With ties to the Northeast, I finally had a plan. I would finish college at LSU and move back to the Tristate Area to work in NYC. But even after earning my degree, I wasn’t sold on the idea. I was managing a clothing boutique and LOVED styling outfits for my regular clients. I knew if I aspired to become a retail buyer in NYC, I would not be working directly with consumers. Plus, excel spreadsheets make me crosseyed and dyslexic tendencies start to enter the picture. That could get ugly when you’re in charge of hundreds of thousands of dollars in apparel.

Little did I know that my move to San Francisco would not only place me in the “center of the universe,” but it would open my eyes to a passion for writing. Now don’t get me wrong, I do not and will never enjoy writing research papers. However, when I arrived in SF almost four and a half years ago, I didn’t know a soul! I lost my hair stylist, brow lady, veterinarian…the list goes on. I found myself reading a ton of reviews on Yelp. The reading eventually turned into contributions of my own and I became a “Yelp Elite” having written 200 reviews on food (DUH!) and everything in between. Evidently I do enjoy writing when I have a genuine interest in the subject matter.

And just like that, my blog (business) was born. Well, sort of. My website started out as “KK and GG,” a resource for dog owners looking for pet friendly things to do in SF. But my passion is fashion and it became clear to me that my website and blog needed to be more fashionable in every sense of the way! Long story short, Kelsey Kaplan Fashion is where it’s at and I don’t envision that it’ll change in the foreseeable future. So why am I telling this story? Because the blogging industry is still new and it still gets misconstrued as a very time consuming hobby. That it ain’t! It is certainly time consuming, but it’s WAY more than a hobby. It is a business. There are start up costs and investments, monthly expenses, contracts, and account receivables.

While the blogging life may appear glamorous at all times, behind the scenes it is a lot of work, sometimes sacrifices, and it never turns off. As long as there are consumers trolling the internet, you must continue producing fresh content. While store fronts close for holidays and maybe even Sundays, Instagram never closes. That means on weekends, vacations, and maybe even wedding anniversaries it is your responsibility to engage with the platform. In a conventional workplace, there is something called a corporate latter that you can climb after meeting benchmarks. There is no such thing in the blogging industry and there are no manuals either. You learn on the way. I remember publishing my 300th blog post and it being like crickets. Was I ever going to reach a “tipping point?!”

I think it is important to note that I’m not complaining. I’m just being honest. Just like everything in life, there are advantages and disadvantages associated with a career in blogging. Obviously to me the perks outweigh the disadvantages or I wouldn’t sacrifice my beauty rest (you think I’m kidding?!) It never gets old receiving boxes of “blogger mail.” As my mom says, “it’s like Hanukkah 365 days a year!” But aside from the awesome gifting opportunities, it’s very thrilling to be one of the first people to try a new product. But the fun doesn’t stop there. In the scheme of things, the blogging community is small. Everyone is connected via Instagram and hashtags make it possible to virtually “meet” like-minded people worldwide. It really is amazing. I used to think I was the only person who dreamt about clothes all day everyday, then I went to NYFW.

Do You Have What it Takes to Excel in a Career in Blogging?

1. Do you consider yourself a self-starter?
2. Are you determined?
3. Does working alone/from home entice you?
4. Are you creative?
5. Are you passionate about any subject matter?

If you answered yes to the questions above, then you have what it takes to make a career in blogging. Now all that’s left to do is: buy a domain name, find somewhere to host your new website, buy cloud storage to store your data, get the lowdown on SEO, pretend to be a coder, design a theme, write your first post, learn photography and Lightroom/Photoshop, and maybe even find an IG husband/wife/boyfriend/girlfriend! My blog would not be possible without Jonathan’s support and I’m forever grateful!

Shop the Post:

Dress (sold out at ASOS but available to ship in the UK here) | Booties (look for less here) | Earrings c/o

Thank you to Shandru Photography for capturing the moment.

The post A Career in Blogging – Is it for you? appeared first on Kelsey Kaplan Fashion.

The Melly Ball Drop Earrings will add the right amount of glam to your edgy ensemble. I wear them two-three times per week and I’m not ashamed of it. They match with all of my black ensembles and some. As a lover of all metals, it’s hard for me to choose between gold, silver, and rose gold. Luckily with this pair there is no playing favorites! Snag these dazzlers for $36 with the discount.

The Sandbar Drops are a playful take on a traditional black and white design! Remember last week’s schpiel about classic colors?! I told you they don’t have to be boring! Anyway, these stunners will effortlessly spice up your fall wardrobe. Although pictured with a black dress, I plan to wear these earrings with all colors of the rainbow! Think amber, emerald, and burgundy. Not bad for $28.50 (once the discount is applied), if I say so myself!

The Mariela Hoop Earrings are bringing retro styles back in the funkiest way possible! I’m pretty sure my mom would say that she owned the same pair back in the 1970’s. I’m partial to blush but they’re also available in: black/white, Cerulean, and Red! Pick your poison. On sale for $31.50 (with the discount), now is the chance to step back and enjoy a blast from the past!

Shop my favorites available now at the BaubleBar Sale:

Ball Drops c/o | Rainbow Tassels c/o | Blush Hoops c/o

The post BAUBLEBAR Sale: Stock up on Fall Favorites appeared first on Kelsey Kaplan Fashion.