Today I have a really sweet interview with a soon-to-be mama that I like to call my friend, Danielle of Sometimes Sweet.

Danielle and I first met sometime around January of ’09 via the internet. I remembering reading her blog, and thinking she was the cutest lady around. I really took an interested in Danielle’s blog because she was a local gal (she lives about two hours away, but used to live in my town and still comes to visit), and because I thought she had great style.

Since then, I have had the pleasure of meeting Danielle and her husband Hank (I spotted them at the Johnny Cupcakes lectur back in February), and still feel that she is one of the most well dressed, and sweetest ladies in the blogsphere.

Danielle was kind enough to do an interview with me about her life, blogging, and fashion.

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself

I’m a twenty-something girl married to the love of my life Hank, with our first baby on the way in just a few weeks. I’ve been a high school English teacher (10th grade/American Literature) for the past five years but in just a couple of weeks I am leaving that all behind to embark on a new journey- becoming a full-time stay at home Mom! I’m so excited! In my spare time I really enjoy working out/exercising, cooking and baking, watching live music (especially any of my hubby’s bands!), reading tons, all things blogs and internet, traveling, and spending time with all the people I love. I feel like I lead a fairly simple life, it’s a happy one and I’m very thankful for that.

2. What got you interested in blogging, and how long have you been blogging for?

Well I’ve been writing in online journal format since the nineties, via livejournal (I will always love you, LJ!). A few years ago I decided I wanted to change it up a bit and move into the big-girl world of blogging, so I jumped over to blogspot and started Sometimes Sweet. I never envisioned having thousands of people read my words everyday, but it just kind of evolved into that somehow. I started with just a handful of readers and it just grew and grew, which for awhile I was kind of weirded out by, but now I pretty much embrace it and really enjoy being able to reach out to so many people. I’ve met some of the most amazing individuals through this experience and I’m just so happy I decided to stick with it. Being an English major and someone who loves to write, I’ve been able to use my blog not just as a daily record of all of the happenings in my life, but also as a creative outlet. When I don’t blog I feel a little “off,” and I definitely know that it’s become a space for me to really just get my thoughts and feelings out of this busy head of mine. I love it. And even more so now I can use it as a virtual baby book for our son Henry. I’ve documented my entire pregnancy, and I’m looking forward to doing the same kind of thing once he’s born.

3. I’ve noticed that you’re one fashionable lady! Tell us a little bit about your style.

Lately it’s been whatever fits and is comfortable (I’m over 9-months pregnant!) but when I’m not sporting a big ole baby bump, I usually gravitate towards pretty, girly items- especially dresses. I’m a total dress junkie and most of my closet is full of all of the lovely dresses I’ve collected over the years. I’m a big fan of Marc by Marc Jacobs, Anthropologie, Orla Kiely, and J. Crew. I really, really love a good deal though so I enjoy shopping at places like Nordstrom Rack, Forever 21, and Last Chance in Phoenix. Although I definitely have to be in the right mindset to enter the last place on that list- it’s a ZOO! Overall I feel like I can find cute things anywhere, and I have no shame in pairing a blouse from Target with say, a MBMJ skirt. Autumn and winter fashion is my favorite and I really get inspired right around this time of the year. I love layers, tights, high waisted skirts, peter pan collars, nice heavy cardigans, and cute flats. I’m not a trendy person at all, so most of the things I buy I can wear for years and years. The older I get the more I tend to have preference for spending more on quality pieces I can keep forever.

4. What does your daily routine generally look like?

Currently I’m still working so here’s an average work day for me: I wake up around 5:45am (when I wasn’t pregnant I’d almost always hit the gym before work, so I’d get up around 4:45am, but these days I like my sleep in the morning!). Shower, get ready, have a big, healthy breakfast, and head into work around 7:45am. Teach 1st and 2nd hour, have my “free/prep hour” 3rd. During this time I’ll get stuff together for the rest of the week, but I’m pretty organized so I can usually just enjoy the hour with a snack and whatever book I’m reading at the time. Teach 4th hour. Lunch. Teach 6th and 7th. Head to the gym right after school, then head home. Get home (so tired at this point) but usually Hank and I will take our pup Madeline on a walk then cook dinner. I’ll then spend the rest of my night doing various things: hanging with my family, watching tv or a movie, blogging, reading, or going to sleep really early (again, pregnant = TIRED). On the weekends anything goes! 🙂

5. With your little one almost here, what are you looking forward to most about being a mother?

Oh gosh. Seriously EVERYTHING! I knew I wanted to be a wife and mama since I was a little girl, and I feel like this is the biggest dream I’ve ever had coming true. I just can’t wait to see Henry, and hold him, and kiss him and hug him! I’m excited to see my husband as a Dad, and really just embark on this amazing/crazy adventure with him. I’m so grateful I get to stay home so I don’t have to miss a thing, and every day that gets us a little closer to meeting our little guy is another day of multiplied excitement.

6. What do you enjoy most about blogging?

I kind of touched on this above, but I’d say two things: one, the relationships I’ve made and the support that’s out there in the blogging world, and two, the creative outlet it provides me with. To talk about number one for a moment, it’s pretty amazing how supportive all of my blogging ladies are. It’s like having a little team of friends that is always there for you, encouraging you during good times and bad. A lot of people don’t “get” blogging, and I do think it may be hard to wrap your brain around it if you have no idea how it works, but it’s really, really wonderful. And then number two, I just love that I can share the things that I write with so many people. It’s great to get feedback and kind of just put yourself out there, as scary as that can be at times.

7. You live in a pretty small town, what do you like about living there?

So many things. I grew up in a small, small town in NJ but moved to a suburb of Phoenix when I was a teenager, and a part of me always missed the small-town vibe that my hometown exuded. For college I went up to NAU in Flagstaff and got to experience that again, and I definitely loved it. I never would have guessed I would have ended up in Prescott, but I’m so glad I did. My husband and his family have been here for generations, so it was never a question of where we’d decide to live. From the first time I visited him in 2004 I fell in love with this quirky little place, and I’ve truly enjoyed living here over the past five-plus years. I couldn’t imagine raising our family anywhere else. It’s funny though because my friends from Phoenix will come and visit and they get a total kick over the fact that you can’t go anywhere without seeing seriously ten people you know- it’s a “hi! “hello!” “how are you?” fest all over town, constantly. And being a teacher at the only high school in town, I’m sure you can imagine how many recognizable faces there are! I love small towns, and Prescott especially. Our downtown is adorable, we have fantastic holiday celebrations for every season, and we experience every type of weather from blustery snow days to hot, hot summer evenings. I sound like an advertisement, but really, I love it.

8. What are you favorite fashion trends for fall?

tights with shorter skirts, corduroy, different textures, I’m loving chunkier boots, big knits…Autumn colors of course but especially forest green, mustard yellow and burnt orange, tortoise shell…so much!

9. What does your husband, Hank, think about your blog?

I know he reads it on occasion and he definitely supports me doing what I enjoy! 🙂

10. Do you have any advice to new bloggers? What about new mommas? How about fashion enthusiasts?

I get this question a lot, and the main thing I can tell new bloggers is to BE YOURSELF. That’s the biggest thing. If you are your authentic, genuine self then you will attract people just like you, and you’ll be able to find your own little community within this large blogging world. Like attracts like, for sure. Write for yourself. And write about what you enjoy. Maybe you love going out to eat? Then write some reviews. Perhaps you love fashion? Then start documenting your outfits. My blog is kind of all over the place- I write about personal things, daily things, inspiration, fashion, books, movies, you name it. I like not putting myself into some sort of label so I am free to write about whatever my heart desires. It definitely makes it more fun! For new mamas- I have no idea yet, but I will get back to you on that one! And for fashion enthusiasts…again, be yourself! Wear what you love. That’s kind of a good motto for all of this- do what you love and what makes YOU happy, always.

Thanks so much Chelsea for asking me these great questions. I’ve had a good time answering them, and I hope you guys have enjoyed reading them! Feel free to pop over to my blog and say hi- I’d love to meet you! 🙂

Thank you so much Danielle for doing this interview! I really loved reading your answers and learning more about you along the way!

Don’t forget to stop by Danielle’s blog and say hello!

-Chelsea