I’ve always been a fan of a great at-home bar. I strongly believe it’s a must-learn life skill to mix up classic cocktails, and as an avid host, it’s important to provide an array...
Looking back on Easter as a child, I remember how excited I was to dig through my Easter basket. Full of chocolate bunnies, malt ball Easter eggs, Peeps, golden coins, and my favorite Cadbury...
Lets be honest, salads can be boring. So I’m always trying to think outside of the box to come up with salad recipes that I’ll thoroughly enjoy, but are beyond easy to make. Enter...
Lets be honest, salads can be boring. So I’m always trying to think outside of the box to come up with salad recipes that I’ll thoroughly enjoy, but are beyond easy to make. Enter...
If there’s ever a reason to go all out, I’d say Mother’s Day is an obvious choice. This year when prepping for the big day, I had an idea of what I wanted to pull together; a no-fuss brunch filled with all of mom’s favorites. Miniature cast iron skillet quiches, almond filled croissants, macaroons, and the ultimate fruit tart. A fresh (and super simple) salad of grilled Georgia peaches, spring snap peas, and candied pecans, plus a seasonal rhubarb and strawberry fizzy libation (recipes coming this week). And of course, plenty of cheeses and nuts to nibble on, as I know we’ll linger at the table long after official brunch hours are through.
This year, though, I knew the biggest treat of all wouldn’t be the brunch, but rather what I had waiting for her at brunch. You see my Mother is one of the most selfless, giving, generous people I know. Always caring for others before herself, often pushing her needs and wants to the side, which means Mama K does not treat herself near enough. So along with brunch and blooms, I also had a new spring wardrobe waiting for her from one of our favorites, J.McLaughlin.
J.McLaughlin is a go-to for me when I’m in need of high quality, effortless looks that I (and Mom) will wear for years to come. For Mom, I picked out a few spring shirtdresses in punched up patterns I knew she could dress up for a date night with Dad, or throw on some sandals for a more casual day look. Because Mom loves color, I also snagged her these amazing silk and linen pants in marigold (I grabbed the ivory for myself), a blue gingham button down and easy summer sweater. I, of course, couldn’t resist picking up a few things for myself like this classic and comfortable stripe dress, pom-pom shorts because obviously they have pom-poms, and my soon to be worn-way-too-much palm river hat.
To say Mom was surprised by the day is an understatement. It helped that we celebrated early since little did she know she’d also be wrangled into a photo shoot, which honestly I wish you could have been a fly on the wall for. Let’s just say food styling and modeling are not Mama K’s forte, though she is rocking that dress pretty well. So what do you have up your sleeve to celebrate Mom this year? Truly, MKR
P.S. If you’re scratching your head over just what to get Mom this year, check out these timeless wardrobe pieces and gift ideas. I think I already know what Mama K is eyeing. xo
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Photography, Rustic White for Waiting on Martha | This post was in collaboration with J.McLaughlin, a brand we love and adore. All opinions are 100% our own.
This is not a post about how to start a blog. Instead, I’m excited to share tips on how to get a job working for a blog. I come from a PR background, and I used to be “on the other side” when it came to blogger outreach and sponsored campaigns. I loved the creative ways we collaborated with bloggers to craft campaigns and sell products.
After about two and a half years in The Real World, I took inventory of what I felt I needed as a creative outlet, and searched for a career path that I was truly passionate about. I realized I wasn’t necessarily “creating” anything (I’m still working on my cooking skills, my photography and calligraphy), so I knew I didn’t want to start from the ground up on my own blog. To be honest, the thought of doing that terrified me, and I didn’t have as much of a desire to be the one in front of the camera. I did know, however, that I was passionate about the digital space, I was reading a ton of blogs, and I found myself continually fascinated with the way bloggers and marketing go hand-in-hand. The job title of “Editor” always intrigued me (I was a yearbook girl in high school!), and the blogosphere offered an intriguing opportunity to me to pursue an editorial role in a fast-paced, creative scene.
If any of this resonates with you, then you’ll appreciate my six straight-forward tips on how to get a job working for a blog. Since it’s such an innovative time to pursue a job on this career path, the most important thing to remember is be flexible. I’ve talked before about the importance of being flexible, and it’s crucial with landing a job like this. Timing may not line up, the position may be in another city, it may just be a part-time job starting out. But if you get a little creative about how to make it work, the rewards are second to none. You’ll then find yourself in a job that challenges and excites you, you’ll be working with insanely inspiring people…and you’ll pinch yourself on a normal basis that this is really your job.
1. Start following bloggers and brands that inspire you This may go without saying, but if you’re not spending a lot of time reading blogs, perusing Instagram, digging on posts you find on your news feed and pinning like crazy, a job working for a blog may not be for you. Understanding the flow of digital sharing and what goes into running a successful blog is just as important as feeling passionate about calligraphy, entertaining, fashion, interiors, styling, etc.
2. Engage and share content that interests you Comment on blog posts and social media posts, and support the tastemakers you enjoy. Follow popular industry sites that highlight your favorite bloggers and brands, read their interviews and share what gets you going on your own channels. A great place to start: My Domaine, Who What Wear, Style Me Pretty Living, Lonny and Rue Magazine.
3. Make inventory of your skill set Create a list of things you’re good at, things you enjoy doing, topics you care about. Are you extremely detail oriented? Do you have experience working for an events company? Have you worked on set with photoshoots before? Do you have experience with email marketing from a previous job? Do you live-tweet the Bachelor every week? It all can play a part in your skill set working for a blog.
I knew when I was creating my list that I understood social media, so I got my foot in the door with MKR here at WOM through a small social media role. I was also interested in consulting, editorial content and graphic design, and now I’m able to list all of those on my job description. (FYI: You’ll end up wearing a lot of hats working for a blogger!)
4. Consider a blog as a business, and brainstorm ways you can fit in the puzzle Blogs are booming. And many sites that have been around for at least a few years are in a position to expand their editorial and marketing teams. By brainstorming ways that you could bring something to the table, you can definitely appeal to the boss, even if there’s no job listing posted! That could mean help on set on shoot days, administrative help on the backend, graphic design projects here and there. Here at WOM, we believe that a great team is all about the personal connection, so if it’s the right person that cares about joining the team to help our cause, we’ll think of ways to get them in on the fun.
5. Research available opportunities Blogs and lifestyle websites generally always post about openings on social media, primarily Instagram and Facebook. Another helpful way to discover available opportunities is by scouring job boards on popular sites like The Everygirl (this is where I found a listing to become an unpaid intern with WOM), Fashionista and I Want Her Job. Also check out Career Girl Daily for relevant advice while on the job search.
Consider attending fun, informative networking events like The Southern C Summit, which is open to online influencers, social media junkies, creative entrepreneurs, business owners new and old, and bloggers (we’ll be there!). And don’t forget to check out job listings on LinkedIn, though it’s definitely geared for more conventional positions at larger businesses.
6. Email the blogger with the proposition to join the team If you don’t see a job listening, don’t be discouraged. Don’t wait for your dream job! You know what they say, you can’t get what you want without asking for it. Prepare your resume and cover letter, and make the introduction. Be clear about your interest in joining the team, and give ideas about what you can possibly do to help. Bloggers’ inboxes are FULL, so don’t be put out if you don’t hear back immediately. Follow up in a week or two, and keep the dialogue open for future opportunities.
I 100% encourage your dreams of working for a blog, and I am happy to answer any specific questions you may have. Have you started the search? Where do you search for blogging job opportunities? Have you recently landed a job working for a blog? Good luck and Cheers, Kat
P.S. And if at any point you need a little reminder to keep hustlin’, maybe put this guy on your desk. xo
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This week’s peek at our progress in the ever-exciting 6-week One Room Challenge of designing the WOM office is, as promised in Week 2, another styled vignette. If you remember, last week I shared scenes from my desk (with a killer light box that I think every person should find a spot for #justsaying) but this week’s vignette it’s all about our newly styled entryway.
When styling an entryway that is functional, but truly makes a statement—which you know I had to do because it’s the WOM office we’re talking about here—I’m a big proponent of variety. Variety in height, variety in textures, and variety in pieces that are as functional as they are beautiful. So when deciding on pieces and decorative accents for the entry I went with a less is more attitude (so not like me) and aimed to keep the coloring fairly neutral with a pop of the bluest of blues and a thorough mixture of textures.
Now when I say textures, I mean rich, intricately detailed textures that bring a little intrigue to a space. To accomplish that in our entry I chose a faux cowhide rug (we used the golden brown in the entryway and you’ll see the white layered atop a sisal rug in the conference room soon!), a faux ostrich and gold nailhead console table, a very interesting, and just a tad crazy, horse skull to add that hint of masculinity I love and a jagged stone turquoise lamp to add that hint of femininity I crave. And if that wasn’t enough mixing of textures to top it all off I hung a giant, statement making white bamboo mirror. I know just like with patterns y’all tend to get a little nervous. But when mixing textures, don’t hesitate to incorporate pattern and color as well; a single pop of color and any pattern along your original color palette will allow the mixing to work every time. And can we just stop for a minute and talk about these faux cowhide rugs from Lulu & Georgia. They look incredibly “real,” but with no guilt or eeew feeling that it was once a living creature, plus the cost is extremely reasonable! Win win!!
Lastly, I mentioned functionality, which is always key for me in any space. A few things that are a MUST HAVE for me in any entry way are: a mirror for any last minute zhushing, a trinket tray, in the case the gold hamsa hand, allowing a place for keys, and some sort of bench or ottoman to put on or take off your shoes. I especially love when the ottomans can easily slide under the console table since many entry ways are narrow and don’t provide a lot of room. These particular ottomans were designed by yours truly in a gorgeous chinoiserie patterned fabric from Lacefield and brought to life by some of the most skilled workmen in the trade, Westside Custom Upholstery.
Tell me friends, are you liking how the space is coming together? Truly, MKR
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