VIDEO | I’m answering your questions!

So excited that I finally filmed another video. I actually filmed two recently, so there’s another one on its way soon. This is a great example of how to pitch yourself for something. I get emails frequently asking to intern for me or saying that they generically want to help somehow. The problem is that I don’t know how exactly we could work together in a mutually beneficial way! Jenny emailed me saying she was a student at Elon and living in NYC for the summer… and that she would love to help me film videos. It might have been a little bit of good timing, but a week before, I had decided to seriously commit to more video content.

We emailed a couple of times about timing and the types of video to film… and then we planned and scheduled and executed! Plus, it’s a lot of fun to work with someone when they’re passionate about it. The experience was awesome for me because Jenny was a pro with the camera, microphone, and lighting.

Anyway, I asked for a bunch of questions on social media and there were so many amazing ones that I couldn’t answer them all on film. (I do answer a few more below the video if you want to know more!) Thank you to everyone who asked something!

Video shot and edited by Jenny Sekulow 

I’m thinking that in the future, it might be best to just focus on one question and go a bit deeper… so if I hear that a lot of you want to know something specifically in detail, definitely ask! The more people that ask, the better the chances are that I’ll film my response (or write about it, you never know!).

How did you expand your blog from the beginning to now?


It was super slow and definitely didn’t happen overnight. I think a few factors came into play: I started blogging early in the game, I spent time connecting with readers and other bloggers thoughtfully, and I wrote consistently/frequently.

If you could live anywhere else in the world for a year, where would it be?


Paris! Have I ever actually been there? Nope… but I still think it would be amazing.

Do you ever see yourself doing anything besides what you’re doing now?


Kind of a tricky question… In a way, absolutely. In another way, definitely no. I think if I look at the specific things that I do on a daily basis, I would say no. But if you look at what I’m doing, then yes. That is, I think I’ll always be writing, helping girls, somehow involved with fashion/style. There’s this thing called myopia in the business world where companies get wrapped up in the wrong thing (examples: trains sell transportation; Kodak wasn’t selling film, they were selling memories; hammers are for making holes not for hammering). I don’t think “blogging” is long-term… but the things I’m doing, yes! There’s longevity, it’s just a matter of adapting with the times!

What do you miss most about college?


I miss a few things, but I definitely miss being forced to learn things I might not necessarily be interested in. I try to make myself read different things so I don’t stop learning!

What type of camera do you use?


If I’m taking the photos, 99% of the time it’s with my iPhone. The other 1% is with a Nikon D40 (a camera I’ve had since high school!).

How do you stay motivated?


PRIORITIZATION. If you prioritize correctly, you’ll always be motivated. I also love what I do and it’s so much easier to want to do something when you love it. Are there parts of my life that I don’t enjoy? Absolutely. But I focus on why they’re important in reaching a specific goal instead of why I hate what I have to do.

What music do you like to listen to?


I almost always have Pandora or Spotify on. Stations I like: Vampire Weekend, Adele, Jai Ho radio.

What is your favorite season and why?


A year ago and anytime before that I would have said fall hands down. After that last winter, however, I’m all about the endless summer. Fall in my mind now means winter is coming… no thank you!

Advice for people who want to live in a big city far away from home!


Do it. It’s all about that leap of faith. There’s nothing scarier than moving away from your family, but in my case, I personally think it made me grow so much. It was terribly hard at the beginning and I definitely still miss them… but I’m figuring out who I am in such a major way on my own.

How do you make money from blogging?


Sponsored content, affiliate links, ads based on pageviews, hosting events, consulting, brand collaborations, speaking engagements… I think that’s it!

How tall are you?


Taller than 5’5″, not quite 5’6″. (I also have terrible posture… so I appear shorter than I actually am whoops.)

How do you feel when others tell you they look up to you or you have inspired them?


This is such a good question. It’s actually something I kind of struggle with. On one hand, I find it extremely flattering. There are women in my life that I look up to greatly. So in that regard, it’s nice to know that people think of me in the same light. (I basically turn into a walking heart eye emoji when I’m with my role models and the women who inspire me!) On the other hand, I sometimes feel a lot of pressure from it. At the end of the day, I’m always myself through and through, but what I publish online is pretty edited. I share a lot, but it’s all from a certain perspective. Do I do normal things that girls in their mid-twenties do? Yes, I just don’t share those elements online. With such a young audience, I feel really responsible for the types of messages I send out. (For example… alcohol. I really don’t drink a lot. Maybe once a month, I’ll have a glass of champagne at an event or a margarita at dinner, but I don’t want to promote a lifestyle that’s alcohol-based when most– about 70%– of my audience is under 21.) In a way, it’s a good thing because I take care and caution about how I represent myself online, but there is a pressure of always wanting to be a good role model.

What are some staple pieces in your wardrobe that you have splurged on and haven’t regretted? And any that you have regretted?


Hands down, the best thing I own (which, in full disclosure was a birthday present when I was in college) are my Tory Burch riding boots. I’ve had them for almost five years and I can’t even imagine how many times they’ve been worn over the years. I imagine the cost/use is in the pennies. Absolutely worth the splurge and I swear they’ve gotten better over the years. As for what I regret, it’s not necessarily one thing, but more so when I buy something, like a dress, for one specific event. I rarely can find a place to wear it again. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve been better about buying clothes that I love that can turn into go-to outfits… instead of buying an outfit with an event in mind. I have some shoes that only go with one random dress or a pair of pants that only look great with the one sweater I bought at the same time. No bueno.

How much stuff is too much monogrammed stuff?


The limit does not exist. (Although, I do think some things should be left without a monogram and I do think there’s a such thing as a monogram that’s too big.)

What would you say to your teenage self?


Actually do the reading assignments, pay more attention in AP Chemistry, don’t stress out about college, moisturize every morning/night, do not think/worry about high school boys at all ever, don’t go to prom if you don’t want to go, appreciate home more!

Phew! Covered a lot there I think!


It’s hard to answer some of these without going into depth… So let me know if you want to know something else or more of something I said.