Happy Monday friends. This is my first guest during NaBloPoMo, and I’m thrilled to welcome Ally who writes at The Spectacled Bean.
You know the drill – I can’t remember how I first made my way to Ally’s site, but she is a prolific blogger who covers an eclectic (and hilarious) range of topics. One day she might be posting original poetry, another day may involve her real-life encounter with a cashier (“named” Stupid) and his customer (Bob); I especially enjoyed this fascinating behind-the-scenes look at her foray into blogging.
Ally runs a very active website and thoughtfully responds to every single comment she receives which requires a tremendous amount of time and commitment. She is also wise. Case in point, after reading her interview answers, I have a new quote for my inspiration page: A good enough something is better than a perfect nothing. Can I get an Amen?
In terms of geography and her current stage of life, Ally describes it succinctly: I live in a quirky suburb of a big midwestern city with my husband, Zen-Den, who I met in college. We are happy.
Enjoy this “interview” with Happy Ally from Suburbia.
Q. What aspect of your current life would most surprise 20-year-old Ally?
That I’m living in a suburb of a big city. I grew up in a small town, figuring I’d eventually move to a big city and live an urban lifestyle. Tried it, didn’t like it, then stumbled into having a house built in suburbia, and love it here. Go figure.
Q. If you could add (or subtract) one habitual behaviour in your life, what would it be?
I wish I could get more into listening to books but find that my mind wanders whenever I try to listen to one. [Ditto for me; I’ve had to accept the fact audiobooks are not my “thing.”]
Q. What’s one piece of advice you wish you had heard (or understood) at an earlier age?
A good enough something is better than a perfect nothing
Q. What international destination – that you’ve never visited – do you most want to see?
It’s a toss-up between visiting Australia OR visiting Italy. Both countries seem relaxed and delightful, look beautiful in photos, and would allow me to explore places I’ve read about in novels or seen in movies/TV shows.
Q. If you were on a desert island and could only bring three items, which three items would you bring?
Sunblock. Drinking water. Books. I’m a pragmatist.
Q. Share a weird/random/true fact – any odd skills or unusual experiences?
A random fact: as a child at a church social event, a Ladies Tea, my mother and I met Tasha Tudor, an author and illustrator of children’s books. Tasha Tudor drew a sketch of me for my mother, a history teacher, who was a big fan of Tasha Tudor’s rustic lifestyle.
Q. If you were doing it for fun – and money was no object/didn’t factor into your decision – what would your dream job be?
I’d be a nature photographer traveling the world with my extensive/expensive camera collection, snapping pictures of animals and nature scenes. [Can I come with?]
Q. Tell us something about your personality you think might surprise readers!
I’m not the tidiest person to live with. I hate to fold and hang up clothes, I keep piles of notepads and pens every which way on flat surfaces, I toss stuff into the backseat of my car where it remains for months.
Q. If you had a warning label, what would yours say?
Beware: do not jostle or tease when hungry!
Q. What words would your friends use to describe you/your personality?
Sincere. Quirky. Truthful. Snarky. Kindly.
Q. Favourite book/song/movie of all time?
Today my answer is: I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith | Smooth by Carlos Santana | Bull Durham with Kevin Costner and Susan Sarandon. Ask me tomorrow and my answers might change!
Q. Savoury or sweet?
Savory, please. I eat sweets but don’t crave them like many people do.
Thanks for visiting here today, Ally!
Your turn. Any burning questions for Ally? Do you have an all-time favourite book, song or movie? What would YOUR warning label say? Are you neat and tidy? Have you been to Australia or Italy (I’ve been fortunate enough to visit both!)?
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Suzanne
Oh my goodness that childhood photo is adorable! Love knowing that you aren’t particularly tidy, Ally. Neither am I — it’s something I fight against every day, especially in my car.
Ally Bean
Suzanne, I have to admit that of all the photos of little me, this one I like the best. Thanks for the compliment.
Endless Weekend
Agreed on the photo: more adorable than the Gerber baby!
Agreed on the mess: I take great comfort from the last photo of Einstein’s desk on the day he passed away
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EuVPRxudY5M/WHEeB_lNuoI/AAAAAAAChQg/GHDxB5aOnOwCFehYUC5tJ3yKb7wJ7UifACLcB/s1600/the-day-einstein-died-01.jpg
Elisabeth
Thanks for linking to that picture. In addition to the untidiness of the space, how wonderful to be working so intently at something you love to the very end!
Ally Bean
EW, the Gerber Baby! Oh I haven’t thought of that image in years. You do take me back.
Ally Bean
Thanks for interviewing me here. I had fun answering your questions. It is beyond odd though to see a photo of me, a very young me, on someone else’s blog. And ain’t that a pip?
Elisabeth
This was delightful! Thanks for saying “yes” – special appreciation for sharing that adorable photo <3
Ally Bean
Elisabeth, I enjoyed doing this, happy the photo worked.
Nicole MacPherson
Oh I love Ally! This was so fun to read. Chalk me up as a person who doesn’t listen to audiobooks either, for that exact reason – my mind wanders. Podcasts are no problem. Books? No, I need to read them. I’m also more of a savoury person and I also love Smooth by Santana.
I do have a question – what was her favourite/ least favourite job she has ever held?
That photo is SO adorable. I didn’t think I knew who Tasha Tudor was but after clicking on that I can see that I have seen books she has illustrated for sure.
Elisabeth
I have the same issue with podcasts – my mind wanders like crazy. Also, I just find the sheer amount of content overwhelming. I’m just accepting this for now; maybe it’s a season of life? I used to listen to podcasts a lot but recently I have zero interest. But you know I basically live on Spotify, so it’s not like life is “quiet” for me 🙂
Ally Bean
Nicole, I’ll answer your question. Favourite job = creating store plan-o-grams for greeting card layouts then setting up the displays. Least favourite = telephone interviewer asking a bajillion questions for a marketing research company.
Jenny
Well, this was especially fun because for some strange reason I’ve never read Ally’s blog! Not sure how that happened… but I’ll be heading over there ASAP. I think we’ll get along well because I’m also not a “tidy” person. I don’t listen to audio books, and her dream job sounds amazing. I wish I could say I’m a “savory” person but I unfortunately have a huge sweet tooth!
Elisabeth
I don’t know if I could choose – I just LOVE food. All of it (unless it’s spicy – or overtly gross things like, for example, Tootsie Rolls or Kerr’s Molasses Chews – haha).
Ally Bean
Jenny, thanks for stopping by my blog to read and comment. If I ever get my dream job I promise to make it a deal for both of us. 📸
Ernie
I really enjoy your guest posts, Elisabeth. I’m surprised that Ally isn’t neat and tidy. You’re in good company, Ally.
I can listen to audio books, but only when I’m driving long distances and even then – I regularly hit the ‘go back 15 second’ button.
I visited Italy when I was in college. It was during my year abroad, and I was traveling with my brother, Pat. We were on a tight student budget and Pat insisted on eating all meals at McDonalds. He didn’t like ordering in a foreign language. He wanted to know what portion size he was getting. Who does that? I’d like to go back and visit like a full-fledged adult, complete with enough money to go INSIDE places and enough knowledge to order from a menu. I do worry that celiac will make eating on a trip like this a tad tricky, but then there’s always McDs.
My warning label would say, DO NOT DISTURB WHEN SLEEPING.
Ally Bean
Ernie, you crack me up. Of course that’d be your warning label.
Elisabeth
My only bad meal in France was at a McDonalds, but we did eat at one in Rome and it…tasted just like Canadian McD’s! I will definitely encourage you to go back to Italy as an adult and eat the food. It was truly incredible (and there are lots of GF spots that can be curated via GF blogs) – and you could eat lots of gelato, too? Goodness the food was soooo good and so inexpensive!
NGS
I’m going to admit something here in the comments that I would probably never admit on my own blog or even out loud. Whenever Smooth comes on, I crank it up and really enjoy it. I think I am secretly a Matchbox Twenty fan and there’s something about the generic sounding Rob Thomas that really soothes my soul. Thank you, Ally, for allowing me the opportunity to admit this.
Elisabeth
I think you can wear this as a badge of honour, NGS 🙂
Ally Bean
NGS, yes, yes, I feel like Smooth soothes my soul, too. 🎶
Michelle G.
This was fun to read! I’m a big fan of Ally’s blog. Her posts are so interesting and thought-provoking. The childhood picture is adorable! I love the idea of people having warning labels – it would help so much! Mine would be very similar to Ally’s – Don’t jostle or tease when hungry. Food affects me so much!
Ally Bean
Michelle, the childhood picture might be the best one of me ever. I’m with you about food, or lack thereof.
San
Ally! Yay! I will forever think of you as this adorable little girl (thanks for sharing this childhood photo, so I can at least have “a face” in my head when I think of you – even if it’s a very young face :)).
I am so relieved to hear that audiobooks are also not for you – I cannot stay focused (I’d rather read the book myself). Do you listen to podcasts?
Also: I love that piece of advice (especially as someone who’s a bit of a perfectionist).
Ally Bean
San, I’m glad you have a face to put with me now. I listen to a few podcasts, but not regularly. At least with them I don’t have to follow a plot line like you do with a book. I’m a recovering perfectionist so I take your point.
Elisabeth
All these comments about audiobooks (and podcasts, too) make me feel SO much better. I really did think there was something deficient about my brain that couldn’t stay focused on listening to an audiobook. Glad to know I’m in such good company – it’s just how we’re wired!!!
Gigi
This was so fun to read. I adore Ally. And that toddler Ally was a special treat! Such a cutie pie!
Ally Bean
Thanks, Gigi. That photo of me makes me smile, even at this advanced age!
Anne
Well, goodness. Somehow I lost track of Ally’s blog! Thank you for re-introducing me to her. 🙂
Ally, I particularly like your good advice, and I would love to be stranded on a desert island with you. I’ll bring the sun hats, perhaps a bit of coffee, and additional books. Because books = life. 🙂
Ally Bean
Anne, I look forward to you joining me on the desert island. When not reading we’ll have marvelous literary conversations… to distract us from the fact that we’re stranded on a stinking desert island.
Elisabeth
I dunno…some days in the chaos of life, a deserted island (with everyone’s Top 3 picks) sounds pretty grand!
Elisabeth
Yay! I’m so glad this post helped you re-discover a beloved blog.
Can I just say how happy I am to have so many book lovers visit this site <3
Steve
That’s a fun idea for a Q&A format post and fun to read! Thanks
J
Ally is unique in many ways, not least of which is the back and forth communication in the comments section of her blog. She’s amazingly dedicated. We’ve been blog friends for a LONG time, and she is a loyal blog friend to be sure. I loved reading this, good to know things about her that I never knew. 🙂
Ally Bean
J, you flatter me. Thanks for the compliments. You’re right we have been bloggy friends forever– and isn’t that the best!
Elisabeth
I am WOWED by the comment section on her blog.
coco
what adorable baby you are/were, so sweet and happy.
I am savory person too and can’t get into audiobook although I listen to podcast. how interesting!
How in the world can you come up with such interesting/original questions that are different for different bloggers?
Ally Bean
Coco, I wonder the same thing about Elisabeth’s ability to ask great questions. She has a gift!
Elisabeth
Has nothing to do with me and everything to do with the fact I have such cool bloggy friends!
Elisabeth
Aww. Thanks, Coco. I have a big list of questions, so the originality comes from which questions they choose to answer (and the fact every guest is just so darn interesting!!).
sarah
these are great answers, and I love the kiddie pic 🙂
Ally Bean
Thanks Sarah.
Kyria @ Travel Spot
Ally’s dream job is my dream job, except I would likely take more photos of landscapes than animals, but hey, I would not sneer at an animal either. I think it would be so fun to just go around the world, looking for and capturing beautiful things. Plus there is something romantic about being a journalist or photographer, isn’t there!?
Elisabeth
I would LOVE to take portraits. I always get jealous when I see someone who gets to take pictures of people for a living. In our household John takes pictures of things and places, and I take pictures of people (more or less).
I also would love to be a composer. I have major career envy for John Williams!
Ally Bean
Kyria, I could snap pics of landscapes, that’d work for me too. Good idea.
Daniel Antion
Always good to learn a little more about Ally (childhood Ally is pretty darn cute). Thanks for featuring one of my favorite bloggers.
Ally Bean
Dan, I’m glad you made your way here to this interview. You flatter me with your kind words.
Dale
What a wonderful interview. It’s always nice to learn a little bit more about bloggers I enjoy. And who doesn’t enjoy Ally?
Elisabeth
She’s pretty fun!
Ally Bean
Dale, you flatter me, coming from you, a person who is fun to the nth degree.
Susan scott
Exceptionally adorable photo Ally Bean. Mmmmm it’s making me think that it may be an idea to source a photo of oneself every eg 7 years to present day. To what purpose? To make nice untidy. Or make untidy mess nice. But maybe some reflections on life in the process –
Ally Bean
Susan, I’m glad you found this interview. As usual your idea of what might be fun to do, is spot on. Very clever.
Marian Beaman
Cute, quirky, just like Ally herself.
Ally Bean
Thank you, Marian.
Lisa's Yarns
That is the cutest childhood photo. My childhood photos are NOT nearly as cute as this! Ally is very photogenic!
I have been to Australia (studied abroad there) but not to Italy. I would only go to Australia if I had 2-3 weeks to take off because of the length of the flight/time change. So I’d be more apt to visit Italy at this point of my life since taking more than a week off would be very hard to do.
I grew up in a teeny tiny rural town in ND but am definitely a city mouse. I lived in a suburb of Minneapolis for awhile in my 20s and I loathed it. I feel like our house is kind of the sweet spot. We are close to downtown but don’t live downtown – so it’s not terribly trafficky but I can walk to a lot of restaurants, coffee shops, etc, the streets have sidewalks, and our commute into downtown is pretty easy. But of my college friends (who mostly came from rural areas), I am the only one who lives in Minneapolis proper. Everyone else prefers the suburbs. So I am more of an outlier, I think.
Elisabeth
I think you’d love Italy – and I think there are a lot more GF options than in previous decades. And gelato. And all the beautiful sights. I’d go back in a heartbeat.
I was only in Australia for a week and only Sydney, but it felt like more than enough time. I mean, jet lag is rough and it’s a lot of flying, but it was a big city and felt like it had less on offer than say, NYC. It also felt VERY Canadian. It’s funny because everyone wants to go to Australia (and I get it; it was awesome and the hike from Bondi to Cogee is one of my favourite lifetime memories), but it really just felt like a big city in Canada where people talk a little funny. It honestly feels far more different (again, as a Canadian) to visit the US. We have the same queen, spell things the same, and generally have a similar political and social outlook.
One of my dreams is to live in a city for 6 months some day. (Without kids, or at least without kids that are in school). I think I’d LOVE to be in NYC for this length of time. Time will tell…
Ally Bean
Lisa, I never thought I’d end up in a suburb, I can guarantee you that. As an adult I’m not photogenic but back then, with proper lighting, I looked cute. I admit it.
Elisabeth
Ha! Yes, you were absolutely precious and I bet there is all sorts of charm and twinkle left in those sweet eyes!
Amanda
Hmm. As an Aussie who has travelled a lot, I question that Australia like Canada. Having said that, I haven’t been to Canada. There is much more to Australia than Sydney…..just saying…
Elisabeth
Fair point! And yes. I was only in Sydney. I just expected it to feel SO different and…it mostly didn’t (to me). The money looks similar, we have the same Queen (King now), spell things the same, tend to have some similar social perspectives. But yes – obviously a VERY distinct country and culture.
Bijoux
An adorable portrait! And an enjoyable interview. While I love podcasts, my mind also wanders during audiobooks. I don’t know why there’s a difference for me. Italy, specifically Tuscany, is my most yearned for travel experience.
Elisabeth
We made it to Florence on a day trip, but I would love to spend a week in Tuscany (and the Amalfi Coast…so apparently I need two weeks the next time I’m in Italy?)
Ally Bean
Yes, Bijoux, yes. I want to go there, too. When do we leave?
Bernie
I have no idea how I stumbled upon Ally’s blog but I am glad I did. She doesn’t post prolifically but love her quarky posts and stories. I mean rogue mail boxes and dragons without her deft hand at words would seem silly. She’s so interactive with her commentors and somethings that’s the fun thing is reading where the conversations go. My question to Ally would be “favourite meal”?
Elisabeth
Ohhh. I am curious to hear her answer on this one!
Ally Bean
Bernie, my favorite meal is… a toss up between a hamburger, slaw, and a beer OR [going in the opposite direction] stir-fried vegetables on brown rice with a glass of wine. Either way, I’d be happy.
Elisabeth
A good hamburger is hard to beet (though I very much dislike the taste of beer, so we’ll diverge on that point).
Janet
What great questions, Elisabeth. I always enjoy reading Ally’s thoughts. I love Smooth and while I try to keep my car clean (much easier now that I don’t have kid passengers anymore) I am not a fan of folding clothes and I have a ton of notebooks around. Really liked seeing the picture of little Ally. Thanks for sharing! Janet
Ally Bean
Janet, I’m glad you found your way to Elisabeth’s post. You flatter me, both about writing and my childhood photo!
Jan
I never imagined I’d end up living in a suburb either (although my small town doesn’t consider itself a suburb!) Elisabeth, your blog is delightful … so welcoming and fresh. Nice use of graphics. Ally, I imagine you’re still as cute as … well, I was going to say a bug in a rug but who has ever thought a bug in a rug was cute? I’ve never been to Australia but you should go to Italy at least once.
Elisabeth
Awww. Thanks for such kind words, Jan. My old website was recently deleted…and I had to start from scratch – here’s where I landed.
Where does that “bug in a rug” saying come from? Agreed it doesn’t sound overly cute to me either.
Ally Bean
Jan, I like this suburb but it is quirky and not “little houses on the hillside that all look just the same,” even if we do have lots of hills. Italy is on my list, eventually. Australia is more of a dream.
Marie A Bailey
This was definitely a cool interview for a cool kid. Ally, your dream job is my dream job, and I’m not tidy either 😉 I only wish I could say that I’m happy living in suburbia, but I have a feeling that your suburb has a higher standard of living than mine 😉
Ally Bean
Marie, not all suburbs are the same, I get that. I promise that if my dream job should manifest in my life, I’ll invite you along!
The Travel Architect
Fun interview, Ally, and cute picture.
Ally Bean
The Travel Architect, thanks for reading this. The photo might be the best one of me ever taken! 🤔
laura bruno lilly
Ally & Elisabeth – fine interview, short yet filled with personality! 🙂
(from one of your devoted cool beans)
😎
Ally Bean
Hello Cool Bean Laura! Thanks for reading the interview.
Shelley Krupa
Great interview (and Blog by the way 🥰). I love Ally’s blog and enjoy it for the same reasons stated in the intro to the interview. The little Ally photo fits the words Ally uses to describe herself. It was fun to get a few more glimpses into who she is. Your question about no $ as an obstacle is an interview question we use where I work – it was fun to read Ally’s reply.
(I’m not YELLING below, just wanted to make it easier to see the difference between questions and replies 🤔😉)
Any burning questions for Ally? WHICH WORD YOU USED ABOVE TO DESCRIBE YOURSELF IS YOUR GREATEST MUSE? DO YOU ANSWER QUESTIONS EASILY OR DO YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE REPLIES BEFORE REPLYING?
Do you have an all-time favorite book, song, or movie? BOOK – BIRD BY BIRD; MY TASTES IN SONGS AND MOVIES CHANGE WITH THE WIND – OFF THE TOP OF MY CUP OF COFFEE THIS MORNING I THINK I’D SAY MAMA MIA WHICH IS FILLED WITH MANY FUN SONGS.
What would YOUR warning label say? YOU REALLY DON’T WANT TO SEE MY BADASS SIDE.
Are you neat and tidy? WOULD LOVE TO BE NEAT AND TIDY BUT GET BORED WITH IT TOO EASILY.
Have you been to Australia or Italy? NO, BUT I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO GO TO SHELLEY BEACH IN AUSTRALIA AND DRINK WINE IN ITALY.
Thank you for sharing the interview, happy blogging to both of you 🤗
Elisabeth
Hi Shelley. Welcome!
Yell/answer away <3
Bird by Bird was great.
Love your warning label!
Ally Bean
Shelley, in answer to your questions about me:
WHICH WORD YOU USED ABOVE TO DESCRIBE YOURSELF IS YOUR GREATEST MUSE? Truthfulness
DO YOU ANSWER QUESTIONS EASILY OR DO YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE REPLIES BEFORE REPLYING? I think it through, unless it’s about food and drink then my answer is instantaneous.
Great to see you here. Thanks for reading and commenting along.
Amanda
I am with Ally on the piles of notebooks on flat surfaces, and the life saying. Progress starts with good enough. So many great ideas have been abandoned because someone wanted perfection… We are humans not machines.
Ally Bean
Amanda, yes, yes. “We are humans not machines.” No truer words. Adding that to my list of positive thoughts.
Elisabeth
Yes – humans not machines, indeed!
Crystal Byers
Oh my, Little Ally! I do have a question. What’s at the top of your bucket list?
Ally Bean
Crystal, I’m not sure I have a bucket list… but I’d enjoy getting into a walking routine wherein I/we visit all the township parks around here, maybe doing one a week. It sounds simple enough but we’ve yet to pull this off. We just go to the same few parks over and over again. 🙄
L. Marie
Loved these questions, which helped me know more about you, Ally. Such a cute photo! I’m almost positive I had a shirt like that! My warning label would probably say the same thing. Since I’m late to the party, I won’t ask any questions. But I’m glad to meet you also, Elisabeth.
Elisabeth
Hi, L. Marie!