February Spotlight - Liz

I haven't had a spotlight in awhile because I'm a slacker but boy do I have a good one for you.  I decided to spotlight Liz this month.  She previously wrote a guest post on why she runs. Liz is great and you should follow and read her blog daily. She's athletic (like me) and has takes pictures of herself daily (like me), but she is a much better photographer than I am. (You should follow her on Twitter too @RestonStyle)

Where did the name of your blog come from?  (Well where did the names of all your blogs come from?)
The name Reston Style comes from the place where I live. Reston is a suburb of DC in northern Virginia. It is one of the 5 largest planned communities in the United States and the first one to complete its original master plan. I actually work for the non-profit corporation that acts like the government, the Reston Association. I figured with a name like “Reston Style” it could be just a daily outfit blog, like it is now, but it could also be expanded to include all other aspects of style into it.

When did you start your style/fashion blog? How about the rest of them? Have you ever had any other blogs before?
My style blog started in December, though I started posting daily outfits on my tumblr in November of 2010. My tumblr was my first blog and I started it at the beginning of 2010. I currently keep my tumblr, Reston Style, and photography blogs up to date.

What are the main goals of your blogs? Why did you choose separate blogs instead of having 1 blog with a mesh of everything?
Since my tumblr was my first blog, it really was a mesh of everything. It had a little bit of everything, but a whole lot of nothings when you looked right at it. Then I started looking at style blogs... I liked how some of them just showed some pretty pictures and a snapshot into the lives of these real girls. It was like a little piece of scripted reality, and I liked that, so I stole like an artist and decided to start my own style blog.  It’s definitely, genuinely me, just an edited for time and content version. It’ll also be something that I can show my kids someday, where as I’m not sure I’d ever want to show them my twitter feed or tumblr!

Did the intent or content of your blog change since you started?
Reston Style has stayed true to itself since the beginning. There are probably only 4 or 5 posts that don’t follow the same format. Since it’s inception, I have added a “fit style” segment that recurs as well as a new “trend to try” segment. But for the most part it is pictures of what I am wearing, and a little glimpse into some of the happier moments of my day. It’s actually really nice to write because  it does provide a little escape from some of the harder moments of life.

How many hours per week would you say you spend blogging?
I would say that I spend between 10 and 15 hours a week working on blogs or blog related things (I am also doing some consulting about blogging). I have a really great work flow, so to keep Reston Style going I could probably only work about 2 hours a week on it, but I like doing it so much that I spend a lot more time on it!

Do you spend more time reading blogs than you do writing your own blog?
That depends on the week. I realize that being part of the community is the best way to gain and retain readership, but it takes a lot of time to read all the blogs of all the people you find interesting. I feel like a bad bloggy friend when I spend my time working on my blog and not reading my friends blogs, so I do try to check in at least once a week! But on average I would say I read blogs for about an hour a day.

How many blogs do you read on a daily basis?
Some days I will read 100 blog posts by 90 different bloggers, some days I will read none. I do actually always ready my friend, Michelle’s blog That’s so Michelle, because I have liked watching her photography progress AND giving her some phototips. That is actually something that I have learned about myself, blogging and reading blogs has made me more interested in photography. So if I just have a few minutes to read blogs, I generally go for ones with great photos. When I have a lot of time, I go for ones with great content.

Do people email you often because they read your blog?
I get a couple of comments per post, but not very many emails. I would say that most of the time the questions I get from readers are more about my running than my style. I guess it’s the running that makes me interesting, not the fact that I get dressed everyday :) 

Do you communicate with a lot of your readers via email/IM?
I am always open to emailing or IMing, but I would say most of my reader communication is through Disqus and Twitter.

What is your inspiration?
This is actually a tough question for me. I think I was inspired to start outfit shots by Jessica Quirk of What I Wore and then by Kendi Skeen of Kendi Everyday. I really liked the photos on their blogs and I thought “I can do that!” (I also thought, “maybe if I do that, I can make some money or get on the Today Show or something.” It’s my dream to be a contributor for the Today Show.) So the idea that I could  do it is what got me started. However, the focus has really changed as I have continued with it. I am really inspired by photography now. Writing Reston Style has really helped me discover that passion. So now my inspiration is all photography related and the rest is just getting dressed.

What post are you most proud of?  Did it get the most hits?
I am most proud of my guest post about self portrait photography - and yes, it brought a lot of traffic to my blog. But I think it’s because of how much passion I put into it. I am actually trying to come up with some more photography posts to submit as guest posts on different photography technique blogs.

What is your daily routine regarding your blog? (Ex: When do you take pictures? When do you upload them? When do you write the post?)
I try to take my pictures in the morning or in the evening, just because the light is at its best, but a lot of my shots end up getting taken at lunch. I generally shoot through out the week, then edit the photos as I have time and load them as batches onto flickr. The day I am wearing the outfit, I try to come up with a title. other than that I generally write all my posts over the weekend. Then as they get ready to get published I have the bulk of my content ready to go. Sometime I wait to do the second paragraph, so that I can add something about what is actually going on “real time” in my life.
I try to publish before noon everyday. Then I share the link on facebook, twitter, and make the pictures public on flickr with the link to the blog post in the title. In the past I have used flickr groups to try to boost my views - and they work - I just haven’t had the time to keep up with everything. It’s part of my expanded workflow - but my order of importance is: 1)get dressed, 2)take pictures 3)post 4)make photos public on flickr 5) share on facebook 6)share on twitter. If I get all of those things done - I call myself a bloggy success!

How do you juggle all your competing priorities and still have time to blog?
I read this great post (http://www.austinkleon.com/2011/03/30/how-to-steal-like-an-artist-and-9-other-things-nobody-told-me/) and pretty much decided that since I already used a calendar, I might as well add my blog goals to it.

What is your best tip to photographing yourself?
I would love to say “have fun” but really the best tip I have is change your focal length.  Go with 55mm or up. If you have a point and shoot - that means ZOOM! I think this advice is probably the best that I have - 85mm is your friend. It blurs the background and makes you look prettier! :)

What is one interesting fact you’d like to share about yourself?
When I was a kid I hated writing. Mostly because I am a horrible speller and it made me insecure. So its kinda interesting that I spend so much of time time writing now!

What is your next running goal?
I have a couple in mind:

• set a new marathon PR sub 4:15 (okay, so I really want sub 4, but I am trying to be realistic!)
• sub 1:45 ½ marathon
• sub 6 minute mile
• Olympic distance triathlon

How many days a week do you run/train?  And how many do you just exercise in other ways that aren’t training for runs?
I live life like a kid. I aim to run about 3 times a week. If I do that I’m happy. The rest of the time I just try to live an active lifestyle. I like stretching on a foam roller, so I try to go to the gym to do that twice a week. Other than that and the exercise that I get from coaching swimming - I generally just say yes if someone invites me to do something active! I was indoor climbing about once a week for a while, and hope to get back to that soon.

If you could only share 1 fitness tip, what would it be?
Set lifestyle goals and set them one at a time. Instead of thinking about what you want to lose, think about the things you want to gain. For example, don’t think about losing weight, think about gaining fitness. Setting goals with a positive connotation will help keep the whole process aimed towards success. Small lifestyle changes over big changes in the short term.


What motivates you to keep up with exercise?
My goals. I do so much better when I have a race to prep for or a time goal in mind. Exercise is important for my wellbeing, but that alone isn’t always enough to motivate me. So setting out to accomplish something that is measurable keeps me accountable. It also helps that I train with friends. They rely on me to help get them to their goals, and their reliance on me helps keep me accountable to my goals.

Does your family ever get to see you race or do they participate in any races with you?
They have come to a couple of the 5ks I have done, and even though my mom is also a runner (and has started training with me), we have yet to run anything longer than a 5k together.

What is your proudest running accomplishment?
I have a couple. I am really proud of running a 14.78 mile training run alone. It’s the longest I have ever run alone before. And my half career is really kinda a cool story. I ran sub 2 hrs in my first ½ ever, then a year later I ran it only 8 minutes slower (just over 2 hours) only 18 days after having my tonsils out, then my PRs in both the outer banks ½ and the flying pirate ½. And of course, I completed a marathon this year. It is impossible to describe how that feels. I wanted to thank Liz for putting up with all my questions and putting up with me being a slacker posting this. I am still having trouble trying to insert all the pictures I wanted to so you are just getting less.

July Spotlight - Brittney

Well it's that time again... that time to spotlight another awesome blogger. For my eighth feature, I thought I'd ask Brittney some questions. She's funny and always takes such interesting photos. She wrote a running feature for me before too.

Where did the name of your blog come from?
It’s a very creative (yep) spinoff of my personal/family blog entitled…wait for it… “A Day in the Life.”

When did you start your blog? Have you ever had any other blogs before? 
I started style blogging in December 2010, but I’ve had my personal blog for years.

What is the main goal of your blog? 
To show what a normal girl (let’s just go with “normal” for argument’s sake, shall we?), with normal clothes and a normal life, wears.

Did the intent or content of your blog change since you started? 
I don’t think so, not a ton. I started out wanting to wear everything in my closet, because I had so much I didn’t like and/or never wore, and I wanted to prove to myself that I didn’t need to go buy all new stuff like I wanted to. I still try to focus on wearing what I own, being creative, and merging my personal style with my lifestyle. And limiting my consumption of pnut m&ms. Guess where I’m failing miserably?...

How many hours per week would you say you spend blogging? 
I’d guess about 3-4 hours a week. Much less during the spring/summer than winter. Because I’m 5 years old and want to be outside playing in the sprinkler.

Do you spend more time reading blogs than you do writing your own blog?
Not usually, no. I love reading blogs, don’t get me wrong, but with three young kids and a hundred other things to take care of every day, I’m afraid that’s one thing that rapidly moves down the ToDo list. Unforch
.

How many blogs do you read on a daily basis?
I don’t read any one blog faithfully every day. I’m more of a weekly/monthly check-in kinda girl.

Do people email you often because they read your blog? 
Absolutely, if by “often” we all understand that I mean “sure, I’ve been emailed at least once on a topic that may or may not have been blog-related.” Okay, FINE, sure. Some peeps have emailed me, and I love it.

Do you communicate with a lot of your readers via email/IM? 
No; most of my communication is via Twitter or Disqus commenting.

What is your inspiration?
Honestly? Lately it’s my 5-year-old daughter. She’s a fearless color- and pattern-mixer and has her own fabulous sense of style. I adore her and what she chooses to wear, and I’m inspired by her individuality expressed in her everyday clothing combinations.

What is your favorite picture (of you, others, or scenery) that you have taken recently? 
There’s a pic of my 2-year-old daughter, looking very expressionless yet geeky, in her yellow swimsuit and bright pink swim goggles that is awesome. I made it the header of my personal blog, actually. Check it out here if you’d like.

What post are you most proud of?  Did it get the most hits? 
Hmmm. Great question. I don’t know that I have a single favorite/pride-evoking post. Certain parts of certain posts make me laugh still, but I think I’m most proud of the fact that I blog almost every day with real-life outfits and real-life (albeit often lame) commentary.

[Interviewer’s inevitable next question: So, you’re saying you’re proud of being lame?]

Yes. Apparently I am.

How do you juggle all your competing priorities and still have time to blog? 
I typically blog during naptime or after bedtime. Or after I’ve locked my children in their respective soundproof cages for the day and have poured myself a refreshing glass of ice-cold lemonade.

What is one interesting fact you’d like to share about yourself? 
I pretend (even to myself) like I’m really easy-going and laid-back, but usually I’m masking a ticking time-bomb of stress. Is that weird? Yes? Oh. Nuts. But before you go to prescribe me anti-anxiety meds, let me just say: I’m getting better at chillaxing. Pinky swear.

What made you sign up to run a marathon the day after you graduated high school? (You previously mentioned doing it on my blog.) 
I was young and stupid. Actually, it wasn’t an official marathon. It was me and one of my friends who discovered a marathon-training route around our area; we really really wanted to run a marathon, but we were busy or going our separate ways during the rest of the summer. Then after that it’s college and blah blah blah… Anyway, long story short, that post-graduation Saturday was the only day we could do fit it in to the foreseeable future.

Seriously a bad idea, though, because we had zero sleep the night before (graduation party) and no aid stations (except for another friend who we called, maybe collect, from a payphone in desperation to bring us snacks). I hadn’t even eaten breakfast that day. Like I said. Young and stupid. But mostly stupid.

What is your next running goal? 
I just finished Ragnar (you can read a short synopsis here). I’m doing a half marathon in July, but after that, it’s up in the air. I’d love to do a 1-miler with my 6-year-old sometime this summer. And another 5k with my non-running husband. But mostly, I want to just keep running to stay in shape…and counterbalance the consumption of the sugary crap I’m addicted to.

How many days a week do you run/train? How long does this take? 
I run 4-5 days a week casually, 5-6 days when I’m training for something. Mostly it’s about 45 minutes a day except for one longer run on Saturday. I’m embarrassed about saying this, though…I’m lame about training these days and need to do better at taking it seriously.

Thanks for the interview, Colleen! Happy July, everyone. J

If you haven't done so already, head on over to see what JoAnn has to say at A Day in the Life Too...

June Spotlight - JoAnn

Well it's that time again... that time to spotlight another awesome blogger. For my seventh feature, I thought I'd ask JoAnn some questions. Her photos are amazing. The composition and even just that they are all outside is amazing.

Where did the name of your blog come from?
I originally started this blog with my younger sister and we named it Sidewalk Chalk, because it was a place for us to focus on our mutual love of clothing and childhood favorites. When she left the blog to pursue other things, the direction of it changed and I decided to change it slightly to Sidewalk Chic to focus on my style. Plus, I think the original name confused people who were Googling for art supplies :)


When did you start your blog? Have you ever had any other blogs before?
My sister and I started the blog in October 2009. I've had other blogs, but those were private ones without any real focus. I have kept a lot of journals over my life since age 7.

What is the main goal of your blog?
My main goal is to focus on personal style and landscape photography.

Did the intent or content of your blog change since you started?
It definitely did. Originally it focused on the differences between my style as a post-graduate in the real world and my sister, who was in high school at the time. Since then, it's been under my sole direction and I have focused a lot on enhancing my photography skills. I live in Georgia, so I've been really inspired by some of the rural farms and fields in my area and try to really capture some of the beauty of these locations. I take all of my own photos (unless otherwise noted) and I mostly do them outdoors.

How many hours per week would you say you spend blogging?
Probably 15 to 20, and a lot of that is because I spend time outdoors for photos.

Do you spend more time reading blogs than you do writing your own blog?
 I spend a lot more time reading blogs. It used to take me a really long time to take photos, edit and draft entries. But after doing this for a while, there's definitely a rhythm to it, and I can get it all done under two hours everyday.

How many blogs do you read on a daily basis?
I would say I visit about 10 everyday, but my Google Reader is subscribed to more than a 100, so I try to vary my reading from time to time. I read a lot of personal style blogs, but I'm also interested in online comics and illustrations (some favorites include Stuff No One Told Me (But I Learned Anyways) and Hyperbole and a Half).

Do people email you often because they read your blog?
I do get emails from time to time, and it's always fun to interact with others. I've definitely developed some wonderful relationships because of it.

Do you communicate with a lot of your readers via email/IM?
I mostly interact with my readers via email and Disqus comments. I love that Disqus allows for easy replying in comment threads.

What is your inspiration?
I'm inspired from a lot of different muses, ranging from personal style bloggers to landscape photographers. Recently I've started reaching out to local photographers on flickr to find more scenic photo spots in my area.

From the past six months, what is your favorite outfit that you’ve worn (and photographed)?
I really liked my J. Crew green paisley dress worn with a floral blue/white blouse. It was so eclectic and out there for me, and I loved how it turned out.

What is your favorite picture (of you, others, or scenery) that you have taken recently?
This was so tough to answer -- I'm not sure that I could narrow it down. Over the past year, I've really tried to challenge myself by experimenting with locations, lighting and angles. I think Imogen Cunningham said it best: "Which of my photographs is my favorite? The one I'm going to take tomorrow."

What post are you most proud of?
Did it get the most hits? I was really proud of the post I wrote about posing naturally in outfit photos. I feel like a lot of style photographers can get self-conscious in front of the camera. I still get a lot of feedback from it.

What is your daily routine regarding your blog? (Ex: When do you take pictures? When do you upload
them? When do you write the post?)
I try to take photos every afternoon, and over the weekends I try to do photos just after sunrise. I end up writing the posts at night and they get published at 9:00 every morning.

How do you juggle all your competing priorities and still have time to blog?
I try to remember that this is my hobby, and to try to make time for it everyday.

What is your best tip to photographing yourself?
I think it's important to experiment and get comfortable in front of the camera by trying all kinds of poses. I'm also a big advocate of good posture.

What is one interesting fact you’d like to share about yourself?
I'm planning on going to graduate school in the fall to study advertising. I'm looking forward to seeing how my blog will evolve during that time period.

If you haven't done so already, head on over to see what JoAnn has to say at Sidewalk Chic.

May Spotlight - Melissa

Well it's that time again... that time to spotlight another awesome blogger. For my sixth feature, I thought I'd ask Melissa some questions. I've emailed Melissa and we just talk about random stuff. It is great. I love the communication and helpfulness. That's what made it easy to choose her for my next feature.

Where did the name of your blog come from?

When I first started reading style blogs, I noticed there weren’t very many that had “mom” somewhere in the title, or “working”. I really wanted to find some that were specifically geared toward working moms just so that I could relate a little bit more. Since A Working Mom’s Closet wasn’t already taken and it’s what I would’ve looked for myself, I decided to use it. J

When did you start your blog? Have you ever had any other blogs before?

I started almost a year ago; my first blog birthday is coming up soon! I kept another blog that was more about my quest to lose weight.

What is the main goal of your blog?

To inspire, to be inspired; to encourage and be encouraged. To learn, to grow; to form relationships and be a part of the wonderful community of style bloggers.

Did the intent or content of your blog change since you started?

I don’t think so. My photos have improved as I’ve learned more throughout the year, but otherwise I think it’s been consistent.

How many hours per week would you say you spend blogging?

Not enough. J I used to have more time to work on my blog but it seems as though life and work have gotten busier.

Do you spend more time reading blogs than you do writing your own blog?

Same as above; I used to have LOTS of time to read and comment on other blogs and at that point yes, I would spend hours upon hours reading blogs while only spending an hour or two writing my own. Now, however, it’s been all I can do just to write my own blog. I rarely have any time to read and comment and I miss my bloggy friends so very much!

How many blogs do you read on a daily basis?

Oh gosh…well, like I wrote above, I don’t have time to read on a daily basis anymore but I’m subscribed to a LOT. I typically have 100-200 unread posts come into my reader each day.

How do you find the time to comment on so many of the blogs that you read?

When I had the time, I was doing it at work. My boss at that point was only working part-time and there wasn’t much work to get done so I had lots of time throughout the day to read and comment. In my new position, there’s quite a bit more work which is good professionally, but that means I don’t have as much time to read. I try to do it while I’m home but my work hours are crazy and when I’m home my priority is time with my daughter when it’s my custody time with her.

Do people email you often because they read your blog?

Nope, not really. J I try to respond to comments via email as often as possible but I don’t get many direct emails from readers.

Do you communicate with a lot of your readers via email/IM?

Only via email in response to comments. I don’t use IM very much so not really that way, but I communicate via twitter too. Email is my favorite though.

What is your inspiration?

I have lots of different inspirations. For life in general, my daughter is my inspiration. For fitness, my ex-husband and my daughter. For fashion, I’m inspired mostly by all of my blog friends!

From the past six months, what is your favorite outfit that you’ve worn (and photographed)?

Ooooh, that’s a tough one. I have several favorites, some casual and some professional. I liked the outfit from this post because the purple dress always makes me feel like a million bucks, I can wear it with any type of belt and it’s fabulous. I liked it this way with the white belt, blue accents and floral flats because I felt entirely appropriate for the baby shower I attended.

What is your favorite picture (of you, others, or scenery) that you have taken recently?

My favorite recent pictures include my daughter, but I don’t post her photo publicly so I won’t show those. I don’t take pictures of scenery often. Coming up with a favorite photo of myself isn’t an easy task! I honestly can’t think of one that’s a favorite.

What post are you most proud of?  Did it get the most hits?

This is another hard one. I think the one I’m most proud of is this one about why I didn’t participate in the Friend Friday blog awards. It was a difficult post for me to write; I opened up about a few aspects of myself and I explained why I was going against the grain. I’m a people pleaser and typically like to do what everyone else is doing so that I fit in, but I was convicted about my reasons for not participating and felt I really needed to explain them. I lost someone that I thought was a good blog friend and the whole experience was a lesson for me. I’m not sure if it got the most hits, but I’m proud of myself for posting it.

What is your daily routine regarding your blog? (Ex: When do you take pictures? When do you upload them? When do you write the post?)

This stays just between us, right? (Heh.) I take my photos right before I leave the house for work. I upload them at the office typically right after our morning meeting (we have one every.single.day.) and write the post then too, if I can.

How do you handle keeping up with posting outfits on the day you actually wore them?

Well…as long as there is time for me to get it done at work, it hasn’t really been an issue. Seriously, this stays between us, right? J

How do you juggle all your competing priorities and still have time to blog?

I blog at work. For the most part. For special features and things like my Proper Professional interviews, I work on those while my daughter is still asleep in the mornings or during her naps or after she’s gone to bed. My blog priority is to keep up with posting in the first place, then to keep any commitments I’ve made in regard to guest posts or features, and then to make sure I respond as often as possible to reader comments (which I like to do via email because it’s more personal, but I can really only do it when the email address is connected to the writer’s comment profile). My main competing priority is my daughter and that is NO competition. Hence the reason I don’t do more or comment more. My daughter comes first. Always.

What is your best tip to photographing yourself and not making yourself look short?

Wait…I don’t look short? Well I honestly have no idea how that happens. I am short and kind of take pride in that, so I don’t really do anything to make it appear otherwise. J

Do you find it difficult to workout in the morning before work all the time?

YES. I wake up at 4:30am. I’d have to go to bed at 8:30 to get a full night’s sleep (actually even earlier because 9 hours would be better).  However, I end up staying up until 9:30 or 10 and don’t get enough sleep so the next morning I’m exhausted and YES it’s hard to work out when I’m exhausted. But I do it. Which leads us to…

What motivates you to keep up with the exercise?

The fact that I’ve been overweight most of my life and I know what that feels like. I don’t like it. It makes me uncomfortable and unhealthy and unenergetic. The fact that I see my daughter wanting to be just like me, but I want her to be like the healthy me, not the unhealthy one that never works out and doesn’t eat well. I want her to be proud of me and I want to be a good example for her.

What is one interesting fact you’d like to share about yourself?

During the Christmas season, I work a side job with an entertainment company singing Christmas music. My absolute favorite gig was singing with my ex-husband and other friends at Disney as the group The Mistletones. If I could sing and blog for a living, I would do that in a heartbeat.

If you haven't done so already, head on over to see what Melissa has to say at A Working Mom's Closet.

April Spotlight - Chrissy

Well it's that time again... that time to spotlight another awesome blogger. For my fifth feature, I thought I'd ask Chrissy some questions. I've emailed Chrissy and she taught me a way to get tabs below my blog header. I love the communication and helpfulness, but I especially love all the running. That's what made it easy to choose her for my next feature. You might remember that I gave Chrissy an award recently and she wrote a guest post on why she runs.

Where did the name of your blog come from?

When I was in high school, I was very quiet and shy. I wanted to change this so I started doing things outside of my comfort zone and declaring that this was “the new me!” I had so many “new me” moments that it became a joke with my friends. When it came time to name my blog, I thought it was perfect. Even though I’m no longer quiet and shy, I’ve always got a new goal on the horizon.

When did you start your blog? Have you ever had any other blogs before?

I started blogging in 2003 while I was studying abroad in Ireland. I thought it would be a neat way to stay in touch with friends and family and document my adventures. When I came home, I kept up with the blogging. I originally blogged at a website called Diaryland, but moved to Blogger in 2005. Since I had graduated college at that point, I didn’t really want my college adventures to be so clearly linked to me, especially while job hunting! 

What is the main goal of your blog?

To write about my life, share my adventures with others, and be a part of a community. I’ve met some amazing people through blogging and made some lifelong friends, which has been the biggest reward. I’ve kept journals since I was nine years old, and writing about my life is just something I need to do.

Did the intent or content of your blog change since you started?

Not really. My blog has gotten a little less personal since I started. I used to be really open when writing about my family and my relationships, and now I find that I prefer to keep certain things off the blog. The more blog traffic I get, the more I tend to censor myself. This is probably why I would never make it as a full time blogger!

How many hours per week would you say you spend blogging?

I probably spend about an hour a day writing entries and editing photos for my posts. So between 5 and 7 hours a week? I would like to spend more time writing posts that are thoughtful and interesting and researched, but working full time doesn’t leave a lot of time for that. 

Do you spend more time reading blogs than you do writing your own blog?

Definitely reading blogs! I spend 40 hours a week at my desk job, and most of my work breaks are for blog reading. Google Reader is a lifesaver in that regard.

How many blogs do you read on a daily basis?

I am currently subscribed to 143 blogs in Google Reader. Each blog goes into a folder (Friends, Fun, Inspiration, Library, Political, Running, and Vegan). I am always up-to-date on the Friend folder, because I like personal blogs the best, and Running, because running blogs help keep me motivated.

Do people email you often because they read your blog?

Once in a while. I think you email me the most! I get more comments than emails, and I try to respond to everyone that comments, especially if they ask a question.

Do you communicate with a lot of your readers via email/IM?

Not really. I’m on Gchat most of the day, but I don’t think anyone has really IMed me. Then again, I usually have the red busy dot up because technically I’m working J. I think I communicate most often through Twitter. I’m a Twitter junkie and have it up on my computer all day long. That’s pretty much the best way to get in touch with me!

What is your inspiration?

I’m inspired by everything! But mostly I’m inspired by people who work hard and play hard. I really admire discipline and productivity, but only when it’s done in the name of something you truly love. If that makes any sense. J

What is your favorite picture (of you, others, or scenery) that you have taken recently?

I take a lot of photos and put most of them on my flickr account. My favorite recent one is here.{also to the right} It’s a fancy drink I had while on vacation in Florida with my sister. I mostly take photos of food and my dogs, but I’m trying to branch out!

What post are you most proud of?  Did it get the most hits?

Two of my most popular posts are my race recap of the Warrior Dash and a recipe for Indian Samosa Casserole. I’m most proud of my guide to submitting work to literary magazines. It’s gotten a lot of views but very few comments, which is interesting. I thought it would get lots of comments since I put so much work into it. That’s okay – I’m glad people are reading it, even if they’re being quiet about it!

How do you juggle all your competing priorities and still have time to blog?

I mostly blog during breaks at work, but I’m also okay with not blogging for a week or skipping days here and there when things get really crazy. I’m usually consistent with my blogging (once a day, Monday through Friday) and don’t beat myself up when blogging takes a back seat. Blogging is a hobby of mine, so when it begins to stress me out I know I need to step back and remember that I’m doing this for fun. Mostly, though, I’m pretty good at managing my time. I’m a fast writer and composing a post is not that time consuming.

What is one interesting fact you’d like to share about yourself?

When I was in college, I had dreadlocks for three years. Most people are very surprised to discover that! I also have a Masters degree in Library Science, even though I’m not currently working as a librarian.

I notice that you post your writing goals and New Y ear’s Resolutions on your blog. Have you found that you stick to your goals/resolutions by posting them?

Oh, definitely. I like to review my New Years’s Resolutions a few times a year and that helps. The writing goals are new, but so far I’m finding that posting them really makes me feel accountable. When I make a plan for my writing, I’m much more likely to complete the goals. Otherwise, I just end up sitting at my desk and writing nonsense for 30 minutes.

What made you decide to run in 2008?

I had recently quit my roller derby team and needed a new fitness outlet, and running was something I’d never done but always admired in others. I liked it because it’s sort of a minimalist sport – all you need is a pair of shoes, really. And I found the Couch to 5K plan online, which seemed very do-able. So I just kind of went for it!

What made you keep going beyond a 5k?

I have a really ambitious personality. I just love goals and doing difficult things – I thrive on feeling accomplished. After the 5K I didn’t run much for a few months and I realized that I needed another goal if I was going to stick with it. I wanted to do a 10K next but there aren’t many races in my area, so I ended up training for a half marathon instead. For now, I’m happy with the marathon distance but I’m toying with the idea of triathlons and maybe an ultra marathon one day.

Does your family ever see you run a race?

No! I didn’t start running until long after I moved to Texas (my family is all in New York). I plan to run the New York City Marathon eventually, and I’m sure they’ll come out and see me run then. They aren’t super active, but they’re definitely proud of my accomplishments. (They also think I’m a little crazy, which is true.)

How do you fit in all of your exercise while still working and cooking so much?

I wake up early and work out before I have to be at my job at 8am. Usually, I am up at 5:15 and running by 5:45. Then I walk my dogs for 30 minutes and then I am barely at work on time. If I put off my exercising until later, it won’t happen. The only exception is my yoga class, which meets at 5:30pm.

I love to cook, but during the week my meals are pretty simple. I save the experiments and involved recipes for the weekend, when I have more time. If I post a recipe on my blog, chances are I made it on a Saturday or a Sunday.

So if you haven't done so already, go check Chrissy out and read her blog daily. 

March Spotlight

Well it's that time again... that time to spotlight another awesome blogger. For my forth feature, I thought I'd ask Kimberly some questions.  I've actually emailed with Kimberly and we've talked on gmail chat. I love the communication. That's what made it easy to choose her for my next feature. She has other strong qualities, too, like the blog features that aren't just her outfit of the day photos.  You might remember that I gave Kimberly an award recently.

Where did the name of your blog come from?

I came up with my blog name after I had my daughter and decided that I wasn’t going to be a frumpy mom. “Fashion Momma in Training” is in my URL and that’s what the blog was originally “called,” because I was literally re-learning how to dress myself and possibly learning how to be fashionable for the first time. It’s now lovingly referred to as “Fashion Momma,” because I think I’ve got it down, now.

When did you start your blog? Have you ever had any other blogs before?

I started my blog in November, 2009. I used to post to a Live Journal account in college, which was mostly just like a rant page or diary.

Did the intent or content of your blog change since you started?

I don’t think the intent or content of my blog has changed. Maybe that’s more up to the readers’ opinions, but I think my mission is and always has been to show that busy, working moms can be fashionable, comfortable, professional, and do it on a budget. I add a little more of my daughter in, especially with Trendy Tots Tuesday, but other than a few additions, a better camera, and a blog makeover, my original idea for content remains the same.

How many hours per week would you say you spend blogging?

Too many to count! I probably spend between 20 and 25 hours a week on blogging, which includes scoping out photo locations (new to me!), uploading and editing, writing, and responding to comments.

Do you spend more time reading blogs than you do writing your own blog?

I wish it was a 50-50 thing, but it’s not. I spend more time writing my own blog than I do reading others. It used to be the other way around, and then I found a happy medium, where I was able to comment on other blogs every other day or so. But now (with a new, exhausting job, a husband that works night shift, and a toddler), it’s all I can do to read through my Google Reader and enjoy everyone’s posts. I rarely comment on as many as I used to, but I definitely make a point to comment as often as possible!

How many blogs do you read on a daily basis?

Oh my goodness. If I can get through my reader, I read about 80 blogs or posts, daily. But on a really busy day, I might only get through 20.

What is the main goal of your blog?

I want to show everyone that it doesn’t take a giant pocketbook, a professional photographer, and a full-time blogging gig to have great style and to be able to fit your passions into your own life, whether or not it’s an insanely busy one. I want to show women of all sizes that they can and should be able to wear whatever they love. And most importantly, I want moms to realize that they should never let themselves fall to the wayside. I happy mom is a good mom.

Do people email you often because they read your blog?

I don’t get many emails, which is kind of sad. I really love emailing and connecting with my readers on a more personal level. I’ve made quite a few friends from blogging and I’d love to make more!

Do you communicate with a lot of your readers via email/IM?

I would say that I communicate with about 15 readers/friends that I’ve met because of the blog via email or Gchat. Most of the remainder of my interaction is through Disqus, which is my comment form that allows continuous conversational threads and Twitter.

What is your inspiration?

My lifestyle! I pick up lots of inspiration from the weather, my mood, comfort levels, what I plan to be doing after work, where I’m going on the weekends, and who I’m going to be with. I also gain tons of inspiration from other fashion/style bloggers!

Do you find it difficult to get good outfit locations?

I used to, but I also didn’t try very hard. Lately, my husband and I have been spending a bit more time scoping out more unique outfit locations and I really love how it’s changing the look of my blog and making my outfits stand out more.

From the past six months, what is your favorite outfit that you’ve worn (and photographed)?

The blue and silver sequin dress, black blazer, tights and booties from this post embodies my all-time favorite outfit! I wore it to my friend’s Christmas party and felt awesome all night. If I could pull of a sequined cocktail shift to work, every day, I totally would.

What is your favorite picture (of you, others, or scenery) that you have taken recently?

My favorite picture I’ve taken, recently, is probably this one of Little S.- She’s so unassuming and perfectly adorable all the time. I wish we could all be so happy, carefree, and extra sweet!

What feature on your blog are you most proud of? Why?

I have two weekly features on my blog, including Mansome Monday and Trendy Tots Tuesday. MM is really starting to take off, which is awesome. I love having Jason as a featured writer, because he adds some spunk and manliness that obviously, I don’t have. But Trendy Tots Tuesday has been a collaboration between Andrea of Peanut Butter Handprint, and myself, and although it’s not widely popular all over the blogosphere, I really enjoy featuring Little S. and it helps me remember to photographer her once a week. I think it’s going to be an awesome thing to look back on someday.

What post are you most proud of?  Did it get the most hits?

Right now, my favorite post is probably “All I See Are Changes” from February 17, 2011. I love my outfit, hair, how I incorporated some pretty awesome, but extra bright tights into my work wear, and it was the first day we really utilized my new camera and found a different outdoor location to start the better-photo-adventure.

As far as that post getting the most traffic- no, it didn’t. My Fashion Beauty Friend Friday and 30 for 30 posts have gotten the most hits in the past, but that’s because there’s such a huge network happening in regards to those subjects.

How do you handle keeping up with posting outfits on the day you actually wore them?

Some days I handle it better than others. I don’t know very many people that post day-of outfits and I was shocked to find that out! I thought it was a rule or something! But once I started posting day-of outfits, I got in that routine and don’t really want to change it. There’s something to be said about my friends, family, and all of my awesome readers getting to see what I’m wearing RIGHT NOW, as they’re reading my post. I think it’s kind of cool. I also like to call my mom and say, “Did you see my blog? I look cute today! Check it out!” And then she can visit and see what I look like while I’m talking to her. Those are the types of things that keep me motivated to stay on such a schedule, but yes, it’s a lot of added pressure that I put myself through on some days.

What is your daily routine regarding your blog? (Ex: When do you take pictures? When do you upload them? When do you write the post?)

I wake up, get ready, get my daughter ready, and if my husband is home, we’ll usually take Little S. to daycare, together, and we’ll stop somewhere on my way to work to take outfit pictures. If he’s not home that morning (he works nights and sometimes doesn’t get home ‘til after I’ve already left), I set the camera up in my back yard or somewhere in my house and take my own photos as I’m rushing to get out of the house. I upload the photos when I get to work, while I’m putting my lunch in the fridge and making/getting coffee. Then I write my post during my first break at work. On weekends, you’ll rarely see me blog, and if I do, it’s just at whatever time my schedule allows.

How do you juggle all your competing priorities and still have time to blog?

Uhh… Sad but easy answer: I don’t sleep very much.

What is your best tip to photographing yourself and not making yourself look short?

I didn’t know I didn’t look short in my photos, so I don’t really have a trick. All of my “good” pictures are taken by my husband, so he could probably go into better detail. It’s all about the angle and what I’m standing next to, I think. If I’m standing next to a bookshelf that’s 6 feet tall, you’re going to notice that I’m… well, not 6 feet tall. But it’s relative and if I’m standing against a blank or immeasurable slate, or if I’m standing next to something that the viewer can’t interpret because of our photo angle, you might never see that I’m only 4’11”. But I tell everyone, all the time, so if I look short, that’s cool, too.

What is one interesting fact you’d like to share about yourself?

Dang! My interesting fact is usually my height! But since I divulged all of that in the last answer, I’ll have to come up with something else. Hmm… interesting? I really like to cook. Is that interesting? Oh! I know! I’m a singer. J There you have it!

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

February Spotlight

Well it is that time again... that time to spotlight another awesome blogger. For my third feature, I thought I'd ask Sarah some questions.  I first discovered Sarah's blog right after her sister took her photos and she ended he photo shoot in a shopping cart. Sarah posts regularly, which I love. She also tells stories in her posts.  Her style is great. She also gets a great find from her mom every once in awhile.  Sarah is the first person I remember commenting on my blog that I didn't already go to her blog first. She will always have a place in my heart because of that.

Where did the name of your blog come from?

To be honest I have no idea. I had a personal blog for a long time and wasn’t really sure if I wanted to take the jump into taking pictures of myself every.single.day so I was a little hesitant to name it something fashion inspired in case I wanted to change the blog some time. But really the title describes me and not just fashion. With me what you see is what you get. I wear my heart on my sleeves. So it just happened to be fashion-y, and described me. Tadaaahhh!

When did you start your blog? Have you ever had any other blogs before?

I started my blog late July. Gosh I was terrified to do it but I put my big girl pants on and once that first post was done I was in love. It was a way for me to be creative and share it with others who were creative too. I did have a personal blog where I just ranted about my married/student/crazy  life in general.

Did the intent or content of your blog change since you started?

Heck yes. Can I say heck yes again because I really mean it. If you look back into my archives you can see that over time the blog has totally transformed. My personal style has completely transformed. It’s been a really fun journey. I still do the same daily outfits but how I combine pieces and my overall style has really blossomed.

How many hours per week would you say you spend blogging?

Way too much! I’d say probably an hour a night. I check out new blogs, edit pictures, write a post , all that fun stuff.

How many blogs do you read on a daily basis?

I read about thirty.

Do you spend more time reading blogs than you do writing your own blog?

Ha ha I hate to admit it but yes. When I find a really good blog I get totally addicted and blog stalk the night away. I just love finding other creative people that have a passion for what they’re doing!

What is the main goal of your blog?

To rule the world! Okay so not that drastic, really my main goal is to just enjoy and express myself. I have a passion for fun clothes and expressing my thoughts each day. As long as I’m doing that I’m completely happy with my blog.

Do people email you often because they read your blog?

Yes, and I absolutely love getting e-mails! One of the best parts of blogging for me has been the awesome people I’ve met that I never would have never known otherwise. Please, please, e-mail me, I would love to hear your story!

Do you find it difficult to get good outfit locations?

Yes, I drove my husband crazy, but literally, I would drive him around “What do you think about this place?” “Oooh ooh crazy colored building stop there.” I really just found that it was way too time consuming. Instead I just go right outside of our place and it takes about one minute to take my pictures. I’ve found that as long as you’re confident in your picture it doesn’t matter what the heck is behind you.

Do you have any siblings (besides the sister that sometimes takes your picture)? How do their ages relate to yours?

I sure do. And they rock my dang socks off, they’re seriously my best friends in the whole world. We’re loud and obnoxious and WE LOVE IT! I have one brother and three sisters ranging from thirty to sixteen.

From the past six months, what is your favorite outfit that you’ve worn (and photographed)?

To be honest I can’t say that I really have “the” outfit that I absolutely love. I do have items in my closet that are total staples to me though. A few things that a girls closet should never be without: 1. A pair of trousers that you feel like a million bucks in. 2. A blazer  3. A crazy patterned blouse 4. A sequined top (not necessary but hey I like sparkles)

What is your favorite picture (of you, others, or scenery) that you have taken recently?

I took a picture of some random guy in class sleeping/snoring. I’ve probably never been more proud of my sneaky picture taking abilities in my life.

What post are you most proud of?  Did it get the most hits?

Hmmm I love them all, they’re like my children. If I pick favorites I wouldn’t be a real mom J

Do you write posts in advance and schedule them to go up at certain times?

I write them the night before I post them and I’ve tried scheduling them but every time I do they never post (please please help me if you know how to fix this). So generally when I wake up and check my e-mails is when I post them.

How do you handle blogging, being in school, and being married at the same time?

It’s definitely a juggling act. My main goal that I’ve been trying to be good at is keeping my priorities straight. Sir Matt comes first no matter what. When he walks in the door after a long day if I’m blogging I throw my computer out the window just to give him a big hug (okay okay I’m dramatic). But I always always put our relationship first. As far as school and blogging, blogging is my creative outlet from school work. So once I put in a long night of work I reward myself with some blogging time. It’s all about balance. Put your personal life first and the rest will just fall into place, and if it’s not important it will disappear completely and you’ll realize you don’t need it.

What is one interesting fact you’d like to share about yourself?

Oooh Oooh I have one! In high school I was in the musical Hello Dolly. I was Dolly and was doing a scene where she has a grand entrance. No joke in my grand finale pose my dress dropped to my ankles. I just pulled it up, pretended like it never happened and kept on going. Who knows how I survived all the pity looks though.

So if you haven't done so already, you should head over to Wearing it on my Sleeves and read it daily like I do.  

All photos used with permission from Sarah's blog.