Happy Valentine’s Day, lovelies! To celebrate, I have a very special post featuring some of my favourite Toronto bloggers…and their men! To say that this blog wouldn’t be the same without le bf and his encouragement is an understatement. He truly is my #1 fan, my tech support, my photographer, my rock. And such is the case for many other bloggers out there, whose boyfriends/fiancés/husbands become an integral part of their girlfriends’/wives’ blogs. And even if they remain largely unseen, their impact certainly isn’t. They take our photos, offer emotional and tech support, provide an arm to grab on to when the heels we wear become impossible to walk in, they carry our heavy cameras, get excited about fun collabs we partake in, and read only one blog – the one that matters. So let’s get to know a few men behind the bloggers, shall we?
Blog: Beckerman Bite Plate
Blogger: Chloe Beckerman
Other Half: Justin ‘J-Dawg’ Hardt
Together For: Spiritually – forever.
Status: Engaged
The Beckerman sisters have long been my dream blogging trio. Their style is crazy fun, their photoshoots are equal parts inspirational and silly, their family seems close-knit and bananas-up-for-anything…even their dogs are stylish! And while Sam and Caillianne are both in Toronto and have each other to rely on, Chloe, who resides in LA, has her fiancé to help her with her photoshoots. So what’s it like to be a man behind one third of Beckerman Bite Plate? Here’s what J-Dawg had to say.
What were your thoughts when she first started her blog? Did you think it would become a big deal? I thought, what’s a fashion blog?! When I found out I was very excited for her. Of course, I thought it would be a big deal.
What are your blog duties? To get the fucking shot, come hell or high water!
What’s the most challenging part about being in a relationship with a blogger? Every outing can turn into an impromptu photo session even getting coffee the morning after a night of heavy drinking (I’m the one usually ‘choking down on grandpa’s cough syrup’.)
Are there perks of being with a blogger? Chloe constantly looks hot and owns an expensive camera.
What was your proudest blog moment? There are 2 proud moments. Moment 1 – when I was asked to photograph her the 2nd time – I was shocked. Moment 2 – when I got Chloe to pose in front of the Berlin Wall exhibit outside the Variety Building near LACMA.
Do you feel that her blog is successful in part because of your support? I think Chloe is able to have more posts because I can help out. But it’s the style and creative direction of the blog that makes it successful.
Do you have an all-time-favorite blog post? Yes and it’s the background of my cell phone.
Do you read other fashion blogs? No, the only time I see other blogs is when I am wrestling the computer away from Chloe.
Words of advice for other blog husbands/boyfriends out there? Its about her, let her Diva out.
And what did Chloe have to say about Justin’s support?
Is your fiancé supportive of your blog? 110%
How does he help? He makes all these funny jokes while taking my pictures and half of the photos are of me laughing my ass off!
Does he have strong opinions about your blog/blog posts? He has a great eye for detail and is always trying new artsy photos! He keeps it real!
Do you usually listen to his opinions, or do as you please? If Justin says go cray cray in front of the camera, I go cray cray! And those photos are always the BEST!
MORE after the jump!
Blog: The Hip and Urban Girl’s Guide
Blogger: Lisa Ng
Other Half: Paul St Onge
Together For: 14 Years
Status: Married
Lisa and Paul are super adorable. High-school sweethearts who’ve been together forever, these two are a great example of a couple living their life to the fullest. They’ve rented a bungalow in LA and lived there for a summer, drove from Toronto to California and back, worked out with Richard Simmons, and have done a whole lot of other incredible things that most people only dream of doing. And though le bf and I jokingly shake our fists at this Hip and Urban duo’s enviable jet-set lifestyle, I have to admit that their marriage and partnership is a template of what a perfect relationship should be – spontaneous and fun.
What were your thoughts when she first started her blog? Did you think it would become a big deal? Lisa goes 150% at everything she does, so I was confident she was going to make it work.
What are your blog duties? Photos, photos, photos! So many photos! Learning not to eat my dinner before it’s been styled and photographed. Lots of sharing, re-tweeting and editing. Sleeping through the sound of keys clicking on a keyboard at 2am in the morning.
Are there any perks of being with a blogger? I’ve met so many great people through her blog. I’ve learned the business of social media, journalism and blogging first-hand. And of course the free travel and meals, exclusive parties and a flow of free shampoo in the shower.
What’s the most challenging part about being in a relationship with a blogger? Work never stops…. unless the internet goes out.
What was your proudest moment as a blog husband? Her recent HugCookies event was such a great moment. She filled the room with 200+ readers and threw one of the city’s most unique events. Also when she started working with big brands like AMEX and Microsoft, taking the blog from a hobby to a business.
Do you feel that her blog is successful in part because of your support? Yes – it takes two people to make any new business or new career work. Vice versa her for me in all my crazy start-up and freelance adventures.
Do you have a fave blog post? What I Would Tell My 20 Year-Old Self. Only because I knew Lisa when she was 20 and we lived through it together.
Do you read other fashion blogs? http://jjjjound.com/ – great for super simple fashion and inspiration.
Words of advice for other blog husbands? Be open, helpful and positive because you never know where it will take both of you.
Is your husband supportive of your blog? I have come up with some really crazy ideas in my life like, becoming an actress! Paul becomes the person who has to practice lines with me. I decide to become a DJ! Paul gets roped into lugging around DJ equipment around town before I get good enough to hire assistants. I decide to become a writer/blogger! Paul gets stuck becoming an editor. He is soooo incredibly supportive of how I never seem to take the ‘regular’ career path and always indulges my creative side. We met in high school as ‘drama majors’ so he understand the context of where I am coming for when I suggest these crazy things.
How does he help? A lot of the photos you see of me on the blog, just picture Paul having to take about 30 photos in a row before we get one good one. I always joke that we should put all the blogger husbands in a support group together and a photography class.
Does he have strong opinions about your blog/blog posts? He just lets me do my own thing. Paul doesn’t read the blog everyday – he claims that he ‘lives it’…or tunes into the live podcast sitting next to him – haha.
Do you usually listen to his opinions, or do as you please? I was asked by the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation to train for the CIBC Run for the Cure this year. As a non-runner and general laziest, Paul (the jock in our relationship) was pumped to give me lots of running and workout advice when training for my first 5K. He even went for painfully slow runs with me where I would run for 30 seconds and walk for a minute. I did listen this time to all his tips on running! As a result, I ran my first 5K in under 45 minutes this past fall.
Blog: Beauty Parler
Blogger: Monica Da Rosa
Other Half: Carlos Gallo
Together For: 13 years
Status: Married
Monica and I have known each other for almost ten years, and for as long as I’ve known her, she’s always been a beauty junkie. So it came as no surprise that this jet-setting flight attendant became one of Toronto’s best beauty bloggers. Apart from beauty, Monica’s other long-lasting love has been her hubby Carlos. The two tied the knot almost two years ago, and just like that, Carlos went from blog boyfriend, to blog husband. So what’s it like to be married to a beauty blogger? Carlos tells all.
What were your thoughts when she first started her blog? Did you think it would become a big deal? I thought it was good because she always wanted to be in journalism and the blog was a creative outlet, and she gets to write about what she loves – beauty.
What are your blog duties? To be quiet when she’s in the writing zone on the computer. Checking mail box for products that are sent for review.
Are there any perks of being with a blogger? Yes, free products…and we don’t have to buy personal hygiene products.
What was your proudest blog moment to date? Being featured in GLOW Magazine, and when she first started her blog.
Do you feel that her blog is successful in part because of your support? No.
Do you have a fave blog post? Travel Tuesday posts. Mainly the ones I am with her for.
Words of advice for other blog husbands/boyfriends out there? To support her and remember that it’s not about you, it’s about the blog and if she’s happy I’m happy.
Is your husband supportive of your blog? To a certain extent – yes. But I think he still doesn’t grasp the amount of work behind the blog, and that sometimes I need a quiet space to develop posts.
Does he have strong opinions about your blog/blog posts? Not really. I ask him for advice at times, but as he’s not really into blogs in general he just tells me to continue doing what I love.
Hope you enjoyed this rare glimpse into the psyche of the guys behind my favourite bloggers, I know I did. So tell me, does your boyfriend/husband help you with your blog? Does he know how much work goes into your posts? Share in the comments…and HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!!!
Photo Credits: 1, 2 – Beckerman Biteplate; 3, 4 – Lisa Ng; 5, 6 – Monica Da Rosa
