Spotlight: Biana Perez

Today I’m super excited to feature my blogger friend, Biana of Bloved Boston!  Biana was one of the first blogger friends I made and I’m so appreciative of Biana for reading my blog everyday and always being the first to leave me an uplifting and supportive comment.  What I admire most about Biana is her ability to successfully multi-task (she has a full-time job, a wedding planning business and she blogs).  She truly is an inspiration and I only wish I was half as organized as she is!  But beyond all that, Biana is warm, funny and genuine plus she has a terrific sense of style so read on for the full interview…

1. What was the inspiration behind your blog and how did you come up with the name?

I started reading blogs when I was planning my wedding which was about two years before I actually wrote my first post. I was itching to do something creative since I didn’t feel fulfilled in that way in my job at the time, so it was the perfect outlet. My husband actually nudged me into writing my first post by designing my blog – helping me with the logo and all but actually writing it for me!!

A lot of people think it’s Beloved Boston…but it’s actually just B separated from the Loved! My oldest niece couldn’t say my name, Biana, when she was younger so she started calling me “B.” Back at school the nickname B-Love came about during a girl’s night out and B~Loved Boston was born back when twitter first came out (2006/7) and I created the handle and used it for all my social media! So when it came to picking a blog name it couldn’t have been easier to just stick with B~Loved Boston and I didn’t have to switch anything. But I do think that BeLoved would be really fitting for a wedding business!

 2. How do you balance a full time job, your wedding planning business and blogging?

Lots and lots of lists! In all seriousness,  95% of the time I don’t feel like I balance it all really well, BUT there is that 5% that I feel I really did manage to get it all done. The good news is that I’m not doing all three every single day – I do work full time so my blog and business come second to that. I cut back on my blogging schedule sticking to Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays and that’s freed up a bit more time to focus on the wedding planning business. I also make a to do list before I leave work for things that I’d like to get done at home that night – checking something as small as cleaning the kitchen after dinner makes me feel accomplished!

 3. Take us through a typical day…

I don’t want to sound cliche and say that every day is different, but it sort of is at work. In terms of my routine – I’ll pick a day that I have a blog post up & no events to go to! I schedule my posts to go live at 5:00 AM so I’m awake at 6:00 and on the couch reading all my daily favorites. Between 6-7 I’m usually responding to comments and emails and commenting on other blogs. I get to work around 8:30 and log in for the day. I usually have a list written out from the day before of things that I need to get done. At work I can be working on an upcoming event, marketing collateral or presentation and usually around lunch time I’ll head to the gym or run an errand downtown. I’m normally home around 6:00 and start working on dinner. Sometimes my husband is home before me and he’ll have it started, but usually we cook together. This is probably the only time we have to really connect and talk – so we chat about our days, what we have to do that night & so on. After that we’re usually both on the couch working – me working on wedding proposals if we have to get any out, responding to emails, working on a blog post or anything really – but the computer is usually on my lap from 7:30-9:30. I give myself a half hour to just decompress with whatever is on TV. I’m pretty diligent about being in bed by 10 and I usually read for about a half hour, then sleep and do it all over again!

 4. Describe your personal style?

I’d like to say my style is classic with a hint of sass! I like to wear heels & fun accessories to dress an outfit up and I’ve never met a colorful dress I didn’t like, but when it comes to getting dressed for work, I opt for clean lines, pencil skirts and dresses and ankle length pants with crisp blouses.

 5. What is your favorite piece in your closet?

I’ve recently purchased a lot of pieces that I consider to be staples – black OTK boots & a classic trench coat being just two of the ones that I have gotten incredible wear out of! If I had to pick my favorite piece it would actually be an accessory and it’s my Louis Vuitton Speedy bag. It’s the first LV that I purchased for myself during an internship my junior year of college. I was so excited walking out of that store with that bag in hand and can distinctly remember the feeling knowing that I purchased it on my own! It doesn’t get as much love these days, but on occasion I’ll take it out of it’s dust bag and use it! It’s the bag I know I’ll hand down one day!

 6. What are three beauty products you can’t live without?

Concealer, IT Cosmetics CC cream & lipstick!

 7. Describe an ideal summer weekend…

My ideal summer weekend includes lots of time outside, walking through the city and passing through my favorite neighborhoods. Having a leisurely brunch somewhere outside & definitely a glass of prosescco! At night we’d probably be with friends at one of the roof top bars & enjoying the views! Also if it’s a summer weekend, I’m more than likely eating a lobster roll & trying to make my way to a pool!

 8. What has been your favorite trip?  Where would you like to visit next?

We just got back from an epic road trip along the Pacific Coast Highway and it definitely ranks as one of my most favorite trips ever! We stopped in so many great little towns as well as big cities and saw so much of the California coast. We have our sights set on Iceland – it’s not too far from Boston (about a 5 hour flight) and all the photos I’ve seen are just stunning!

 9. What advice to you have for aspiring bloggers?

Commit to the blog. It’s not something that will write itself, take pictures for itself or build on it’s own. It takes time to have organic and real growth. It takes time to build relationships and make contacts. If you’re going into it for the money, then more power to you, but you’ll more than likely get burnt out. I’ve been blogging for the last 3 years and it’s still exciting for me. I don’t remember what it was like before blogging and that shows me that I still love doing it! I don’t want to say treat it like a job, but it definitely needs to feel the love!

 10.What is the most rewarding aspect about being a fashion and lifestyle blogger?

Hands down the women that I have met through blogging has been the most rewarding aspect! I’m constantly in awe of how many ladies are in the blogging community. I’ve traveled to a few different cities and been able to have lunch or dinner with these friends and it’s like we’ve known one another for our entire lives. On the flip side, you are able to connect with people all over the world on things that interest you – whether it be books, fashion or babies – there is something for everyone and I love how supportive the blogging community is!