We’re here with Anna Golka from Manic Style today!
We got a lot of buzz around Blake Von D’s blogger spotlight and Anna was one of the people who commented. So, we decided to reach out for an interview with her. The next blogger spotlight could be anyone of you! Read below to find out more about how she manages her blog, how she stays inspired, and what’s next for her in 2018.
- Tell us a little about yourself and your blog
My name is Anna Golka and I live in Orange County with my husband. We like listening to Bruce Springsteen together, snapping my blog photos, and eating out. My family owns a restaurant, which I also work for; I think it’s contributed to me becoming a minor foodie. I’m addicted to coffee, baths, and technology.
- When did you start blogging and why?
I started blogging with a friend in 2014. We were headed off to study abroad together in London and thought it would be fun to share our fashion journey along the way. The blog became my own at the end of 2016, and that’s when I really started diving in and giving it my all!
- How do you stay true to yourself while continuing to evolve and be relevant in the blogger community?
Work hard, be nice, and have fun while doing it. I’ve always had a strong work ethic and I bring that to my blog and everything else that I do; I try my hardest to do it with a smile. In the blogger community, I try to uplift my fellow bloggers and blog supporters by interacting with them. Whether it’s a simple ‘thank you,’ or reaching out when I love someone’s photo, I think you can only grow in this community if you’re planting seeds to do so.
- What do you wish you knew when you first started blogging?
How serious it could be! I knew it would be fun and fulfilling, but I really didn’t think when I first started that it could act as a job that pays some bills.
- What surprising lessons have you learned along the way?
I’ve learned that people doing the same things as you shouldn’t always be considered the competition. There are so many amazing bloggers out there and it’s beyond humbling to be a part of a group of people who support each other so much while trying to achieve similar goals.
- Have you ever experienced a block on your blog? If yes, how did you overcome it?
I love sharing my looks, but I like my blog, even more, when I’m going beyond just that. I love sharing how-tos, styling tips, etc. Sometimes I get blocks on how to keep my contact new, fresh, and not just the old #ootd. To overcome that, I like getting inspired on Pinterest, flipping through my fashion coffee table books, and cutting out magazine clips.
- How do you structure your days to ensure you’re maximizing your blog while maintaining a personal life?
I’m currently juggling two jobs, my blog, and my personal life, so I definitely need to keep organized. I love spending time with friends and family at least once a week because they’re so important to my happiness and well being.
I’m off on Mondays, so I make those my blog days. I call them Manic Mondays 😉 I shoot, plan content and do all that good stuff on that day. I spend most of the other weeknights lounging on the couch with my husband, completing other little blog tasks like editing. That leaves time for weekend plans with friends. It’s all about creating a schedule and sticking to it.
- What’s your advice on getting the perfect shot for Instagram?
Be confident! I’ve learned that if I’m not in the mood or am having a bad day, my shots don’t come out like I’d hoped. Be silly, dance, have fun. Spontaneity leads to the best shots! I also think creating an inspiration board with shots you like can help. You can take those angles and poses and then interpret them into your own personality to get the perfect shot.
- How do you find ways to constantly push your style comfort zone?
I like to stay up to date with the most current trends and incorporate them into my wardrobe each season. I think it allows me to take a piece or idea I never thought I could pull off (or would want) and figure out a way to make it my own. I can stay true to myself and my style while still being bold and daring.
- What do you love about ShopStyle Collective?
I love the community and learning aspects of it. I’m able to talk to other bloggers, ask questions, and grow from all the interactions. It’s such an open space with people willing to give so much of themselves to better this whole world of blogging.
- What are your social media handles?
Want to be featured next? Leave us a comment here and tell us why!
xo,
carlina
Love Anna and her style! She’s brings such a fun spin to her blog and I’ve been a longtime fan. I think starting out in the blogging world now is so different than it was in 2014. I admire those that took the risk and shared their lives and beautiful stories to make this a career. I’ve been blogging for a few years on and off, and very consistently within the past year. I really hope to have the same success – I aim to be incredible relatable and want to share more about real life experiences. I think it’s important to be authentic and share your struggles, not just your successes. Love the SS community and so happy to be apart of it. <3
Such a great spotlight and inspiration! I love seeing when other bloggers have to balance their time between life, blogging and a full time job, it’s definitely challenging but worth it.
Thank you for the inspiration.
Hey! I really loved this feature and I love how well she talked about collaborating and getting along with other bloggers in your community. Communication is certainly key in life and so, as bloggers, this is crucial to our blogging success. As an upcoming blogger as well as fashion youtuber, creating content and sharing it with the public is something I enjoy doing. Being able to somewhat express my skills and talent through content creating is indeed one of the best feelings ever!
I love that you can find the time to do what you love with working other jobs as well. Finding the balance is hard, but I love it too! Keep it up you cutie!!
Well done! I love reading spotlights like this where the answers are relatable and dont feel generic. Im definitely going to follow her!!!
“I think you can only grow in this community if you’re planting seeds to do so.” This is brilliant advice! It was a treat getting to know Anna better and I think it’s amazing that you have this feature for bloggers! I would be a thrilled to be considered for a future interview and talk about fashion blogging from a thrifty perspective.
Hannah | The Outfit Repeater
Thank you so much for sharing. I sometimes do feel alone struggling with my blog and wonder how others were able to breeze through it and gather as many followers and keep up with all the social media handles whilst being a student / mom / businesswoman etc.
I have reached out to many bloggers and some have been so kind to assist me and support me and guiding me. For this I am forever grateful. I would certainly love to be featured to share my struggles and story of how I cope with the blogging world by night / weekend whilst dealing with daily struggles of a mom and a waldorf school teacher.
I would love to be featured! I would love to expand my audience and share my blog. I’m a model from Kansas City,MO. I’m 23.
Such a lovely article. I’ve certainly realized my best photos are when I’m having fun and messing around!
Chan and I (Kate) would love to be featured! I think we offer something unique because we are a blogging duo called Koko & Chantelle….fashionistas, mamas, wellness champions, and beauty lovers! We are so happy to have discovered Shopstyle Collective. I am telling you….you have streamlined our lives, and made this so much easier and fun for us! The ease of your site is allowing us time to do what we love and be present with our families. Here is our social media information! We would love to be considered for your site!
web: kokoandchantelle.com
instagram: @kokoandchantelle
twitter: koko_chantelle
facebook: /kokoandchantelle
Such a cute interview – love the pics! And totally agree that other bloggers are a great source of support rather than competition!
I’m a big fan of Anna’s beautiful effortless style; it’s so nice to learn more about her journey through this interview!
If the opportunity allows, I’d love to be featured on Shop Style! I would love to share my journey as a blogger and influencer and talk about how I utilize Shop Style in various posts including travel! My blog can be viewed at http://www.happilyeverstyle.com and my Instagram handle is @happilyeverstyle. Thank you!
We are two best friends sharing our journeys here at adoseofblog.com. We are balancing husbands & families & careers on different sides of the globe so we thought it would be cool to share our lives through an outlet beyond just texting each other. We love that Anna started blogging with her bestie before taking the blog on herself. What advice can Anna give on blogging as duo? Any major Do’s & Dont’s? Thanks! N+K
I love her style and she encouraged me so much! I currently work a full time job and I am planning a wedding so blogging is a task right now! I do love it and am working so hard to grow it and make it into not only my hobby and something I’m Passionate about but something I can do from home! I would love to be featured next!
Yes, I would love to. I’ve been in US for 12 years , I’m originally from Russia. I’ve modeled for awhile but I also have a full time job. I love taking pictures and share my fashion ideas, I love to interact with people as well. I’ve had my Instagram going but my blog is going through some technical difficulties and I wasn’t able to post any content on it and I wasn’t able to install ShopStyle Collective on it.
Yes, I would love to. I’ve been in US for 12 years , I’m originally from Russia. I’ve modeled for awhile but I also have a full time job. I love taking pictures and share my fashion ideas, I love to interact with people as well. I’ve had my Instagram going but my blog is going through some technical difficulties and I wasn’t able to post any content on it and I wasn’t able to install ShopStyle Collective on it.
Hi Olya! If you are having issues with using our tools please email help@shopstylecollective.com and they can help get you set up.
This interview with Anna is so uplifting, really everything this blogger community is all about.
I would love to be featured next because I believe my story will be inspirational to a lot of people. It’ll give them hope of knowing that with believe and hard work anything is possible.
http://www.fashionradi.com
Seasonal blogger, by this I mean the bloggers who specialize in a particular colour or texture(material)
amazing article!
Loved reading this – especially the time management advice – I’m always shooting my outfits on the way somewhere which can get really frustrating if we don’t have the right light or enough time to get a good picture. I also like the idea of making an inspiration board for shots i like because even now, after years of blogging, I still start almost every photo shoot without a plan of how i want the pictures to end up.
Great post!
Zahra
Loved reading this, I’m actually really interested in learning more about balance- having a blog and a full-time career is difficult, especially when you want one to be your full-time career! These tips were great and hopefully I can start having “Manic Mondays” where I get everything done on one day!
Thanks!
Cynthia Hoyt
http://www.darlingdownsouth.com
I’m very new to blogging. I love your style and tone of your blog. How or what do you think helped you gain followers?
I so appreciated seeing the answers to those questions! They are questions I’d like to see answered by many bloggers. I am a “baby blogger” as I just launched my site about 1 month ago. There is so much to learn, but I am loving it! I’m beyond eager to continue learning and figuring out how to make my blog the best it can be! I’m just getting started with ShopStyle Collective and I’m really excited about that. I am just figuring out how to link everything up. It seems like a great community! I love the aesthetic of Carlina’s blog!
Love all of these interviews and learning about how other blogger babes hustle and make things happen! I would love to get featured because I always discover new bloggers via ShopStyle blog and I’m sure your readers would be interested in getting to know me and my journey- an international blogger, a digital marketing consultant with an MBA and host of the podcast ‘The Secret Lives of Bloggers’, which is about bloggers and their lives! 🙂
‘The Secret Lives of Bloggers’ – sounds super interesting!
very very nice anna so stylish
I would like to be featured as I have A LOT to share with other bloggers. From my experience as a model in Asia to working in fashion retail in London, travelling around the world in search of “Stylish Destinations” and emerging local designers, interviewing some of the top haute couture creators from Paris, attending endless fashion weeks, running Fashion Studio Magazine, and never giving up on my dreams. 🙂
What else? I’ll let you find out on my website: http://www.fashionstudiomagazine.com.
Thank you!
Eva
xx