Answers- Part 5

Photo Credit: Miss Wallflower



Hi, Maria, i'm a fan of your blog. :) I'm just curious..how tall are you and your size, maybe?
I'm 5'5" and wear a size 6/8.

Hi Maria, Do you find it difficult to explain your blog, and style blogging in general, to people who aren't familiar with it and don't really understand it? How do you approach that?
Yes, it is a bit weird trying to tell people what I do. Most really can't grasp the idea and everything that goes into it. I just simply tell them I run a fashion blog and etsy shop and leave it at that. I let them draw whatever conclusions they would like.

Hi, Maria! Greetings from Indonesia. First I want to say that I adore your blog, your beautiful outfits, and your love story with Cole :) This might be too personal, but I'll ask it anyway. Where did you go on your honeymoon with Cole?
Hi Tara, Thank you so much. Cole and I honeymooned in the Adirondacks right near Lake Placid, NY. It was a gorgeous winter destination.

Honestly, are you ever afraid you'll get bored of life with the same person everyday? :) What are things you do to keep from getting irritated by each others little bad habits?
Yes and no. Life isn't always going to be new and exciting and living with the same person every day can be a challenge, but it can be so wonderful. No one knows you like that person does. You can't always stop the irritations, but you can recognize the fact that no one is perfect and respect the fact that everyone has bad days.

Out of entertainers who are famous and out of one blogger, who's wardrobes would you love to invade?
Very tough, but I would say Zooey for my famous person and Rhiannon for my blogger.

hi! I think in one of your previous Formspring answers, you said that you went through a punk phase. could you maybe show us a picture of that time? i'm really curious, haha : )
I would have to dig through my old college photos. Remember this was a time before digital cameras.

Will you ever post an evolution of your style?
I think the best way to see that is to look through my past outfits.

What is your favourite snack?
Junk food. I love popcorn, ice cream, chips and dip, you name it.

I have bought some vintage items I love but I have a hard time styling them into my everyday jcrew wardrobe. I wish you had a regular "stump the stylist" column where I could send you the item or a picture of it to get inspiration!Would you consider this?
That might be a possibility. My advice- start with accessories then add in more obvious vintage pieces like a lace blouse. Once you get the hang of it, it's not too tricky. I like to lay clothes out on my bed and grab different pieces to mix and match.

Could you do a tutorial of how to do your eyeliner? Or give me some tips? : ) you just get it so perfect!
I get asked this question so often. Yes, I hope to do one soon

Hello! I saw your gif of Maisy & I was wondering what website or whatever do you use??
I use photoshop CS4.

At what time of the day do you usually take your pictures?
I try to aim for right before sunset. It really is the best lighting. On cloudy days it doesn't matter. Overall, avoiding harsh overhead sunlight is ideal.

I miss your Pantene Beautiful Lengths hair tips. Do you plan on posting again any time soon?
I like to do a PBL post once a month, so I will be doing one very soon.

Is your hair naturally curly/wavy? If not, how do you style it?
It is naturally curly/wavy! You can find out how I style it by searching my blog.

I admire your skin Maria. It looks so white and healthy. I get tanned really easily and whatever i do i get tanned again. How can i whiten my skin to its original colour? Or is it something doable?
I really don't know how to whiten skin, and I have a feeling it wouldn't be very good for you. My best advice is to avoid the sun and wear really strong sunscreen and hats.

What are ur fall must haves?
Well, I just bought my must have JC Bradley boots, but other than that, I want more felt hats and a vintage cape.

Formspring.me

Yours,

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Answers- Part 5

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Answers- Part 4

Photo by Emily Harriet, via Strange Little Girls



This might seem personal, but I was just wondering, do you have any days when you feel insecure about your body or looks?
Loads of them. But it's best to remember that it's mostly in your head and that you're actually incredibly lovely. You have to be your own cheerleader and shake yourself out of your funks. Besides no one is perfect and sometimes it's those imperfections that make us unique and one of a kind.

Why are you and Cole so compatible? :) What made you realize you should spend the rest of your lives together?
We have a lot of similar beliefs and ideals, which I think really helps. We both want the same things out of life. We both are a bit awkward and weird. We love each other truly and deeply. And what really clinched it for me, was that I never wanted to spend a single day without him.

I noticed your anchor "tattoo" is it real or drawn on? If it's fake, why not got a real one? Do you draw it every morning?
Ha, no that was fake. I was drawing it on to test myself to see if I really wanted a tattoo. I make myself wait a month before getting one. I don't like to rush permanent things. I haven't drawn the anchor for some time now, so that was my reason for not getting it. I'm still contemplating a tattoo and have a new idea in mind that I really love, but I have to wait the one month time period.

Hi Maria! As a fashion blogger, do you get a lot of freebies? I enjoy your outfit posts and I see that you have a lot of stuff from Modcloth and Seychelles. Do they give you free stuff? If so, how did it start? What was the process? Did they contact you?
Hi! I get a fair amount of free items, but nothing outrageous. ModCloth sponsors my blog and does provide me some clothes to style. Seychelles, has never given me free items. I designate between items that I've bought and gifts by putting courtesy of "c/o" next to the store/brand that provided the item. With ModCloth it was mostly about reaching out to them within their style community by commenting on their blog posts and posting my outfits in their flickr group. They first approached me about becoming an affiliate and then when I started accepting sponsors on my blog, I approached them about sponsoring. It's all about developing relationships with shops and brands. They want to know that you genuinely love their clothes as much as they do. No one, on either side, wants to feel taken advantage of. Plus, I just love how much ModCloth supports the fashion blogger community. I think it's what makes them such an awesome and approachable company.

what magazines do you regularly read or have subscriptions for?
Really dorky ones like Good Housekeeping and Country Living. I'll occasionally pick up a Teen Vogue. Most fashion magazines feel pretty redundant and repetitive. I find bloggers to be the most inspirational. Plus, I can never get my hands on a Lula mag. Someday, hopefully.

Maria! This is Teresa of Old School Cool. I was reading through your answers and I just wanted to let you know that Borders at Novi Town Center sells Lula! :)
Hi Teresa!! Really! That's awesome. I know the Borders in AA does too or so they said but whenever I would call they told me it hadn't arrived yet. It seemed to never arrive this past spring or the previous fall. I will definitely check out Novi. Thanks so much!

how did you first get started with your blog ? I love it, how do u get more followers ? I have a blogspot, i have 3 followers so far, but i want to impress more ppl.
I first started my blog as a place to post finished sketches. After a year of having only one follower (Hi Jen!!) I accidentally stumbled upon Rhiannon's blog (which led me to so many others) and that was all she wrote. I was so intrigued by fashion blogging that I decided to take the leap. It took me quite some time to get any readers, but I worked hard at posting as often as possible (usually once a day) and I commented a lot on other blogs. You really have to create your own community.

Do you have any advice for those wanting to get started in the vintage selling business? Where do you find your pieces?
I'm still a newbie when it comes to selling vintage, so I probably won't have as good of advice as the more seasoned veterans. My advice is to go to tons of thrift stores, flea markets and estate sales. They are the best places to find vintage pieces. Some places I luck out at more than others and some weeks, it's just dismal. I hope that helps and Good Luck!

what music/bands are you loving right now?
I can't get enough of The National or Sleigh Bells.

Hi Maria, I'm not sure if you've been ask this before. But what kind of eyeliner do you use?
A perfectly timed question since I just recently switched eyeliners. I was using Maybelline gel eyeliner ($11), but just switched to Smashbox Jet Set waterproof eyeliner in Midnight black. It's more expensive ($22) but so worth it. It doesn't smudge or crease all over my eyelid. So brilliant.

hiya! do you have any tips about how to search for things on etsy/ebay? I've got a pretty similar taste/style to yours but I think I'm far too vague and always get fed up of trawling through hundreds of things! Love love love your blog by the way :)
It does take a lot of sifting through junk, but I just try to pick specific descriptors, e.g. "vintage brown oxfords" or "vintage velvet bow tie." But even then you have to really sort through unrelated items. And sometimes if you're too specific you might miss out on what you're looking for if the seller doesn't use those key words.

As a fellow GWB (girl with bangs), I'm amazed with how perfect yours always look. How do you keep them at the right length?
Right now my bangs are in dire need of a trim. I just try to trim they every few weeks. I know some girls even go so far as to trim them once a week, but I'm too lazy for that. And sometimes I like when they get a bit long. It feels like a different look.

I was wondering if you had any tips for trimming your bangs when they start getting a little too long. I'm always afraid I'm going to butcher mine. Your hair always looks so pretty!
Thank you. There have been many times that I've botched my own bangs. Luckily it was never horribly noticeable. I just suggest always trimming a little bit each time. You can always keep trimming off more. Also use a small tooth comb to keep your bangs even and straight while cutting. Other than that it's just practicing and doing it often that helps most.

did you ever wear braces? I'm asking because I just had them and need to know whether my "models" had them too.:) i love your style
Ha, twice! And will probably need them a third time. My teeth have always been a major mess. More's the pity.

Do you think you will ever get a full time job? (Other than blogging). If yes, what? I'm not asking this to be critical, I think it's a wonderful thing that you are doing what you love for a living even though you aren't making as much as you could be :)
Thank you. I would love to design clothes!

How do YOU personally layer up in winter?
I start with either a blouse or dress first then add a sweater, blazer, jacket, scarf, hat, tights or pants and boots.

Hi Maria, I am working towards launching my own first real blog, and I was having a little trouble with the very first post. So, I went to your blog to check out yours, but I had a little trouble finding it. How come you don't have an archive?
Well, you wouldn't find a first post relevant to my fashion blog. My first post was in regards to why I first started my blog- for my sketches. Good luck with your blog!

How did you manage to handle your blogs & being faithful to your own style, because you know now days there's a lot of blog template that makes us wanna 'I wanna change my blog template' kind of feeling. Thanks!
My blog has gone through some changes when it comes to layout and style over the last year, but I stayed true to my style by always keeping things they way I like them, rather than what other people are doing. I like simple, clean layouts with white or grey backgrounds that also have some character. I also like the photos to take center stage. Every few months I'll revamp things and shake them up a bit. I get bored easily, so I need to freshen things up.

I've recently made a Tumblr account. Can you suggest some worth following? :)
I'm pretty new to Tumblr myself. I suggest Strange Little Girls, My Vintage Vogue, Miss Wallflowers and Cameras and Jane Austen.

hi maria!! what was the old font on your blog called, the one with the big block lettering and the little flowers in it?? i've been looking for it to download for some time now!! love your blog =)
Thanks! It's called VTKS Flowers in Our Soul. I found it on dafont.com!

this may sound dumb, but how do u check how many visitors u get on ur blog? Do u use a special website?
I use google analytics!! Very helpful.

Hello Maria. I just found out about your blog via Wish Wish Wish and I've been going through all your lovely outfits. Your blog is wonderful. My question is - what did you study in college? XO
I studied lots of different things (child development, women's studies, fashion design, etc) and changed my major a few different times. I graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Merchandising Management from Michigan State University.

What does Cole do for work?
Right now he's a full time graduate student at the University of Michigan's Business School. He is interning at a medical device company for the summer and in the fall will be finishing his final year of grad school. That's why we moved from Boston, back to Michigan. Who knows where we'll end up when he's done with school. Hopefully someplace interesting.

you said that you and cole were abroad while studying. where have you been?
We traveled to the UK and Ireland. The bigger cities- London, Edinburgh, Galway, and Dublin. We pretty much drove all over. My favorite part was the Highlands. I'm desperate to go back. I also want to explore the rest of Europe, Asia, Australia...you name it, I want to see it.

What car do you drive?
Cole and I share a jeep Liberty. I can't wait to get rid of it though. It's such a gas guzzler. I want something smaller and sportier. I would really love to get a vintage mini, but I also feel like vintage cars aren't very fuel efficient, so maybe I'll get a modern mini. Who knows.

I love your hair color! Is it natural? If so, how do you keep it from getting mousy or dull?
Thank you so much!! It is my natural color. I haven't dyed my hair in over 7 years. Hmm, I'm not sure I have any secret tips besides take a multivitamin everyday, condition your hair a lot, and every other day use conditioner instead of shampoo. I hope that helps. Oh, and I think natural hair will always look shiny since it's not processed.

Want more? Visit my formspring.

Yours,

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Answers- Part 4

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Answers- Part 3

Photo Credit: Strange Little Girls


If you had to perform at the circus, what trick would you do?
Oh, I would love to be a trapeze artist. It would be like flying. But it might be a bit tricky since I have a fear of heights and tend to get vertigo.

Can I ask why you dont get a full time paying job? I think most girls would love to just blog about fashion all day and sell things online. Dont you want to help Cole and create the best fuure for you both? I hope this doesnt sounds rude, im just curious!
Ha, my first thought was "geesh, that's rude," but I can understand your curiosity and you're definitely not the first person to ask that question, nor will you be the last. To make a long story short...to each his/her own. It's what works best for us. It was essentially a choice between more money or more happiness. We chose happiness.

Sorry this is a strange question, but how tall are you? You are just so beautiful.
Aww, you're making me blush. Thank you. Well, I just went to the doctors and they measured me and said I was 5'5" which is really cool since I grew half an inch! Didn't think I could grow at my age. ;)

I'm sorry if this is too personal but would you and Cole like to have children someday?
No worries. Yes, we really (Really) would. Sadly lots of things have gotten in our way, but we haven't given up hope for the future. And if biological children are or aren't in the cards, we want to adopt.

If you could have a tree that could grow anything (not money) what would you want to grow off of it?
I want fruit bearing trees, especially cherry and lemon!! Growing up in Michigan, where cherries are a staple in the summer, I crave them all the time. It was really hard when I was living out East and had to pay a fortune for a small bag of cherries. I also want a lemon tree so I can have lemons in my water everyday and bake lemon bars on the weekend.

ur blog is amazing!
Thank you so much!! xoxo

This might seem like a weird question but I'm trying to figure out what to do... do you back up your pictures, like if your computer crashes do you have something so you don't lose all of your photos?
I'm the worst at this!! I never back up my computer and yet always worry that it will crash and all will be lost!! You could use dropbox.com!! I do have a few things that are really important in there.

What are your top three favorite books?
This is so hard. It's like asking which of my dogs I love most. I will instead give you three books that I re-read all the time: Dead to the World, The Secret of Chimneys, and Pride and Prejudice.

If you could change your name, what would you change it to?
Probably Elinor or Alice, which are my grandmothers' names. I really love classic, old fashioned names.

Have you ever blogged and worked full-time, at the same time? Any tips on how to keep workwear fresh and individual and incorporate vintage?
I have not and couldn't imagine the kind of time and effort that would go into doing both on a full time basis- I'm really just not that great at multi-tasking.

I think it depends a lot on the office or work environment, but I'll tell you what I did for twelve years with my school uniform...I made my shoes and accessories the stand out pieces that really showed my personality without breaking the rules!

I have seen that you said you had 2 etsy shops....you have the one here on your blog the O Captain what is the other?
My other shop is here (http://www.etsy.com/shop/MariaConfer) and mostly featured my custom drawings and hair bows. I'm eventually going to close it.

i love peep toe heels, but my feet always slide forward, get scrunched and my toes start to hang out the front! i have tried something called "foot petals" or something like that, but it didn't fix it for me. i was wondering if you had any tricks to share?
Oh, I wish I did. I have the same problem. Peep toes are very tricky for me so I don't buy them very often, but I love them to bits.

dear maria, i have naturally wavy hair like you. (Unfortunately it's not as lovely as yours. I love your hair) And i am thinking about getting bangs. So I was wondering, how do you style your bangs? a big brush and hairspray, flat iron?
Thank you. I know how tricky wavy hair can be. I recommend using a paddle brush and mini flat iron. That's what works best for me and I have crazy cowlicks in my bangs.

What does marriage mean to you?
Love, laughter, compromise, strength, happiness, flexibility, determination, intimacy, fun, struggles, work, and the future.

You have such a wonderfully distinct style. What advice would you give your readers to help them develop their own?
Thank you! My advice is- be true to yourself. Don't try every trend out there, but also don't be afraid to test the waters. For me, fashion is a lot of trial and error, sometimes you make mistakes, they're not monumental, but sometimes you find something that really works. Most importantly- Have Fun!
I'm loving all the questions!! Keep on asking!

New outfit post tomorrow.

Yours,

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Answers- Part 3

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Answers- Part 2

The second installment of my formspring answers...


Photo Credit: Strange Little Girls


What does your closet/wardrobe look like? I'm not only curious, but in dire need of inspiration on organizing a lot of stuff (clothes, shoes, accessories, etc). Thanks!
I'm sorry to say that I'm the worst person ever when it comes to organizing anything, especially clothes. My closet is a complete disaster, with stuff shoved and thrown all over the place. I'm always wishing a little fairy will show up one day and completely organize it.

What is it like to be married to someone, live with them and see them all the time. I'm really curious what it's like to live together!
It can be the most wonderful thing in the world and the hardest. It's amazing because I constantly have my best friend around to talk to, laugh with and love. Cole is the person I want to see first thing in the morning and last thing at night. But that doesn't mean that it's not constant work everyday. It's not easy sharing a space with another person, because you always share in their bad moods and bad habits, too. We both have to remind each other on a daily basis to be more loving and more understanding. It's a daily challenge to be a better person, not only for yourself, but for the person you love.

Do you have an 8tracks account? I love your music posts!
Oh, gosh I've never heard of that, but it looks pretty cool. If I start one, I'll definitely post about it!! Thanks for letting me know about this.

A friend says "I'm busy these days, let's meet some other time!" whenever I phone her. But she always has time for other friends of hers. What would be the best thing for me to do?
You could confront her and ask her why she's avoiding you or you could move on and realize that anyone that doesn't want to be around you isn't worth your time and effort. But I would start with talking to her and explaining how her actions make you feel. You never know, she might have a good reason for her behavior.

I love reading your relationship advice, Maria. It is so practical and realistic. I have a hard time relating to girls who just say everything is magic or that they never fight with their significant others...So thank you!
You're welcome! I'm glad you find my advice helpful. I try to paint a realistic picture, because nothing in life is easy. Especially love.

Does Cole actually read your blog?
Yeah, he does almost everyday. He's always been incredibly supportive with not only taking the photos, but giving me positive feedback, too.

I'm in awe of the bravery it must have taken to cut your own bangs! I'd love to have a demonstration on how you maintain them.
Thanks so much! Once I get a video camera, I will definitely do a blog trimming tutorial! It was a bit scary, but also really fun taking the risk. Plus, I haven't regretted it for a second.

Outside of blogging, what do you think you'd like to be doing five years from now?
I would love to design clothes. Just a small collection of all the things I love, but can never find them how I want them.

Do you collect anything? (Tell me the whole story ;D)
I'm not a big collector, but I always feel like I should be collecting something. I do love to find really inexpensive pairs of vintage Ferragamo bow flats. So far I have three, but it's been awhile since I've bought another pair. Need to start searching eBay and Etsy again.

Help! How did you design such a cute blog layout?? I've been trying to start a blog up and I'm hopeless.
Thank you! My blog has undergone many changes, some much better than others. I used Ourblogtemplates.com to find my current layout and then tweaked it to death to make it just how I wanted it. It's a lot of trial and error and I'm always modifying things, but to start with you can find a template you like and go from there. I hope that helps.

Hi, Maria! I found your blog not too long ago and I love it! Now to the question.. What do you do for a living?
Thank you so much! I actually blog full time and run my two Etsy shops. I don't make very much, but I'm very lucky to have a husband that supports me. During and after college, I worked many random jobs, mostly in retail.

Do you have the free version of Picnik, or the paid version?
I have the paid version.

Who's your favourite author and why?
Hmm, that's tough but I would have to say Jane Austen. Her books take me to another period in history, but yet feel so modern.

I'm looking into buying a new camera and I love the way your pictures look! I know you've mentioned the camera that you use but I can't seem to find it.. so if you don't mind me asking here, what kind of camera do you shoot with??
Thank you! I use a Nikon D60 and love it. The only hitch is that it doesn't have a camcorder built in like the newer models do. So I really recommend the Nikon D3000, which is the newer version of the D60.

Have you and Cole ever been apart for a long period of time? If so, do you have any advice relating to that?
Luckily, we haven't. We even went on our college Study Abroad together. I think the longest we've ever been apart is 11 days and it was really hard on the both of us.
So, I haven't really experienced a long separation, but I guess my advice would be to use technology and the internet to your advantage and talk all the time even about trivial things. And if you need to have a long distance fight, do it, but try to end on positive note, so no bad feelings are hanging around.

What are some of your favorite beauty and skincare products?
I'm a pretty simple girl when it comes to makeup and skin care. I buy almost everything from the drugstore. I really like L'Oreal foundation and mascara, Revlon Matte lipstick, and Maybelline gel eyeliner. I use Aveeno and St.Ives face cleansers and Aveeno face lotion.

If you were to compare yourself and Cole to a couple on TV or the movies who would that be? :)
Someone recently wrote me an email saying Cole and I were just like Lilly and Marshall from How I Met Your Mother and I would have to say they're right. We're very similar to them in the way we met and how long we've been together. Plus, we're pretty inseparable just like them. I say we differ in that Cole isn't as big of a goof like Marshall, but he is as sweet. My personality is a lot like Lilly's. I'm crazy about Cole and I would punch someone in the face for flirting with him. ;)

I really adore your glasses in your vimeo video, "My Valentine" (really cute video). Thanks so much. Those glasses are by Oliver Peoples and they are the Deacon style. You can buy them online from their site or find a glasses store near you that sells them! OP glasses are a bit expensive but really high quality. I also own their Zooey sunglasses.

Let's talk about your fabulous bangs. When did you get them, and why? Would you recommend them? I'm debating them, but am gun shy!
I cut my bangs in March 2009 and haven't looked back. I actually cut them myself and maintain them myself. I would definitely recommend them, but make sure you cut them in a triangular shape not square. When it comes to hair, I say if you want it, go for it. It can always grow back.

I saw your "preppy day" pics and your long hair is amazing. Just felt like saying that ;)
Aww, thanks! I'm growing it back out again to donate it to Pantene Beautiful Lengths. I'm hoping I can grow it long enough that when I make the donation, my hair can still be somewhat long.

Where do you buy your clothes from? They're are lovely. (:
Thank you so much! I buy most of my clothes from the Salvation Army, but also ModCloth, Urban Outfitters, eBay and Etsy!

Maria! If you could be an animal, which one would you like to be?
Hi Libs! I would be a hawk. So I could fly around and not worry about something trying to eat me!!

What colour of sock should one wear with green shoes that shows toes and heels?
Hmm, it depends on the shade of green. I think it would be safest to wear white, pink, or navy blue socks. I hope that helps!

Would you rather be a vampire or a werewolf?
Hands down a vampire so I could live forever.

Hi Maria! I simply adore your blog! I love your bike, Millie, too! What brand is she? xoxo - Iza
Hi Iza! Thank you so much, I'm so glad you like my blog! Millie was a vintage Free Spirit bike from Sears. She was originally a burgundy color but I repainted her hunter green with Krylon glossy paint!
Have a question you're dying to ask? Formspring me.

Yours,

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