Boston: Blog Better Boston Style Summit

This past weekend was the Blog Better Boston Style Summit, a local blogging conference organzied by Amy and Alana and held here.

I was honored to be invited to host a discussion session on Instagram sharing 10 tips on How to Make your Instagrams Better and Finding Your Voice (Thank you Kait for this shot of me!).

I also enjoyed attending the style summit to hear the other speakers discuss topics such as working with brands, creating content calendars and media kits. 

It was so wonderful to meet bloggers in person (Kaitlin, Melissa, Georgina, the JustUsGals, Allie, Tieka, Julie, Emily, Alyssa, Susan, Brooke, Holly, Sheryl) and see others I hadn't seen in a while (Alison {who I accidentally called Amy during my sesh!}, Shauna, Alana, Amy, Emily, Kristen, Amanda, Surabhi, Noelle and Elissa)

If you missed my Instagram discussion, here's a recap:

10 tips on how to make your Instagrams better

• Find your voice on Instagram by connecting and following others in the IG community
• Hashtag so that people can find you!
• ie: #igersboston (Instagrammers in Boston), #igers, #igdaily, #ignation etc., will allow you to connect with other IGs in Boston and around the world!
• Take a genuine interest in others, and leave comments
• Be visible, not just online (attend events such as Blog Better Boston and other blogger events)
• Be passionate about your IGs, treat them as you would photos with a real film camera
• Explore other apps to make your IGS better (ie. VSCOcam, Instasize and Afterglow)

There were a lot of sessions I wanted to go to, but alas, could only attend a handful, so here are some things I learned:

Working with Brands led by Kristen

• know your stats using google analytics
• a media kit is really important to introduce yourself
• create a pitch and send to a brand you really like and identify with
• know which posts are most read on your blog (most interaction/likes/views)
• your time is valuable
• follow up once you have worked with the brand/done a post

Creating a content calendar led by Julie:

• identify your priorities
• create a content calendar and schedule posts so that there is consistancy for your readers
• use google calendar or even a paper calendar and pencil, whatever works for you
• stick to a general theme and find your niche
• save your great idea for when you have time

Creating a media kit led by Tieka:

• a media kit is a pre-packaged set of promo material on YOU
• selling yourself to give a brand a few facts on whether or not you are a good fit for them
• include: about page, you and your blog, site stats, past brands/partnerships
• what you can provide as a service (ie. sponsored blog post, giveaway, side bar ads, text links, be gifted products to review)

Here are just a few snap shots from the Style Summit, as I was mostly taking notes! For more #BBBos coverage, check out the Twitter feed, and for more photos and updates follow Blog Better Boston on Facebook.

Thank you Amy and Alana for having me, and for all the sponsored goodies!

Here's how you can join the next Blog Better Boston summit.

Boston: Neiman Marcus, CUSP Launch

Neiman Marcus recently launched CUSP, at Copley Place. All of Neiman Marcus' contemporary departments have been revamped into modern, young and hip sections within each store. Carrying designers such as Alice + Olivia, DVF, Rag & Bone, A. L. C., Theory and Alexander Wang, to name a few, the concept is to provide a boutique feel that's fresh and updated.

Last week's launch was hosted by three of Boston's fashionable bloggers, Lissy (A Girl in Boston), Lani (Mon Petite Chou Chou) and Erika (Radiant Republic). Each of them styled a model in three different looks but it was at time easy to pick out who styled who. I was pleased to capture the festivities!

Hair styling by Jeffrey Lyle Salon // Catering by Broadway Gourmet // Models: Marie Wu, Jessica Clements, Olivia Guiny, Sarah Hodge, Kara Benghanem // DJ - Liz Ladoux

In keeping with the fresh new concept, it was recently announced that NM is looking for A Blogger on the CUSP, are you the one?

FNO Boston at Neiman Marcus!

On September 6 in Boston, Fashion's Night Out at Neiman Marcus celebrated the Art of Fashion!

Showcasing fall trends in Center Court, a "Go Baroque or Go Home" Styling bar by our favorite Style Advisor Dave Chen, intricate henna tattoos by Nomad Heart, and black and white (with a touch of colour) photographs, by yours truly, FNO Boston was just getting warmed up. Throw in some familiar faces like Amy, Kate + Jack, Jeff Lahens, Sarah and Jaime in the mix and you've got one hellava good night!

Where were you for FNO?

 

Boston: David Yurman at Lux Bond & Green + GIVEAWAY!

Last week, my sister, niece and I were excited to check out the unveiling of David Yurman's Fall 2012 Collection at Lux Bond & Green. The line will only be available for purchase in September, so it was nice to get a sneak peek. Thank you to Shauna, Sheryl, Trevor, Judy and Denise and everyone at Lux Bond & Green for the invitation and for graciously assisting us in trying out all the beautiful David Yurman jewellery!

It was lovely to see some of my favourite Boston Bloggers: Julie, Khatu, Lani and Hannah and I got to meet Amanda, Chelsea and Shauna's sister Kasey, for the first time, while we "tweeted" it up amongst champagne and cupcakes. Tweeting pays off people, look what Amanda and I won!

Thank you to my sis who took all the photos of me (in my favourite cobalt dress)!

I'm happy to announce that Lux Bond & Green would like to give one lucky reader of Hogger & Co. a $75 gift card for Lux Bond & Green!

To enter, simply follow the instructions below!

Contest ends at 12:01am EST Monday June 25, 2012 

A winner will be picked at random! Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Miami: What to Pack

Off to Miami for a few days! I'm looking forward to photographing ArtWalk and WallPeople2012 while I'm there and am so excited to meet up with Elizabeth who's been incredible with sending me restaurant suggestions and an extensive list of things to do!

To Miami HEAT, baby!

Miami: What to Pack by hoggerandco featuring a white shirt dress

Boston: SOWA Blogger Meetup

Location:

The South End Buttery + SOWA Market, Boston

I'm always up for any blogger meetup ops, or meet-ops, and one such opportunity arose when Elizabeth from Miami tweeted that she was going to be in Boston this past weekend. A glorious plan to meet on Sunday morning at the Southend Buttery, then head to the SOWA market, was born.

Here's how Anna, Natalie, Melissa, Elizabeth and I spent our Sunday morning. We even ran into Anne from Adjewelry who has a jewelry shop at SOWA. I purchased a pretty bracelet for my niece's upcoming birthday.

And thank you Anna for the following Instagram:

Here's the item I purchased for my niece from Anne's SOWA shop:

And here's Anne at SOWA (via Instagram)

Greece: Santorini, Stripes

You know how the Greek flag has stripes on it? I gravitated towards that but switched up the colour.

More Stripes Pinspiration.

Boston: Zoora Capsule Collection

Last night Zoora had a capsule collection show at The Liberty Hotel for their Fashionably Late series, in Boston.

A beautiful collection of designer items (custom piece all under $100) made the walk around the gorgeous hotel that used to be The Charles St. Jail. 

It was nice to hang out with some blogger faves, the coolest couple we know, Kate and Jack, from Union Jack Creative, Danielle from Story of Style and Helena from The Honey Flower Girl, who you've also seen here.

New York Fashion Week: SEEN: Nicolle + Helena

Look who I ran into at the Lincoln Center during Fashion Week in NYC. Boston's own fashion bloggers: Nicolle and Helena! These two had photogs running around in a frenzy trying to get their shots!

Here they are outside the Lincoln Center and inside at the Mercedes Benz display.

Boston Blogger February Meet + Greet

There was another Boston Blogger event last night, this time, hosted at Sonsie, 327 Newbury Street.

What a great turnout! I've only been to two BB events thus far, but I'd say they're getting better and better. Had a blast hanging out with fellow Boston Bloggers and meeting some new faces (as you can see with my checklist, I also missed a whole bunch)! There's always next time!

Thanks Katy & Alison, once again for organizing! 

Bloggers seen here: Ben, Hannah, Anna, Sarah, Laura, Kate, Alison, Clair, Emily, Elly, Katy. For more photos from the event, visit Modly Chic's FB album.

 

Breakfast At Tiffany's

Everyone knows that Tiffany & Co. is synonymous with luxury.  Opulent yellow diamonds, shiny sterling silver and that iconic (and trademarked) shade of blue.  

So when I was invited for "Breakfast at Tiffany's" to celebrate the opening of the new Tiffany & Co. location at Chestnut Hill Mall, two things immediately happened, a) Holly Golightly came to mind and b) I said YES.

The jewellery sparkled on our clavicles, fingers, wrists and ears, the mimosas overflowed, and the quiches were just perfect.

It was a lovely way to have breakfast and now that the bar has been set so high, my coffee will never be the same.

Thanks to Patrick McGuinness, the director of this Tiffany & Co., Stephanie, Sheryl and the other lovely associates who assisted us in trying on all sorts of spectacular jewellery and to the lovely ladies at PANcomm, Taylor and Kerri for the invitation.  Also, thank you for the gorgeous coffee table book.

Some other dolled up Boston Bloggers were in attendance (a few of whom I met for the first time!), including Marissa of The Well Appointed Catwalk, Julie of JQ Lounge, Martini of Beyond Boston Chic, Naina of Style 'N, Lani of Mon Petit Chou Chou, and Annalise of Quarterlife Lifestyle. 

Lit Boutique: Blogger Shopping Party

It was a meet, mingle, shop and sip at LIT Boutique last night in the North End.

It was great meeting Shanna-Marie of Shanna's Eye View who put the event together and Rebecca, the manager of LIT as well as fellow Boston Bloggers, Michael of Trendy Dwarf, Kristen of Boston Fashionista , Michele of Michele's Musings and Anosha of Locks & Trinkets.

I tried on a pair of super cute Naughty Monkey heels, but the sixes were a tad snug on my 6.5 feet. (Although I fit into size 5 Hunter boots, wtf?).

Thanks for the wonderful cupcakes (still need to know where those babies were from) and the lovely Votiva candles.  Photos by photohogger.