Behind the Scenes with Breakfast at Toast + a blog swap!

Big news, you guys. Today, I’m honored for so many reasons. First, I’m guest posting over at Viv’s blog Fashion Truffles, sharing my skincare routine and all my current favorite products. Click over to see what I really can’t live without! And a big thanks to Viv for having me and letting me go on and on about my routine. I love sharing my beauty tips and hope they help you. :)

Second, this week I’m taking you Behind the Scenes with Danielle from Breakfast at Toast. Danielle’s blog is one of my absolute faves, a daily must-read. I think she’s a super talented designer and photographer, and I’ve followed her blog for a long time. I’m so excited that I get to feature her here today. But even MORE exciting: in turn, Danielle has invited me to participate in her Girls Who Inspire series! I can remember seeing so many of my favorite bloggers taking part in this series, and it’s such an honor to be featured alongside them. So once you learn more about Danielle below, be sure to hop on over to her blog and check out my profile as well… you might learn something new about me!

Name and age: Danielle, 29.

Your Blog: Breakfast at Toast

Current City: Chicago, IL

My 1st time sledding in Chicago! I wore lululemon pants and got the flu. Good times!

5 places I want to visit in my lifetime

Paris + London (I will do this in one trip so it counts as one location)

Italy

Spain

Anywhere tropical where I can relax with a margarita and avoid my inbox

4 books I want to read in the next year

This is going to sound so awful, but I haven’t finished a book since The Devil Wears Prada (which I read BEFORE the film came out). Between work, my blog & television it’s hard to find time to sit down, start (and finish!) a book. I read half of one of Chelsea Handler’s books on my iPad and then forgot about it.

That said, I never read Tender Is The Night and would love to read it someday

Would love to re-read The Great Gatsby

The Help

Bridget Jones’s Diary

My goal is to read one book before I turn 30. Pathetic. I know. 11 months to go…!

3 photos that exemplify what I want my life to look like in 5 years

I have learned that you cannot say what you want things to look like because the truth is, you never know what will happen. That said — I would love to be in a place where I feel more established with my career, and I suppose I’d like to be married. I do want kids, so I guess I could see having them within the next 5 years.

2 goals I’m currently working on (and what I’m doing to get there)

1. Working on growing my career. Would make for a very long + drawn out story so let’s just leave it at that.

2. Eating healthier and working out. I am done talking about getting in shape and am making it happen.

1 thing I’ve been dreaming about is…

Again — would love to find more success in my career. Work in progress. I also really want a house. I would love to remodel a kitchen! I dream of wallpapering something at least once a week. Is that normal?

How did your blog get its name?

I renamed my blog when I moved to Chicago. There’s a Toast (restaurant) in LA and one in Lincoln Park. Breakfast at Toast. Get it?

Who serves as a source of inspiration for you?

Oh, wow. Who doesn’t inspire me? Any and all women who have started their own businesses, done something different or taken a chance. I love my Chicago blog girls. I have become good friends with a few of them and they are all these down to earth, creative and wonderful girls. I love reading design/fashion blogs, books & mags. Elle Decor is a favorite. I also love Kelly Wearstler. And I would give anything for Rachel Bilson’s wardrobe.

What is your proudest achievement to date?

Moving to a city by myself where I knew no one and starting a business that enabled me to do so. I don’t think much about it but it’s pretty nice working for myself. While I was SO afraid of moving halfway across the country by myself, it ended up being the best thing I ever did.

Where is your favorite place to rest and re-charge?

I would love to say that it’s some tropical place very far away, but I’m going to have to go with my sofa. I spend most of my time at the computer so it’s always so nice to turn on the TV and unwind with one of my favorite shows. Have I mentioned that I really love TV?

When did you first start blogging?

I actually started in April 2007 during a time when I was embarrassed to even tell anyone I had a blog. I ended up deleting my first blog and have since started over with breakfast at toast.

Why do you keep doing it?

I have met so many fun and creative friends through blogging which has been the best part of this experience. It also serves as such a wonderful creative outlet! I design blogs, have a pre-made template line, have been getting more and more in to photography, too. I enjoy anything and everything that inspires me to be creative!

Thanks for having me, V. It’s been a pleasure trading blogs with you today! Be sure to check out Victoria’s post on my blog, Breakfast at Toast.