behind the blog: lilly's style

Today I'm thrilled to showcase Lilly from Lilly's Style on Behind the Blog. Lilly is actually one of the women I was thinking about when I started this series because I thought her huge success in fashion blogging was so interesting and inspiring for "everyday" women. Hers was one of the very first blogs I started to follow, and unknowingly to her, she's very much influenced my own style. I love her classic style, how clothes just seem to always look great on her, and her easy going attitude about her closet and style. 

Tell us what motivate you to start blogging. Were you following a lot of personal style/fashion blogs before you started blogging?

Before I started blogging I didn't even know what a blog was. I accidentally came across a fashion blog and was hooked ever since. I found it very inspirational and decided to start one myself shortly after. Blogging helped me step out of my comfort zone so I decided to share it with the rest of the world, or just those who are interested in my blog :)

Which blogs do you read every day? 

I actually follow a lot of blogs…too many to name.

Who takes your pictures? What camera and lens do you use? Have you ever been caught in the act of taking these?

My pictures are taken by either my sister or my husband, which ever one has time. I use a Canon t3i with the 1.8 lens. I've been caught taking pictures plenty of time.  And it's still awkward each time it happens.

Do people in real life know about your blog? What were their reactions when they found out about your blog?

Well….I didn't think anyone I know would ever find out about my blog. But suddenly everyone knows about it.  Some people think it's the coolest thing, some have not said a word to me about it, and I’m sure there are some that think "what in the world is she doing" haha  But the people that matter the most in my life and whose opinion counts are very supportive and that's what matters to me at the end of the day.

I found your blog via Pinterest as I’m sure thousands of other women have. What’s it like to see your face all over everyone’s Pinterest boards?

Very odd, to be honest with you. Early into my blogging I used to crop my face out just because I wanted to remain anonymous but then I started including a full shot here and there. Part of me wishes I would be kept it anonymous.  It’s about the outfits after all.

Many fashion bloggers hop from one trend to the next. How do you manage to stay on trend without breaking the bank and just blindly following each trend?

I wear what I personally like. I follow some trends to a certain degree but refuse to spend a lot of them, after all trends fade. Plus I'm all about a good deal.  I'd rather invest in timeless pieces than something that might be out of style in a year or less.

What three pieces of clothing would you never want to part with?

I’m going to include shoes in this question as there some I definitely do not want to part with. Currently, Ivanka Trump studded heels. They are THE most comfortable pair of heels I own and I just love the style.  Second would be my Mother jeansjust because they’re the most softest and comfortable jeans I’ve ever worn. And last but not least my Tory Burch Calista flats. Yes, they are pricy but very comfy.

Putting yourself on the internet comes with the expectation that not everyone will always love what you are wearing and writing. Have you encountered any of these criticisms, and if so, how do you handle it?

That is very true. No matter what we wear or say there is ALWAYS going to be someone out there that does not like it. Truth is, we can't please everyone. And I have said it before - the things I wear are for my enjoyment, I have to like them and not worry if someone might dislike it. Unfortunately, there are a lot of hateful people out there and they are hateful for different reason. Women just can't seem to be happy for other women.  Jealousy makes people mean. It’s all about focusing on the positive.

What has been the best thing to come out of blogging? 

It's interacting with other ladies that enjoy the same thing - fashion. I've "met" some very sweet ladies.  There are definitely a lot of perks to blogging but I’ve really enjoyed virtually meeting so many wonderful bloggy friends.

When it comes to promotion of your blog, what methods do you use? Do you spend a lot of time commenting on other blogs, pinning your looks, doing link ups?

I'm the worst when it comes to promoting my blog. I've never truly promoted my blog, other than creating a folder on Pinterest for myown outfits and that is after many requests from my readers. I’m not sure if that’s even considered promoting. Other than that, sad to say, I haven’t done anything else.

What tips or suggestions do you have for your fellow bloggers? 

Be yourself! I have to keep remembering this myself. It's easy to get influenced by others, try to be like them, or worry what people might say about you. But never, ever compare yourself to others and don’t worry what others say. Ignore the haters. If they’re hating than you must be doing something right. Every person has different style, different budget, etc.  Try to stay true to yourself.

 Thank you so much Lilly! If you haven't already started following Lilly, you can find her here on bloglovin, on facebook, and on instagram!

behind the blog: aj wears clothes

I am so excited for today's Behind the Blog. AJ blogs at the aptly titled AJ Wears Clothes. Yes, she's adorable, has really cute fun clothes, and looks gorgeous with both long and short hair (brat), but she's like...really funny. If you aren't following her on twitter, you need to. She tells it how it is, and if you are a blogger, you'll find yourself nodding and giggling at the same time about everything she tweets. AJ has also recently started a new Friday link up called Friday Favorites - basically you just show how you've re-worn something that you've worn recently which I think is awesome because it really shows you how versatile clothes can be. And now, the questions!

Tell us what motivate you to start blogging. Were you following a lot of personal style/fashion blogs before you started blogging?

This is actually the 3rd or 4th style blog I started - I started following a ton of the big bloggers back in 2007 and wanted to document my own style, but nothing ever STUCK. It's probably a good thing, considering some of the outfits that did make those first few blog drafts several years ago. I think AJ Wears Clothes finally stuck because I had invested in a nice camera earlier that year and because I forced myself to actually start something after buying a domain (for a dollar).

Which blogs do you read every day? 

I'm an RSS junkie so I follow 100+ there. Mostly I just like pretty pictures, but there are a few that are a "Must Read" for me because I actually read them. Usually because they're snarky, funny, or just interesting. A few blogs I actually READ include Sarah's Real Life (her sarcasm is fresh!), Sabrina Says (she's just so darn cute), and Pretty Ugly (and I laugh until I cry). I also love bloggers who sew, so Mimi G and Erica B are fab girls to follow if you like that sort of thing. 

And Franish because I think she might be reading this.

Who takes your pictures? What camera and lens do you use? Have you ever been caught in the act of taking these?

My husband takes my pictures about 60% of the time - the other times I'm rocking a tripod and remote. I have a Nikon D3100 with a 1.8/f 35mm prime (which I love) but plan on upgrading to the D5000 series in the next few months because of the auxiliary mic capabilities and twisty screen (because I like looking at myself). I've TOTALLY been caught in the act before. I was taking photos downtown and this woman was like…"What are you doing?" and I had to laugh and pretend like I heard my phone ringing while I ran down the street crying. (Actually, I just said…"Uh I have a blog" and awkwardly slunk away) It's less awkward when someone takes my pictures for me, because I just look like a weird tourist.

Run us through how you put a blog post together.

After I've decided I look acceptable for the day, I take about 20 pictures or so and sit down and have a look at them, opening the ones I like in PS. I shoot raw, so I can manipulate the exposure and clarity a little, then crop them to my liking and add a curve layer so it pops a little. I narrow it all down to about 5-7 photos, at least two full body, one "header" image, and a few detail shots depending on how interesting I think my outfit is (you can always tell when I'm bored with an outfit bc you only get two pictures). I basically throw them all in a blogger post and then write around them in a style I can only call "stream of consciousness". After I go through and edit and preview, I usually schedule the post for the next morning. You can tell if I've been drinking by the amount of exclamation points I use. Hurrah!!!!!!!

Do people in real life know about your blog? What were their reactions when they found out about your blog?

My friend Sandra and I started blogs around the same time together, so unfortunately for our friends, they not only know, it's almost all they hear about. My mom is responsible for a majority of my page views. She says people who know me in real life constantly ask her "how I get to do things like this". So, I'd say people's reactions are, "Is this your job?". People who don't know me are like, "what's a blog?"

Many fashion bloggers hop from one trend to the next. How do you manage to stay on trend without breaking the bank and just blindly following each trend?

I LOVE trends. They're fun. I like experimenting with my fashion - but I also know I get bored with things very, very easily so if I'm going to buy into a trend, I'm going to do it on the cheap. That's why they invented Forever 21. I have no problem with fast fashion. I think it's important to find some key, classic pieces though to go around the trends and fill in the gaps when ostrich feather skirts are SO OUT but you haven't found the perfect floral headdress yet.

Putting yourself on the internet comes with the expectation that not everyone will always love what you are wearing and writing. Have you encountered any of these criticisms, and if so, how do you handle it?

I will always be the first to admit when something isn't working for me. Sometimes, I post it anyway and talk about why I thought the outfit was a disaster, because I think it's helpful to learn from mistakes - I also think it's cool when bloggers are real and don't feign perfection all of the time. It's fine if people don't like a certain outfit or my face, because I hate mustard and french toast. Not everything is for everyone. If I feel the need to respond to something, I usually type out a long tweet and delete it instead of posting it…it's therapeutic and no one gets hurt.

When it comes to promotion of your blog, what methods do you use? 

I'm pretty lazy, I usually post a (ONE) link on facebook and twitter, and upload it to Pose. If I'm doing a sponsored post or giveaway, I'll often shell out the extra $5 to FB to promote it. I tag brands or post to their FB page for some extra traffic. I'll pin the stuff too if I'm feeling good about it. I'd said earlier this year that this was the year I started promoting and advertising, but so far I just can't be bothered. I like the idea of people finding it organically, whatever that means. #lazybloggerprobs

What tips or suggestions do you have for your fellow bloggers? 

1. Buy a domain if you can't get serious about blogging. It'll help it stick better.

2. Never lose sight of the community aspect. It's the best part.

3. Don't be afraid to photoshop toenail polish onto a sad pedicure (or learn how…it's worth it)

4. Figure out what you care about, and work on that. For me, I am always trying to make my photography better, so upgrading to a prime lens was huge for me. I'm constantly reading tips and tutorials on photo editing and shooting.

5. Never take yourself too seriously. I love my blogging personality because it's my REAL personality. If I were trying too hard to be serious and fashion-y, it would come off as inauthentic. But since I embraced the whole, "Hey! I'm a dork who loves clothes and here's a picture of me making a fart face" persona, everyone embraced it with me. Personality is awesome. If you have one. If not, maybe consider baking instead of blogging.

6. When you pick a name, google it first to make sure no one else has it or it's not some weird stripper name. And maybe it's time to move on from the "Something & Something" model.

7. Don't be afraid to ask for help! I love doing what I can to help other bloggers with layouts, photos, whatever. 

8. I also think it's really nice when bloggers embrace what makes them different.

9. Don't make a video of yourself dancing around in a bustier and put it on YouTube. The creepy men WILL FIND YOU (I learned this the hard way).

10. Take a lot of photos. You'll have a better chance of getting a good one. And you'll get WAY better outtakes.

What has been the best thing to come out of blogging? 

I said it up there - but seriously, it's community. I continually meet the coolest people that I wish I were friends with in real life! It's something we should all celebrate.

And I also really like it when brands send me free things. It's great, you know you all love it too, so just give in. Free stuff is awesome. Except this one time when I got these neon blue leggings and matching dress. That was not cute.

Best Behind the Blog of all time? Possibly. Make sure you go give AJ a high five and a slap on the ass for me. 

behind the blog: work clothes, i suppose

This week's Behind the Blog is a girl who has been mentioned quite a few times around here. Please welcome Bri from Work Clothes, I Suppose, the girl behind the best clothing trick I ever learned, and the girl who keeps us on our toes for Third Thursday Threads. 

Tell us what motivate you to start blogging. Were you following a lot of personal style/fashion blogs before you started blogging?

I started taking photos of my outfit every day on my iPhone out of pure laziness and lack of creativity. I read lots of other fashion blogs, but before pinterest, it was hard to get allof them in one place, so I figured I'd be my own blog. It allowed me to remember what I’d worn in the past so that I could lay in bed until the last possible minute in the morning without having to come up with an outfit – I could simply look through past photos and modify little things to make each day unique.

I started blogging because Ash, my photographer from 2012, really pushed me to try it. She knew I took photos every day myself to remember my outfits, and she liked what I was wearing, so she was the one who gave me the encouragement. I’m pretty thankful for it now.

Which blogs do you read every day? 

Oh gosh. Too many, and they actually change based on how much time I have during little breaks at work. My recent favorites are Twelve by Six, Professionally Petite, Sam Ipsa Loquitor, The Perpetual Student’s Wife, Along the Lines of Style and of course Franish! I read WAY more than that, though, and I comment and pin outfits often! Reading blogs provides such great inspiration!!

Who takes your pictures? What camera and lens do you use? Have you ever been caught in the act of taking these?

I used to have a great photographer in my co-worker Ash, but she’s off traveling in Asia on a bit of a sabbatical right now. When she was taking my photos, all the pics were simply on my iPhone. We usually went up on the roof of our parking garage, and we got caught once by a co-worker…it was definitely awkward. Now that Ash is off exploring, I have set up a tripod for my simple point-and-shoot camera. I hope to upgrade soon!

Do people in real life know about your blog? What were their reactions when they found out about your blog?

Yes, they do now. At first I kept it a huge secret, but slowly but surely it leaked out. Most of my close girlfriends and female family members read it now, which I love. And of course the boyfriend knows it exists, but he doesn’t read it very often, as far as I know. I thought I’d hate real life friends knowing about it, but it actually provides lots of support and encouragement.

Your blog often features what you wear at work (many of you pictures are even taken at work!). What restrictions does work put on your wardrobe, and how do you work within those confines?

My work is awesome. For those of you not already following the blog, I work for a super-nerdy technology startup based in Seattle. In fact, I’d say that being in Seattle puts more restrictions on my outfits than my work does. At work, we have people wearing suits, and others wearing shorts & t-shirts (even in winter), and I dress somewhere in the middle. If I’m meeting with customers or partners, I try to stay in slacks or skirts, and when I’ll be in the office all day, I’m often in jeans. But Seattle, especially in the winter, makes it challenging. You’ve probably heard it rains here, and if you haven’t, how’s that rock you’re living under? But seriously, dealing with the rain every day puts quite a restriction on how I dress myself.

Many fashion bloggers hop from one trend to the next. How do you manage to stay on trend without breaking the bank and just blindly following each trend?

Thank goodness I’m pretty strict with myself when it comes to a shopping budget. In fact, I’m paying even more attention in 2013 and will be linking up for Budgeting Bloggers right here every month with Franziska! In addition to a tight budget, I often have a hard time trusting the trends until they have stuck around for a bit. So I’m rarely an early adopter, to borrow a term from marketing, and more often wait until the trend has some lasting potential.

Putting yourself on the internet comes with the expectation that not everyone will always love what you are wearing and writing. Have you encountered any oft hese criticisms, and if so, how do you handle it?

I have been SO lucky! I think that with more readers will come more criticism, so I guess I should be ready for that, but so far I’ve had the most supportive and complimentary readers and followers so far. I love getting comments each day and I hope I never get to a point where I’m afraid to read them because they may carry some critique or criticism. Maybe I need to be more daring so that people have stronger opinions about what I’m wearing!

What has been the best thing to come out of blogging? 

Can there be two bests? I love the community out here! The other blogs to read and comment on, the readers and commenters of my blog, the collaboration that comes through linkups and features like this. It’s amazing. Also, I love that I’ve become more creative with my closet. I’m wearing things in ways I wouldn’t have before. I’m challenging myself. And I love that the pieces of my closet now go farther than they did pre-blogging.

When it comes to promotion of your blog, what methods do you use? Do you spend a lot of time commenting on other blogs, pinning your looks, doing link ups?

I’m definitely not consistent in this area. I travel at least a week each month, and so I have a hard enough time simply putting up outfits at least 3 days a week. I definitely comment on other blogs, but I did that even before I had a blog, so I don’t actually use it for promotion. I pin my looks sometimes, and I do linkups sometimes and I tell people in person sometimes. One of my goals in 2013 is to really figure out what I want to do to promote, if I even do. I love the organic growth I’ve gotten so far and I would love to see it grow even more inthe future.

What tips or suggestions do you have for your fellow bloggers? 

I think the biggest thing I recommend is to do it for yourself more than for anyone else, and have fun!  Blog when you feel like blogging, and take a break when you need one. Don’t let guilt play a role in your blogging—instead, keep it positive and make friends in the blogging community. Make your blog a place you enjoy coming to every day. I think it’s as simple as that! 

Thank you, Bri! Make sure you go visit Work Clothes, I Suppose!

behind the blog: jeans and a teacup

This week for Behind the Blog we have Jessica from Jeans and a Teacup. Jessica writes the blog with her sister, and is known for the fashion side of the blog. She lives in sunny California where she works as a movie extra (isn't that so cool?!). I love her fresh and clean style and I know you will too!

Tell us what motivate you to start blogging. Were you following a lot of personal style/fashion blogs before you started blogging?

I followed “the big ones” like Kendi Everyday, Cupcakes and Cashmere and Atlantic-Pacific for about a year before I started to think, “I need a hobby, maybe I could take pictures of my outfits everyday!”

But I’ll be honest, starting a blog seemed like a big step.  So I got my sister involved! I knew she was interested in blogs and so our initial plan was to start a lifestyle blog.  It’s since evolved to mainly fashion/outfit posts but that’s ok.

Which blogs do you read every day? 

There are so many lovely blogs I read everyday, I wish I could list them all! I love Crazy Style Love, Delusions of Grandeur, Because of Jackie, Because Shanna Said So, Camo Meets Couture and Dreaming in Cashmere to name just a few.

Who takes your pictures? What camera and lens do you use? Have you ever been caught in the act of taking these?

My husband takes my pictures!  We use a Canon Rebel XSi camera and Canon Zoom Lens EF 70-300mm to take outfit pictures.  He had spoiled me with the camera and lens for Christmas and my birthday before I had even started blogging so I’m lucky on that end. I am super camera shy which does not mix well with living in an apartment in a city! I have to take my photos on the sidewalk with neighbors and cars passing by.  Awkward! Although, people don’t usually stop and stare which is nice.

Do people in real life know about your blog? What were their reactions when they found out about your blog?

My immediate family knows about the blog and they are supportive. I also told my two best friends and I think my sister has told some of her friends.  But I guess I’m too scared to tell my other friends that I have a website where I post pictures of myself!

How has your style changed since you’ve started your blog?

I have definitely become more adventurous with my style since I started blogging.  I used to be a “jeans and a tee” kind of gal before I started. (Hence part of the inspiration for our blog title…Jeans and a Tea-cup! hehe) But now I’m not afraid to try mixing prints, different styles/trends and pants other than denim jeans!  I can also say that I have an easier time “shopping my closet” and mixing things together that I would have never thought of before.

Many fashion bloggers hop from one trend to the next. How do you manage to stay on trend without breaking the bank and just blindly following each trend?

I don’t think it’s bad to follow trends.  You can usually find things at Forever 21 or Target without breaking the bank (especially in the clearance section)! I also make sure that I can wear that “trendy” item a couple different ways.  For example, I bought a pair of floral pants in the fall but I made sure the print worked well in other seasons and I could wear a lot of different tops with it.  I also only spent $20 on them!

However, stay true to yourself and don’t buy something unless you like it and can incorporate it into your wardrobe.  You will never see me wearing a pair of wedge sneakers! It’s just not me!

Putting yourself on the internet comes with the expectation that not everyone will always love what you are wearing and writing. Have you encountered any of these criticisms, and if so, how do you handle it?

I have been lucky so far to not get any negative comments! I’m actually surprised since I know people can have strong opinions. But I also don’t post controversial/negative material on my blog so the comments I get are positive.

What has been the best thing to come out of blogging? 

It’s given me something to do! But seriously, blogging has been such a fun hobby.  I never expected to “meet” so many cool ladies and find so much inspiration out there in the blog world.  It’s also been really great to collaborate on something with my sister.  We weren’t super close growing up and now we live in different states so this blog is something that we can work on together!

When it comes to promotion of your blog, what methods do you use? Do you spend a lot of time commenting on other blogs, pinning your looks, doing link ups?

I do spend a lot of time visiting and commenting on other blogs.  Maybe too much time!  My degree is in music performance and I’ve definitely been neglecting my clarinet in favor of blogging…oops! But blogging is my hobby and I love spending time looking at other people’s outfits and finding new blogs. Link ups are a great way to participate in the blog community and find new blogs.  However, I don’t want people to follow me just so they can get a follow back.  I’m hoping for genuine followers which might mean my blog grows a little more slowly since I don’t necessarily respond to “I’ll follow you if you follow me” comments.

I also try to keep up with my social media accounts by updating and promoting my blog on facebook, twitter, and pinterest.  However, I don’t have a smartphone which can make it difficult to “keep up” with social media. It also means I can’t participate in Instagram (I feel so out of the loop! Haha)!

I promised my husband when I started this blog that I wouldn’t have to spend any money to do it! So far I’ve been able to keep that promise.  That means I can’t spend money to buy ads on other blogs.  Maybe one day if my blog generates any money I’ll be able to do that!

What tips or suggestions do you have for your fellow bloggers?

If you are posting outfit pictures please make them as large as you can! I get so disappointed when I visit a fashion blog and I can’t see what you are wearing because your photo is so small!

Work with what ya got! I believe you don’t have to have an expensive camera, Photoshop or designer clothes to have a good blog.  It might mean you have to put a little more time and effort into finding alternatives or teaching yourself how to make your “point and shoot” take good pictures but it’s worth it!

Thank you so much for taking time to answer my questions Jessica! Please go visit Jeans and a Teacup and don't forget to follow them on bloglovin to stay in touch!

behind the blog: franish

This coming Monday will mark the one year anniversary of me starting my blog so I figured it would be fitting for today's Behind the Blog to be about...me. So here I am...interviewing myself.

Tell us what motivated you to start blogging. Were you following a lot of personal style/fashion blogs before you started blogging?

I started reading fashion blogs over Thanksgiving break of 2010. I had stumbled upon (literally) a post by Keiko Lynn, and it just went from there. I couldn't believe that "real people" took pictures of themselves and posted them on the internet for us to look at! I started following a lot of the bigger bloggers, and then with the emergence of Pinterest my list grew and grew. I started my blog on a whim. I liked my outfit one day so I took a picture of it with my macbook in my bathroom. From there it just kind of...developed. I started taking torso shots in the bathroom (secretely - I turned up the volume of the music playing so Chris wouldn't hear the shutter snap), and then started taking them in my backyard before work (at this point I had told Chris about this little venture), and now outside on creepy back roads. It definitely happened in baby steps!

Which blogs do you read every day? 

I read so many blogs. Whenever I feel any kind of connection with a blog I add it to my list, which is also why I don't regularly read any of the "bigger" blogs. The ladies on my "blog love" page are the blogs where I read every single post they put up, but I have about 200 that I follow and read semi regularly. 

                                                           

Who takes your pictures? What camera and lens do you use? Have you ever been caught in the act of taking these?

I take my own pictures using a tripod (this one) and a remote (this one). I purchased a DSLR, a Sony a390, back in 2010 and recently upgraded the lens to a 55mm. I almost always take my pictures before work, on the side of a back road. It's a side road that runs with a bigger road, so cars are always driving by. I wonder sometimes if someone from work ever drives by and sees me standing in the road - turns out they do. One of the higher ups that I'm close with asked me the other day "what I'm doing out there every morning". Thankfully he thought it was really cool, but it was still kind of embarrassing! In the colder months I've had several people stop to ask if my car broke down and I need help. Nope, just standing here in the freezing weather taking selfies on the side of the road! :/

Walk us through the set up of writing a blog post.

I take my pictures in the morning right before work. Then I go to my job all day. Then when I get home I upload the pictures, figure out which ~5 to use (which takes some time, figuring out which one my face looks least fat in or where I don't have crazy fingers), adjust the coloring, and then upload to Flickr. Then I start to figure out what I should even say, and put the pictures into the post. Then I look for the links to the same/similar items. Finally I label it with the items I'm wearing (kind of OCD but also really helpful) and schedule the post. All in all, it probably takes me like 1.5 hours for everything but I'm also usually chatting with Kimmie online or playing around with my dogs.

  

Do people in real life know about your blog? What were their reactions when they found out about your blog?

Most people know about it now just because my twitter and instagram are my "personal" twitter/instagram, so people from my real life know about it, but I don't think many really read it except my close friends. Everyone's just kind of "oh, cool!...moving on" about it which is how I prefer it. The act of taking selfies and sharing them on the internet can be seen/is incredibly vain so I don't go around announcing it to people but it's not something I'm ashamed of either. I love this silly little hobby!
 

Many fashion bloggers hop from one trend to the next. How do you manage to stay on trend without breaking the bank and just blindly following each trend?

I don't think I'm a huge trend follower (or am I and I don't know it?!), and never really have been, so it isn't too difficult for me to stay away from trends. It takes me a really long time to warm up to certain trends, so by the time that does happen, they may already be over and then I don't feel the need to participate! Things like wedge sneakers and neon just aren't something I would feel comfortable in, so I just don't. I hate to say "I dress for me" because LOL, but what I wear on the blog is what I really wear in my real life. Blogging has helped me polish my look, but it hasn't changed it. If there is something I want to try out I hit up Target / Old Navy / DSW and try to find a cheap alternative because...I'm cheap. Overall, I try to make sure whatever I buy is practical and something I'll feel comfortable in wearing more than just once for a blog post. That isn't the point of my blog.

Putting yourself on the internet comes with the expectation that not everyone will always love what you are wearing and writing. Have you encountered any of these criticisms, and if so, how do you handle it?

I think the internet has become so intertwined with our daily lives that we come to expect to be treated on there as we are in real life. Not everyone is going to like you on the internet, just like in real life. I think the best you can do is try not to be too abrassive or annoying, and then whatever happens happens. Putting yourself out there can be intimidating but I think the positives greatly outweigh any negatives.

What has been the best thing to come out of blogging? 

After I graduated from college, all of my friends moved away. I stayed in Madison because Chris was still in school, but I felt very lost and alone. I went to my job that I didn't love every day, and then went home and sat around watching TV. I was just bored and...alone. Starting to blog has brought all of these amazing women into my life. I talk to them more than I really talk to almost anyone, which..sounds so strange to type out, but it's true! Blogging has given me something to do, someone to connect with, and something to look forward to every day. I really don't want to gush, but I think you guys are all wonderful and really do bring me so much joy :)

When it comes to promotion of your blog, what methods do you use? Do you spend a lot of time commenting on other blogs, pinning your looks, doing link ups?

I do a lot of the typical things - promoting once on twitter and on facebook. I also pin one picture onto a "Blogged" board on Pinterest. I do a few link-ups a week which brings in a bit of traffic, and I spend time visiting others who also link-up. All pretty typical "promotions" I think. I don't want to be too pushy about my blog post, and I want people to see me for more than just someone who pushes their posts onto them on social media so I make sure to use those means to do other things like promoting other blogs and just being able to connect with others.

What tips or suggestions do you have for your fellow bloggers? 

Tips! I've been thinking about what I was going to type here for months now and so now I'm scared I'm going to forget the things I wanted to say. I'll just run through the process:

- Pictures: I am the last person you would want photography tips from. My camara is set on non-flash auto at all times. I'm so ashamed (but not really). My tips for pictures is don't do direct sunlight - take pictures during the "magic hour" and you'll pretty much be set. Unfortunately for me this isn't working as well anymore now that the sun is up early in the morning so I have to revise my way of taking pictures. Show your outfit, don't be a weirdo (unless you are a weirdo. then embrace that)

- Uploading: if you use Blogger, don't upload your pictures directly into blogger. They are compressed and get weirdly blurry/not the same color. I use flickr to upload all of my pictures and then copy them into the HTML. If you are looking for more info about this, I learned this from Catherine - she sets it up nicely here. 

- Affiliate Linking: If you want to use affiliate linking, great! It's a wonderful way to bring in a bit of an income for things you are already recommending anyway. I think the biggest thing about affiliate linking is being open about. Make sure you have a disclosure section somewhere on your blog. The worst thing your readers can feel is cheated by you, and by not being open about the fact that their clicks put money in your pockets, they'll feel you are somehow cheating them. My second recommendation is figuring out which of the affiliates to use. Think about what kind of blogger you are, what you are recommending, and who your readers are. I'm a pretty "budget" blogger and I feel you ladies probably are too. We're window shoppers, so we like to click around and see what's out there, so for me, shopstyle makes the most sense. Although you can't figure out what is being clicked like you can on rewardstyle, you can make them a bit.ly and then you can track your clicks that way. Don't get greedy with clicks (it can be hard I know) and remember that your readers trust you so don't abuse that.

- DON'T BE A SPAMMER. If you visit other people's blogs, make an effort to get to know them and see what they have to say. Don't just write "cute outfit! check out my blog, facebook, twitter, instagram, bloglovin, RSS feed HERE!" and move on. I'm always tempted to delete those comments. Follow the bloggers you like on social media and interact with them! For me, Instagram is my favorite because you can type more and everyone can join in on the conversation. You can get to know people so much better this way.

- Don't feel you need to do what is popular or what everyone else does. There are a lot of "blogging trends" out there that you don't need to participate in if you don't want to. For example, doing instagram recaps or participating in very large group giveaways is pretty common now, but I feel that isn't that right fit for my blog so I don't do them. Find out what is right for you and don't feel you need to do everything everyone else does.

- Have fun! 

Thank you to everyone who has made my first year of blogging wonderful - thank you for the kind words, giggles, and love you've shown. My heart is full when I think about how many amazing ladies (and a few gentlemen!) I've met.

behind the blog: mai-heart

This week's Behind the Blog is all about Mai Heart. Crystal works as a college professor and always has a chic but affordable outfit on so not only is she a smarty pants, but also stylish. She's also currently holding a giveaway on her blog so make sure you go and enter that while you go say hi!

Tell us what motivate you to start blogging. Were you following a lot of personal style/fashion blogs before you started blogging?

I started my blog because I wanted to share my story with everyone. My friends have always encouraged me to start a personal shopping business for everyday women. However, starting a business takes a lot of dedication and hard work and I am not experienced enough to take the plunge. Instead of building a business, I decided to create a blog to share my shopping experiences, life and outfits.

Before I started my blog, I was reading a few blogs at the time, Atlantic-Pacific, Along the Lines of Style(Between the Lines, then), Kendi Everyday, and Sequins & Stilettos. These blogs are completely different from one another, which made it encouraging to start my own!

Which blogs do you read every day? 

Every morning I wake up, I pick up my phone and go straight to Along The Lines of Style, Franish ( of course!!), Mix and Match Fashion, Atlantic-Pacific, Sequins & Stilettos, and Kendi Everyday  This is by no means in no particular order. It’s my routine to check them all. It’s like brushing your teeth you have to do it!

Who takes your pictures? What camera and lens do you use? Have you ever been caught in the act of taking these?

Me, myself and my manfrotto tripod. My significant other bought me this amazing tripod that’s light as a feather but extremely sturdy. At the moment, I do not have a DSLR but use a Canon G12. One day I will snatch my significant others DSLR and call it my own and use a lens that works? Haha. I get caught in the act almost every single time I take pictures of my outfits. It doesn’t matter what time I take it. I think most of my apartment building thinks I am vain. Lol.

Do people in real life know about your blog? What were their reactions when they found out about your blog?

When I first started my blog, I was shy about telling people in my real everyday life. I was not sure how they would approach my love for fashion. Surprisingly, no one has made rude remarks, besides a little tease here and there, which I do not mind. Some were afraid my students will run into it and other’s knew my addiction for fashion, so there were no surprises for them.

You work as a college professor – what kind of limits does that put on your wardrobe?

No limits at all. Of course, I put limits on myself. My rule is, if I can bend over with no stress. I am dressed appropriately. I kid! Honestly, I try best to dress fun and professional. Sometimes my challenges are dressing frumpy on my lazy days, which I think everyone has.

Many fashion bloggers hop from one trend to the next. How do you manage to stay on trend without breaking the bank and just blindly following each trend?

When I buy trendy items, I refuse to pay more than $15 for it. This way, if I wear it 3 times, I will not feel as bad. However, when it comes to basic items, such as a black blazer, nice jeans, or timeless handbag, I most likely break the bank badly and blindly; it’s bad.

Putting yourself on the internet comes with the expectation that not everyone will always love what you are wearing and writing. Have you encountered any of these criticisms, and if so, how do you handle it?

Every individual is entitled to his/her opinion. I take criticism lightly and reflect on why it was given to me in the first place. If the person had a legitimate criticism, I will take it into consideration; otherwise I ignore it.

What has been the best thing to come out of blogging?

Meeting all these wonderful people in the blogging community. It’s important to keep strong relationships with a few people who understand you! It makes blogging worthwhile and fun! Also, blogging has inspired me to dress less frumpy for work! Whitney from Along the Lines of Style and Tara from Mix and Match Fashion has helped open up my eyes to frumpy-free dressing for school! Thanks, girls!

When it comes to promotion of your blog, what methods do you use? Do you spend a lot of time commenting on other blogs, pinning your looks, doing link ups?

At the moment, I do not spend a lot of my time promoting my blog, which I should. However, I comment on blogs that I truly believe in. I pin my looks when I remember and do link ups to share with women in the blogging community where I’ve found the best deals that week.

What tips or suggestions do you have for your fellow bloggers? 

BE YOURSELF! I cannot stress this enough! Originality is what sets you apart from everyone else. And do not be afraid to accept criticism, look at it from a positive prospective and move on! You do not need to be like a specific blogger to become successful, do it because you love it! Sure, the blogging community has become a big competition. However, if you have come to the point that blogging is a chore, you are doing it for all the wrong reasons! Sometimes, we all need a break from the cloud. For me, I post when I can and share what is worthwhile!

Thank you so much Crystal! Next week's behind the blog....is a surprise!