I get a lot of eyebrow raises when I tell people that I am a blogger as well as a lot of inbox questions with messages like: Wait? Do you do this for a living? Do people actually pay you to wear their clothes? Well, yes and no. I figured I would clear some things up with a little sneak peek behind the scenes. Here are few truths about this unintentional and rather unconventional career path I’ve taken…

Truth #1 // I do not have a photographer following me throughout my day. I really get a laugh when people ask me that! NO! In fact, most of my day is spent behind a computer screen writing, researching, scheduling, answering emails/comments etc (noting I try my best to respond to every single comment on blog/social media/email).

I shoot photographs for the blog 3-4 times per month (some times more) with Alison and it is not nearly as glamorous as it may seem. Fun (always), but not glamouros. I plan 3-4 outfits, we drive to a location, and I hide in my car to change. An hour later I am usually (always) sweating, realize we photographed an outfit with mascara under my eye and my entire car is strewn with clothing. Then I go about my day – grocery store, preschool pick up line, laundry, in no particular order.

Truth #2  // It’s not just taking pictures and posting them online…..Writing this blog is a full time job, most of which happens behind the scenes. About a year ago I decided that squeezing the blog into pockets of my day wasn’t working for my family. It was really confusing for kids (at least mine) to see me working on my computer. I realized that if I wanted to go for it, I was going to have to treat it like a full-time job and hire a babysitter. I work 50+ hours per week (6 hours during the day and I’m always working week nights – usually with wine, but still working). When my kids get off the bus, I am able put my computer away until they go to bed at night and am able to be more present.

Recently, you may have also noticed that my sister Abby joined me on the blog… Certainly a treat for me to have a sister with a degree in fashion design come on board! We hope our little blog becomes something bigger and are fortunate to have such a supportive readership. In the next couple of months, we’ll roll out ‘Part II” of our behind the scenes to outline the future of the blog which we’re more than excited about!

Truth #3 // Which brings me to my next point (and one I always feel funny about answering), but yes I am transparent about the fact I make money blogging. I understand that this is not a “typical” profession, and if I were a teacher (which I was) or a lawyer there would be no question. And I put this out there because what I don’t want people to think is that I am just some chick with a serious shopping problem with someone to foot the bill. No! I get a small commission from the purchases made through my blog. It’s like a little “thank you” from the retailer for styling their products. My blog is about is showcasing things (food, home style, but mostly clothes) that I love, so yes I do have an overstuffed closet.  A lot of times brands will ask me to pick my favorites from their collection and ‘sponsor’  a post, which is another source of income. That said, I hand select everything I post and style myself. I would never post anything that I don’t personally love. If a brand asks me to promote their product but I don’t love it, I politely decline (which I’d say represents over 9/10 of all inquiries I receive).

Truth #4 //  I realize when you put yourself out there you can’t expect everyone to like what you do. I have “relatively” thick skin and have been so lucky that the women who read this blog are pretty much the sweetest (really – I can’t say how appreciative I am that the majority of comments I receive are positive and help me continue to push the blog forward). That being said, I do get negative feedback every once in a while and try to laugh it off. A few personal favorites being,

• “Who are you and why do you keep showing up in my feed? I just want you to go away!”;
• “You look homeless”; and,
• “You look too old to have young kids.”

And I get it.. I’m not going to be everyone’s favorite and I accept that. Just don’t be too hard on me because, as noted below, I’m human (and I really do read every comment)!

Truth #5 // I am 100% human. I got a comment recently that said something along the lines of “show us your messy house or your kids crying or something to make us all feel a little more normal.” I can assure you that my every day life is as crazy and chaotic and messy as you would expect any mom of young kids to be. I am always running late, my house is always messy, someone is usually crying or whining about something. I don’t post these things because when they are happening, I am trying to make it all stop! And we all know how much energy that takes….

I decided a few years ago to take the focus of this blog off my kids and let it be a place for women to escape. Truthfully, it’s an escape for me too – when I shut this computer and walk in my living room, I’ll have dinner to fumble through, fights to referee, dried spaghetti to pluck off the wall (how? why?….. how?), math homework to pretend I know how to do, and 4 smooshy faces to kiss (which is really the reason I do all of this) and then immediate yell at for never listening to a word I say.

And if you are still with me, congrats! And thank you! Outfit details below….

Wearing:

100% Human Tee | Jeans (darker version here) | Lipstick

And because most of my weekday wardrobe is some form of the outfit above, here are 5 of my favorite tees under $25!

I do my best to answer all of your questions so let me know what else you are wondering about! But most of all, thank you SO much for following along.

xo

Lindsey

In collaboration with Everlane + Shopstyle