Novosibirsk Blogger Shares How Imperfect Homemakers Can Be Happy
She calls herself a «desperate homemaker, a bit of a traveler, a mother, a wife, and a quirky individual.» Her blog is not a polished picture, but a kaleidoscope of live emotions: from delight in the «Hogwarts» park in Beijing to salting fish with her husband in the kitchen. Nastya Agafonova from Novosibirsk did not plan to become a blogger, but her sincerity and life rules have gathered tens of thousands of followers around her. In an interview, she told how to stop being shy, find time for yourself during maternity leave, and rejoice in every day.
A Quirky Individual
Nastya«s path to blogging was long and winding. After school, the girl worked as an animator—enjoyably playing Baba Yaga, then she went into sales, later engaged in advertising. In her resume, Nastya has work at a holiday organization agency and ten years of experience in the radio business. She was active 24/7, and her natural optimism only spurred her towards new achievements.
Everything changed when the girl gave birth to her son and went on maternity leave. The activities remained, but changed format: the young mother was running around like a hamster on a wheel around the child and the country house, until one moment she caught herself feeling deep apathy.
“Everything was wonderful, but I couldn«t get rid of the thought that I was locked up, living within four walls,” she recalls.
The turning point came when the child went to kindergarten. Nastya was left alone with the main question: “Who do I want to be when I grow up?” The answer came in the form of a list—a simple plan in notes.
“If you don«t know where to start, sit down and write point by point: what worries you, what areas you want to improve. Imagined problems will dissipate, and with real ones you»ll find what to do. You need a clear plan, only then will the tangle begin to unravel,” Nastya explains her approach.
The clear plan became for the girl a map to her new life, where the blog from a long-standing dream, which she was shy to realize (“it seemed like you need to be some kind of special”), turned into a way to simply be herself.
Blog Without Strategy, But With Soul
Nastya has been running social media for over ten years, but truly actively—for about two years. Previously, it was a simple travel diary for 300 subscribers, which quieted down during «office weekdays.» Telling about this, Nastya compared herself to Hannah Montana: “Somewhere you«re a superstar, and somewhere an ordinary person.”
Scrolling through the feed, the girl noticed the main thing—people are tired of gloss, they are hooked by sincerity and simplicity. The audience wants to see more gray weekdays, the same life as their own: with ups and downs, with an imperfect picture, with dust on the shelves, with unwashed plates after lunch, toys scattered by children.
“Honestly? I tried in different ways, but I get the most response from stories where my husband and I are salting fish in the kitchen, than from a video on how to get to China on a budget,” shares the Siberian woman.
Nevertheless, viral success came from those very videos from Beijing: Nastya and her husband visited Universal park. With tears in her eyes from an overflow of feelings, the girl shared impressions from visiting Hogwarts castle from the «Harry Potter» universe. Fulfilling a childhood dream, she certainly decided to share emotions with subscribers, melting the hearts of thousands of millennials. Likes flew, reach expanded, new subscribers followed.
On the wave of success, Nastya did not chase trends, and she has no strategy. She did not focus on the China theme and switched to Novosibirsk, deciding to trust fate.
“If subscribers don«t come—so be it. I»ll try something else, there«s so much interesting stuff,” she says.
Subscribers did come, mentioning the region in the first seconds of the video worked perfectly—Novosibirsk residents became interested, subscribed, saved useful ideas: be it a fur coat at a Chinese market for the price of a sushi set, or a promotion on tangerines at the local «Pyaterochka». Nastya also told about the backstage of an unusual Siberian theater, and about favorite establishments. Recommendations from the blogger became trusted, which Nastya is sincerely happy about.
As a result, the three pillars of Nastya Agafonova«s blog became: travels, including stories about her beloved China, home stories, and local reviews with recommendations. Recently, the Siberian woman started organizing girls» nights out. Nastya has no earnings from blogging, she simply rejoices in what she manages to develop. Social media—a hobby in which she found herself and succeeded.
Life Motto: Foolhardiness and Courage
Nastya«s life philosophy crystallized in travels, where spontaneity often leads to the best adventures. Hence the main principle.
“Foolhardiness and courage,” Nastya laughs heartily, telling about the family motto.
By the way, it was born from a story that happened to the spouses on the island of Bali. In 2018, they vacationed in Indonesia, and, being still inexperienced tourists, did not know about the so-called «taxi mafia.» Refusing to pay a driver three times the price, they cheerfully rushed along a narrow path into the jungle, where a car can«t go. And in the Philippines, they decided to try balut—a boiled egg with an almost formed chick with feathers and cartilage.
“You could say: ‘Oh, I«m too good for this,’ and then think: ‘Damn, what does it taste like?’ Or you can grimace a little, take a bite—but then you»ll have a story for a lifetime,” the blogger believes.
About Life as It Is
Nastya is categorically against filters that change the face. Her principle—to show life as it is.
“A polished blog—that«s not about me at all. I—am always sweaty, with a backpack on my back, somewhere in the middle of nowhere hand in hand with my husband. That»s my vibe,” the girl smiles.
Accepting herself was helped by an incident with haters, who called her «fat» under a photo with a new car: her husband gave her a Range Rover. At first, Nastya was upset, but quickly pulled herself together, filming a humorous video.
“I said that the only fat thing here is the bill for buying the car, and I—am a curvy sexpot,” laughs Nastya. In the end, the nickname «stuck» to her and now proudly adorns the profile header.
The girl considers it important to take care of herself. For her, care—is not a complex ritual, but following her desires: buy a dress, go to yoga, or simply lie at home with a book.
“I do everything out of love. If I want—I do, if I don«t want—I don»t. If tomorrow I don«t want to shoot a video, I won»t shoot it. I«ll lie on the sofa with dirty hair and binge-watch a series,” declares Nastya. This rule she strongly addresses to mothers immersed in everyday life.
“When I thought that I didn«t have enough time for myself… Actually, it was my choice. You can»t give something in short supply when you don«t have it yourself,” the girl notes.
Even on difficult days, Nastya looks for a reason for a little joy: a sunbeam, a chocolate coin from a gas station attendant in response to her gifted chocolate, playing with balls with her husband in a children«s center.
“I can equally rejoice in a gifted SUV and a penny dress from a second-hand store. Being positive—is our choice,” Nastya believes.
She works with hate in the same way: sees behind an angry comment an unhappy person and often tries to calmly talk, turning aggression into constructive dialogue.
Main Support and Main Love
Nastya«s story is unthinkable without her family. With her husband Andrey, they met back in school, were friends, and at 19, friendship grew into love. Their wedding was modest: a dress for 1000 rubles (about $11 at current rates), shoes for 599 rubles (about $7 at current rates) from »Centro obuv«. They joked that when they become big and rich, they would arrange a new one. And now on the tenth anniversary, they plan to repeat the registration at the registry office, already consciously and with scale.
“If you ask what I«m most proud of—it»s my family. Without them, probably, there would be nothing,” Nastya confesses.
Andrey—is her main cameraman and support in travels, as well as a partner in the family business selling New Year garlands, which they started «to save the family budget.» Nastya adores garlands, once she gathered light installations for a substantial amount, planning to decorate the house. The strategic mind of her husband decided to monetize his wife«s love for lanterns and other tinsel—so they had a store selling holiday goods.
Nastya is happy with her life as it is. She allowed herself to be different: a homemaker, traveler, mother, wife, and a quirky individual who believes that the main thing in life—is to be happy in the moment.
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