Sunshine625 Interviews Cloverleaf
An avid cook and writer shares more about her experience on HubPages
How did you find HubPages? What inspired you to become a part of the Hubbing community?
For as long back as I can remember, I have been looking for a legitimate and fun way to earn money online. I’ve just always had this dream that I could one day escape the rat race of a traditional 9-5 J.O.B. (“Just over Broke”) and have the freedom to work from home and set my own hours. I had considered writing a book but had no idea where to start! When I stumbled across HubPages one day I was intrigued; I was presented an opportunity to start building an online income without any risk or investment, plus the opportunity to write about any topic that interests me. Hence the birth of Cloverleaf! But in the beginning, I was skeptical and so I hid behind the HubPages Community for a while. My profile picture was originally just that of a four leaf clover because I was reluctant to share my “real” profile on the internet. But once I started meeting other Hubbers, the four leaf clover disappeared and the real Louise stepped forward. I had no idea that the HubPages Community would be so fun and rewarding!
You are originally from the UK but currently reside in Canada. What unique differences can you share about living in these two countries?
There are many differences, but the main one that I am still getting to grips with is the different language terminology! Depending on whether I am speaking to someone in the UK, or here in Canada, I have to choose my words carefully so that people understand me. I’ll always stop for a moment to consider whether I’m going to the “washroom” or the “loo”, or whether something is “awesome” or “brilliant”. If I tell a Canadian that something is “brilliant” then they assume I mean “lit up” and just look at me strangely. So, I’m constantly thinking quickly on my feet and reminding myself who I’m talking to before choosing my words. It’s just easier that way!
You create many recipe Hubs that always make me hungry! Is cooking one of your passions?
My husband and I always say that the biggest problem we have is deciding what to cook on a Saturday night. We LOVE food! We live a pretty simple life; we own a small condo, don’t have children or pets, but work extremely hard at our jobs during the week. For us, cooking is all about the teamwork! We get a lot of pleasure from experimenting with food and always make a big deal about going to the grocery store or markets together to pick fresh, quality ingredients. We have a few favourites that we make over and over again, such as our BBQ Ribs and French Bread. Recipe Hubs are so much fun to write; I’ve even conditioned myself to keeping my camera in the kitchen now.
What would you consider your biggest accomplishment so far on HubPages?
I recently completed the “30 Hubs in 30 Days Challenge”, which was a personal achievement for me because it really pushed me to start getting serious about writing. It also helped me to get more involved in the HubPages community; over the 30 days I met more new Hubbers who supported me every step of the way, and who still continue to loyally follow my Hubs. Without that support, I do not think I would have been able to survive the month of August! I wrote a Hub “PHEW! 30 Hubs in 30 Days: My Story” to share my experience with others. It was certainly a challenge, but very rewarding. I would highly recommend the challenge to anyone looking to “kick it up a notch”.
What do your readers have to look forward to with your future Hubs?
I’m certain there will be many more recipe Hubs, saving and investing Hubs, and also more sharing of the things I’m learning along my HubPages journey. The best thing about learning is the ability to share that knowledge with others. I’m sure there will be a few more surprises along the way, too!
Do you have one favorite Hub? It could be yours or a fellow Hubber’s. What's that special Hub that you will always remember? Why?
There’s one particular Hub that I have read over and over again, and it holds a very special place in my heart: My Mum – A Trip Down Memory Lane & Old Photos. The Hub was written by my Mum (Movie Master) about how one afternoon she reminisced with her Mum (my Grandmother), looking at old photos and keepsakes. That afternoon uncovered some amazing stories about my family that I didn’t even know before the Hub was published. They had even found a shoe that was made by my Great-Great Grandfather over 80 years ago.
If you could change one thing about HubPages what would it be? How could you make the change more effective for others?
I would change the way that comments are moderated. Opening up each Hub and responding to individual comments can be time consuming, especially if there are multiple comments, because the Hub has to be reloaded each time. I would suggest adding the ability to respond to comments on the comments screen itself. This should make the process so much quicker and could be beneficial for everyone, by freeing up more time to read and comment on other Hubs, which I believe is time better spent than moderating our own comments.
Is there a specific topic that you like to read or write about? Which is it? Why?
I really enjoy reading the poems that are published on HubPages. I am no good at writing poetry myself and so I really do appreciate the creativity of a good poem.
What's your favorite weekend activity?
I wish I could bake and cook more during the week but simply don’t spend enough time at home. So when the weekend comes around, it tends to revolve around making good food, and enjoying it with great company!
Tell us one thing about Cloverleaf that you think we would like to know.
Details please.... Well, I haven’t broadcast this to the world yet, but Cloverleaf is on a mission. I have set myself a goal to quit my job 4 years from now and I’m doing everything I can to achieve that goal (gosh I hope my boss doesn’t read this). Saving, investing, and building an online income are the three things that I am focusing on to achieve a dream of financial independence. My dream fuels my motivation to keep on learning, to keep on sharing, and to keep on Hubbing!
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