I was so excited to interview this month's featured sponsor, Katie from Beautifully Pure. She such a sweet girl and has super cute style. I had fun getting to know Katie more, and I know you will too! xo. Mandy
Tell us a bit about you and your blog:
Me: I'm an eighteen year old, home schooled, Doctor Who fanatic, and Northern hillbilly wanna be who suffers from online OCD and compulsive vintage Pyrex and vintage suitcase collecting.
My blog: Beautifully Pure is sort of like my public diary. I want to share my life, and - hopefully - encourage girls to love themselves the way they are, notice the little beauties in life, and go after their dreams.
What made you decide to start blogging?
I was twelve when I found my first blog ever. I didn't really have any friends in my area, and I was really lonely. And here was this girl just like me! She was obsessed with The Lord of Rings, home schooled and about my age. I remember begging my mom to let me get a blog, but she said no. I didn't get my first blog till I was fourteen - and that was just a co-blog with a friend of mine.
Beautifully Pure didn't start till over two years later, though. I hadn't blogged for about six months and I really wanted to start again, but all the blogs I'd had before (there were a lot) all felt outdated and old. Just not me. So I decided to start a brand new one. I can't believe I've had it for over 18 months and posted more than 300 times already! That's a huge record for me!
What is your favorite part about posting your outfits?
I love having a record of everything I've worn over the year and a half. I've changed so much over the past four years, and my style definitely reflects that.
I also love that it pushes me to be creative. It's so easy to just throw on a tee shirt and jeans in the morning, or wear the same skirt with the same top every time, but when I'm blogging I feel like I need to come up with new ways to wear my clothing (posting the same outfit twice feels like a rerun on TV to me). It's so much fun to find new ways to wear pieces I never would have thought of if I wasn't trying to think of something new.
What inspires you on a daily basis?
Well, bloggers are definitely up there, and the books I've read. Mary Lenox and Dickon taught me to be aware of the little beauties in life - the things most people over look - and Anne Shirley taught me that with a little imagination and ingenuty anything can be lovely and romantic.
Any habits you wish you could break?
I wish I could keep my room clean, but right now I'm rubbish at it. When I try things on in the morning I throw everything I decide against on my desk chair, I litter my desk with make up, and my bed usually isn't made. I'm not proud...
What are some of your favorite things to blog about?
I love blogging daily outfit posts, favorite music, and showing some of the things I'm doing lately (projects, excursions with friends, etc.). I also really love it when I can just talk about things that are going through my brain. I try to be somewhat vulnerable on my blog, because I think then more people can relate to it, and maybe be encouraged by what I'm thinking and feeling. Growing up is hard and, at times, scary, and I don't see any reason to pretend it's not.
Do you consider yourself a fashion blogger?
When I started my blog I did, but I realized that I don't really enjoy blogging about fashion shoes, look books, or trends. I also realized that most of my favorite blogs were labeled as "lifestyle blogs." It's been a little difficult to get out of my comfort zone and stop posting only outfit posts, but I'm really enjoying it, and I think that now Beautifully Pure can be considered a proper lifestyle blog. At least I hope so...
Any celebrity crushes?
I have a major girl-crush on Breanne Duren (most known for her work with Owl City). She's super adorable, very talented, and has a great sense of style! I just want to be bffs and go shopping with her!!
What are some of your favorite stores?
ModCloth. ModCloth. ModCloth! Seriously, I think I need to buy some stock in ModCloth at this point! I love the gorgeous clothes there, their blog, and the awesome customer service the offer!
Other than that I love Target, thrift stores and Etsy (they have the prettiest things!!). Earlier this year my parents bought me the most lovely formal gown from Spotted Moth for my graduation, and I smitten with Aerie.
What advice would you give to someone wanting to start a blog of their own?
Don't feel like you have to do something because "everyone" else is.
Don't be shy because you're a "small" blog. I pretty much stuck to myself the first year of blogging because I felt invisible compared to everyone else out there. I wouldn't reply to tweets from my favorite bloggers because I felt like "I'm just me, and they're so cool!" But that's a really silly attitude to have! They're only people, too, and most of them are super sweet. So you don't have to be shy - they don't bite. ;)
And lastly, don't be afraid to ask for things! I got to interview Breanne Duren for my blog earlier this year, and it was a blast! But it never would have happened if I hadn't emailed her manager to ask if I could. The worst they can say is "no"!
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