Thursday, July 23, 2020

July 2020 Q&A

Somehow I forgot to work on a Questions and Answers post for y’all in June, but I’m glad to be back answering y’alls questions this month! These posts are great for me personally since it gives me a chance to see what you’re interested in knowing based on the questions you ask me on Instagram. They tend to be all over the place, which is kind of refreshing, so I hope you enjoy reading through what is asked and my answers as well! 


Productive things to do at home and get organized and clean! 
With the school year approaching, one productive thing I like to do this time of year is to organize my desk. Especially since I’ve been working from home a good bit, it has become a catch-all of sorts and could use a bit of organization. Whether that’s recycling papers I don’t need or properly filing them, I think that’s where I’d start. Otherwise, cleaning and organizing my drawers and closet always makes me feel productive! 

Love life status? You’ve been talking about a “friend” quite a bit!
Whoever asked this has clearly been a long-time reader and knows that when I use the word “friend” without giving a name, it’s usually a good guess to assume I’m referring to a guy and, more often than not, a guy I have gone on dates with. So, great sleuthing, and I’ll admit that this time is no different. To be slightly more transparent, I’ve been dating someone since mid-March (aka right before quarantine started). If you’ve read Step Into My Week posts, then you may have already seen him there, but just because I’m answering this question now doesn’t mean I’m going to suddenly start sharing a ton more now. I’ve always been a private person (funny that I have a blog when that is the case) and intend to continue to keep parts of my personal life more private, so “friend” may continue to remain code for him, that’s to be determined.

If you were turning 21 now, what are some gifts you would want?
Thinking back to my 21st birthday, I remember telling my parents I wanted something that I could have forever. Looking back, 21 is kind of a funny birthday to insist on wanting something long-lasting, but they made it happen. I received a beautiful vase from one of my favorite artists, Caroline Boykin, that I love displaying in my room and have ever since receiving it. Jewelry is another great gift you can have forever. At 21, I didn’t yet have my Michele Watch, and I think that would be an incredible 21st birthday gift. I wear mine daily and never would have considered myself to be a watch person until I received it. 

I think a trip would also be a fun experiential gift. Now that I’ve gotten older, schedules have gotten busier, and my family is spread apart I wish I would have insisted on some sort of family trip. That would be a gift that would keep giving to other family members, but I also know it may be hard to actually execute. 

Chic and/or personalized phone cases? Mine is currently falling apart?
I LOVE  mine from  The Daily Edited. It’s protective and durable, and the customization options are seemingly endless. I’m the type of person who usually only has one phone case from the time I get a phone to the time I upgrade it years later, so I don’t mind spending a little bit more upfront.  This shop has some more affordable personalized options, but I can’t speak to the durability of them since I haven’t actually used one.

How do you stay motivated to work out?
It took some time after our shelter in place was lifted for me to feel comfortable going back to my workout studio (which is at half client capacity with more time to clean between class times) and it also took a lot of hyping myself up to get motivated to get back to working out. Now, even when I don’t want to go, I know how much better and more productive I feel when I have worked out. Cute workout clothes and a workout you really love make a difference too! 

What advice do you have for someone just starting out in blogging?
Create your blog on WordPress. I know that’s probably not the advice you’re looking for, but I’m still dragging my feet when it comes to switching from the platform I use, Blogger, to WordPress. I know I’d be able to customize my site more to my liking and utilize features that could potentially help my website grow, but I know it will be a process to finally switch things over. 

Other than that, just start and remain true to yourself. I have a blog post with other  advice for new bloggers here

Favorite midwestern place to visit? Kinda random, just curious. I’m from the Midwest. 
I haven’t actually been to the Midwest, so I don’t have an answer to this, but I would love to visit someday. 

Favorite nail polish colors?
Essie is my go-to when it comes to nail polish, and their gel line is particularly great. It’s long-lasting and applies very smoothly! The colors I’ve been rotating through this summer are:  Lace Me Up,  Make The Cut, and  Perfect Posture. Make sure to use the  gel top coat too! 

Which online stores’ websites do you browse the most?
Given the fact that I’ve been trying to keep up with my Saturday Shopping series, I am constantly online browsing for cute products to include. It feels like I never put together one of those posts without items from H&M, Nordstrom, Tuckernuck, and lately, Stories. Personally, I love to look at Zara and Mango’s sites for pieces to potentially add to my own closet. 

What are some fun activities you’ve been up to?
It feels like this summer has been filled with far fewer activities (and with good reason), but I have been trying my best to add in a few fun things lately! I would say playing tennis and going on walks have been some of my favorite outdoor activities, and in addition to that, my friends and I have been trying some cocktail recipes, and I’ve been playing lots of  board/card games

Do you still love blogging?
I do! There are some times when it feels like a chore since it isn’t my full-time job, and I tend to put a lot of pressure on myself to get posts up, but I do really enjoy it and appreciate having a place to store my thoughts and express my creativity. 

What do you miss most about life before COVID?
Going to restaurants and hanging out with lots of friends without having to overthink things! I also miss typical things I look forward to each season. It was a bummer not having activities like Thursday night baseball games and trips to weddings to look forward to. Hopefully, we can get all this under control soon, but for now, I’m doing my best to find the positives (like working from home in pajamas with unlimited access to coffee and doing a better job of appreciating the little things). 

Favorite TV shows you’ve been watching?
In the past couple of weeks, I’ve been catching up on the newest seasons of The Bold Type. Aside from that, I’ve been watching The 100 with said “friend” above, and we both agree it’s a show we both enjoy. There’s a lot that happens in each episode, so it isn’t a show to multitask during but is an interesting mix of science and survival, which I realize sounds like a bad way to explain it. 

Do you have a team that helps you?
Nope, I pretty much do everything solo. I do have a couple of friends who I feel comfortable asking for help on photos I need to be in (definitely one of the most uncomfortable parts of blogging in my opinion), but other than that, it’s a one-woman show! 

What sustainable clothing brands/items do you love?
Many sites are working towards making their clothing more sustainable, so I don’t have a list of those running, but I do have an item that definitely makes the cut as my favorite sustainable discovery. Enter  the makeup eraser. It’s like makeup wipes but is a cloth that can be washed over and over again and only needs to be dampened to remove your makeup! 

Who are your favorite Peloton instructors & classes?
Ally Love is my all-time favorite, and her Sundays with Love classes never fail me. I also really like Cody Rigsby! Since gyms have been closed and I haven’t been at my parent’s house where our Peloton is, I haven’t taken a class in forever, and I really miss it. 

Where did you get inspiration for decorating your apartment/house? 
I tend to just go off of what I like, which isn’t super helpful. I still LOVE looking at Pinterest for inspiration, too, and follow a lot of interior designers/decorators on Instagram as well. 

Before I bore y’all anymore, I’m going to wrap this post up. If you think of anything else, you’d like to know, then be sure to follow along on Instagram so that you can ask it the next time I request questions for a Q&A style post. 


No comments :

Post a Comment

Blog Design by Get Polished