Where did the term “apricot tea” come from?
A few years ago, my sister introduced me to the song “Apricot Tea” by The Robot Ate Me. I found the song absolutely beautiful. From that point on, I nicknamed myself “apricot” & my sister was “tangerine”, reminiscent of the movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. When I had the idea of creating this blog, “apricot tea” was the first phrase that came mind, & has stuck ever since.
Is that your real name? If so, what does it mean?
Yes, Ev´Yan (said EV-YON) is my real name. Currently, it doesn’t have a meaning. It came from the creative imagination of my mother.
How old are you?
I am 22.
How tall are you?
I’m about 5’6”.
What ARE you?
My mother & father — who are divorced — are both black (African American), with a mix of Native American, Irish, German, & Jamaican.
What kind of camera do you use?
A Nikon D60, also known as Sven. I use a standard lens with a wireless remote & a tripod to take my outfit pictures.
How did you make your blog look the way it does (URL, design, etc.)?
First, I bought a domain through directnic.com, which allowed me to have my own personalized URL. Then, I independently hosted my site using mediatemple.net. (I use wordpress.com as a platform.) Once that was all set up, Jonathan created a custom blog design for Apricot Tea & used Headway to make it clean & pretty. If it weren’t for him, this blog wouldn’t exist.
What made you decide to get married so young?
Nothing particularly made me get married young. I suppose I just knew that he was the one for me & it felt right to be with him for the rest of my life. Not only that, but I always knew that I would get married at a young age; even when I was younger, I envisioned getting married in my early twenties. I would not have done it if it didn’t feel right.
Do you think you’ll ever regret getting married at a young age?
No.
You’ve mentioned that you don’t work; that you’re a “stay-at-home-housewife.” How do you manage to make that work?
I am the co-owner of Jonathan’s business, Illuminated Mind INC. Formally, I work under the titles Creative Director, Editor, Schedule Management Ninja, & Community Manager, amongst other things. Informally, my husband & I make a good team writing & brainstorming together. So, I am not technically jobless; I am self-employed.
Are you planning on having babies?
In a short answer: No. Our doggie, Sofié, is enough to keep the maternal feelings at bay. (For a long answer, click here.)
Why are you a vegetarian?
Being vegetarian was always something I wanted to do, but I never had the guts (or the willpower) to do it. Upon meeting Jonathan, I was faced with the prospect again, because he had been vegetarian since he was 16. For the first year of us dating (& by then, we were living with each other), shopping & cooking for 2 different agendas — a meat eater & a vegetarian — became difficult. Meat is not cheap, after all! Knowing that & watching Jonathan be so diligent in his efforts to stay true to what he believed, helped me transition smoothly.
Who does your hair?
I am a licensed cosmetologist (which is a story I have yet to tell), so I cut, color, & style my own hair.
What do you do apart from your blog?
I paint; I make jewelry; I give advice; I take pictures; I help my husband with his blog, amongst other things.