Vanilla Beige started in 2016, in Singapore. Most of the writing is from those years – food, travel, and the people and ideas I kept discovering on that small island. That work is still here, stored under my precious archives of a time I’ll never forget.
When I moved to New Jersey, just a month before the pandemic, I became the Reluctant Housewife, and I barely wrote. Days were full of domesticity, bucolic life and all the things I never thought I’d be. I designed planners to combat boredom. I cooked because I needed to. In place of city living, my very own kitchen became The Wilds Cafe, a place I would host new friends and share food, laughter and my life in America. I still love that name. Maybe I’ll keep it.
Now, I’m in Australia, and this version of me is currently the version that feels more like myself. After 16 years away from where I became a citizen, it’s refreshing to be back down under. I’ll still overshare about home and food, and the occasional hockey rink, because I’m an ice hockey mum. I still design planners, as printables on Etsy and as publications on Amazon.
Daily life is on Instagram.
What Vanilla Beige Used to Be About
Read on if you want to to see what this About page originally said about Vanilla Beige. Some still is relevant but remember, that was a long time ago.
Hi, I’m Angela, founder of Vanilla Beige and you’ll soon find out that I am neither vanilla nor beige. What started in 2016 as an online publication bringing together different writers and their stories has turned into my blog where I can share reviews and personal stories. I also have friends who contribute because they want to or because I’ve begged them to share about an amazing experience they’ve had. (Thank you so much for all your stories, guys!)
Vanilla Beige also become an avenue for content creation. I explore, plan, research, write and photograph my own material. Occasional, I’ll be invited to an event or am gifted a product. These I am happy to share if I feel it fits the sentiment of Vanilla Beige. I am never obligated and you’ll find that we clearly tell you what our involvement is with these brands on every post.
I love new brands and the people behind them who are doing something, anything to help better their families and their lives. I feel honoured to be able to champion these people and promote them where I can. Most of our interviews are conducted via email and are published free of charge. It’s my little way of saying “thank you” and “you are incredible” to all the business owners working so hard to make a difference.
I also photograph and write for other brands, big and small, who may or may not appear on Vanilla Beige. Somehow I fell into content creation and I love every minute of it. I see it as a learning adventure so I share all the things I find along the way.
As of November 2019, all our content has been published free of charge but in order to continue, we will need to monetise our efforts. As a start, Vanilla Beige contains affiliate links. We started adding these in from 2018. This means that we may earn a small commission if you purchase through these links. You may also request a Media Kit listing our charges for content, social media, photography or other services we offer. Please email hello@vanillabeige.com if you’re interested, telling us how you found us, why you would like to work with us and what kind of work you need. Please note, we will only share this with serious brands or individuals.
If you are a PR Company or Brand who would like to work with us, also please email hello@vanillabeige.com. We appreciate all gifted products and media invitations but we cannot guarantee that we will write or share about them.
We are for:
the connoisseurs, the curious, the lovers, the hobbyists, the finders and sharers, do gooders, go getters.
I believe that even the simplest of things can bring us great joy and this is what I choose to write about. Life is never really vanilla or beige but even the most mundane has it’s own beauty. And that is why I have named this platform Vanilla Beige. Whenever you’ve having a plain day, check us out and see if you discover anything new and special.
Thank you for reading this! You’re what makes this worthwhile so please go on and share the love, follow us, tell people about us and talk to us.
xo
Angie