"Balance Is The Ultimate Goal In Life" - Chiara's Coffee Table
Chiara Maria Sassu, 31, from Rome, invited me into her beautiful home to take a moment and sit down with me, to tell me about why she started her blog, the story behind the name "Sanlitun Queen" and what her dreams and goals for the future are.
They spent some time in Denmark until 2010 when they, for a while, moved to China. Eventually they returned to Denmark, and stayed there for 6 months, but they were not happy. So finally they decided to return to China, and have now been here for 5 years.
- As an architect I started working right away. I mean, we arrived here on a Saturday and by Wednesday I was working.
Chiara always wanted to write, it was a way to express herself, and with being in China and seeing all the things happening here, she wished she could share it with other people.
At that time she was not too happy with her job as an architect, and at a certain point she realized that it was not what she wanted to do.
- I was having the time of my life but was locked in an office for 8 hours a day, I didn't have fun, I felt like I was wasting my time.
She started working on her blog, doing everything by herself, and then January 1st 2014, the blog was launched and she just had to go for it.
- For a couple a month’s I tried to juggled work with the blog, but it was hard to find time to write or meet people for the blog, so I found the courage to leave my job, and since then, it has been a fantastic ride with the blog.
- I always say that when I was locked in my office I would have loved to be able to read stories about people who had a vision and went for it. So this is what I am offering. It doesn't matter if he is a chef, model or writer; as long as they have an interesting story to share I like to talk to them.
The blog have been growing every single month since the launch 1 year and 3 months ago, and had exposure in local and international media, with the number or readers steadily increasing.
- I don't like to check the number of readers, because I don't think it is an very important element in this whole thing, I do this for fun, I don't get paid for this, so it is not very important data for me.
- It is Chiara because it is about me, my life, and I am the only editor for now, so that's why my name is in it. And “coffee table” because in Italy you would never go out for coffee, you would invite your friends over, prepare coffee for them, sit down and have a chat. So I thought the coffee table would be a place where all my friends and family would gather and hear my stories. And now the “coffee table” I so crowded (haha).
I was thinking at the name for a long time, and at a certain point I wrote it down; it is my name because it is like my baby, so I wanted it to be Chiara, and coffee is a big part of the ritual that makes life happy and fun. So, I think it works.
Every day, how much time do you spend on your blog?
- 18 hours a day. Because my mind is always spinning. When I worked as an architect I worked 9-5 and then I was off, but now I am always on. From the moment I open my eyes in the morning until I got to bed, I am always thinking of ways to make it better. I might not actually work on it, like sitting at my computer, but I always think about how to make it better.
What has been the hardest thing about running your blog?
- What was bothering me in the beginning was people’s idea of fashion blogger, that is a bad thing. And me, I wasn't 18 when I started, I just finished my PhD and had regular job, and I just quite everything and started new. My husband has always been very supportive, but talking to my parents about it, since they invested a lot in my education and such, it was not easy to explain why I was not happy at my job and wanted something different.
Best things about it?
- Talking to people. I think the best part is the relationship with people. And when people stop me on the street and tell me the like something I wrote, it is this personal warmth, and that is fantastic. I have meet more interesting people doing this for 14 months than in 5 years in an office. It is really fun!
Where does the name "Sanlitun Queen" come from?
- It was a little bit fun.. You know how powerful hashtags are now..? So, "Sanlitun" because I live here and because every time I do anything it all happens here. And "Queen" because I am not a princess anymore, because I think when you pass 30 then you are no longer princess and become a queen. And because I married my king 2 years ago.
And, honestly, that's how I feel. I feel like this is my home, my kingdom (haha). I like it here, I feel comfortable here, I know it, and people here know me. When I go out I always meet someone I know. And this hashtag; #sanlitunqueen, because I have some moments of my life that I feel has a “red thread”, they are connected. Maybe it all happened in this neighborhood or maybe I had the same “feeling” when I was living these moments, so I hashtag them "sanlitunqueen".
Where does your interest in fashion come from?
- In Italy you are born in that environment, it is part of our culture. No one in my family is in fashion, I come from a different background, but you are taught to be respectful of it and appreciate design because it is one of the big businesses still alive in Italy. And my mom has a really strong fashion sense, so she taught me to look good all the time. My grandmother is the same, women in my family has always paid attention to the way they look. But I am the 2.0 version of it; it is a hobby, a passion, and now a part of my job as well.
What inspires you?
- I would really say; everything. If I see something beautiful, I am inspired. And it can be anything, like flowers, a beautiful cake, shoes or a skyline. I would say beauty. I think I have a very strong sense for beauty.
- I feel good doing this, it makes me feel accomplished, the blogs success is my personal success. So that's keeps me going. But then I also want to improve myself, even though I am doing well now, I want to keep improving. I want to make it better and better every single day.
What do you do outside of the blog or is the blog your life?
- The blog is my life, it is like a magnifying lens, everything I do I think about from the blog perspective. My husband always tell me I should be off after 10pm, like, if I get a comment I should answer it the next day instead of right away. I still do have time to do my own things like working out, hanging with friends or with my husband, but my blog is a big part of my life. This is not a normal job, it is a lifestyle.
How do you find a balance in life?
- It is impossible, I can’t! I was much better at balance before when I was working for someone else, because then when you leave the office, what is done is done, and the work has to wait to the next day. But now when I have my computer and phone with me all the time, you can always check everything. Eventually I will have to find a way, because I think balance is the ultimate goal of everyone’s life, it is what really makes life good, when you found it you are done, you don't have to worry about anything else. But I am not there yet.
What is your goal for the future, for the blog and for yourself?
- I am very ambitious, I invested a lot in this blog; time, energy and even reputation – I put myself under the spotlight. I have big dreams for me and my blog. I want to improve myself; I want to be a fashion editor, so I am thinking of taking a master’s degree in fashion journalism. I would like to have a regular column in one these lifestyle magazine like ‘Vanity Fair’, for example, I want to contribute to a bigger picture, be part of an editorial team and share stories about China. Because a lot of people don't know China, so I want to share. I’m a very proud Chinese ambassador, I love china, and I want to share this love.
Any tips for women wanting to start their own blog?
- They should know it is a job, it is full time hobby. It is not easy to make money out of it, so that should not be the drive. It is a lot of time and energy, it is not something you just do 20 minutes in the evening, there is so much more work than that.
Coffee or tea?
Coffee, espresso with milk, macchiato.
Heels or handbags?
Handbags, I don't wear heels. Designer bags, I like Céline.
Vogue or Elle magazine?
Vogue, I am classic.
Night out or night in?
Night in. We just bought a new TV so it is great when my husband comes home early so we can watch movies on the sofa.
Never again blog or never again Instagram?
Never again Instagram…but I like it so much! So it will a lot to do without. But blogging is a way to express myself; I can't see myself stop doing this.