Fashion! and an interview
Last week I met up with my high school friend Erika for coffee after work.
She has a blog now (and cute Instagram), an adorable little baby, and her and her husband are some of the funniest people I know.
Erika’s also a runner (she ran XC in high school, I did not) and has always been super stylish and fashionable. When I was wearing ski goggles to school (yes, that happened; I still don’t know why), she was looking all cute and on trend. I definitely was not.
So I wanted to ask Erika a few questions about life, blogging, babies and fashion. Enjoy!
So tell us a little about yourself, where you live, what you do, how awesome you think I am.
“I was born and raised in the rainy Pacific Northwest and after high school I decided I needed to dry my bones in sunny San Diego. I currently work for a Fortune 500 Company but have no office with a view. I reside in Thousand Oaks, California with my husband and baby Layla.”
(The first time I ever heard about the college I ended up attending was from Erika; she had checked it out and I thought I would end up at Point Loma where she went, but we pulled a switcheroo.)
You recently had your baby girl, you work full-time, you write a blog, and you still manage to wear sweatpants way less than I do. How in the world do you look so fantastic so quickly after birth? PS I hate you.
“I am an avid runner and I couldn’t wait to deliver my baby so I could go for a run! However, I didn’t always enjoy running; in fact I ran cross country in high school by default as my parents told me I had to get a job if I didn’t play sports. I quickly tried out for the “cool” sports but since I have zero hand/eye coordination I never made the cut. The cross country team accepted me with open arms and it has been a marriage ever since.”
“I also attend a yoga class once a week; my advice on yoga is if you don’t like it the first time, try it again with a different instructor. I tried yoga for the first time 5 years ago and thought it was a snooze fest. Then when I was preggo and having back pain I decided to give it another shot, and I was pleasantly surprised with the results I achieved.”
Your blog is all about fashion for mom and baby. What are some of your favorite stores for baby clothes, any hidden gems for shopping mamas out there?
“Here are some of my favorite sites right now:
Peek – (20% off orders of $125 with code THANKFUL)
J Crew Baby – new market for J Crew (30% off right now with code HOLIDAY)
Giggle – good source for baby gifts
I also frequent the flash sale sites ( HauteLook, Gilt Group, and Zulily) for sales on kids clothing.”
Your husband is a fashion designer in LA – what’s that like? By the way, tell Derek the Verizon Turd says hi.
“Initially I was shocked by how unglamorous it is! The garment production takes place in the bowels of LA where most episodes of COPS are filmed. Needless to say, I don’t think Layla will ever participate in take-your-kid-to-work day.”
“On a positive note there are some perks like tagging along to New York Fashion Week and the Paris tradeshows.”
Is his fashion line just added pressure to not wear pleated mom jeans and turtlenecks all the time?
“Not to sound too cliché but style is all about confidence and being comfortable in your own skin. So what I am saying is, Sarah you could totally rock mom jeans and a turtleneck… maybe for your next marathon??”
By the way, do you own any mom jeans?
“No, but I should!”
Yeah, you should. And some jeats (jean sweats). Anyways, if someone wanted to start a blog, what advice would you give them besides basically don’t do anything that dumb SR does?
“My advice to someone starting a blog would be to blog about something you are passionate about and just have fun with it!”
What’s an essential every woman should own in your opinion and what things do you like splurging on?
“Handbags and shoes are my splurge items, everything else I try to bargain shop; I am a huge fan of flash sales! A good pair of jeans is an everyday essential item; my favorite jeans at the moment are these by Mother.”
“Around the holidays every girl needs the timeless LBD (little black dress) and a good pair of stiletto heels.”
Lastly, what’s on your Christmas list besides me and world peace?
“I have my eyes on this Philip Lim Bag.”
{Erika’s outfit is by Calvin Rucker, the founder of Joie’s new line and can be found, I believe, at Dressed in Santa Barbara.)
Go follow Erika at her blog and her Instagram as well. Thanks E for the interview!
Since it’s Cyber Monday, here’s a few things that are on my Christmas wish list…
