING IT IN SHAA ALLAH? 

Insha’Allah I hope I will still be doing it. I don’t have any plans to stop blogging. I just hope to see the blog grow.

What are your future goals for you blog? Is there anything specific you are aiming for?

Ah, good question. I don’t have any specific goals, but I do wish for my blog to grow. Where it will lead me, I will leave that to Allah, I just pray that it helps me in whatever else I want to achieve when the time comes.

WHAT ADVICE AND TIPS WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE WHO MAY BE THINKING OF STARTING A BLOG?