Hi, everyone, welcome to the be your selfies summit. It's all about personal branding for fashion printers. And we're talking about how being yourself is the best way to stand out in a saturated fashion market. And I'm super excited because I have Katrina from food safety calm. Is that right? Katrina, it's up.

Yeah. Let me Okay, tell me say your last name for me again, my VA, my VA because I knew I was gonna like screwed up that all the time. Okay, yeah. Awesome. Okay, so Katrina, I'm so excited because you're she's a blogger influencer at a recent fashion stylist newbie. So I'm going to do a quick short q&a with her today and just talk to you I want to talk to you about like a little bit if you could tell us a little bit about yourself.

And how long you've been blogging? And that would be like a perfect introduction. Okay, perfect. So like I said, I'm Katrina and I am the blogger behind puppy food, fashion fingernails. And so my background is actually in business marketing. That's when I got my degree.

And soon after I went straight into the digital media and advertising industry. And so that was my in terms of work experience as my whole background. And, you know, soon after doing that for a while, I started to realize that I needed a creative outlet and very creative person, and, you know, the spreadsheets and the reporting just wasn't cutting it. So outlet and everyone's always told me to start a fashion blog. And because I didn't have much experience in that industry, aside from the fact that, you know, reach out therapy's my jam. I didn't know like, where to start or how I could even do it.

And so you know, After a while thinking about just you know, at let me just bite the bullet let me just give it a shot. And so I started blogging, I love to write, and I love putting together look so I was like, why not just splice all those things together? And that's kind of how it became a thing about a year and a half ago now. And so far he does stand for food, fashion fingernails. For many people. It's so funny because everyone was like food.

And, like, don't really get there like that sounds nothing like you're smart. So what when I explained to people that that's what it stands for that is really cool. And so when this all got started, I was like, You know what, I want to have like, a fashion blog, but instead, more like a lifestyle blog. And those are my three passion points. So I've always love to eat different restaurants, different foods and other foods. An obvious one being love putting together looks all that and then fingernails is actually my kind of relaxation has always been doing my own nails and so I'll really get my nails done by a love and creative and doing my own nails I have a whole like nail polish tower I look like a salon in here.

So those were kind of my three things and I've always been like a very like well rounded person so I was like, why not curate myself blog to be really well rounded just like I am. Yes. Oh, that's kind of where it started. And those are like things that kind of help break through hockey. Like, that's amazing. I mean, I think I can't believe you only been doing it like a year and a half.

Yeah. Wow. That's amazing. And your site looks amazing. I have to give credit to my amazing like really close friend and web designer so Wow. Well it it looks great because I I mean the other thing that I think is really great about your site is that you do your very specific like its food, fashion and fingernails.

And I think we talked about this like briefly because it's about like niching yourself. And I do think by even stating even if it's a lifestyle blog, I think that because you specifically call that out, that's what you expect like you when you go to your site, you know that okay? She She likes, you know, nail stuff, that's cool. I'm going to come there for nails I'm going to come there for food stuff and travel because I know you do travel, a lot of travel. You mentioned that because I so like I said, those were like my basis. And then like now as I'm growing and creating more content and doing more things and finding that, you know, travel is a big thing for me.

I love beauty a lot. And so stay tuned because I'm actually gonna have blog three, a little slight redesign soon that like, still has a very curated category. So it's kind of going to be a growth thing where it's like, that's where I came from. And you know, this is where I'm pushing towards now. Awesome. Always be like those will always be like, three main passion points that help everything come to life.

But you look forward to seeing more like lifestyle travel beauty, all those exciting. Yeah. So okay. Let's talk about Okay, you you got your bachelor's, right What did you get your bachelor's in Business Administration and marketing. So did you know what? That you wanted to be in fashion when you were getting your marketing degree or?

No, I'm funny, fast actually because I initially started college as an accounting major, no way. And so I was always really good to numbers. And so I really thought that the directors and everyone who had heard that I was doing that, like a trainee, you can't be an accountant. waste too much like energy and like, you talk way too much for being an accountant. You can't be stuck in a cubicle. No, no, I'm sorry.

Going out, it's like, I really don't think it's gonna work out. And then sure enough, like, over time, I was like, You know what, maybe, even though I'm really good at it, it might not be, you know, the area I should focus on, maybe I should go somewhere a little more, you know, broad that'll, like, allow me to expand and go into different areas later on. And so that's where marketing came into play. And I knew that, you know, that would be a solid background to have, right. I got really interested in actually just like the digital space and advertising was such an awesome industry like to get into from being a marketing major and so, like mesh together, and I don't want to where I started it. Yeah, yeah.

I mean, I think that's a great way to be about it. Because sometimes you when you think that, you know, you need that it's going to be a certain path. It usually doesn't work that way. So, I mean, yeah, and that's, I think a lot has to do with One of the reasons to that prompted this summit to be yourself be about like it's a journey it's about like figuring out who you are and what you're good at. And following that passion because that's really like that's gonna be what's gonna come through the most when you're building anything any like whether it's a blog or your business or whatever, it's all about that for sure. And um, okay, so So do you think that getting your marketing degree and all that helps you launch like your site really effectively?

Because I always wonder that Yeah, in a short time Yeah, I it's funny because getting into the blogging thing. I actually thought that my biggest edge would be my business background. I thought like my business background and my digital know how I thought would be such an interesting like edge that not many other bloggers. Everyone has like Some fashion things, some type of, you know, like, shopping interested in like style and all that. So I was like, let me have a totally different edge. And so it's funny, I went into it with that mindset.

And now like after this amount of time, I feel like what has really stood out from my background is my communication skills and my kind of business mindset. And so I've found that when I approach different brands or people against new projects, that they really do appreciate the business background and they can tell like, my like business professionalism, in a sense, right, just from talking to them just from you know, discussing ideas with them or anything like that. And I like personally take the time to have those personal relationships as well that kind of have the, you know, what we can how we can work together but at the same time, I want to know what you expected from me and what I can give you some give and take kind of person and I think that's helped me so much because they Like, oh, you know, like, I know she'll do a good job, but she's also reliable and a hard worker.

And so I think that's the biggest takeaway I've had from my background that has really helped me and not only doing you know, things just like, one at a time and thing, right. So like long term relationships and building those kind of long. That's awesome. And I think that definitely speaks to building like long term relation. Relationships is so important. And I think that that's been a common theme.

Like throughout the q&a that I've done. It always kind of goes back to offline networking about like, one on one and really showing up and, you know, you you, you're, you're not just asking you're also like giving back and totally, totally and a huge thing, obviously, not to make a hasty generalization, but so many things that I'm running into when I'm starting a new project with friends is you know, like most people in this industry, just expect stuff. From from brands expects people and it's just like, you can't just expect everything to be given to you and not reciprocate, right? I've been very solid, I'm going to put in as much work as you're going to, you know, and we're going to do this as a team and we're going to kind of make this an experience that benefits both of us. Right? I think that's a huge thing to remember to not be greedy and to not just take and take and take, right, give back just as much and then you know, it's true, you will receive, right, totally, I totally agree.

I'm all about that for sure. But I think brands to really like respond to that. So they, if they see that you're really like all about not just for yourself that you're actually gonna be an advocate and advocate for them. It totally changes the whole dynamic of it. But okay, so tell me because you took the leap and escaped your nine to five job decided to take that leap. And I think that's so important, especially for like this summit, because the A lot of girls out there that really want to pursue their passion and take a leap.

Did you plan for it? Or like, what prompted all of it? So it's funny to say nine to five is actually more than 990 990. Like was a toss up Really? So it's funny because how you mentioned that a little bit earlier about like, you know, the following the path thing and so I've always been a follow the path kind of girl you know, very much like, you know, I have my game I've never like had like, five year plan or anything, but you know, this and this. And so this was very out of the box for me, essentially, I'm just my life and my personality.

So unlike me, totally unexpected even for myself. Yeah. I was one of those things where I, so I had gotten my job. Actually, the week I was graduating from college, and so I was one of the few that had a job literally directly right after graduating. In my field, which is also, you know, not as common and so I had had that same job. And, you know, it was a super fun industry.

You know, my clients loved me, I was really good at what I did. But after some time, it really became one of those. I'm really good at it, but I don't love it. And I don't have a passion for it. And it's not necessarily something I want to do long term. Yeah, I am really a firm believer and, you know, do what you love and love what you do.

And I feel like that is like a bigger driving force. And you know, at the end of the day, I mean, it may not be for everyone, don't get me wrong, but for me, personally, I was like, I need to escape this. I need to, you know, work because I was at that point, I had been working on my blog for an entire year alongside this like, nine question. And so and people were always like, really interested, I was still able to do it. And it's like, you know, I was able to do certain things. When I take all the meetings.

I wanted to etc, etc, right? And so I was like, I'm gonna take this huge leap of faith and work on my blog full time travel the world because I'm huge travel love to travel the world. And then which kind of goes hand in hand with the blogging thing? and just see how it goes, I'm gonna, you know, and the worst that can happen is nothing. I had nothing to lose. Yeah, sometimes, you know, it really is you just have to take those leaps in life and it's better to try it and fail than to forever question what is absolutely total total gung ho for I mean, following your dream.

Yeah, but I think that's really what you have to do. Um, it's different for everybody. Obviously, everybody has a different situation, but some, sometimes you can plan it. Sometimes it's not planned. You just know in your gut that you just have to do it and you have to try it. But I always think that, just try it and if it doesn't work out, and it doesn't work the way you think it will, you can do it again.

You can try it again. So, but um, and I think okay, let's talk about travel because I think travel has such a great way of opening up your mind and exposing you to different cultures not only you know different cultures and whatnot, but it, like gets your creative juices. I think working in a whole different way. When you're like, learning something new, you're in a different environment and it doesn't even have to be related to fashion. Right, I think that you can be inspired. Okay, so tell us about your latest travel experience or what you have planned because I know that from what I've seen, I'm like, Wow, she's gone.

Okay. It's gonna be cliche, but my actual favorite quote of all time, is travel is the only thing in life that makes you richer. And that totally, totally believe that because, you know, like you said, you get all the variances. You Get you just open your mind to so many possibilities, so many different things. It's like you're not just in your bubble like you get to see how the rest of the world works. I do totally get creative inspiration from everything.

And so I'm probably like I already said like you literally can't give me in the same place because I love you know, home base, but in terms of just like wanting to see more of the world, so yeah, my well, specific my latest travel was actually Palm Springs just got back. I love my little weekend getaways in Palm Springs, one of my favorite like weekend getaway destination. Yeah, we got at least like once a month. Wow. I was in Vegas for a little holidays, but we're gonna get really interesting. out of the country trip, so my boyfriend I actually did just a couple months ago now.

We did three countries for three years for anniversary. My God. He did. Paris, Athens and our final destination, which is our main destination actually is Cairo, Egypt. Oh my God, that's amazing. We were in Egypt, and it was absolutely spectacular.

And so what happened was, um, which is funny goes a little bit into the, you know, making personal connections and things like that. One of our neighbors fees to live by us and she had to go back home to Egypt. She said, if you ever want to visit, you know, go there. I definitely will. And so it was amazing, just because being with a local is so helpful. And so it's such a different experience, because we did the touristy things, which they made super seamless because, you know, they could speak Arabic to all the people so we never ran into any issues.

But at the same time, they brought us all of their local Hangouts and mobile restaurants to get that really authentic experience. Yeah. You know, the food was so unique, the experiences were so unique. I mean, obviously, the top of the highlight of my trip was, I wrote camels, oh my god. I'm so jealous to the Great Pyramids of Giza, which is fun fact, the last remaining of the Ancient Wonders of the World. And so seeing that, from that perspective, it's like I was on top of the sand dune, like the pyramids, were in front of me, you know, the Sphinx was below me and the sun setting behind the pyramid.

And these are one of those unreal moments in life that you literally you have to experience for yourself, because it's just there's nothing like it total bucket list, like I highly, highly recommend going at some point in your life. It is spectacular. That's amazing. I mean, that is priceless. Because, so I definitely think that it's worth it. You know, especially while having a bucket list, you can, you know, decide where you want to go.

Would love to go there, that would be amazing. Oh my god, amazing. Um, okay, so Katrina, what do you think? Okay, so for someone who's just starting out, they're maybe thinking about, like, getting into fashion or they've been, you know, kind of dabbling in fashion or whatever, sometimes blogging, what are your tips to really take it to the next level? Like for your branding, because you have to brand yourself, you've branded yourself on your site, you have like, I don't remember the number. What do you have on Instagram right now for followers?

23,000. Okay, so, you obviously, you know what you're doing. But what would you What would you say to someone that's just starting and what would you say like, okay, I tell him, you know, you should focus on these three things. So I'm three or if it's more tip that I can give any piece of advice, honestly, is to start. And I feel like this is the biggest hesitation which people have because I did too, you know, you want your site to be perfect. You want your photos to be as amazing as all those other new bloggers or people in fashion that you see you want to write all the right things you want to have this isn't that very specific.

And honestly, it's like not realistic. Because I did those, I'm guilty of doing those things too. And it took forever and it's just like, at a certain point, you have to be like, I just need a start. Because if I can put myself out there, then you know, I will grow along with my cipher along with my social, whatever. And you'll be able to make those changes as you go along. And at the same time, you'll be able to see you know, what you like and what you dislike, what people respond to and what not so much and you'll be able to read in that way.

It's not so much like because even if you have except plants, it's again, it's one of those you know, plans don't always work out. You might just end up being more disappointed that anything if you have patience, and it's not received as great as you plan, right? Huge one that definitely My top tip is just start to bite the bullet and just do it. Another thing, be yourself, which obviously this whole is about to stay true to yourself because you know another thing about AI. And these are all personal experiences, which is why I'm also guilty of that, you know, you see these fashion bloggers or instagramers that are just, you know, have these spectacular photos and stunning outfits and it's just like, Don't try to copy other people. And it's one thing I think what is important to learn is you can be inspired by others.

You can want to create something similar to theirs but in your own voice, but never try to just mimic other people because you'll never be happy with that. And honestly people appreciate so much more If you're true to yourself, and you just showcase You know what, what's so great about you, right? And so I think that that's super important and be true to yourself. And third, I think it's funny, I didn't even have time. For three, I think, you know, do it as long as you love it. And, you know, once you stop loving what you're doing, you need to think about it and yours because, you know, if you're writing about all the same things, but you're just kind of putting content out there that you don't actually love.

And it's not worth it if I'd be happy with it, right? Not gonna represent you anymore. If you need to, you know, change it up, take some time to figure out what like new things you want to focus on. Take that time. If you're if you started as you know, like me, I started food, fashion fingers and those things are always true to my heart. Now I want to showcase more travel and lifestyle.

And things like that. And that's okay. You never have to, you know, settle. And always challenge yourself to do more. And always surprise yourself. And I think that's so great is that if you can stay true to who you are at the same time, like learn and grow, that will be so much better in the long run.

Yeah, totally. I love those. Those are. So those are also valid points. Those are really great points, actually. Because it's true.

You have to it really does translate. If you don't love it, and you're, you're just going through the motions, your, your, your audience will totally know what they want. They won't think you're authentic. And that's like, such a terrible thing to you know, you don't want to be caught in that position. So just follow your gut for sure. And like don't settle You know, that's a bonus tip.

Yeah, let's try something else. Another thing is so one of the things biggest piece of advice I got when starting my or wanting to start my blog was people said to, you know, be consistent, right and to put out content often because the you know, the more you do it, the more people will be able to see it. Because if you post something in a wait a month, like people won't, you know, get the idea of what you're trying to do the story. So, but at the same time as being consistent. So one of the things, for example, was for Instagram, for example, right? Post at least once a day, by posting at least once a day, you will attract that audience and they'll know to expect something from you every day.

And going along with that though, is you know, I hit a point a little bit ago, where I started still posting things once a day, but I didn't absolutely love it on certain days. I just posted something to post something. And that's kind of a learning lesson too. Because it's like even though you want to be consistent. If you don't love it, don't do it. It's not worth it.

It's a lot of things that you don't absolutely believe in. You can take a day or two Right, like, that's fine. And when I like broke my leg streak after so long as my streak I totally forgot, like, wait a minute, people aren't going to care because they'd rather, you know, see something like new and authentic for me than just like a picture of I don't know, an asset evil, right? Yeah, no, I love that. I think that's so true. It just being consistent is one thing, but also that it is like authentic as well because it's not gonna come off as like, important if you're like, if you're just posting filler like you said, I totally believe that if it's not you don't feel like you just feel like it doesn't represent it.

You're going through the motions. Just don't do it just and don't be scared that it's gonna be like, Oh my god, everybody. Yeah, totally. Okay, so Listen, I'm gonna wrap it up here, but, so your site is f O, fa, f fi.com. But my Instagram is fo period, fa period I because the other one was taken by somebody. The rest of my handles are all about Instagram said to be unique, so awesome.

Okay, cool. Thank you so much. It was such a pleasure. Okay, some great insight and some terrific tips. So, look forward to what's coming up next. Do you have any, any next travel plans?

So I'm starting to plan travels. You have to stay tuned in all you have to follow. I'm trying to you know, because this year a part of you know, New Year's resolution. Yeah, planning ahead for the rest of the month before. More expensive so this year Awesome. Yeah.

Well, we'll keep an eye out for it. So thank you so much, Katrina. Hi