Can you share a little bit more about you and your blog?
ABA is a Houston-based lifestyle and style blog which strives to give the busy millennial woman the tools to feel ABA is a Houston-based lifestyle blog which strives to give the busy millennial woman the tools to feel confident and empowered through style. Married for over four years, with a Goldendoodle pup named Sadie, my blog has been an outlet to do what I love - write (I was a journalism major at The University of Texas at Austin), share my travels + outfits and lately explore more in the realms of home decor and cooking. When I’m not working on my blog (it’s my full-time job), I assist my husband with marketing and design for his home renovation and remodeling business, Advanced Living Environments. In my spare time, I love to needlepoint, try new restaurants, go to spin classes at SoulCycle, watch cooking shows or read books. My husband and I love to travel, and we often bring Sadie along with us! I’m also a huge sports fan, the Arizona Cardinals, Phoenix Suns, Houston Rockets and Astros are my teams. Plus, I love to watch and play golf with my husband and dad!
Do you work with a photographer? What kind of camera does she use?
Yes, I work locally with Lois Campos Fotography. The camera she shoots with is a Sony a7iii with a Sony 35mm 1.4 lens
What’s one piece of advice you would give to someone just starting out in the blog world?
Don’t be afraid to delegate or not be able to do it all. You aren’t superwoman, and it’s perfectly okay to be good at one thing, such as writing or taking travel photography and not as versed in other things. And with that, don’t be afraid to ask for help!
What are three things you wish you knew about blogging before you started?
- Basic coding
- Shooting with a camera in manual (there are tons of videos on Youtube to learn from)
- How to be my own boss (although I’m still learning more on this last one every day!)
What skills and qualities do you think are necessary for a successful and professional blogger?
It’s so simple, but proofreading your blog posts, Instagram captions and emails is a huge aspect when it comes to being a successful and professional blogger. Taking those extra few minutes to read, sometimes aloud, what you’ve written, can make the difference between silly grammatical errors and professional sounding content!
What does a typical workday for you look like?
I’d be remiss if I didn’t say that in the three plus years of blogging full-time, I’ve just recently figured out how to manage my day-to-day schedule (read a few of my work from home tips here). I tend to do a bit of quiet time first thing in the morning with a cup of coffee and a devotional. I Wish I could say I didn’t look at my emails or Instagram first thing upon waking up, but that’s still a habit I’m trying to break.
I try to block my days out with three days at my desk for calls, writing and emails, and two days for photoshoots, errands or appointments. I like to take my calls before lunch and then my afternoons at my desk are reserved for writing, scheduling content, turning in drafts and working on clerical items such as my P+L statements or proofreading content. My biggest goal right now is implementing scheduling tools for my social media content, so I can stay off my phone in the evenings and actually disconnect somewhat, like a normal 9-5 job!
