Hey y'all! I'm Emily Bastedo. I am a technology consultant by day and a life & style blogger at Something Gold, Something Blue by night. I graduated from the University of Notre Dame a few years back and currently live in Houston, TX. Typical of the consulting industry, I am often traveling four days a week and living out of a suitcase. I am so fortunate that I have been able to experience so many different cities and cultures and believe that my style and personality reflect this.
I am obsessed with everything at Sephora, am subscribed to more magazines that I can count, love college football and I am on a journey to live a healthier lifestyle. I love puppies, group fitness classes and am always accessorizing (hello, statement necklaces). I love to try different fashion trends, but tend to stick to a preppy, southern girl look! Overall, I’m just a 20-something trying to navigate my way though the “real world.”
What inspired or motivated you to first start your blog?
For my job, I travel pretty much every Monday to Thursday to my client sites. While sitting in my hotel room two years ago, I was reading a lot of different blogs to pass the time. I decided that I wanted to start my own blog - just as a way to document some of my favorite things and my travels. It was kind of one of those moments where I was fearless and said "I can do this too..." So, I created a Blogger account and began writing my first post.
Do you blog full-time, for fun, as a hobby? Share your evolution!
When I started, my blog was just a creative outlet - I would post when I felt like it and I really didn't tell anyone about it. It took me about six months to tell my best friends and family that it existed. Over the past year, I have really started to view my blog as a hobby - something that I love to invest time and resources into. Over time, I hope that I can start to make a bit of money off of it - I mean, who doesn't want to get paid for something they love? But for right now, it's still a creative outlet and way for me to share my point of view.
I think my favorite about being a blogger and something that completely surprised me is the community and friendships I have made. Like I mentioned previously, when I started blogging, I went at it solo. I quickly burned out. I definitely am a people person and thrive on relationships. About a year ago, I took the plunge and attended my first blog conference. It was local in Houston, which was perfect for me! It allowed me to connect with other bloggers and to collaborate. Over the past year, I have attended events with these ladies, provided and received encouragement, and shared tips/tricks on the blogging struggles. What started as acquaintances at a blog conference have become some good friends. I have also been able to make friendships with people over the Internet, such as with Kourtney, that provide encouragement and what I lovingly refer to as my "tribe."
What do you hope your readers walk away with after reading your blog?
No matter what your size, you can still look and feel gorgeous!!!
Are there any people, or other bloggers, you see as examples or to whom you aspire to?
Man, where do I even begin to answer this question. There are so many people that I love to follow and for many different reasons.
First, I would say Krista from Covering the Bases - I am always fascinated by her stories and wit in her posts. And I think she does some extremely creative series. What I try and take away from her is the know-with-all to add some humor to my posts and to make sure that I think outside the box.
I also love to follow Molly from Still Being Molly. I have never met her, but she seems so authentic online and I love that she incorporates her faith into everything she does. I also love that she doesn't take herself too seriously. Sometimes I can get lost in this blogging world and it is refreshing to see someone genuine. (psst...I seriously want to be her when I grow up.)
Another person that I have learned a tremendous amount from this year is Meg from Meg O. on the Go. She always has flawless makeup. I met Meg last year at my first blogging conference and I am so grateful that she has taken the time to explain some of the ins and outs of blogging to me. I hope to emulate that - the ability to be collaborative and knowing that we all can succeed.
I feel so bad that I have left off some of the bloggers that inspired me to start my little corner of the Internet, but these are some of the major qualities that have inspired me to be a better blogger and, in some aspects, a better person.
What advice would you give those who want to go into blogging?
I think first a foremost, just be yourself! Your blog is your space, so make sure you are sticking to who you are and not to what you think people want to read. Similar to this point, find what works for you! Personally, I can only post about once a week. Would I love to do more? Sure! But, my job and other commitments, which mean just as much to me, are also time intensive and stretching myself too thin to get an extra blog post up is unrealistic for me.
I would also say that blogging can get expensive. From photography materials to products to blog conference to hosting fees. Especially when you are starting out or are trying to expand, there are so many ideas of what you may want for your blog. Write them down for future reference, but make sure to set a monthly budget for yourself to ensure you don't go crazy (I say this from experience....). It can be awhile before you make money from your blog - I'm two years in and have been paid less than $100 and received less than $500 in free product. And I have spent way more. But, I love it and wouldn't do it any differently.
1// I started spinning about a year and a half ago and I am completely obsessed. Due to my travel schedule, I have been fortunate to spin at all different studios across the county, including Flywheel, Soul Cycle, Cycle House and Revolution. I am always open to other studios to try, so please let me know if there is one I should check out!
2// Similarly to spinning, I love doing "Cupcake Tours" of the country. My absolute favorite cupcake shop I have tried is Georgetown Cupcakes - their vanilla ones are fabulous!!
3// I am a huge musical theater geek. I have been fortunate to see over 50 shows. During my most recent trip to NYC, I saw 4 shows over my 4 day trip....yep, totally hooked...
4// I love to cook - I never really follow recipes to a "T." They are always a guide, but I always end up adding something extra....
5// On Thursday nights, you can find me with a glass of wine watching the #TGIT line-up. No matter how much heartbreak Grey's Anatomy has put me through, I will always be there.
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