Blogger Spotlight - Angeline

I tried something new last month and decided to make it a regular thing.  I will have a blogger spotlight or feature or whatever you want to call it on the first of every month. For my second spotlight, I asked Angeline some questions. Angeline is awesome because she not only posts outfit posts but she gives advice.  She has also participated in both 30 for 30 challenges that I have participated in. I also love that she actually replies to the comments I leave on her blog. 

Where did the name of your blog come from? I chose the New Professional because it conveyed the office focus of my blog and I still consider myself rather new to the working world (about four years in).  

When did you start your blog? March 2010

Did the intent or content of your blog change since you started? Not too much. I planned my blog's focus/content/etc. for about a year before I launched it so I already had a pretty good idea of what I wanted to include and have done so since the beginning.

How many hours per week would you say you spend blogging? Probably around 20.

Do you spend more time reading blogs than you do writing your own blog? Hmm...good question! I would guess no, since I usually skim (I subscribe to hundreds of blogs).  I would be worried if I was spending 20 hours a week reading on top of my 20 a week blogging!

How many blogs do you read on a daily basis? Gosh...skim read--hundreds.  Read read, less than that. But I probably read read a good 30 or so fashion blogs daily--the rest I skim or look at the pics.

What is the main goal of your blog? I'd like to show folks that office wear doesn't have to be boring or expensive, and also offer advice and tips on professional etiquette and growing your career.

Do people email you often (like I did) because they read your blog? Not really. You're special like that. :)

What is your inspiration? For fashion or for blogging? Either way, I think other fashion blogs have been really inspiring for me.  There are so many women out there that have really spot-on style and business savvy.

Do you find it difficult to get good outfit locations? Absolutely. I have a strict personal rule about keeping my blog and my 9-to-5 separate, so I either take my own photos or have my husband take some when I get home from work. In spring and summer, when it was still nice outside, we'd just wander around our apartment (it's in a downtown area, so there are lots of other buildings and backdrops).  Now that it's winter, though, and dark by 4:30 p.m., we've worked out a spot in the apartment.  Photos are always a tough one for me, though, since the husband isn't all that excited about playing photographer. I got a remote for Christmas, so we'll see if that helps!

Do you have any siblings? How do their ages relate to yours? I have one brother, who is exactly 17 months younger than me.

From the past six months, what is your favorite outfit that you’ve worn (and photographed)? Hmm...that is tough! Probably this and this from my 30,  and this and this from before the 30.  I tend to like a lot of my outfits. 

What is your favorite picture (of you, others, or scenery) that you have taken recently? This one from my cell phone camera of some neat clouds we saw driving down to Southern California for the holidays (taken on Christmas Eve).  [shown to the right]

What post are you most proud of?  Did it get the most hits?  This is tough. My favorite post I've written is probably about making yourself indispensable in the workplace. Not the most popular. I find that in general, my fashion related posts are most popular, likely because that is the crowd that visits and comments.  But I feel the advice posts really are central to my goals for my blog, so I'll keep on keeping on.

How long does it take to write your advice posts? It varies.  I have a running list of topics and I try to schedule them, but usually I just look down the list and pick whatever strikes my fancy at that moment. That makes it easier to write, since it's something that may already be on my mind.  I'd say it usually takes about 30 minutes to an hour.

Do you write posts in advance and schedule them to go up at certain times? I try to. Usually I reserve Sunday afternoons for blogging and write my Make Believe Monday and advice post then. Outfit posts are generally done day-of (although sometimes scheduled to post the next morning).

What is one interesting fact you’d like to share about yourself? I really love those popcorn tins with the butter, cheese, and caramel corn. I thought of that just now because my mom just gave me one.

My favorite outfit from July (near when I first discovered her blog) and I still refer to this outfit wanting to recreate it.

So if you haven't done so already, you should head over to The New Professional and read it daily like I do.  

A Day's Worth of Twitter

12:27:14 AM - RT @_Poly_Kitty: Purring while laying on Colleen. http://plixi.com/p/66797939
01:02:39 AM - @mikecherepko I've been practicing for days.
12:20:45 PM - It is so nice and warm. I wish I wasn't sick. It's a great day to run. UGH
02:07:34 PM - just went outside to bring in the garbage can. it is so warm. i want to run. i want to run. i want to run
07:32:12 PM - @lisafilipek JC ate your pizzelles. Nobody told him he says. I have more at my house. Wish I knew.

You can find me as @smilincolleen on Twitter.

2010 Running Achievements

I finally used my shadow box. I put my running medals in there, my race stats, and 1 picture.
My goal for 2010 was to get a medal at a race. It seems I need a bigger goal.  I also got a trophy at a race but that wouldn't fit in.

It was difficult to make my scrapbook page because Poly wanted attention.

30 Things I learned during the 30 for 30

 

30 things I learned or reiterated

1. I like red even more than I thought I did.
2. I wear my Nickel shoes a lot more than I thought in the winter (they are little booties that cost me $5)
3. A button down shirt under a cardigan is amazing.
4. I wore my sneakers less than I thought I would and I am glad.
5. Less is more
6. Accessories are key
7. You don't need more, you can just rework what you have.
8. I hate ironing
9. If something needs to be ironed, it just sits there
10. My style is consistent. 
11. I need to go through my closet and get rid of a lot.  I still have the goodwill pile sitting in the corner that I made right after the last 30 for 30 challenge.
12. Taking 30 seconds to take pictures outside in the cold adds a lot to the photos and isn't that bad for such a short duration (the 30 for 30 didn't need to teach me this but the cold and snow fell over the 30 for 30 duration)
13. I need to figure out what to wear with my navy pants besides red.
14. Tights aren't totally scary (just mostly)
15. Jeans look a lot better with nicer shoes (I know this but always forget.)
16. Participating in a challenge is easy for picking out clothes
17. Participating in a challenge is harder for getting all blog posts/ideas actually posted.
18. Photoshopping some pictures is awesome, while others not so much. 
19. I like charts
20. It is easier to discover new blogs during challenges.
21. I like how I look in pencil skirts better than how I look in pants.
22. Standing on a slight angle makes my pictures turn out better.
23. Changing locations for photos adds interest to the outfits.
24. I managed to wear boots 5 times and which is was more. I like them. 
25. My black and white dress that I bought in the summer also works for the winter too.
26. I still have not mastered the belted cardigan.
27. Black pumps always fail me during challenges (2nd 30 for 30 and 2nd pair of black pumps I need to throw out)
28. Wearing my hair up isn't as bad as I thought.
29. I need to quit wearing red so many days in a row.
30. I like prints but don't know why I rarely buy them.

It was also going to be a post of what I wore and how many times, but I'm hungry for breakfast (and it's 2PM) so I'm going to save that for another day.

Days 1-30

Includes accidental days 31 and 32

2010 Review

In 2010, I had fewer major things than in the previous couple years.

1. I became more obsessed with exercise data (January posts were mainly about data but then more and more data as the year went on)
2. I got reorganized at work so I got a new manager and a new group
3. I ran my first half marathon

4. I got a cat 
5. I discovered fashion blogs
6. I made the switch from LiveJournal to Blogger
7. I had to move buildings at work to a not as good one
8. People who don't know me actually started reading my blog.
9. I got pretty sick with colds 3 times during the year (that I remember off the top of my head. February, November, and now)
10. I participated in two 30 for 30 challenges, Summer black-out, and Color Rotation Challenge.

OK that's all I can think of. Nothing major.  Just to give you an idea of previous years since I can't find posts about it. (I even logged into myspace thinking maybe some summaries were there but I couldn't find anything.)

In 2009

1. I had knee surgery (was off work for 2 weeks. When I got my stitches out, the incisions split open and I had to have steri strips and I was back to elevating and being swollen)
2. I started exercising 6 days a week
3. I started running
4. I ran 5ks and my first 10k (my first road races. And the only races since high school)
5. I got a DSLR camera

I graduated college in 2005

I started a "real" job in 2006

I got engaged in 2006
I got married in 2007 (I don't have a post detailing the wedding. I should make a summary one now.)

My husband and I had a house built in 2008 (picasa albums)

I found my summary post from 2006. 

Friend Friday: Resolutions, Goals

First I will state that I never make New Year's Resolutions. I hate them. Everyone makes them and doesn't stick to them. People join the gym at work and it is packed in January and then in February it is not packed at all.

New Year, new blog, new you... resolutions, goals for 2011

1. What's the one thing you vow to learn or do in 2011 to improve your blog? I do not vow to do anything. I did ask for my HTML book back so that I can maybe do something cool.

2. What did you learn about blogging in 2010 that you plan to put into practice next year? I basically learned that people have fashion blogs and people actually read blogs for those people that they don't know in real life. That's the best part of my day now.  I will keep up with reading blogs and finding new blogs and commenting.

3. Do you have any high-level goals for your blog in the coming year? Monetization? More comments? More connections with other bloggers? A new template? I would say I want more hits and more comments but I don't think of that as a high-level goal.

4. If you could collaborate with one other blogger within your sphere of influence in 2011, who would you like to collaborate with, and what would you like to collaborate on? I have no idea. I'm not sure why I'd want to collaborate. I'm not "big" enough yet. I don't do anything fancy. I don't have the time to put more time into it.  I do it for me and it is added bonuses that other people read it and comment. I mean comments are the favorite part of my day.

5. What do you plan to do to support other bloggers next year? Continue reading their blogs, comment on their blogs, and send emails here and there.

A Day's Worth of Twitter

10:49:55 AM - I got up on the wrong side of the bed. meaning my cat was in the way so I crawled over and got up on Dave's side of the bed.
11:14:03 AM - I've probably spent 20 hours over the past few days playing Tetris Worlds on Gameboy. Fusion is my favorite. Can't beat level 13 though.
11:15:15 AM - @mikecherepko You didn't tell me you had a phone interview so I wished you happy birthday first.
11:16:09 AM - @mikecherepko last night I thought up nice things to write inside your birthday card. but now I forget it. something about 29 and 26
02:20:04 PM - I might get dressed just so I can put on stripes.
08:00:01 PM - I just decided it was time for dinner so I went over and opened the microwave. I missed the step of opening the can of beefaroni
09:46:02 PM - Poly is so demanding. Constantly making me throw ponytail holders for her and she doesn't bring them back close enough.
09:53:53 PM - watching my 4th episode of brothers and sisters.
10:48:43 PM - our driveway is a sheet of ice. i just took down our garbage can and slid 3/4 the driveway. You can see my boot sliding prints.
10:50:13 PM - I steered the garbage can into the snow pile in order to stop. I walked up the mushy grass.

You can find me as @smilincolleen on Twitter.

NIfty Fifty's

On December 11, we went to Nifty Fifty's. We try to go each visit to Philly.  The restaurant is only a couple minutes from Dave's grandmom's so it makes it convenient.

We sat at the counter so we wouldn't have to wait in line for over 20 minutes.  We only didn't sit at the counter once. I actually prefer to be able to spy on things in the kitchen.

I started with an Oreo milkshake. I love how they serve it in the metal container.  It fills your glass at least twice.  Sometimes I just get vanilla. I like vanilla.  Dave got Peanut Butter Oreo this time.

 Dave ordered a burger for the first time. He liked it.

We also got Onion Rings. I mean Dave also got Onion Rings.  I don't like them so Dave had eat them all. He didn't quite make it.

We always get cheese fries. They are so good.  They have cheese at the bottom too so you never run out of cheese. It is wonderful.

I got a Texas Tommy. In case you are wondering how healthy it is, a Texas Tommy is a hot dog wrapped in bacon (and I think fried or something) and then with cheese whiz on a bun. It is tasty. Five Guys has a similar hot dog but instead of cheese whiz it is sliced cheese.  The Five Guys one isn't nearly as good.

I tried to get a picture of the outside while we were driving away but it was extremely difficult because we were going in the wrong direction.

If you are ever in the Philadelphia area, you should make sure you go to Nify Fifty's.
Have you ever been there?  Did you like it? 

Friday, December 10 - Travel to Philly (Day 32)

Day 32 because I forgot to branch out in my closet even though I was done with the challenge.

Cardigan: NY&Co
Cami: Express
Pants: VS
Shoes: Famous Footwear
Ring: Lia Sophia
Necklace & Earrings: Target

I wore dress pants because they are more comfortable the jeans for driving in a car. I'm pretty sure most people don't wear dress pants for 5 hours in a car but it was either that or yoga pants and I figure dress pants look more presentable.

I took my pictures before leaving even though I thought nice daily pictures in Philly would be nice. I didn't want to risk forgetting to take it though.

This is the same basic outfit I've been wearing. Cami with a cardigan over it. Every time I wear the lace camis I think how they are too long and how the cardigans are slightly too short. 

We left later in the morning than Dave wanted to but I sure had a lot to get ready and spent tons of time the night before getting ready too. All he did was pack his clothes and he was ready. I had to get the gifts organized and the cookies organized and packed and get the cameras situated.

We started a new tradition of getting off the Turnpike earlier to go to the Pat's in West Chester so that we could get more meals in.

We both got Chef Salads and then we got a cheesesteak to share.

I eat too slow so Dave ate most of the Cheesesteak. Salads take forever to eat so we weren't done eating until about 4:30. Then we headed to our hotel.  We stayed at the Hampton Inn right next to King of Prussia Mall.  We stayed there at least once before.  We never go to the mall though. I did think about it because they have different stores there but the parking lot was too packed for me to even consider going there. 

When did the Hampton Inns start folding their towels? They certainly weren't folded like that last year.

Then we were off to visit the in-laws. 

Gimpy

Jason and Dagda (I think)

This cat's name wasn't so easy to remember. At least Gimpy has messed up front paws so it's easy to remember his name.

Good thing I didn't eat a ton at Pat's because we had to eat dinner once we were with family.   We visited for a few hours and headed back to the hotel.  We were pretty exhausted.  I wanted to blog but ended up just going to sleep.

A Day's Worth of Twitter

11:44:12 AM - Still in bed. Been in bed since 8PM. Only slept about 10 hours though.
01:13:48 PM - I should probably get out of bed
02:10:35 PM - Both my hands fell asleep. I think I hold my gameboy wrong
03:38:31 PM - Well I showered and am now in the family room.
03:42:53 PM - We need food. But I need food in me before I can go shopping.
03:44:25 PM - @SydneyLiann I almost wore it today but figured I'll save it for a day I leave the house.
05:15:57 PM - Death by Giant Eagle. If only I could have gone in one row for it all. http://plixi.com/p/66482790
05:51:41 PM - I'm down 4 lbs. Dave is down 8. He's sicker than me.

You can find me as @smilincolleen on Twitter.

30 for 30 Outfit 31: December 9

Yup you read that right... outfit 31. I didn't know how to count.

Cardigan: NY&Co (40% off.  I had to sew around all the button holes to get the big buttons to stay put)
Cami: Express
Pants: VS
Shoes: Famous Footwear
Necklace/Earring set: Target ($12.99)

I played with camera settings for the first time. I was sick of auto and having bright snow and a dark face.  Tv and Av were used but only with what they were set with the last time they were used. Then I think I changed one thing (forget on which setting).  I didn't play longer because it was might cold out.

I like how this setting made my clothes nice and bright but I don't like how my face is too bright.

I liked this setting the best. I forget which one it was.  Also the settings were probably based on time of day. I will have to really practice some other time.

This setting made it look dark.

I had to work from home. Dave wasn't home. I took lots of pictures of Poly. Days with so many pictures, I wish she had her own blog.

This is me trying to sew my button holes while my sweater was on.  Two of them weren't good enough from the last time I did some sewing.

Poly was just too cute throughout my work day. I couldn't even figure out which ones to include in this post so sorry there are too many. I did cut out about 40 of them though.

I had a Stampin' Up class. The dining room was a mess after and I didn't have time to clean it up. The picture above was the result of Tuesday's Class. I had to clean it up to make room for more people. It was clean for the most part when people came over but then it became a mess again.

After the Stampin' Up class I had to finish organizing all the cookies for our trip to Philly.  I packed 8 containers. Dave's dad and family got the 4 on the left and Dave's mom and Shawn got the 4 on the right.  They got a lot.... probably too many.

Right before I was about to go to sleep, I checked my work email and got an email from my manager where he thought I wasn't putting in the time to get work done. I was very unhappy about this because I was putting in the time and because it wasn't my fault things were delayed.  That email made me think about all the stuff I didn't do this December and then I posted about it. I believe that email caused me to get so worked up that I stayed up 3 extra hours.