Tell Me All About It: Q&A with Julia Coney

All images courtesy of Julia Coney

This month's "Tell Me All About It" features one of the first successful and full-time bloggers  that I ever met (way back when I was a bright-eyed, newbie blogger), Julia Coney of All About The Pretty (AATP).  AATP is a "niche lifestyle website dedicated to curated information on beauty + fashion, travel, food + wine, and yoga." Coney created the blog waaaay back in 2006 (I know, blogs were around back then?) and over the past 6 years AATP has been featured in the Washington Post, Texas Monthly, Glamour Magazine, Women’s Wear Daily, a Celebrity Cruise advertisement, Essence.com, Glamour.com and the Washingtonian. Pretty exciting, huh? 

As someone who knows Julia through Tranquil Space (she recently finished her Teacher Training there!), I can honestly say that she is an amazingly inspiring woman to be around--not only because she is wonderfully thoughtful, sweet, and intelligent, but also because just she knows so much about SO much. Plus, she's from the South, which holds a special place in my heart ;) So lets learn more about the woman behind All About The Pretty, shall we? 

Read on for the inside scoop on all things Julia + Pretty...

Why did you start blogging? Why have you continued to do so? 
I started blogging in March 2006 because a fellow beauty blogger told me I had stories that needed to be told. I was telling her that I get all my skincare in Paris every year and she was like "please write about that." Women would love that. At that time I started my blog I wrote about all the beauty products I had bought and was buying. Now I write about my lifestyle - what people send me, what I buy, and my travels. I like to think that All About The Pretty is an inspirational blog focused on beauty and travel with pieces of yoga and food thrown in.

Where do you find inspiration for your blog posts? 
I find inspiration all over. I read a lot and I am constantly inspired by travel, yoga, art, food, and life. If I'm traveling globally I try to find things that aren't readily available in the U.S. I want people to be inspired to travel and see something different. I am always inspired by the serenity of the beach. If I can't get there I use the "White Noise App" on my phone to hear beach waves. I can always think of something to write from listening to waves crashing.

What's your writing process like?
My writing process varies week to week. I used to use an editorial calendar when I first started and recently went back to doing it. It's so helpful for me because I can preview a month at a time. It allows me time to think, concentrate on content, and not feel rushed to write. I get a lot of emails and press releases regarding beauty products, travel, and much more. I write what makes me happy and that the readers will enjoy. I have to step away from the email to write. I always have a small journal with me and that helps fuel blog ides.

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Images from her recent trip to Paris...

How do you stay balanced? How do you unwind? 
I stay balanced through yoga, reading, exercising, and travel. Yoga takes me out of my head and all that is going through it. I am also never without my Kindle. It is in my bag everyday. I travel frequently and need to have my books with me. 

What's your favorite yoga pose and why? 
Can I say child's pose? No, that is too easy. I would say mountain pose. I could never stand still in the pose until I took teacher training. It is a hard pose. The concentration to be, stand tall, feel balance from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet. It is such a powerful pose. I can tell when my world is off balance because I can't balance in mountain pose. It's a good metaphor for life.


What's your favorite book and why?
Just one book? Really? I will say Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neal Hurston. I read it in high school, but it was in college that it really spoke to me. The writing on how women are treated and expected to be made me realize to always speak my truth. Even if it doesn't go over well with people. 

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What's your biggest dream for the rest of 2012?
My biggest dream is to be happy turning 40 (December 18). I want to do 40 well. I feel healthy, strong, and happy. What more could a girl ask for?

What's your biggest guilty pleasure?
Travel, food and wine. 

What's your favorite blog post you've ever written, and why?
Wow. That is hard. I think it was the blog post where I visited Estee Lauder's office and had my photo taken in Estee's office. My grandmother was applying lipstick and blush in heaven that day. She adored Estee Lauder products and it is because of her I write about beauty. 

If you were exiled to a desert island and could only bring 3 things, what would they be (have to ask it because I love this question!)? 
Smith Rosebud Salve in a Tube (I could use it on bites and cuts), my Kindle, because I can order books and read it in direct sunlight, and Carol's Daughter Gelee de Soleil sun product. I could oil my body and hair with this product. 

If you could give one piece of advice to new bloggers, what would it be? 
Write from the heart. Quit trying to be like every blogger you like. Do you!

What's one item that you think every woman (or man!) should have? 
Sunscreen.

What's your favorite type of music to practice to? Favorite yoga song? 
For my personal practice I practice only to gospel music. It grounds me and for me yoga is prayer time on the mat. My favorite song is DeWayne Woods - "Let Go and Let God!"

If you could live anywhere for one year, where would it be and why? 
Paris. I studied in Paris years ago and the desire to live there has never left. I would love a little apartment in the 12th district. I love the Parisian lifestyle - walking everywhere, having a real lunch, sitting down for coffee or tea in the morning, and long dinners over stimulating conversation.

How do you try to live a mindful life? 
By having an attitude of gratitude. I wake up grateful that (1) I'm healthy, (2) my family is healthy, and (3) I am blessed to live this life. 

She has a pretty amazing outlook on life, huh!? Want to learn more about Julia Coney and living the Pretty life? Here are a few quick links:

Blog: http://www.allaboutthepretty.net/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/juliaconey
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/juliaconey
Tumblr: http://www.tumblr.com/blog/juliaconey
Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/juliaconey/

Thanks for taking the time to tell me all about it, Julia! I feel lucky to have met you :)

Have any requests for other inspiring people that you'd like me to feature in this new series? If so, let me know!

Namaste,
Mary Catherine

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