Happy Last Week of April friends! It’s been a really wonderful month for me but I’m getting excited for all the adventures coming up this summer.

My parents visited over the weekend and Eric and I had the best time showing them around Austin. They’ve been here several times but we somehow find a ton of different things to do each visit. Austin is really the neatest city, y’all. I’m so happy to live here. We took them out to see Esther’s Follies on Saturday night and I was happy to knock something off my #30before30 list. We stopped by Live Oak Brewery and I’m so glad my parents enjoyed their “favorite domestic wheat beer” in ATX. We’ll have to go back after baby D arrives ;) We had a cold front roll through on Saturday and though it was very chilly, it was reminiscent of fall (aka happiness) and we strolled over to Mozart’s with the pups for a little cozy coffee on the lake. Pure joy.

Today I thought I’d do a little Q&A with some questions I get asked frequently and share a little bit about myself (AND this cute dress :) ).

 

Q: Why did you start blogging?

A: I started blogging as a way to merge a lot of my creative hobbies including photography, writing, and my love for story telling. I was dabbling with photography but found it incredibly stressful. I put so much pressure on myself! I have followed a few blogs for years and always thought, how cool would it be to be a blogger? I wish I could do that! And then a friend visiting from San Fran (hi Jenna Rose Colored Glasses!) inspired me to just begin!

Q: Where are you from?

A: I was born in the city of Chicago and grew up in Winnetka, IL :) My childhood was filled with so much adventure and I loved every second of it.

Q: Where did you go to school and what was your major?

A: I attended Arizona State University originally after many years of vacationing in Scottsdale and was inspired to pursue film there. I was there for a year and a half before I transferred to Miami University in Ohio. It was my dad’s alma mater and an easy decision for me. Although I loved my time and friends at ASU, I knew I wasn’t going to get what I wanted out of college there. So I switched to a school closer to home and studied Mass Communications at Miami with a minor in film.

Q: What do you as your day job?

A: I worked at CBS Television Network in Chicago for 3 years but after moving to Austin and not finding exactly what I wanted, I started working at a pre-school and it’s been the most amazing change. I feel so lucky to work with young kids who remind me of the really simple and important things in life. And I’m happy to get a taste of what I’m in for very soon! :)

Q: What are you up to when you’re not working or blogging?

A: I would say that mentally, blogging is something I am doing almost all of the time. I’m always thinking about what I want to write next, how to style clothing, what camera I should have on me, and how to reach new people. But when I’m not in that mindset, I spend a ton of time with my dogs and outside. I love nature and animals and patio weather. I love to read and am always looking for new books. But my favorite thing to do is sip red wine, listen to a great pandora list, and hang out with Eric.

Q: Favorite food?

A: Eggs over easy on avocado toast with a dash of salt. And a cup of coffee.

Q: Movie?

A: Sex and the City, The Holiday, Love Actually, and Harry Potter are movies I can watch over & over again.

Q: Book?!

A: There are honestly too many to choose from. Harry Potter will always be my all time favorite… I’ve never read a book so many times. But my most recent favorite is The Lake House by Kate Morton. And I’ve actually heard that all of her books are pretty amazing. I can’t wait to read another.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: This has been a hard thing for me to pin point exactly! I’d say my spring and summer style is very feminine and airy. I love light & bright colors and tons of floral prints. And wearing dresses is my absolute favorite. But come fall and winter, all I want are a good pair of denim jeans, a flannel, and a cute fedora. I’d call it a mix of bohemian and preppy.

Q: Where are your favorite places to shop?

A: I’m a huge fan of places with free shipping and returns ;) My top 3 are Nordstrom, ASOS, and Shopbop. But I also love Madewell and recently discovered Morning Lavender.

Q: What kind of camera do you use?

A: The majority of photos you see on my feed are photos taken by awesome photographers I work with in Austin. But when I do my own shoots I use a Nikon D7100 with a 50mm lens or my Iphone 7 plus. I’m looking to get a camera soon that’s a little less bulky for travel.

Q: Where is a place you would like to travel next?

A: There are so many neat places on my Bucket List. I would love to visit Austria, Greece, or Thailand! But nationally I’d love to see Martha’s Vineyard and also venture back to both Yellowstone and Alaska… Honestly, there are too many places! :)

Q: What should I do when I visit Austin?

A: think I’m going to have to dedicate a whole post to this because there really is so much to do here and I get asked this question all the time. And it totally depends on what you came for! There are tons of amazing restaurants (Uchi, The Salt Lick, Grizzeldas, Walton’s, to name a few…) and bars. You absolutely must stop by Rainey Street for a truly unique Austin experience. Lucille & Banger’s are my go-to. If you have a little more time, I recommend driving out to Driftwood to visit some wineries! Fall Creek, Solaro Estate, and Duchman Family Winery are all fantastic :) If you want to be on the water, well DO it! You can rent a pontoon with a bunch of friends or get some kayaks or paddle boards. Or swim in the alluring Barton Springs.

South Congress is a great place to stroll and I highly recommend checking out Allen’s Boots :) You can also grab a coffee and sit on the deck at Tom’s Coffee shop. Yep, the one that makes the shoes :)

Dress | Sandals | Clutch | Similar Bracelet

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Q: What advice would you give someone starting a blog?

A: Be patient. Work hard. Have fun. Blogging has been such a fun creative journey for me and I’ve enjoyed the whole process. It hasn’t always been easy but I love challenging myself, especially with something I’m so passionate about. Stay true to YOU. You are unique and interesting and I can’t wait to check out your story :) Enjoy the ride!

*Photography by Brandon Hill

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