Mom (Blogger) on the Street: Mitzi Manansala

We say it time and time again: Vancouver moms are the best. In our Mom on the Street series we’re talking to many of you to find out what makes you awesome, and what you love about the neighbourhood you call home. As nominations open in our annual hunt for the Top 30 Vancouver Mom Bloggers, the time seemed ripe to catch up with last year’s overall winner, Mitzi Manansala. We connect to hear her thoughts on blogging, her son and life in East Van.

Mom (Blogger) on the Street Mitzi Manansala

What is your favourite thing about blogging?

I love looking back at the pictures and reading about how much Max has grown physically and developmentally. Chronicling first time parenthood and my son’s growth was my intention of starting the blog; I didn’t want to forget what he looked like, what parenting felt like, and our experiences together. 27 months later, I catch myself looking back at our blog post history and saying, “I don’t even remember [him like] this!” as I reminisce, laugh, and celebrate how far we have come.

Did winning the Top 30 Vancouver Mom Blogger contest change anything for you?

I’ve never received so many emails as I do now since winning – I’m now exposed to so many bright minds and ideas based in our city of Vancouver! But all business and jokes aside, I love to have not only made new online relationships, but I’ve also taken some to the next level and met as friends in real life!

Your blog is called East Van Baby. What do you love about East Van?

I love the pedestrian friendly neighbourhoods. I love the views, the green space, and the abundant playgrounds. I love that if I wanted to, I can eat cuisine from a different country for breakfast, lunch, snack, and dinner! I love people watching and the street style. I love the diversity and multiculturalism.

How is your own East Van baby doing? He’s a whole year older than he was last year!

My little East Van baby is no longer a baby! He’s a full fledged toddler who loves dressing up like Bruno Mars, all the while listening and singing to Michael Jackson’s music. He converses in English and Tagalog, he loves rice and all things ending with ‘-berries,’ and he’s running, jumping, spinning, rolling, dancing, and more! All SO fun!

What is your favourite thing to do in Vancouver with your family?

We love going to Rice Lake to trout fish, we love hunting/shopping for mid-century modern furniture, we love picking fruit whether it’s in the farms or by the railroad tracks, we love spending all day at New Brighton park and pool, and most of all we love picnic’ing at Grandview park with a neapolitan style pizza, and heading for the playground afterwards.

If you had one tip for the 2014 Top 30 Vancouver Mom Bloggers, what would it be?

Don’t get caught up in the numbers! Be true to yourself and blog what you love, not what you think you should be blogging about to help you gain a high traffic or number of followers. The readers will see you for who you are and they will come back.

Thanks so much to the fabulous Mitzi Manansala for sharing her viewpoint as a Vancouver mom on the street! Don’t forget to stop by her blog, East Van Baby. Also don’t forget to nominate your favourite Vancouver mom blogger for 2014. Also, if you’d like to share the high points of your neighbourhood with us in an upcoming mom on the street feature, drop us a line at vancouvermom.ca/contact. We’d love to hear from you!