Frequently Asked Questions

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED WITH YOUR BLOG?

I started my blog while in our third year of law school in San Diego. I discovered the world of blogging on Pinterest while planning our wedding during 2L, and after months and months of thinking about it, we finally got our first SLR camera for Christmas of 2012 and I got started right away. I had no idea what I was doing but every time I hit ‘publish’ on a blog post I was so excited to share a slice of my life with you all. I would put hours and hours into a blog post whenever I had any free time from school, and slowly but surely, they got more and more frequent.
It has evolved so much over the years – first from sharing what I wore to law school every day, taking outfit photos between classes – to sharing our travels and family life. It has become a part of me and I can’t wait to see where it takes me next.

 

WHERE DID YOU GROW UP?

I grew up in the mountains of Park City, Utah. I went to school there K-12 before I moved to Granada, Spain for a semester abroad and finally onto college at Arizona State University to study Political Science. After that, I worked in politics for a bit in Boston before deciding to go to law school. I have kind of been all over I feel like haha. And now I have come 3/4 of the circle and am living back in Phoenix.

HOW TALL ARE YOU?

I know it’s hard to tell in photos, but I am actually 5’11”! If you think that’s tall, you should meet my Dad haha. I usually wear a size M or sometimes L. I find it’s always better to size up to ensure proper fit, especially if you have a long arms, legs and a long torso like me.

WHERE DID YOU AND BEN GO TO LAW SCHOOL AND ARE YOU BOTH CURRENTLY PRACTICING?

Ben and I went to the University of San Diego School of Law (USD). We loved San Diego so much and never really envisioned ourselves leaving. But upon graduation and taking the California Bar, Ben got an amazing job offer in Phoenix, Arizona, which is where we now reside. Ben is practicing law full time as an attorney for a corporation headquartered here in Phoenix. He did not have to take the Arizona Bar as he simply just had to register as in-house counsel. I, on the other hand, would have had to take the Arizona Bar if I wanted to practice law here. Instead, I decided to pursue blogging full time. And the good news is, I can always go back to law if I want to. But until then, I am really enjoying being creative and sharing the things I love with all of you.

HOW DID YOU AND BEN MEET?

Ben and I met briefly through a mutual friend in January of 2006 during the Sundance Film Festival. I had graduated college early and moved back to Utah for a time. He was best buddies with a few of my old high school friends and we all started hanging out. One night, during a Yellowcard concert a few months later, he kissed me. But sadly, I was getting ready to move to Boston a few days later for a job offer. I moved, and a few months later, he moved to St. Thomas. We lost touch and moved on with our lives… but then, in February of 2008, I moved back to Utah after the presidential campaign I was working on had ended. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go to law school at that point, or grad school. So I enrolled in a class to prepare me to take the GMAT. And guess who was in that same class?! You guessed it, Ben! That first class happened to fall on my birthday, so Ben offered to take me out afterwards. I had a party planned back up in Park City, so I invited him (thinking he totally wouldn’t come). But he did! He drove all the way to Park City (about 40 minutes from Salt Lake). And we have literally been inseparable ever since.

After finishing the GMAT class, I decided that grad school wasn’t for me (I hate math haha). My plan had always been to go to law school (that’s why I chose Political Science as my major at ASU). My Dad is an attorney and I had always wanted to be just like him. So, somehow, I convinced Ben to take the LSAT with me instead. We had only been dating for about two months but we both just kind of knew wherever we went to school, we wanted to be together. So, we took the LSAT, got into a few law schools together and ended up picking USD. We bought a house and moved in together and got engaged our second year of law school. Oh my gosh you guys, it’s seriously my fairytale. I love this man to the moon and back.

I READ YOU’RE GOING THROUGH IN VITRO FERTILIZATION (IVF) TO TRY AND HAVE A BABY. WHERE ARE YOU AT IN THE PROCESS?

Yes, I am an open book and have chosen to share our struggles openly as so many couples are unfortunately in our same boat. Ben and I had been trying to have a family since August of 2013 (as soon as we completed the California Bar Exam).  Since then, we tragically endured two devastating miscarriages of our two sets of twins after several rounds of IVF. It has been a rocky path. But thankfully, the stars aligned and God blessed us with our first miracle baby, Luna Elara, on October 26, 2017! Eek! FINALLY! Miracles do happen. Our second miracle is due Halloween, 2019. And if you too are fighting for your family, I am always here for you.

You can read about our first frozen embryo transfer here, our path to IVF and our first miscarriage here and our second miscarriage and the IVF process in general here. If you want to keep up with our next steps, I post about our journey mostly on Instagram and Snapchat, so be sure to follow along there.

In sharing, my hope is to honestly feel better in talking about it and connect with you all who are going through the same or a similar struggle. It’s a shame that miscarriage and infertility, in general, is such a taboo subject. These things happen (more often than you’d think)… and it’s hard enough to go through them on your own, feeling alone. So just know that I am here for you all if you ever want a shoulder to lean on or a friend to talk to. Please don’t hesitate to reach out. In the meantime, you can read my tips on how to prepare for your egg retrieval and frozen embryo transfer.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE JUST STARTING A BLOG?

My first piece of advice would be to go into it without any expectations. When I started my blog, it was more of a creative outlet from the rigors of law school and a desire to share the things I am passionate about. And at first, it was just my mama and I reading it daily (thanks, Mom)! And I had no idea if that would ever change… and if it didn’t, that was ok, because it’s a topic that I’m passionate about.  You never know where it will take you, but if you go into it with an open mind, I think you will really enjoy it.

My next piece of advice would be to establish a consistent schedule. This will help you get started as well as let your readers know when to expect new content. If you work hard to share what inspires you, people will eventually take notice. Just be patient and keep going.

And lastly, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Share yourself, your passions, what inspires you. Reach out to other bloggers, make friends and enjoy it. It’s a unique and fun career path that I hope all of you who are interested give it a go. Who knows where it may lead?

WHO TAKES ALL OF YOUR PHOTOS?

Ben, my husband, takes the majority of all of my photos and I do all of the editing. Neither of us had ever even held a DSLR until we got our first camera the day I started this blog. But with practice and a desire to learn, we have come a long way since the beginning, I think. And I look forward to learning more along the way.

WHAT KIND OF CAMERA AND LENSES DO YOU USE?

We use a Canon 5D Mark III for all of our blog posts. We have several different lenses that we use for different occasions, but my favorite right now is the 24-70mm. It’s also great for travel and is my go-to lens. You can read some of my blog photography tips here.

HOW DO YOU EDIT YOUR BLOG PHOTOS?

I use Camera Raw mostly and sometimes Photoshop to edit all of my blog photos. Although I have been practicing more with Lightroom and like it too, I still find Camera Raw easier to use haha.

WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR HAIR DONE?

I go to Tara at Hainsworth & Co. She’s amazing!

DO YOU WEAR HAIR EXTENSIONS?

Yes. I wear them for added length and volume (they are great for braids). I wear hand-tied weft extensions.

HOW DO YOU CURL YOUR HAIR?

I use a 1.25” barrel. You can find a tutorial for my daily carefree mermaid beach waves here.

I READ YOU GOT MICROBLADING DONE ON YOUR EYEBROWS. WHERE DID YOU GET THAT DONE?

I go to Melissa at Melt by Melissa. Best thing I have ever done for my brows, hands down!

IM VISITING PHOENIX! DO YOU HAVE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS OF PLACES TO EAT, SHOP AND THINGS TO DO?

Yes! Phoenix has so much to offer. You can’t go wrong with hanging in the Arcadia area for good eats and yummy coffee.

For breakfast, I love stopping by Essence Bakery in Phoenix (try the macarons too), LGO and The Henry are always a win!

For coffee, Cartel (three locations), Luci’s (North Central Phoenix), Futuro or Lux (downtown) and Altitude Coffee (North Scottsdale) are my favorite spots for a great cup of joe.

If you’re in Old Town Scottsdale, try The Montauk or Diego Pops for lunch and cocktails. If you’re hanging downtown, check out DeSoto Central Market and then walk around Roosevelt Row for some great street wall art. And if you happen to be downtown on a Saturday, check out the Phoenix Public Market for fresh flowers and local finds.

If you’re searching for an easy hike with a great view, check out Pinnacle Peak in North Scottsdale, or head up the road to Tom’s Thumb for a more rigorous hike. For more ideas, you can check out my quick guide to Phoenix here, my guide to Arcadia here and my guide to Tempe here.

If you have any more questions, feel free to email me. I love hearing from you all!