Siberian Housewife Becomes Blogger with 'Recklessness and Courage'
She calls herself «a desperate housewife, a bit of a traveler, a mother, a wife, and a scatterbrained individual.» Her blog is not a polished picture, but a kaleidoscope of live emotions: from tears of delight at the Hogwarts castle in Beijing to fun pickling fish with her husband in the kitchen. Nastya Agafonova from Novosibirsk didn«t plan to become a blogger, but her sincerity and life rules have gathered tens of thousands of followers around her. In an interview with NGS.RU she shared how to stop being shy, find time for yourself on maternity leave, and enjoy every day.
Scatterbrained Individual
Nastya«s path to blogging was long and winding. After school, she worked as an animator — she enjoyed playing Baba Yaga, then moved into sales, and later worked in advertising. Her resume includes work at an event planning agency and ten years in the radio business. She was active 24/7, and her natural optimism only added energy for new achievements.
Everything changed when she 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 at one point 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: «What 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 a map to her new life, where the blog, from a long-standing dream she was too shy to realize («it seemed like you had to be someone special»), turned into a way to simply be herself.
Blog Without a 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 would go quiet during «office weekdays.» Talking about this, Nastya compared herself to Hannah Montana: «Somewhere you»re a superstar, and somewhere you«re 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 ordinary 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, scattered toys.
«Honestly? I tried different ways, but I get more response from stories where my husband and I are pickling fish in the kitchen than from a video on how to get to China on a budget,» shares the Siberian.
Nevertheless, viral success came from those very videos from Beijing: Nastya and her husband visited Universal Park. The girl shared her impressions of visiting Hogwarts castle from the Harry Potter universe with literal tears in her eyes, because it was her childhood dream. Sincere emotions melted 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 blog development strategy. She decided not to fixate on the topic of China and switched to Novosibirsk.
«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 like a charm — Novosibirsk residents became interested, subscribed, saved useful ideas: whether it«s a fur coat at a Chinese market for the price of a sushi set, or a promotion on tangerines at a local Pyaterochka store (a Russian grocery chain). Nastya also talked about the backstage of an unusual Siberian theater, and about her favorite establishments. People began to trust the blogger»s recommendations, which Nastya is sincerely happy about.
As a result, the three pillars of Nastya Agafonova«s blog are travel, including stories about her beloved China, home stories, and local reviews with recommendations. And also, recently, the young mother started organizing girls» nights out. Nastya doesn«t earn money from blogging, she simply enjoys that she manages to develop. Social media is a hobby in which she found herself and succeeded.
Life Motto: Recklessness and Courage
Nastya«s life philosophy crystallized during travels, where spontaneity often leads to the best adventures. Hence the main principle.
«Recklessness and courage,» Nastya laughs heartily, talking about the family motto.
By the way, it was born from a story that happened to the couple on the island of Bali. In 2018, they vacationed in Indonesia, and, being inexperienced tourists, did not know about the so-called «taxi mafia.» Refusing to pay a driver three times the price, they merrily dashed away from the driver along a narrow path into the jungle, where a car cannot go. And in the Philippines, they decided to try balut — a boiled egg with a nearly formed chick inside, complete 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 wince 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 is to show life as it is.
«A polished blog is not about me at all. I»m always sweaty, with a backpack on my back, somewhere in the middle of nowhere, arm in arm 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 as a gift. At first, Nastya was upset, but quickly pulled herself together by making a humorous video.
«I said that the only thing fat here is the check for buying the car, and I»m a curvy sexy lady,« laughs Nastya. As a result, the nickname »stuck« to her and now proudly adorns her profile header.
The girl considers it important to take care of herself. For her, care is not a complicated ritual, but following her desires: buying a dress, going to yoga, or just lying at home with a book.
«I do everything out of love. If I want to — I do, if I don»t want to — I don«t. If tomorrow I don»t want to shoot a video, I won«t shoot it. I»ll lie on the couch with dirty hair and binge-watch a series,« declares Nastya. She strongly addresses this rule to mothers immersed in daily chores.
«When I thought that I didn»t have enough time for myself... Actually, it was my choice. You can«t give something that is in short supply when you don»t have it,« the girl notes.
Even on difficult days, Nastya tries to find a reason for a little joy: a sunbeam, a chocolate coin from a gas station attendant, playing with balls with her husband in a children«s center.
«I can be equally happy about a gifted SUV and a cheap dress from a second-hand store. Being positive is our choice,» Nastya believes.
She works with hate in the same way: she sees an unhappy person behind an evil comment and often tries to talk calmly, turning aggression into constructive dialogue.
Main Support and Main Love
Nastya«s story is unthinkable without her family. She met her husband Andrey back in school, they were friends, and at 19 friendship grew into love. Their wedding was modest: a dress for 1,000 rubles (about $10 at current rates), shoes for 599 rubles (about $6 at current rates) from Centro Obuv (a shoe store). They joked that when they became big and rich, they would have a new one. And now on their tenth anniversary they plan to repeat the wedding, this time consciously and on a grand 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 on travels, as well as a partner in the family business selling New Year«s garlands, which they started »to save the family budget.« Nastya adores garlands, once she bought light installations for a substantial sum, 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 opened a store selling holiday goods.
Nastya is happy with her life as it is. She allowed herself to be different: a housewife, a traveler, a mother, a wife, and a scatterbrained individual who believes that the main thing in life is to be happy in the moment.
