A Day in the Life of Blogger and Creative Consultant Larissa May of Livin' Like Larz

Since we've started "A Day in the Life of.." series, we've organically met many different bloggers around the world doing so many diverse things in addition to blogging.

Today's interview is no different. Meet 22-year-old Larissa May of Livin Like Larz and Half The Story.  Larissa, a soon to be New Yorker is both a blogger, creative consultant, and founder of Half the Story which is a social media campaign featuring the untold stories of people around the world. 

Larissa is definitely up to some big things and we couldn't help but be inspired by her entrepreneurial journey and what she's been able to accomplish so early on. 

Name: Larissa (Larz) May  also known as @livinlikelarz

Blog name: Livinlikelarz

Hometown/origin city/country: Chicago, IL

Current location: Nashville >> NYC

What is the focus of your blog: Fashion, Lifestyle, + Creative Hacks

Years blogging: 4

Is this your full-time job? If not, how do you pay the bills? Tell us a little about your current job.

It’s a full-time lifestyle, but not my full-time job. I began my blog when I was 18 and I moved to Los Angeles after my freshman year at Vanderbilt University. I used my blog as a way to connect and find like minded individuals when I moved to different cities. Now I’ve transitioned my blog into a creative consulting company/ blog by leveraging the relationships I have built with brands in the past.

Also, I started a sort of “anti-blog” social project called#HALFTHESTORY, which is a platform for individuals to share a part of their story that is not revealed through social channels. My idea for #halfthestory sparked during September NYFW, as I was running from the Betsey Johnson show to AOL HQ because I was covering for their lifestyle network. I got lost on the subway, face planted, and cracked my phone, but somehow made it in time for DVF's live taping. Later that day, I was challenged by my social media "conscience" as I posted a "picture perfect" image as if nothing had happened. I failed to share the truth behind what it really takes to be a 21-year-old student at a top tier school, struggling between class, work, and NYFW. I was exhausted and burnt out, skyping into class between shows and pulling all-nighters to make my deadlines for fashion week and school. Now people are sharing their stories from all over the globe @halfthestory.

How long did it take you to build your following or until you could start blogging full-time?Every day I am working to build my following and connect with like minded people. I’m not full time (yet!).

What is your favorite thing about blogging?
The ability to move anywhere in the world and find someone who shares a similar passion, and inspire people to follow their dreams. I’m just like any other 22-year-old girl, so I think it's important to share my story and inspire others.

What don't you like about blogging?
Definitely the pressure that comes with creating. Part of why I created #halfthestory was because I felt like SO many bloggers forget to tell their readers the truth behind what it takes to run a blog. I think transparency is important for your followers and yourself. YOU HAVE TO KEEP IT REAL.

What piece of advice would you give to new bloggers?
Work on the target system. For example, when I began blogging I would shoot repeatedly in Free People clothes and reach out to the stores in every city I traveled to in hopes of a collaboration. Since then, I’ve collaborated with Free People on several posts and #FPME events! If you create amazing content, brands will come to you!

Dream brand to work with?
Tough one… probably Puma or Adidas. I’m a freak for sneaks.

Biggest Accomplishment as a blogger?
Definitely creating #halfthestory and building relationships with people in every country I have visited.

What are you working on next, or excited for?
I’m moving to NYC! I’m hoping to collaborate with many more brands and KILLER creators.

Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
I see myself evolving into a worldwide creative director and inspirational speaker. My motto is “I just want to help cool people do cool things.”

How would you describe your hometown fashion sense?
My style grows where I’m planted. I’m a mixture between boho + urban chic. Think free spirited with a pair of killer hightops.

What do people think about fashion and fashion blogging in your opinion?
Like anything you have your fans and your haters. The industry finds bloggers to be extremely influential because we develop micro-communities of trust and influence. However, it is INCREDIBLY important to remain authentic and represent brands that embody you. Trust takes a long time to establish, yet it is incredibly easy to break.

DAY IN THE LIFE OF @LIVINLIKELARZ

6:00 AM: ALEXA ALARM GOES OFF  & I PRESS SNOOZE

6:30 AM: ALARM GOES OFF AND I SUBMIT TO A DANCE PARTY

8:00 AM: FIRST CONFERENCE CALL WITH LONDON.
One of the crazy things about my job is that I work with people in nearly 6 timezones. As a result, I usually have my first conference call before I even have a chance to sip on my coffee.

9:00 AM: COFFEE STOP
One of the ways that I find inspiration is by finding new workplaces. I love the buzz of a hip coffee shop. Plus I usually warm up my creative senses by snapping a typical latte pic for insta’.

10-12 PM: CONFERENCE CALLS
Ring...Ring….Ring… I spend a huge part of my day on the phone or skype. The best part of my job is that I can do it anywhere, but it definitely comes with a cost.

12-3 PM: CREATIVE TIME
I always try to find a time each day where I can create mood boards for upcoming shoots, snap a few looks for my blog, or dream up creative collaborations with friends. I typically shoot for client product shots once a week and for my blog twice a month.

3-5 PM: ME TIME
My worst time of the day is usually from 3-5pm. I lose focus and like to switch things up. My favorite things to do in my free time are BOXING, write letters or catch up with an old friend. I always like to communicate with those I love over phone calls because so much of my business life involves texting and emails.

6- DINNER TIME
I’ve learned how to cook this year thanks toNutrition Stripped. She’s my favorite blogger and started a community called the NS Society which taught me how to batch cook for the week.

8-830 PM WRAP UP + ASSISTANT CALLS
Around 8pm I always take inventory from the day prior and send emails to individuals I work with in Australia. They are SO far ahead :). I also tend to call my assistant to give her an overview on the day and prepare for the day ahead.

9:00- CALL IT A NIGHT
I tend to make 9pm my cut-off during the weeknights. I don’t like to work late because it’s not good for the mind, body, or spirit. When I have deadlines that can be a different story! 

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A Day in the Life of Sonia from The Cherry Chapter

We recently discovered Sonia from the Cherry Chapter via Instagram as an up and coming
V-logger from Paris, France. Unlike the U.S., fashion blogging and vlogging (video blogging) is still not as prevalent yet despite Paris' fashion capital status in the world. 

Regardless of this mentality, Sonia and her gorgeous vibrant red hair, are pressing onward to establish herself as the boho-chic blogger and stylist that she is. 

As a full-time account manager, Sonia has to juggle her time during the weekend with building her blog and shooting her youtube videos. 

We can't help but admire hard working individuals like Sonia, who continue to go for what they want, one Instagram post or You Tube video at at time. 

Read on to learn more about Sonia and her daily blogging schedule. 

🕊 I'm like a bird 🕊 . . #hairstyle #aboutalook #love #hairpost #braid #gypsy #bohobraids #bohemian #fashion #fashionable #style #styles #fbloggers #wiwt #instablogger #igdaily #ftwotw #ootd #style #fashionista #bloggers #stylish #outfitoftheday #bohochic #whatiwore #streetstyle #details #bohemianstyle #ootdfash

A photo posted by Sonia Besnainou (@thecherrychapter) on Jul 1, 2025 at 11:45am PDT

Name: Sonia Besnainou
 
Blog name: The Cherry Chapter
 
Hometown: Paris, France
 
Current location: Paris, France
 
What is the focus of your blog?:
Fashion styling, personal style, and hairstyle inspiration
 
Years blogging: a year and a half
 
Is this your full-time job? 
Not a full-time job, no. It was my main full-time well as being a personal stylist until March, but I have a MAJOR life change coming up in the next couple of months and had to take on a full-time job. I currently work as an Account Manager for a web marketing firm; which is also super interesting and rewarding since I get to deal with affiliate marketing a lot! But I am definitely planning on going back to my old routine!

💅🏻👁💍Details💍👁💅🏻 . . #boho #bohochic #gypsy #necklaces #jewelry #grwm #fashion #gems #fashionable #inchains #stones #fwis #wiwt #accessories #love #details #fashionblogger #ootd #style #fashionista #instajewelry #stylish #bloggers #jewelrygram #fashionjewelry #necklace #bohooutfit #chains #bohemian

A photo posted by Sonia Besnainou (@thecherrychapter) on Jun 17, 2025 at 11:42am PDT

As a stylist, I worked on photo shoots, during Paris Fashion Week, for private clients…and I miss it a lot! It just wasn’t reliable enough as an income for me right now.  I’m glad I have the weekends to blog though! 
 
How long did it take you to build your following? 
I would say that’s always an ongoing thing but it has definitely improved in the last few months, especially on Instagram I’m noticing a real growth so let’s hope it will continue this way. I love it because I feel like everyone is so supportive of each other and that’s exactly what bloggers need!

How did you come up with the idea for your blog and what made you want to start blogging? The idea came from both myself and others.  I really liked reading fashion blogs and looking at tons of Instagram hairstyles or YouTube videos. I wanted to be on YouTube more at the beginning actually. And then I kept meeting people at events or even on the streets telling me they loved my style or my hair and thought “Maybe I should try it out! If I combine my fashion knowledge with my personal style, it could be fun and people might be interested!” Every day I have more and more ideas for the future of the blog, it’s so much fun and I have learned so much since I’ve started! 
 
What's the best thing about blogging? 
Doing what I love and whatever I want with it - total creative freedom and, of course, meeting super interesting people all the time! Oh and I almost forgot: learning. There is something new to learn every day when you blog, it’s amazing!
 
What's the worst thing about blogging? 
There's not really a downside to blogging, more of a problem that I have which is staying consistent! My blog and YouTube channel kind of follow my life and sometimes I have a lot of inspiration and/or time for new content, sometimes I’m super busy or have writer’s block. I know it’s definitely something I need to improve on!
 
What piece of advice would you give to new bloggers?
Well, to organize your time well since being consistent is harder than it looks! And network, a.LOT! As well as being important, it’s really fun, you will make like-minded friends and will be able to support each other. 
 
Dream brand to work with? 
Many brands like Free People, American Apparel, Wildfox… and if Vivienne Westwood did collabs with bloggers, that would be the absolute dream.
 
Biggest accomplishment so far as a blogger? 
Somehow, even if my blog is not big, I have random people I meet telling me they’ve seen or read my blog before. I am still shocked as to how that’s possible haha! 
 
What are you working on next, or excited for? 
I have 2-3 major life events coming up in the next few months that are definitely going to change my blog too! I am oh so very excited and will be talking about it very soon, so stay tuned...
 
How would you describe the fashion/style of the country/city you live in?
What do people think about fashion and fashion blogging in your opinion?
Well, I feel like the first part of this question was written for Paris!! People in Paris tend to really pay attention to what they’re wearing but without really making an effort, it seems more like a natural thing and it definitely had an influence on me when I first got into fashion. A lot of people stay on the “classic” side of things though, wear a lot of basics and neutrals, especially black, but they are generally dressed pretty well!
 
That being said, people who are not in the fashion industry don’t care much about fashion; and to the people who are, it’s a very small bubble, hard to get in but where everyone knows each other.
Now, fashion blogging is a whole different story. It’s still very new in France, I think there are those clichés about bloggers, it can be seen as the black sheep of the fashion industry, and it is very rare to see French brands paying bloggers for anything for example. It’s very different from other countries for that I think, especially the US!

Favorite look of the moment 😍😍😍🙈😎

A photo posted by Sonia Besnainou (@thecherrychapter) on Mar 7, 2026 at 12:06pm PST

SONIA'S DAILY BLOGGING SCHEDULE 

Since I currently have a full-time M-F job with 4 hours of commute a day, it is sooo hard for me to do anything related to blogging during the week. The only thing I really try to do is brainstorm new ideas for posts, photos, videos… I do the rest on the weekends so they are pretty packed with blog stuff! Here’s a typical Saturday of mine:
 
9-10am: 
I usually wake up around 9 and answer any emails/comments/messages I’ve accumulated in the past couple of days. Sometimes I also do some yoga!
 
10-11am: 
I cook and eat breakfast. I know, it seems like it takes a really long time – and it does! Breakfast is VERY important to me (I know, that’s a super French thing to say). Whenever I can, I also try to cook different things like French toasts, banana pancakes…or if I’m in too much of a hurry, I can always take a trip to the bakery nearby! And I try to relax while watching an episode or two of my favorite shows!
 
11am-2pm: 
I pretty much 1-try to figure out if want to take photos, write blog posts, shoot a video, make a DIY… 2-get ready accordingly and 3-spend a little time with my family and have a quick lunch (sometimes) 
 
2pm-6 or 7pm: 
Depending on what I decided to do, I could be going shopping for DIYs, doing pulls, rehearsing and shooting one or multiple videos, writing one or several blog posts, taking pictures (especially later in the afternoon), editing pictures, posting/scheduling posts on/for social media….literally everything there is about blogging haha
 
8-9pm: 
I watch another show or 2 (hey, it’s the weekend after all!) and I always use that time to select, edit and schedule my Instagram posts for the upcoming week. I’m absolutely obsessed with Instagram so that is THE one thing I’m super consistent about haha
 
Any time after that: relax, eat dinner and get ready for bed!

…ok so that’s a Saturday packed with blog-related things…but the truth is, I also spend a lot of weekends hanging out with friends in the afternoon, going out to dinner or to a party at night. When I do, I still try to do some extra work the weekend before or after if I have time to plan it ;-)

Sonia Besnainou
Blog: http://www.cherrychapter.com

MORE "A Day in the Life of" stories...

• November 2016
• October 2016
• September 2016
• August 2016
• July 2016
• June 2016
• May 2016
• April 2016
• March 2016
• February 2016
• January 2016
• December 2015
• November 2015
• October 2015
• September 2015
• August 2015
• July 2015
• June 2015
• May 2015
• March 2015

A Day in the Life of Stylist and Blogger Evelina from London, England

If you've been following Global Garbs, you know that we LOVE meeting new bloggers around the world. There's something so interesting about learning more about a person in a different country with different culture, and a different sense of style. 

We are all connected in the world of fashion and now especially due to the internet we are influenced by others around the world at the comfort of our own home. 

Does anyone recall the days of purchasing UK Vogue, or Vogue Italia to get new inspiration from across the world? Or was that just us... 

Either way, it's amazing to connect with like-minded individuals on a more personal level with the rise of blogging on a world-wide level. 

This week our featured blogger Evelina, a fashion stylist and blogger from the UK. Her blog has quickly gained momentum and we recently discovered her in a fashion blogging group on Facebook. 

Read on to learn more about Evelina's blog the Lifestyle Fashionista, and what her daily schedule looks like between styling and blogging. 

And remember, if you're a fashion blogger and want to be featured, please click here to stay in the loop! 

Name: Evelina Vilke

Blog name: LifestyleFASHIONISTA

Blog: www.lifestylefashionista.co.uk 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stylistevelina/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stylistevelinaofficial/ 
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/StylistEvelina 

Hometown/origin city/country: Kaunas, Lithuania

Current location:
London, UK 

What is the focus of your blog: 
Fashion and personal style. I show outfits I wear, share style tips and talk about places I visit and love. 

Years blogging: 
almost 2 years 

Is this your full-time job? If not, how do you pay the bills?
Blogging is not the only thing I do. I am also a fashion stylist. I style photo shoots for fashion magazines, work with fashion start-ups as a style expert, write styling tips articles for online magazines, deliver corporate image training and give personal style consultations to individual clients. 

How long did it take you to build your following or until you could start blogging full-time?
It took me around a year to start getting any income from my blog. 

The best thing about blogging?
An opportunity to share my passion for fashion with people all over the world who have the same interests and build a community. It also serves as my diary where I keep a record of all my outfits and exciting trips. I love time from time to look back to relive amazing moments once again.

The worst thing about blogging? 
Sometimes it can feel a bit lonely. Also, there is too much focus on numbers. 

What piece of advice would you give to new bloggers?
It takes time to make it, so make sure you don’t give up. Also, you need to believe in yourself. 

Dream brand to work with?
I always dream big – Emilio Pucci, Fendi and Burberry 

Biggest Accomplishment as a blogger?
First of all, starting getting paid for my blog posts. But the biggest achievement for me is that a few of my personal clients started working with me just because they liked my fashion tips and my style they saw on my blog. 

What are you working on next, or excited for?
I just launched my personal e-styling platform which enables women from all over the world to get instant fashion advice from the comfort of their home (www.stylistevelina.com) and at the moment I am working on adding a new service – holiday capsule wardrobe which will ensure you always travel in style. I am also very excited to start working with haute-couture evening wear brand so expect very glamorous photo-shoots coming on my blog very soon. 

How would you describe the fashion and style in the UK? What do people think about fashion and fashion blogging in your opinion?
Archetypal British style is eccentric, fun and edgy and Brits are famed for their individual sense of style. But the UK and especially London is very international so you can expect a mix of many different styles. Fashion definitely plays an important role in the UK. 

A lot of people are fascinated to hear that I work in a fashion industry but they don’t really understand how hard it is. People still don’t look at blogging as a proper business, they can’t imagine that it’s exactly the same as running a company. 

EVELINA'S DAY

7.30 am – wake up and start my day 

8.30 am – my each day starts with a to-do list. Then I start dealing with my emails, scheduling social media posts and have my breakfast (typically chia seeds pudding with berries). 

10 am – depending on a day I might work with clients, get ready for meetings or write my blog posts. 

1 pm – I always try to exercise around lunch time. I usually work out at home – there are so many excellent workouts on youtube that I don’t feel I need to go to the gym which saves me a lot of time. I love pilates and never work out longer than 30 min just to make sure I can fit it into my schedule.

2 pm – quick lunch (I usually have salad) followed by meetings/emails/working with clients or writing blog posts 

5 pm – I love taking photos for my blog posts in the evening to have the perfect light. 

8 pm – dinner with my boyfriend. I usually cook and we talk about each other’s day.

9 pm – finishing the tasks I haven’t managed to complete during the day, planning blog posts and interacting on Instagram 

11 pm – time to relax and start getting ready for bed. I usually watch one episode of my favourite TV show or read a book just before I go to sleep around 12am. 

If you're a fashion blogger and would like the opportunity to be featured, click here! 

A Day in the Life of Taylor Graves from Capitol F

Name: Taylor Graves
Blog name: Capitol F; The Filthy Mouth Of Fashion
Hometown/origin city/country:
"I never know how to answer this question because I have never lived in one place long enough to call "home" but if you want to get specific my hometown, where I was born was in Howard City, Michigan. However, I spent my entire childhood living in Grand Haven, Michigan (I consider this to be my hometown when everyone else asks this question)"

Current location:
I am living in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

What is the focus of your blog?:
"The focus of my blog is to dig deep down into the design process of the fashion industry. So often everyone is caught up on which gown is on the cover of Vogue each month or a celebrity wearing a new brand on the red carpet and yes, these are all important because fashion is what you live your life in but do we ever stop to think where it came from? The focus of my blog is to give you that information, to explain the actual design process and all the nitty gritty work you don't see before fashion hits the runway. "

Years blogging: "I have been blogging for just six short months."

Is this your full-time job? If not, how do you pay the bills?
"Blogging is not my full-time job, in fact, I cannot even say a part time job because I make zero money doing it but that is not even the point of me having started blogging. I am a daycare provider of all things! It's funny how life takes a turn for something you never expected but I absolutely love working at the daycare. I describe the daycare as a prep school for preschool. I have 12 children ranging between 10 months and the oldest just turned 5! When the children graduate from the daycare and head on to school they are far more advanced in their reading and writing ability. It is an exceptional program we have and I love every second of my day being such a huge impact on these kids!"

How long did it take you to build your following or until you could start blogging full-time?
"I am working my way toward wanting to blog full time. I am in the works of establishing my following and making connections that will hopefully last a lifetime."

What's the best thing about blogging?
"The best thing about blogging is that the industry is constantly changing, nothing is ever the same. The industry is an ever evolving aspect of everyone's life and there is always something new to discover. Blogging is the outlet that unravels it all!"

The worst thing about blogging?
"The worst thing about blogging is the tech side of it all. I am no expert in how to develop a website and it slows down my process quite dramatically. Definitely a learning process but I'm starting to get the hang of it." 

What piece of advice would you give to new bloggers? 
"Use every resource you have, you can not do this alone. Also, get out there and talk to people, engage in conversation with someone who you have never met (do this safely) because the more you talk to someone the more information they give you and you might be surprised how useful it is."

Dream brand to work with?
"I would give up oxygen to be able to work with The Row." 

Who are your favorite bloggers?
"I admire a few different bloggers. The daily blogger I am always checking up on is Shea Marie from PeaceLoveShea. She's blonde, she's pretty and has amazing clothes, what's not to love? I'm also quite obsessed with Rachel Lynch from IHateBlonde, she is my alter ego."

Biggest Accomplishment as a blogger?
"I started, I put myself out there and that is quite an accomplishment."

What are you working on next, or excited for?
"It has been six months now and in this time I have been experimenting with content and working my way around my website. Coming up I will be relaunching my blog and filling it with amazing articles about brands I adore and showing you the step by step process of creating a clothing line as I create it myself!"

How would you describe the area you live in terms of fashion. What do people think about fashion and are there any stereotypes associated with your location?
"Kalamazoo is an interesting midwest city, you have a little bit of everyone here. As far as fashion goes, the city's uniform consists of jeans, a graphic tee of your favorite sports team, and sneakers, unless you are downtown in that case everyone is wearing a suit. It is not trendy or up to date with the fashion scene, it's just...casual."

In an ideal world, where do you see yourself and your blog in the next year? Next Five years?
"Of course anyone would see their blog being successful within a years time and I have that hope too but for me I guess it is more that being successful in numbers. I see my blog helping the next graduating class at FIT, I see my blog creating a brand of its own and people wanting to wear that brand. I hope to see my blog make an impact on the art we live our lives in."

TAYLOR'S DAILY BLOGGING SCHEDULE

We start our day anywhere between 9am and 11:59am depending on how motivated we feel like being. On a good day we are up and ready to take the day by its balls by 9:30, showers optional, $1 shot of espresso from Tim Hortin's however, is mandatory. 

By noon we are pulling looks from local stores for style based shoots where we aim to knock out a months worth of content in just a few hours. My favorite store in town is Lana's Boutique. I worked there for about four years and the owner is so amazing, she allows us to use her inventory whenever we please. She has been a HUGE help and supporter in my blog. 

Around 3pm we are wrapping up our shoot and returning the clothes we had borrowed (Although I tend to purchase most of it). Then proceed on home to edit the massive amounts of photos where we then typically get sidetracked from what we are doing to produce a last minute project a friend asks us to help with. I am surrounded with so many creative individuals in my circle of friends and there is always something amazing to be a part of. 

8pm rolls around and this is usually the quiet part of our day. This is usually the time where I am able to publish posts to my blog and prepare for future posts. I also round up posts for social media too, I always have a small stock pile of content on hand. Something interesting that not many people know about me is that I love to write. I have written some short stories that have never seen the light of day but the book I am currently writing, I want the world to see. I have short bursts of inspiration and typically when I am surrounded by chaos is when I am able to write. But, that never last long because inspiration strikes again and we're on the move.

By 11pm, when most are ready for bed, face washed and saying goodnight to their loved ones I'm ready to do something else. I love the dark of night, something about the cool breeze and the dark shadows makes me feel creepy and completely inspired. I love photography and expressing my eyes point of view that not all people are open too. This is when I shoot my own photography. Mysterious, creepy, seductive and playful are decent words to describe our plan of action for our nightly photo shoots. It's when I produce my best work. And the day ends with camera in hand. 

A Day in the Life of Alexandra Nicole

We all know that blogging itself can be a full-time job, so when we come across bloggers that are also entrepreneurs and Mom's we are just in such awe of what can  get accomplished in a day.

Today we're speaking with a girl who's just that. A Mom, entrepreneur, and blogger. Alexandra Nicole of CityChicLiving.com gives us a glimpse into her jam packed schedule of being a Mom and juggling her six, yes six, retail stores and even an online store called ivorycloset.com.  Alexandra's definitely got a lot on her plate and we love hearing about how they're making it all possible.  She gives us some tips on how she balances this all out and when she realized that she could potentially become a full-time blogger. 

Read on to learn more about Alexandra's blogging life and daily schedule. 

How long have you been full-time?
3 years

What is the focus of your blog:
Mainly Fashion and Beauty, but I like to throw the occasional lifestyle post in there. I love to take challenges and when I do, I post about them. For example, the Kickboxing Fitness Challenge or the Juice Detox Challenge

Best thing about blogging?
It is my outlet, almost like a journal where I store all of my exciting adventures, favorite outfits, and the occasional inspirational story on my thought of the day. I feel like blogs are purely inspirational, for the blogger and the reader alike. 

Worst thing about blogging?
Keeping up in a busy week. I own a cosmetic line, Adel Amor Cosmetics, a fashion Brand, Ellen Anchor, boutiques, The Ivory Closet and The Attic, I am a blogger, published fashion stylist and beauty writer as well as a mommy and wife. I have to admit….the weeks fill up fast. Sometimes I wait until the last minute to do a shoot and then I feel like I am cramming to make ends meet. 
What piece of advice would you give to new bloggers? Stick with it and don’t compare yourself to other bloggers! It takes time. I have had my blog for 3 years and it is just now really starting to take off. 

When did you realize that you could be a full-time blogger?
After a few posts. I learned that blogging is a stress reliever and a way to share my passion, fashion, and beauty, with the world. 

How do you currently monetize?
Through featured posts and customers seeing items I have blogged about coming into the shop and purchasing. 

Biggest Accomplishment as a blogger?
I was named one of the top 20 under 30 in Memphis this year!  
What are you working on next, or excited for? I am working on my photography skills. I have been taking photo classes and am also planning to acquire a photo studio for shooting the blog in the next month!

I see that you're a multi-entrepreneur with many businesses! How did you start these different boutiques and brands? Can you give us a little background about those businesses as well?
I began working at the ripe age of 16 as a makeup artist. I have worked for many lines in my cosmetic career and when I graduate college I began to work for a Fortune 500 company. I still hold makeup near and dear to my heart so I set off to start my own cosmetic brand, Adel Amor Cosmetics. (www.adelamor.com) I loved my corporate job but felt like I was an entrepreneur at heart, so I quit my day job, used my life savings (or what I had saved by 26) and started my own boutique, The Ivory Closet (www.ivorycloset.com), then opened The Attic (www.theatticapparel.com). Since then I have franchised The Ivory Closet brand into 4 stores with one more opening in Oxford, ms in August. During this time I graduated with my Masters in Business, picked up a beauty writing job, a fashion stylist gig, and became a blogger.
What came first, the business or blog? The businesses game first and the blog soon followed.
How do you manage to juggle so many businesses and your family life? I really am not sure. I just do. I make it work…it has to. I often find myself reminiscing and looking back on life only to wonder….how the heck did I do that? I imagine I will do the same one day of this moment in my life.

Any productivity tips/organizational advice you can give us?
Prioritize. I make a list every morning with what I want to accomplish in a priority order. Don’t worry if you don’t finish your list. I almost never do, but it keeps me on track with the most important things at the top!

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF ALEXANDRA NICOLE OF CITYCHICLIVING.COM

7 am - WAKE UP AND START MOMMY DUTY

I have a 1 1/2 year old and he attends “baby school”. I wake up every morning at 7 am to get myself and him ready to conquer the day!

8:30 am - IN THE OFFICE

I have an off site office and warehouse location for my boutiques. This is where I do behind the scenes work on the blog as well as buying for my shops and our online store. I usually check emails and my calendar to prep for the hours ahead.

10 am - PHOTOSHOOT TIME!

We shoot twice a week for our online store, 6 retail locations, and my blog. Ideally, we have a photographer and 2 models. The outfits are styled before the models arrive. Once the models arrive on set we dress them up and set off to shoot. Memphis has lots of great outdoor locations for shooting so we generally pack up and shoot off site. If I am not on set for the photo shoots, I am generally working on our website as we are about to do a big relaunch in the next month, SO EXCITED, or in some sort of meetings geared at generating more revenue. 

12 pm - LUNCH

I am FOREVER on a healthy eating kick. I will usually enjoy a fresh deli cut sandwich on thin wheat bread of course, and some sort of fresh fruit. Raspberries are my favorite. If I am with colleagues, we will pick a patio at one of the many awesome local Memphis restaurants. By lunch I can be pretty overwhelmed so I have to admit, ordering a mojito is never out of the question.

1 PM - LEAVE THE SHOOT TO CHECK UP ON THE STORES.

I make my rounds to the retail locations after lunch. Here I make sure everything looks the best in merchandising and cleanliness. I also take note on inventory levels so that I can make sure our shops stay stocked. 

3 PM - CONTENT CREATION

I usually make it to my home office by 3 PM where I will work on next weeks content creation for the blog! I spend this time writing and planning for marketing… and when I have writers block, I look for fashion and beauty questions that people are asking on FB groups and other forums for ideas to write about. I am a part of the Women’s Entrepreneur Society and they have TONS of content on bettering your business and blog. I will usually try to read at least one post from them for idea generation and creativity.

5 PM - MOMMY TIME!

Baby is ready to come home! After picking up my son, Jack, we will usually try to make it by the Children’s Museum, or if it is a nice day, take a stroll around the neighborhood in his wagon. Being a mom is a very important, yet the most rewarding  job I have.  I make sure to take time out of the day to talk to, read to, or communicate with my son, just him and I. This is my favorite hour of the day. The bonding is food for my soul and his. It is just so sweet

6PM - BUYING

My husband gets home around 6 pm and, lucky for me, he starts to cook! Him and Jack usually cook together. While Ben is cooking and Jack is in his highchair watching, I take this hour to quickly make my shop purchases. I place orders with my vendors for inventory and always keep outfit ideas in mind for the next big blog shoot.

7 PM FAMILY TIME - 

We generally spend our meal time in the living room together watching one of our favorite shows or enjoying a movie. My husband usually picks the show or movie while Jack and I share a plate of his scrumptious dinner!

9PM - BEDTIME!

Baby usually hits the sack at 8:30 and we are soon to follow. 

A Day in the Life of Lisa Linh

Have you ever wanted to become a full-time  blogger? Today we have the pleasure of taking a small peek into the life of fashion and lifestyle blogger Lisa Linh of By Lisa Linh.  Lisa has been blogging for just about two years, and she recently had her first full-time blogger anniversary!

Lisa just wrote an awesome blog post about what it was like to actually quit her full-time job a year ago in order to pursue blogging full-time. She gives some amazing advice to new bloggers and what you can do to stand out in the sea of bloggers. Read more about it here. 

Lisa talks about working in the corporate world for over ten years and then finally leaving her last position as a men's wear marketer.  She goes into more detail about how making the leap into full-time blogging has been such an amazing experience that she does not regret one bit. If she had not quit her job, she wouldn't have been able to participate in amazing opportunities such as taking a 7-day cruise in the Carribean, working with brands such as Rebecca Minkoff, or attend huge events such as Coachella and New York Fashion Week! 

It's always so inspiring to hear these stories of women taking their careers to the next level and becoming an entrepreneur. That's essentially what fashion blogging is, even if you don't realize it from the get go. If you treat it like a business and continue to push the need each and every day you will see results. Cheers to Lisa for accomplishing the great goal of quitting her job and being an inspiration! 

Read on to learn more about our Q & A with Lisa, and also a peak into her daily and busy life a blogger. 

Name: Lisa Linh
Blog Name: www.ByLisaLinh.com
Instagram: instagram.com/bylisalinh/
Twitter: twitter.com/bylisalinh
Facebook: facebook.com/bylisalinh/

Years blogging: 2 years
Is this your full-time job? If not, how do you pay the bills? Yes

What is the focus of your blog:
(Personal) style, food (restaurants), lifestyle (inspiration, how-to, blogging tips, and beauty), and travel

Best thing about blogging?
Being able to connect with bloggers alike/influencers who share the same passion, as well as working and meeting with brands on creative projects. However, the best thing about blogging is that I'm allowed the opportunity to encourage, inspire, and motivate someone that's reading/following. 

Worst thing about blogging?
It's all about numbers majority of the time; quantity over quality (for brands).

What piece of advice would you give to new bloggers?
Make sure you're doing it because you love it, otherwise you'll burn out quickly. It's not easy, but it's worth it if you truly love it.

Dream brand to work with?
Chloe, Alice + Olivia, Zimmermann, Nike

Biggest Accomplishment as a blogger?
Being financially stable! Haha, no seriously, when you've reach a point where you're not stressing over when you're getting paid - that's the best feeling.

What are you working on next, or excited for?
I've been in collaboration with Adidas recently, working on some upcoming travel stories with Rebecca Minkoff and a few other selected brands, as well as focusing more on editorial stories that truly represent my brand. Expect videos, fun projects, and more creative direction on our photoshoots!

Lisa's Daily Schedule

8:15AM
Wake up, quickly scan emails on my iPhone and answer most urgent ones before getting up and doing my morning routine (brushing teeth, washing my face, etc)

9AM
Settling down at my computer, sometimes I order Starbucks via Postmates, while I write down my to-do list for the day. After writing out what needs to get done, I go through my emails and clean it up.

11AM
Depending on the tasks for the day, I'll either get ready for events/meetings or start editing photos/writing my blog post or finalize agreements/projects.

12PM-4PM
Typically out at events/meetings/errands and grabbing a snack/lunch.

5PM-7PM
I shoot blog content around Golden Hour, most of the time. During this timeframe, I'm scouting a location and planning how many outfits needs to get done for the day.

8PM-12AM
Dinner, back to answering emails, and working on blog content or photos. 

Click here for the opportunity to be featured!

A Day in the Life of Erica Cho from Lifestyle and Acting Blog Yes Another

Our featured blogger of the week comes from our very own New York City, lifestyle and acting blogger Erica Cho from Yes Another.  The majority of the bloggers we come across that blend fashion and lifestyle are not actors, so it's refreshing and nice to see a different niche among the lifestyle blogging world. 

Erica gives us a behind the scenes look at what her daily schedule looks like, from being on a shoot to working on her blog while being on set. This busy New Yorker has her day planned out from her daily workouts to scheduling quality time with her husband and cooking new meals. 

She also gives us a look into her life as an actor and the types of jobs she's worked on to make ends meet. The life of an actor seems similar to the life of a blogger. You've gotta keep on trucking and stay consistent even though it may be frustrating at times. 

Read on to see Erica's hourly schedule and what advice she has for new bloggers. 

Name: Erica Cho

Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia 

Current City:  New York City

Blog Name:  Yes Another

How long have you been blogging?
Over 5 years.

What is the focus of your blog/theme?
Travel/Lifestyle/Acting

Is this your Full-Time gig? If not what do you do to pay the bills? 
No, I'm an actor and model. Recently, I have been lucky enough to book well-paying TV and modeling gigs to pay the bills.  The modeling I mostly do is lifestyle modeling which is different from high fashion modeling. Think of the "regular people" in the ads for hotels and phone companies as opposed to Giselle or Adriana. Ok, that is probably so obvious by looking at the picture of me. I definitely don't have a runway look and boy, does this Southern girl love to eat. I also do a lot of commercial "extra" work. The extras are the actors who are in the background.  I'm in the union so the pay is awesome, and a lot of times, you get upgraded to be one of the "principals"/stars of the commercial. I've also had my fair share of random jobs while auditioning. I've been a substitute teacher, cocktail waitress, focus group participant, sushi server, hostess, and brand ambassador (one time I dressed up as a ram to market Stride gum- as humiliating as that sounds, I look back at the experience with fondness). It's such a feast-or-famine situation in this industry that there may be phases in which I don't book an acting/modeling job, and I may have to pick up other work. The unstable income part is stressful. Fortunately, I live with my husband so at least I know I won't be homeless.

How did you get into acting? 
While teaching middle school in Los Angeles, I took a commercial acting class. I loved it! So when the teachers were let go due to budget cuts, I took it as a sign to give acting a shot. I moved out to NYC with a friend who had also taught at the same school, and here I am nearly 6 years later.

How did you get into blogging? 
Well, moving here last minute was kind of insane. I literally started packing up and sold my car two weeks before leaving LA. And I wanted to document living in NYC for myself and share what was happening with my friends. Then I realized how much I love sharing tidbits with people in general, whether it is a travel tip, product review, or a funky nail design. So I would write about it.  I especially like to write about the reality of being an actor. A lot of people see the glamorous part of the job, but I like to give an honest depiction of it all: the feelings of rejection, the bookings (yay!), the auditions that made me go WTF, and yes, how lovely Richard Gere is in person.

Best thing about blogging: 
I enjoy the process of writing and taking photos. I like that my blog is a creative space that I kind of "own". It's also been amazing connecting to people through blogging.

Worst thing about blogging:
The deadlines. I make due dates for myself in an attempt to be consistent with my posts. But it can be tough to juggle everyday life and blogging. And I love blogging so much that I go down the blogging hole and have to make sure I don't neglect my other to-do's! Excellent time management is key. 

Best Thing about Acting?:
It's such an amazing opportunity to be someone who is completely different from who I am. And it's so exhilarating to fully immerse myself into a character. 

Worst Thing about Acting?:
It can be hard when all I want to do is act, and I'm not booking acting work. But I started creating work for myself because we totally have no excuse not to. Hey, people have shot cool films on iPhones! This industry can also be tough if you equate your self-worth with booking jobs. It took me a long time to realize that there are many factors out of your control, so you can only work on what you can control and let the rest go. The same goes for blogging.  You can't allow the number of followers/readers dictate your self-worth.

What is Your Acting Dream Job?:
I would die if I could work with Kristen Wiig and Melissa McCarthy on a comedic film. Basically, I want to be in the nextBridesmaids. And Amy Schumer and I would be the new members of the squad.

Best Advice for new blogger?:
Stick with it. Your style may change. You may create a more visually appealing site. Your photos may get better with time. And who knows...maybe your readers and you will evolve together.  I read that the uber successful fashion blog Song of Style started off as an interior design site. But when Aimee Song realized that her outfit photos were popular with her readers, she changed the direction of her blog. Imagine if she had stopped blogging! 

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF ERICA FROM YES ANOTHER

Every day is different for me. As I mentioned, bookings come and go in phases. I could be working as an actor/model on projects some days. On days I'm not on set, I could be going to class, auditions, or meetings.  Or eating Doritos on the couch while watching YouTube videos for hours- that happens more than I'd like to admit. I'll give you an example of my favorite type of day.

7:30 am
My husband's alarm goes off, and I like to wake up with him. I do a little oil pulling with coconut oil. If you aren't familiar with this, it involves swishing oil in your mouth to "pull" out the toxins. Definitely google this! I look over my Passion Planner to get an idea of my day. 

8:00am
The best time for me to workout is in the morning so I can check it off early in the day. I will either take a ClassPass class, do a DVD workout, or exercise to a YouTube video.  My post-workout meal is usually a peanut butter- banana protein shake.

9:30am
After showering and dressing, I like to get my day going with some positive vibes. I will either set really awesome intentions for the day, check out my vision board, or take 5 minutes to say some positive affirmations out loud.

Yes, I realize how cheesy and "woo woo" it sounds, but my brain gets tricked into a "gung-ho" attitude. Believe me walking into a crowded train full of impatient New Yorkers with a smile beats joining the "blah" state of mind. 

10:30am
It's a great day on set for a print shoot. I didn't even have to do my makeup in the morning because you usually come with clean face and hair to a shoot. Score! Bonus: The food and snacks at the Craft Services table (aka Crafty) are super yummy today. So I  graze there throughout the day.  Another bonus: I get some time to chill before my turn in front of the camera. I publish my saved draft of a blog post and get cracking on social media.

2pm
We get wrapped early! So I rush to an audition I didn't think I could make. It's pure magic when I can fit a shoot AND an audition into one day. 

3pm
I use the notes I took on my iPhone to write a blog draft. I edit some photos on Lightroom.  It's always helpful when I have some photos ready for future Instagram and social media posts so I create a folder for that with some #tbt photos. 

5pm
When I have time,  I try to cook. That was one of my goals for this year because I am usually a kitchen disaster.  So I look through Chrissy Teigen's Cravings cookbook and decide on a pork-stuffed cucumber soup.  I add the extra challenge of baking a carrot cake WHILE cooking the soup. Somehow I don't burn down the apartment or ruin the food.

9:30pm
After dinner, my husband and I have a little quality time a.k.a my mandated chat time.  I love it. It's so old school and much needed in the era of the distractions of digital devices.

10:00pm
We are back to being distracted by our digital devices.  I put on a sheet mask and journal.  Then I like to look at my planner again to be ready for the next day/the week.

11:45pm
After watching an episode of "Better Call Saul", it's time for some shut eye!

Read more about Erica here and also check out her Imdb profile! 

If you're a fashion blogger and would like to the opportunity to be featured, make sure to stay in touch! 

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A Day in the Life Of...Elena Kazakevic of The Curious Button

It's Week 2 of our new  series "A Day in the Life Of" where we feature different bloggers from around the world and their daily routines.  

What is it about people's schedules that we find so intriguing? Maybe it's a productivity thing, or just the "behind the scenes" feel of what goes on in someone else's life, but whatever the reason, we enjoy reading about what a typical day of a blogger looks like. 

Meet Elena Kazakevic from Canada. Elena has recently graduated college and has barely entered the world of blogging yet she has quickly gained momentum through her interesting and informative posts about ethical fashion.  After reading a few of Elena's posts, it's apparent that this girl is up to big things. 

Keep on reading to learn more about Elena and the one thing we can do as consumers to help make a difference with this controversial subject.

Name: Elena Kazakevic

Age: 22

Hometown: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

Current City and Country:  Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Blog Name:  The Curious Button

Years of Blogging:  About 4 months! 

What is your work background?
I'm about to graduate with a BSC in Psychology at the end of this summer! Currently hunting for a job.

How did you get into blogging?
I've always been a writer, so when I watched a documentary called The True Cost, I knew that the best way for me to get involved in this fashion revolution was to write about it. I've tried and failed at blogging before, but this time, because I have a true cause and purpose, I can't see myself ever stopping!

What is the focus of your blog/theme? 
I focus on ethical lifestyle topics, especially slow fashion and how we can make small, easy changes in our lives to help create positive change within the fashion industry, and the world as a whole.

How can someone get started with making ethical changes in their wardrobe?
The one thing I would want people to know about ethical fashion is just that it's not as hard or complicated as it seems! There are a lot of assumptions people make when they first hear about this, like that it would be more expensive or make your wardrobe boring, and these simply aren't true.
I'm actually launching a free Resource Library for my subscribers on April 25th which includes over 40 videos, articles, books, and blogs that can help guide anyone who is new and interested in learning more - it takes out the time-consuming research portion and gives you all the resources you need to learn more about it. They'll just need to be a subscriber to receive the password.

Is this your Full-Time gig? If not what do you do to pay the bills?
As a student, this was my hobby. Though income is slowly starting to trickle in, I'm looking for something to pay the bills. Human resources? Marketing? Event management? Sustainability sector? Who knows!

How are you currently monetizing? 
In terms of monetization, I have received several gifts in exchange for features and/or product reviews, and I've also recently started charging to feature a brand or company through a blog post or interview. My pricing is pretty low compared to other bloggers since my reader and follower numbers are also low and still growing. But as I gain more readers those prices will go up as well!

Best Thing about Blogging:
The idea that you get to create something fully, from start to finish, and the satisfaction of seeing it all come together.

Worst Thing about Blogging:
It can be a big time-suck! I could be working on the blog for hours and not even notice how much time I've spent on it. It can be pretty addicting.

Dream Brand to work with:
It would be so amazing to work with People Tree. They're a leading pioneer in ethical, sustainable and fair trade fashion and pay attention to every single step in their supply chain. It's so inspiring.

Best Advice for new blogger?:
Know your "why". Knowing why you blog and having that sense of purpose will push you through many struggles and difficulties that inevitably come along with blogging.

A Day in the Life – Elena from The Curious Button

8:00 am

I’m awake, but still in bed for about half an hour, going through all my social media and emails so I can start the day fresh. Then I fill myself up with some breakfast, usually oatmeal or cereal, make myself a nice large mug of some Earl Grey tea (read: caffeine), and head up to my office/bedroom to set some goals for the day. After some powerful list-making, including to-do’s for both school, the blog, and miscellaneous errands, I get down to getting those tasks done, starting with the most difficult.

11:30 am

By around this time, I’m hungry again. After lunch and more tea, I check up on my blog and social media, and get back to those to-do lists.

2:00 pm

Around this time in the afternoon, I get antsy, unable to sit still or concentrate. It’s a sign I need a mid-day break to hit the gym! At the gym, I don’t think about any of my responsibilities and it’s wonderful. It’s a relief for both my mind and body.

3:30 pm (ish)

Back from the gym, after a nice shower and some healthy snacks, I let my creativity and curiosity loose. This is my unplanned time where I do whatever I’m pulled towards at the moment.  I find that this freedom produces the best results. Sometimes this is reading and researching for a new blog post, writing a post, or creating graphics and finding new stock photos to use on the site (I take some of my own, but only once every few weeks). I also take this time to go through all the emails that accumulated since the morning and organize my inboxes.

6:00 pm

By this time, my boyfriend is probably done work and pops over to my place for dinner. I cook, he cleans (I don’t like cooking, but I’d rather make the mess than clean it up!) and we hang out and talk about our day.

9:30 pm

My boyfriend is off to the gym with some friends. If I skipped my earlier workout, sometimes I tag along. More often, I take this extra hour and a half to again work on the blog and make sure things are all set up for the following day, or call friends and family to catch up. All done with a cup of warm, herbal (caffeine-free) tea, of course.

11:00 pm

Bedtime. Sometimes it’s falling straight asleep. Sometimes it’s watching a movie until late. Either way, eventually lights are out and I’m dreaming of the next day.

To read more about ethical fashion be sure to check out The Curious Button! 

And find out who the Top 20 Fashion Bloggers in the World Are!