Sorry for lack of posts this week! I am working for more posts for you guys for next week but it has been a rather stressful and busy two weeks, and only will be as busy this weekend!
Juggling 12 hr days at work where I am on my feet all day doing experiments is exhausting, and I have all the intentions to work on blog posts and outfit posts but I end up passing out on the couch from 10 pm! I think I will be graduating in this next year (hoping to walk at graduation, defend by summer!), so I can see the end of the tunnel which is great (so exciting to finally be done with this journey) but terrifying at the same time because I still have so much to accomplish in my projects!!
Two weekends ago I attended #FabDILab, a blogger conference that I attended last year and met some good blogger friends! So it was nice to go back again this year more experienced in the blogging world and I felt like I could take away so much more! The day started off with a networking breakfast followed by back to back talks - focusing on social media, branding yourself, how to work with companies, and much more! It was cool hearing of these things from others who do this full time! I definitely took home some tips that I hope I can share with you! If you follow me on twitter (@phd_fashionista), I was tweeting some good quotes from various speakers throughout the day! It was rather interesting to hear some statistics - what particularly stood out to me was that 81% of Consumers trust info and advice from bloggers! So Influencer marketing really works! I know I love to see a certain piece styled with an outfit rather than just seeing an ad for a piece by itself - so it makes sense! Another tip was, No's are not the end, they are a part of the process. Which really resonates for me, on more levels than just blogging, but in life. Sometimes you get down when you get rejection after rejection, but to be honest, it might mean you are saving yourself for something even more epic and a bigger opportunity!
I struggled with that today, as I applied to be a part of this social program that sends you samples to review, and I was instantly rejected. And it was because my instagram following was not up to par - apparently you need a minimum of 1000 followers. Number of followers is misleading because nowadays it's so easy to buy followers! I was a little upset but then it really made me realize why I started blogging - not for the free things or the glitz and glamor, but because I seriously enjoy writing and creating - I absolutely love creating outfit posts and styling them, doing my makeup and taking great photos to showcase my outfits - and then I enjoy writing the posts even more! It really helped put things in perspective - I didn't start blogging to become instagram famous, I started blogging because I love blogging, fashion, and this outlet! It was kind of funny because I had this epiphany along the same time as another Instagram star Essena O'neill posted about quitting social media - whether or not it was a publicity stunt or she genuinely was sick of the ridiculousness - I agree - and it's so upsetting to realize how much I have started obsessing over instagram and number of followers. And having photos to post - must be perfectly posed, must take so many shots of the same thing until it's perfect - she is completely right!
Well, anyway, if you have read down to hear, I really appreciate you reading my ranting and ramblings. I really had a great time at FabDILab, learned a lot, and also got some free goodies in a goodie bag (see photo below), that I will be reviewing in some posts coming up soon!
Keep scrolling to read about my Halloween and the announcement of the Giveaway winner!
I had a great time for Halloween - it was very low key, as some friends decided to organize an apartment crawl in LA as a lot of us live in the same area, and then eventually headed to the bars nearby!
I decided to go with an easy costume and dressed up as my black cat, Luna! I wore all black, a black tutu, black heels, cat ear, a blue necklace I bought in Barcelona as my blue collar, and yellow contact lenses from Spooky Eyes! I received a sample from Spookyeyes last year so I already had them on my radar, and I thought if I had yellow contacts to match my kitty's eyes, it would make the costume so epic! And it came out so cool! I loved it, and I was so surprised with how they didn't hurt my eyes! I was expecting for my eyes to hurt/be bothered by the contacts since I don't ever wear contacts! It took me 20 minutes to get them in, but once they were in they were a hit!
What do you think about my costume?? Did you like the eyes or are they too creepy??
What did you do for Halloween? What did you dress up as??
I also got my hair done, I have highlighted it so now it looks like a much lighter brown and I love it! Better photos soon when I shoot my next outfit photos! Can't wait to share it!
This weekend I'm heading to StyleCon in Orange County as a part of Blogger Babes LA, I am excited because it sounds like a lot of fun, I really do enjoy going to fashion and beauty events and meeting more people! And on Sunday I am running my first 10k race! I am really excited because I have been training for this race since the summer, and while I haven't trained as much as I should have, I am proud of myself! The race ends at a brewery, and we are handed a beer to celebrate! How exciting! I can't wait!
What does your weekend have in store?
Do let me know what your thoughts are to anything I have discussed and I do want to hear about your halloween if you did anything fun!
The Winner of the Firmoo Glasses Giveaway is Ashley Bree Perez! Congrats! I have emailed you the details to receive your prize!
Stay tuned for more giveaways to come soon! :) I am trying to plan one for the holidays!
Have a great rest of your week and have an amazing weekend!
xo
Andrea
PS. Be sure to follow me on Instagram if you haven't already, @phd_fashionista. (I changed my instagram handle to match my blog name - hopefully it's not too confusing!)
Awesome post and the event looked like fun. Thanks for sharing.
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Your Halloween sounds amazing. An apartment crawl & bar crawl sounds like the perfect way to spend the night. :]
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Hello beautiful Andrea! Girl... I just want you to know that you are in the right path to be a very remarkable and very successful human being in this planet. Yes, social media can be a little disturbing at times.... I am not much of an Instagramer at all.... I can't hardly keep up with my account and I sometimes feel terrible because I think I am letting all my sweet and very caring friends I have met down. I am with you Andrea, we need to place our focus on what we do and why we do it instead of everything else outside of us. We are going through a time where social media seems to be everything and it can be very challenging for us not to compare ourselves with others. We sometimes loose our identity wanting to be like others. It makes me so happy to know that you know who you are but most importantly, that you know your purpose. Keep doing what you are doing my friend, you are in the right path and I know you are going to get very far. I have been telling you this since the first day I met you and I want you to engrave my words somewhere very deep in your heart. You are beautiful my sweet friend and I love visiting your blog. You inspire me to work hard... seriously! Keep the good work with school. I know you can graduate next year and if for some reason life doesn't allow it to happen is because it wasn't meant to be. Sending you lots of love Andrea! I truly enjoyed reading this post and looking at all the pictures:-) XOXO, Jeannette
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Oh my sweet Jeannette thank you soooo sooo much for your kind words! They are so amazing to hear, sometimes you just need to hear things like this to really appreciate what you do! I lose track of my motivation and drive sometimes when im in the moment but looking back I am proud of what I have accomplished! Thanks so much for your encouraging words! I definitely do remind myself of them! I really love all of your amazing blog posts as well, you motivate me to work hard as well! I love meeting hard working driven women, and you are definitely one of them! I am so glad to have met you thru this outlet of blogging ! :D
DeleteHope you are having an amazing weekend dear Jeannette <3 xoxo
Andrea
Such a sweet and honest post. Re: Instagram.
ReplyDeleteI read a comment that Zack James re: this topic and I agree with him, read it here: "Social Media can be whatever the user desires it to be. Allowing yourself to become pressured into a false life that you're uncomfortable with is the result of your own actions and intent. The inability to define yourself, your life, your own sense of confidence comes from a lack of trying to understand yourself.
Blaming Social Media, calling it a lie, further shows your lack of attempt to understand yourself. Yes, deleting your Social Media is a step in the right direction. Disowning personal responsibility for your own happiness and shifting the blame is a step backwards.
I, and many others, have found a greater understanding of ourselves through our Social Media careers. The ability to explore unlimited opportunities, to create what our hearts desire, to speak with our own true voices. We found ourselves through Social Media because we made that choice to do so.
You decide to take money for a dress? That's your choice. You decide to spend hours taking the right photo? That's your choice. You decide to live a life that you feel is a lie? That is absolutely your choice.
Deciding to use Social Media as a tool to tell people Social Media is a lie contradicts that very same notion. Social Media is there to be used for the truth or for the lies. Essena O'Neil needs to find real help instead of redirecting personal responsibility towards mankind's greatest communication tool. I truly hope you do, because Social Media isn't a lie, you were the lie. "
I think he nailed it, and I THINK YOU ARE DOING A WONDERFUL JOB! Keep doing what you are doing, and follow your heart!
Much love!
Happy weekend, love!
xoxo, Vanessa
www.WhatWouldVWear.net
Wow what a great response dear Vanessa!!! Thank you so much for sharing that! I completely agree! Social media is an amazing tool to advance our careers and what not, and blaming it for all of these things when you choose to follow that pathway on your own accord, is not right! What a great perspective! He completely nailed it!
DeleteThanks so much for your kind words and encouragement, you are doing an amazing job as well and I look up to you, wonderful woman!! :D hope you are having an amazing weekend!! xo
Andrea
www.phdfashionista.com
Looks amazing! Nice blog you have girl!
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hey andrea! trust me, reviewing products is not always as glamorous as it sounds. the company may have a deadline for you to post your thoughts. they may want you to post about it X number of times on instagram, twitter, etc. LOL you may have to do a certain amount links! there are other requirements. so this may be a blessing with your hectic school schedule. FREE is not always FREE! HaHaHa So keep your chin up! You'll be at 1000 followers in no time if you still want to do it. I LOVED your Halloween costume. You were the cutest and NO your eyes did not look creepy. It went well wth your costume. Love the swag you guys got!
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so true kim! I do realize that with school and how busy I am it probably is good haha! Thanks so much for your kind words, and thanks for your sweet feedback on my costume! xo
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