Q. I have "x", "y" or "z" item in my closet and am wondering how to style it? What are the upcoming trends for _________? (insert shoes, jeans, bags, etc)
A. I get TONS of these emails and they all go into a folder marked "reader questions". If I feel that they are applicable to research and post on the blog, I will. I can not possibly answer each and every question at length at this point, but I really do my best to get you a personalized email back with perhaps a tip or two. Again, no promises. If you have extensive questions about your wardrobe or upcoming trends I suggest you check out my most recent looks:book or hire me to do a wardrobe consult.
Q. I can't wear "x", "y" or "z" trend because I'm petite. (this is obviously more of a statement than a question, but common none-the-less).
A. I AM PETITE! My pictures must make me look tall... but I am not. I am only about five feet five inches (and that's likely right after I exit pilates class... otherwise I'm about an inch shorter) and have most of my pants professionally hemmed. Even jeans. It's worth it to have great fitting clothes. So never fear fellow petite ladies!
Q. How do you take your outfit photos?
A. I used to use a camera with a timer, now my husband takes all my photos for me.
Q. How much time do you put into your blog? How do you manage motherhood with blogging?
A. I get these two questions a lot. I put in about 3 hours a day about 6 days a week. These days it is often more. I am passionate about blogging so I FIND TIME to do it, no questions asked. If you are a mom, you know how valuable this extra time is. This is very hard with kids, but I make it work. Also, my kids are 7 & 4... so it becomes easier as they get older.
Q. How did you learn how to blog?
A. There are no blog fairies that swoop in and give private lessons on how to blog (although, maybe I could moonlight as one!). Anything and everything I have learned by either observation (not copying!) and google. So I'm self-taught, baby! I have lots to say on learning the art and craft of blogging... you can find all those juicy details in this e-book I wrote. I highly recommend it!
Q. Who designed/s your site?
A. This site is held together with a bit of gum, some string and a prayer. Kidding. Almost though... I just pulled this stuff together on my own. I'm evolving as a blogger and trying to teach myself as much as I can... including a little html, a lot of photoshop with a few MacGyver moves thrown in.
Q. Will you give me your secrets?
A. No. If you email me for proprietary information like how I publish my looks:books, how I pull together wardrobe consults, or my social security number you can expect to NOT get an email back from me. I have worked TOO hard to give away my secrets. You need to make your own secrets and style in the blog world, not snatch mine. Sorry!
Q. What are your favorite places to shop online/in person?
A. I just love the physical act of being "in" Target. But lately I am not great at scoring any good stuff from there. Right now I am in a tight rotation of J.Crew, Gap and Old Navy. I always love the cheap accessories from Forever 21. If you ever see me in a Zara it's a full on snatch and grab, but luckily (for me? for them?) I am about three hours away from one. In general, I like to shop online. I find that online shopping has more options and less stress. As a mom I don't get a lot of time to peruse the mall and if I do find the time I often still feel like I could be doing better things, plus, sometimes the mall just straight annoys me.
Q. I want to wear yoga pants everyday and still be stylish... is this possible?
A. I am pretty firm in believing that yoga/lounge pants are for at home or at the gym. I've said it before and I will say it again. If you catch me at the grocery store in yoga pants you better take my temperature or ask who died. It's really against my fashion philosophy. I know that comfort is key as a mom, so I suggest leggings instead of yoga pants. Wear them with a long tee or sweater and flats or boots and you are still just as comfortable without compromising on style. Also I tend to think that yoga pants aren't very flattering unless you are really in shape - so it kind of boggles my mind that women like them so much, they seem to flaunt flaws. But I guess that's off subject.
Q. What is your workout routine?
A. I am a die-hard pilates gal. But let me say, it's VERY important to find a very skilled and knowledgable instructor. You need an instructor that knows all of the standard pilates moves and is well versed with a reformer and how to imitate a reformer's moves on a mat (reformer classes are VERY expensive). Pilates class shouldn't just be taught by a yoga teacher or aerobics teacher that is familiar with pilates (some gyms do this and it's wrong, wrong, wrong). Pilates, when done right and taught right will dramatically change your body. I'm glad I have stuck with it (I've been torturing myself, I mean practicing pilates, for almost three years).
So that is my pilates rant. I do pilates for an hour once or twice a week. When I am not doing pilates my workouts consist of 25 minutes of aerobic exercise (fast walking or the dreaded elliptical, I do NOT run, hate it!) about 20 minutes of weight lifting to keep toned and random stuff like calf raises, lunges, planks or any other crazy weight/balance/toning trick I can come up with and 15 solid minutes of hard core abdominal work.
I've also clocked some serious minutes on the NTC iPhone app. That thing is nuts. But I love it/hate it.
Q. What is your diet like?
A. Ugghhh. If candy, pop and wine were food groups, they would be mine. I love junk food. Like REALLY love it. So I will bribe myself with "real" food to get it. I eat a small breakfast and lunch and usually a decent dinner and always a snack after the kids go to bed (so I don't have to share, naturally).
I'm not one with a HUGE appetite. But when I am hungry I eat and when I am not, I don't.
I try to do organic when I can and within reason. I was a vegetarian for a while and hope to go back to that diet when the kids get older. It's hard to have little ones and not serve meat. I also try to avoid gluten, but I'm not good at it. I was born with a cracker in my mouth (and I'd like to stay that way thank.you.very.much)
Q. What line of work were you in before staying home?
A. Um, Jill of all trades, master of none here. For many many years I was personal/executive/in-home assistant to the rich and (not so) famous. Really. Booking private jets. Grabbing coffees. Coordinating the delivery of fur coats and decorating Christmas trees and everything in between. In general, making dreams come true (every one else's dreams that is). Think Devil Wears Prada meets The Nanny Diaries. No joke. I quit that at the end of my pregnancy with my first child. TOO much for a mom to do. Well, too much for any normal person to do in general.
When I went back to work (my first was 8 months old) I worked for a small real estate developer running the office and doing whatever was thrown at me. I balanced the books, chose paint colors, did walk throughs with contractors, bossed big guys with hammers in their hands around, kept up bank relations and (again) fetched coffees. I loved this job, but we all know what the housing market is/was like and it became very stressful.
I left after three years to a job that I thought would be more secure and it turns out I hate 'secure' and 'boring' and cubicles. I quit and decided to stay home and pursue my own thing. That was a blog, I guess.
Some day I would love to get back into real estate is some shape/form. That some day is likely a long time from now.
Some day I would love to get back into real estate is some shape/form. That some day is likely a long time from now.
Q. What do you like most and least about blogging?
A. Let's see... LEAST: mean people. blogging can be a rat race.
MOST: really awesome people I have met. Total creative freedom. I do what I want, when I want. Did I mention my bloggy friends?
Seriously, when I first started blogging I would hear other bloggers say that and I wouldn't get it. But it's true, if you do this enough and do it right... the best thing about blogging is meeting amazing people.
Q. What are good styles for the 50+ set?
Seriously, my mom is the "50 + set" and she dresses like me. I don't think the stuff I put on here is out of reach for the more mature audience. Always (no matter your age) make sure you feel comfortable in what you are wearing and make sure that it expresses your personal style.
I will say that some of the current trends that are friendly to all ages are these: striped tops, casual blazers, tunics with leggings, wide leg jeans and flats.
Q. What is your make-up routine and favorites?
A. I really enjoy the Boots line at Target. It's easy to use, great quality and a good price point. Check out the video tutorial here!
Q. Do you consider blogging your 'job'? How/Why?
A. Yes. This blog isn't so much a stream of income as is the services and products that I offer in conjunction with it. Think wardrobe consults and looks:books & e-books. Then there are other more "standard" streams of income from the blog like sponsorships and affiliates. I'm not going to go super in depth here... but that's how. The "why" is because if I wasn't doing this I would be getting a "real" job... and who wants a "real" job. (not me) So I stick with this gig and work my butt off because I love it.
Q. What is your plan of attack when going into really high volume stores like Forever 21?
A. This is a good question, I think you have to be in the right mindset and have somewhat in mind what you are looking for. You also have to be ready to try on A LOT of stuff. There is a lot of trial and error in Forever 21, at least for me. I'm sure it's very similar to thrifting, which I don't really get into... similar mentality.
Q. What is your "go-to" outfit?
A. Leggings are good... skinny jeans are always good for me... blazers I love for their simple sophistication and stripes I love.
Q. What TOMS do you recommend?
A. I have a pair of polka dots and a pair of silver sparkles. I also really love the leopard pair Jackie has and the burlap pair b.a. has. Tough decisions. I saw the black sparkles recently in person and I really like those as well. So my top three are sparkles (any color), burlap or leopard. That's actually three recommendations!
Q. Do you have advice for new bloggers or aspiring bloggers?
A. Heck yes! I wrote a fab series about blogging called 'blogging bits' a while back. Then I turned the whole thing into an e-book. Check it out!
Q. Can I see inside your house?
A. Sure, as long as you aren't peeking through the windows! Check out my 'casa good life' posts. I hope to do more of these as my home evolves. But that is what I have so far. This post on how I organize my closet is a very popular one!
