happy monday, everyone! last week and this past weekend seemingly flew by. i was on vacation most of the week prior, and returning to “real life” (aka work life) has kept me busy. but now, can i return to vacation mode?
if you follow along on social media, you know several friends and i visited lake chelan for the fourth of july. we typically coordinate several rooms at grandview on the lake. this year, however, we opted to all stay together (in one large room), and it was a blast! we couldn’t have asked for better weather. (it was in the mid 80s all week.) i enjoyed sitting lakeside in the sun, sipping lemonade, and reading “the handmaids tale” by margaret atwood. we also visited several local wineries, restaurants, and coffee shops. overall, despite our large group, it was a low-key vacation!
as a fashion, beauty, and lifestyle blogger, i often receive questions via email or social media messaging on a variety of blog-related topics. i thought it would be fun to compile a few of the most asked questions into a blog post (or perhaps, a blog series) and share my answers with you! (and if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out—i am happy to share my experience.)
when and how did you get started blogging? i began diary of this girl in 2011 on blogspot, a free platform. i have a background in english, but grew up with a passion for writing and fashion. a blog seemed like a fun and productive creative outlet. my fellow bloggers know this, but blogging has changed a great deal over the years. (instagram and other social media platforms didn’t exist; it was purely website-based content.) i continue to enjoy creating content for diary of this girl. thank you for following along!
where do you most often shop for clothes? believe it or not, a large portion of my clothes (including shoes and accessories) were purchased second hand. i love the thrill-of-the-thrift! my favorite thrift stores include seattle goodwill, buffalo exchange, and crossroads trading co. when shopping new, i enjoy visiting zara, nordstrom, and urban outfitters. i also shop online at asos.
what motivates you to write your blog? i have an immense passion for writing. i graduated with a minor in english from gonzaga university and recently completed my editing certificate at the university of washington. (i also enjoy editing the words of my fellow writers.) styling outfits and taking photos are fun, but my favorite part of the blogging experience is creating written content for diary of this girl. instagram and other social media platforms are great to peruse, but i most enjoy sitting at my computer (cup of coffee in hand) with a “new post” window open. while you may not have asked this, my least favorite part? putting away outfits post photo shoot. #toomanythings
how do you learn about collaborations? i am fortunate to have worked with a variety of brands and organizations throughout my blogging career. while some posts and/or content is sponsored, much of my content is organic. (you can tell if a post is sponsored if i include a “disclosure message” at the top of my blog post. additionally, you can read my full disclosure here.) typically, when a post is collaborative, a brand has reached out to me via email. i am grateful to have an ongoing relationship with several brands and look forward to future collaborations!
do sponsored posts include honest reviews? and do you write about products you genuinely like and/or use? this is a “hot topic” of conversation in the blogging community. while it may or may not be relevant for non-bloggers (and i don’t mean to offend anyone by saying that), accepting any and all sponsorships is simply not best practice.
i am fortunate to receive requests via email for collaborative posts or sponsorships. the requests range in scope, but typically include fashion, beauty, food, and/or other lifestyle content to be shared in a blog post and on social media. while i read through most requests, there are times i say no because the sponsorship (or item) referenced does not align with my brand. while i am open to trying new products, if the request feels completely aberrant, i will politely decline the collaboration.
how long does it take you to write a post? a blog post can take anywhere from an hour to several hours to write. however, that does not include the time spent styling the outfit(s), taking photos, editing photos, and cross-promoting the post on social media. all in all, blogging is a fun, yet time-consuming hobby!
photos by karya schanilec photography
dress: zara (old), vest: c/o pink sheep heiress (exact here), shoes: thredup, purse: thrifted (via seattle goodwill)
i reached out to family members and a few friends to compile this first list of questions. if you have other questions you’d like answered (blog-related or not), please don’t hesitate to email or direct message me on social media. i enjoy sharing my experience with you!
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