Happy Anniversary!

Exactly one year ago, I wrote my very first blog post. Happy Anniversary to us! Looking back over the last year, I’m extremely proud of how far this little blog has come.  Launching this was quite the experience and labor of love.  I love getting emails from you guys and today, I wanted to answer the three most common questions I’ve gotten over the last year! 

1.) I want to start a blog.  Do you have any tips?  
First of all, congratulations on taking the plunge!  My personal experience has been that the digital world can be extremely warm and inviting to new people.  Establishing a network of like minded bloggers and people in your industry is ideal and will save your sanity.  I’ve met a community of amazing, supportive, local blogging women by attending events, networking and putting myself out there even when it felt super awkward.  Remember that Ralph Lauren event I blogged about? I went alone, without knowing anybody and NOBODY talked to me. It seemed like everyone knew each other and I was so uncomfortable! At first, I pretended to look at the clothing, and acted like I knew what I was doing (I didn’t) and then I introduced myself to a woman who ended up being my first styling and closet editing client.  Put yourself out there.  Invite another blogger to lunch, attend local events, engage on the pages of other bloggers, go to blogging conferences.  In general, learn as much as you possibly can about the industry and then keep learning more.  Be consistent with how often you blog/post and with your content. If you’re going to blog once per week, really do it.  Set goals for yourself and stick to them (see some of mine here).  Treat your blog as if it’s your own business and brand…because it is!

 2.) What are your favorite beauty products?  
I
get this one a LOT which means I need to do a beauty blog post stat!  In
general, for makeup, I lean toward Laura Mercier.  My skincare of choice has
always been Aveeno but I’m starting to explore the anti-aging world. 
Hello wrinkles.  As soon as I stop nursing Coco, I plan on starting
Retinol.  I’ve also been exploring some all natural products for
skincare which I’ll share with you soon as well. Do you have any products that you can’t live without?  I’d love to hear about them!

3.) How do you balance your blog, family and other jobs?
I don’t…does anyone?  The struggle is real.  Although I’m super passionate about all of my jobs, I hardly ever talk about them unless someone asks.  I guess I never want to be the person who is always talking about how ‘busy’ they are. Aside from blogging, I am a closet editor and stylist.  I help clients purge clothing that is old, ill-fitting or outdated and organize their closet so it looks like a little boutique.  See an example of that here.  I also style clients for special events.  Have a black tie wedding on a plantation in Georgia coming up? A cocktail clam bake in Maryland? A new job where your attire is business casual?  I help people dress appropriately and fabulously for any and all occasions.  Oh yes, and I am a cephalometric analyst.  I analyze the
digital x-rays of orthodontic and dental patients.  I find landmarks on
the x-rays that help create treatment plans for patients.  So about that balance…I make a schedule for myself which is a work in progress.  All of my work is done from home which is the ultimate double edged sword because I always feel like I should be throwing in a load of laundry in addition to doing whatever else I’m doing. I blog twice a week, do closets on Tuesdays and Thursdays and on the weekend when I have a sitter for Coco and fit everything else in between.  I’ve always been a morning person so usually I’m working by 5:30AM so I can get some time in before Coco wakes up.  At the end of the day, usually one thing in my life is doing phenomenally well at the expense of another, however, I’m finally doing something I love so I don’t mind the juggle.  My goal now is to find a way to squeeze in a little bit of me time and I’d like to work out more consistently.  If you have the key to life balance, do share because I don’t know a woman around me who has it figured out.

Thank you for following along and supporting KaraLovesCoco over the last year.  It has been such a fantastic learning experience for me and I wouldn’t be doing it if it weren’t for your support.  I will continue to push myself to inspire with you my photos and fashion and appreciate each and every one of you so much!  Thank you from the bottom of my heart! xoxo