FRIDAY Q&A: MY DREAM COLLABORATION, HOW I STAY MOTIVATED WORKING FROM HOME, HOW MANY KIDS WE WANT, AND MORE

Happy Friday! We have a busy weekend with Will’s parents in town and we’re playing mini golf with the ABC girls on Saturday night where I’m hoping to finally take some photos so I can write a blog post on the work my parents are doing (only two years late but who’s counting!). I weirdly love mini golf and Will loves any excuse to practice his short game so it should be a good time (read: competition). On Sunday we might do a little antiquing with Will’s parents and try a new restaurant for dinner. Would love any ideas if you’re local! Without further ado, this week’s questions and answers. If you have a question for next week, feel free to email me or leave a comment below!

design darling friday q&a

1. How do you stay motivated working from home and working for yourself?

I could read about other people’s productivity tips and work routines all day so I love this question! I love getting to work on my blog full-time but truthfully my motivation levels ebb and flow like anyone else’s. There are days when I’m totally in the zone and ideas and words are coming naturally and other days when I think, “welp, after nine years, I officially have nothing else to say.” Of course that’s not true (I hope it never is!) so I’ve had to create some systems that prevent me from falling into those ruts too often. Keeping a running list of blog post ideas, shooting a few outfits in advance, and investing in site improvements (like the Nantucket guide and shop page I launched this summer!) all keep me moving forward when I’m feeling a little stuck.

Working from home is a blessing and a curse. I am so grateful for the flexibility (and I imagine I’ll appreciate it even more once kids are in the equation) but the solitude definitely gets to me sometimes. When I first started working from home, I made all the beginner mistakes like staying in pajamas all day and working weird hours that were totally inconsistent with the people and brands I was communicating with. Now I know it’s crucial for me to put on real clothes every day and to make sure I’m getting out of the house or talking on the phone at least a few days a week. And even though I could work late and sleep in (or wake up early and stop working in the afternoon), I keep normal hours since part of my day involves corresponding with brands and PR agencies that have standard office hours. Plus it helps to be on a similar schedule as my husband or girlfriends who want to meet up for the occasional happy hour!

P.S. I shared a few of my productivity tips here — let me know if you guys would be interested in more posts like this!

2. What is your end goal as a blogger (sponsorships, clothing line)?

I don’t think I’ve shared this anywhere before but my absolute dream collaboration would be to help design a home decor collection for a major retailer. I loved the experience of sourcing products for the online boutique I ran from 2012 to 2017 but often found myself dreaming up items that I couldn’t seem to find online or at trade shows. Getting to partner with a brand that has an expertise in design and manufacturing would be a pipe dream come true!

3. What are a few factors you believe contribute to a successful relationship? You and Will seem so happy together!

That’s sweet of you to say! I promise we have our off days like anyone else, but our relationship is founded on mutual respect and admiration and we’ve learned how to speak each other’s language over time (this November will mark five years together!). I think a successful relationship starts before you even meet the other person — if you can’t make yourself happy, no one else is going to be able to crack that code for you. Beyond that, I think a few factors for a successful long-term relationship are open communication, shared values and goals for the future, and a strong desire to help the other person succeed. I shared my favorite things about Will here!

4. How many kids do you see you and Will having?

I answered this question on my Instagram on one of the first Q&As I did but I’ve been getting it so much I thought I’d answer it again here! We would love to have four kids if we’re able to. I’m the oldest of four and Will is an only child so this was one of the first questions my mom ever asked Will! (He answered two to four, by the way, so I knew we were in the clear!)

Several of you have also asked when we’ll start trying for a baby and the answer is we’re not 100% sure! I think we’ll know when we’re ready (or at least as ready as we’ll ever be) and we’re just not there yet. I go through phases of baby fever for sure but practically speaking there are certain goals we’d love to hit (in terms of savings, home ownership, etc.) before we start a family. We shall see!

5. I saw in this post that you  just got the J.Crew riding boots. How are you liking them so far? Would you be willing to share other pairs you considered?

I love that they’re classic and simple without any buckles or logos. The leather quality honestly isn’t anything special but it’s good enough for the price (especially if you score them 30-40% off) and they’re comfortable enough to wear all day. I also love this Tory Burch pair but if I were really going to splurge, I’d go for this Ralph Lauren pair… swoon.

6. I have one night in Dallas for work. Where to go / eat?

I would go to Mi Cocina (home of the infamous Mambo Taxi cocktail) or Neighorhood Services (their asparagus appetizer is everything). And definitely stroll through Highland Park Village, a luxury shopping destination with beautiful architecture dating back to the 1930s.

7. What other blogs do you read on a daily basis?

A ton! I think Jess Ann Kirby, The Fashion Magpie, and The Stripe are particularly enjoyable reads right now. I also love keeping up with my friends Ali, Amy, Brighton, CarlyJenn, Jess, Julia, Katie, Lauren, Liz, Stephanie… I love, love, love reading blogs — it’s been my favorite way to start the day for ten years now! If you have a favorite I’m missing, definitely let me know in the comments!

8. Have you ever considered Youtube and/or vlogging?

You mean you’re not familiar with my thriving Youtube channel?!?! KIDDING. No, it’s not something I’ve seriously considered. I know video is the future and all but it’s hard enough for me to film myself talking on Instagram stories! But I love watching other people’s stories so I’m working on it. 🙂 I also might be the only person on the planet who doesn’t spend a ton of time watching Youtube videos? The idea of watching a 20-minute haul video just doesn’t appeal to me at all but I’m aware I’m solidly in the minority on this. I’d love to hear where you all stand!

9. Now that you’ve moved back to Connecticut, do you have any recommendations for a good winter coat?

There’s no such thing as too much outerwear when you live in New England! I splurged on a Moncler coat the winter we moved back and it’s quite possibly the best money I’ve ever spent. If you’re looking for a more wallet-friendly down coat, I like this and this. I also just replaced my beloved J.Crew cocoon coat which I think I’d had for seven or eight years so I highly recommend that. And I wear my Barbour jacket well into the winter, especially with a scarf layered on top like I wore here.

10. What is a creative way to display wedding photos?

I’m not sure it’s the most creative display but here’s a post on where we hung our wedding photos! I love a big statement gallery wall like this but I wouldn’t do that with just pictures of the two of us… maybe check back in with me once we’ve made some progress on question #4, ha!