Blog Tip Tuesday

Good morning beauties! It’s a lovely day here in Maryland and I’m happy to see the sun shining and a breeze blowing. I was scrolling through a Facebook group I’m apart of that’s specifically for fashion and lifestyle bloggers such as myself. One blogger posted about how no matter how small your blog is, you should value the audience has and so should anyone who approaches you for a collaboration. Especially, businesses that want to collaborate. I’m going to piggy back on what she said and give some words of wisdom to newer bloggers out there!

When I first started blogging (over a year ago), I knew nothing about how it’s done and how to gain followers. Being so inexperienced, people could very easily take advantage of me. And they did. Several times I was approached by big name brands (Warby Parker, Majestic Sp0rts and others) to write about their products on my blog. In exchange for doing this, they would be selecting their favorite blog posts and sharing them on their social media accounts. Thinking of how talented I was (or so I thought), I hopped on board and wrote a post about their products and how cute they are. I bet you can guess what didn’t happen next! Yep, my posts were never selected to be shared on social media.

Here’s what happens when companies approach you like this and you take the bait: they get free advertising and you get nothing. Typically, when bloggers are approached by companies for legitimate collaborations the blogger at least gets a free item if not monetary payment in addition to it. I follow several bloggers that are paid to wear clothes or take pictures of how they “styled” a certain piece of furniture in their home. To be honest, at times it gets annoying because you wonder if these products are any good or is said blogger just doing it for the money. However, it can also be a really great tool to use if done honestly.

The bottom line is, no matter how small your blog is, you should always be compensated for your time and blog space when companies want you to write about their products or services. It’s just that simple.

I’m still trying to figure out how to get legitimate offers from companies and how to actually make a living (or at least some spending money) off of blogging. I’ll let you know when I figure this out.

Obsessed with Watercolor

Hello lovelies! I have a new obsession- watercolor illustrations from the Jones Design Company! The owner and designer, Emily, is a talented lady that has so much to share with the world. I first heard about her business when I was looking for design blogs to follow and then I came across her store and fell in love with the cute things she’s created. She’s a busy wife and mom of four kids. Emily really takes #bosslady to a whole new level!

I ordered one of her prints a month ago and I was so happy with it. I wanted something beautiful to hang on my wall that also included words of encouragement for my toughest days. I chose the “Do Not Worry” print. In full it says “Do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself.” I repeat these words to myself every single day, we all should. There’s beauty and truth to them.

Emily also has a few freebies on her website including this adorable “Summer Essentials” print I downloaded and then printed on heavy card stock paper. It came out beautifully and looks so nice on my desk! I’m absolutely in love with the touch of whimsy illustrations like these can add to a room. There’s just something lovely about them.

I strongly believe that every room in a home needs flowers, sunlight, and artwork. Many of the Jones Design Company’s illustrations combine all of those things onto a single piece of paper. The results are truly wonderful. If you’re looking for something to brighten your living space, consider some of Emily’s artwork. It will make you smile!

What I Keep at the Office

Rejoice pretty people, it’s Friday! We’ve all been working hard (or hardly working) this week and it’s time for a break. Living near Washington, D.C. means that we need it more than everyone else. We truly are the city that never sleeps. We’re also the city that knows way too much about happy hours and not enough about how important it is that our livers function properly. That’s another post though.

I mentioned in another post that I got my first “big girl” job. I started about two weeks ago and have been going through some introductory meetings several times a week with my new team members- all of whom are guys. I’m the only girl to be hired on for this project. Many of you might run away at the idea of this but trust me, that would be a mistake! There’s a lot of power I have because of my unique position. Ok, maybe not. However, there are some advantages such as playing a leadership role when no one else is sure who should. Or being the only female voice, thus automatically getting more attention. Like I said, it isn’t a bad position to be in!

With everything in life, you need to be a little prepared though. I have a few #bosslady necessities that you’ll always find me with at the office or in a meeting. Let’s start with my red lipstick because it’s becoming my persona. Nars Cruella lip pencil is something I don’t leave home without anymore. It’s dramatic and eye catching! In a city that’s all business, this beautiful red fits the bill of being a business savvy Washingtonian.

My next must-have are heels. Ballet flats don’t command the attention of anyone. Heels, on the other hand, are quite attention grabbing. I work with men whom are all taller than I am, the heels really level the playing field for me. Plus, my legs look great! #winning

I feel like this next one goes without saying, but my grande vanilla iced latte will always be near by. I need energy to keep up with my team members. They’re smart, witty, and have commutes that are far shorter than mine. The coffee stays with me to cling to in my most desperate hour, which usually comes around 2:30 when I’m ready for a siesta.

Being the grown-up I am I always carry with me an agenda/planner. Little things I need to remember for certain dates always seem to come up in discussions. With my hot pink pen, I write down the details of events, projects, and the occasional happy hour.

Finally, I rock my reading glasses. Ladies, never underestimate the visual power of such a tool. Glasses suggest so much about a person’s intellect. I’d wear them more often if they didn’t get in the way of my Audrey Hepburn-style sunglasses.

I’m always adding to and updating my must-have list. Aren’t we all? I’m always falling in love with something new. During the winter months, my must-have was a heating pad so I wouldn’t be cold. I may be keeping it on the list if this new office proves to be chilly!

Enjoy your weekend!