1. What is your name + blog?

Lauren Ellis; Influential Gal (launching March 30)

2. What do you blog about?

I am passionate about helping other women develop a life they love, which is why I created Influential Gal. IG is a resource for millennial women to inspire you to live your best, both personally and professionally. What is an Influential Gal, you might ask? She is a go-getter in her personal and professional life and never settles for anything less than success. However, success is defined differently to each individual but in order to achieve it, you have to know what you are looking for. Influential Gal is here to help define what that means for you.

3. How did you get started blogging?

I began blogging in January of 2011 as a way to capture everything that inspired me. When I started blogging, it was much more of a creative outlet for me but over the years, I have seen what great resources blogs can be to inspire and influence each other. Plus, I have been blessed to be a part of a wonderful blogging community that is constantly inspiring and challenging me. I used to have a fashion blog called Classy and Fab Girl, which was a great creative outlet for me for many years. More recently, I started Influential Gal because it better aligns with what I am passionate about. It has been one of those things where it just feels right.

4. What inspires your posts?

I have always craved a resource that would give me tips and tricks of how to be my best-self whether it is about fashion or eating healthy but also wanted something that inspired me in my professional life as well. I truly believe that millennial women want to have it all and you know what, I think we can if we are willing to work for it. I personally love learning from other people’s success stories, which is why I created the Influential Gal podcast that interviews women who are living their dream careers or have an interesting story to share. Overall, Influential Gal is robust platform that gives women the tools to live their dreams in every aspect of life.

5. What advice do you want to give to future bloggers?

Enjoy the process of blogging, even when you are just starting out. Too often we compare our blogging journey to others. This can take the fun out of blogging so I encourage you to stay focused on your journey and not get distracted from others. I also have learned to stay away from thinking “I will be happy when…” instead I have learned to enjoy the process and smell the roses along the way because life is too short to live like this.

 Short Bio:

Lauren Ellis is a 20-something who lives in Kansas City with her husband. She is a PR professional by day and blogger being Influential Gal at night.

Ideal Day: My perfect day would be waking up late and heading to the farmers market to scour fresh produce and blooms. I would then cook the perfect homemade brunch for my husband and I, complete with omelets and green juice. I would then take some time to rejuvenate my creative side my reading a few of my favorite blogs.

 Finds Inspiration: I look for inspiration everywhere, whether it’s a nature walk, a beautiful store front or a perfect homemade meal.

Coffee Order: Coffee with a touch of almond milk and a dash of cinnamon, please!

We were so thrilled to have so many incredible brands participate in our GBS Workshop attendee gift bags! From gorgeous druzy stone bracelets from Kendra Scott to hand lettered prints from #JBLetteringDesign to all the fun beauty products (from brands like Tarte, Boscia, Stemlogy, Redken, and Pureology), plus everything in-between.

Did you like your gift bag? Don’t forget to share your favorite items on social media with #GBSWorkshop!

GIFT BAGS:

Kendra Scott

Quest Nutrition

Wayfair 

Pickleman’s

Tarte

Boscia

Redken

Pureology

Stemology

Pen to Paper Agendas

Accessory Concierge

We are so thrilled that so many wonderful women came out to the Go Blog Social Workshop on Sunday! It was a day full of inspiration and fun as we mingled, snacked, and learned some great tips and tricks for photography, blogging, styling and more! Did you miss it? Don’t worry, here is our recap…

The morning began as 75 lovely ladies came through the doors of the River Market Event Place. The room immediately lit up with energy as the women began chatting, networking, and munching on some Panera for breakfast. Luckily we got to eat in style thanks to Cheeky and their adorable paper products! As the day moved forward, our guests got to hear from 10 different women who all had their own story to tell and tips to share.

Tobe of Because it’s Awesome kicked off the day by talking about how to create an career you love and forming partnerships with brands. While she is known from her love of all things brass and interiors, she also inspired us for a full day ahead of breakout sessions!

Emily and Samantha shared their expertise on styling and finished off the session by having the attendees break off on their own and play around with the new styling tips they had learned.

We loved Cassandra’s tips for photography! She jumped right into the session by interacting with attendees and going through step-by-step to explain the functions of the camera. We learned how to get the best lighting, the best frame, and the absolute best pictures thanks to Cassandra’s expert tips!

Next up was lunch! Thanks to our generous friends at Pickleman’s the guests got to enjoy a delicious meal with several options to choose from including sandwiches, soups, and salads! After lunch the breakout sessions continued with even more amazing speakers.

The wonderful Ivy Savannah spoke about her YouTube experience and shared all of her tips she has learned from past mistakes. She covered everything that goes into creating a professional looking video including what cameras to use, how to make your lighting work, her favorite editing software, how to master branding, and more. This girl knew it all!

Emily f The Object Enthusiast gave an incredible presentation on Instagram. She explained how Instagram is a creative outlet for branding and an opportunity to express your personal style. She gave lots of helpful tips from hashtags to filters and shared her Instagram story with us. We were so lucky to have her!

The talented Ashley Scheuerman gave some incredible tips on how to make your dream blog a reality! Ashley handed out [adorably-made] cheat-cheats on basic coding and a helpful outline on blog designing. She gave all the attendees some great tips on how to get what you want out of your blog design, we can not wait to use some of them!

This wonderful day came to a close as Morgan and Carrie spoke about their journey in launching their blog that turned into a successful creative business, Ampersand Design Studio. We loved hearing their story at GBS Workshop!

What a day to remember! However, do not be too upset if you missed it, head on over to the Go Blog Social website to learn more about our upcoming events so you can get in on the fun!

Want to know what was in these adorable gift bags? Keep your eye out for our “What’s in our gift bag” post, coming soon!

(Lauren Lindmark, Abbye Caldwell, and Megan Browne)

Meet Lauren, Abbye , and Megan, Go Blog Social’s newest High School Interns from the CAPS Program!

Lauren

Name + Age

Hey  y’all, my name is Lauren Lindmark, but all my friends call me Lo! I’m 17 years old, but counting down the days until adulthood (63!!).

What’s your must have item(s) for spring?

My must have item for spring is anything with an open back! I love how it completes an outfit without having to go overboard with accessories.

What are your hobbies?

My hobbies include crafting, blogging (check out my blog Daily Dose of Charm), shopping, and being with my pomeranian, Beau. On any given day you can find me at the craft store buying glitter or chasing my pup around the dog park. I love being outside and trying new things!

Who are your favorite Bloggers?

Recently I’ve been loving Barefoot Blonde, The Sweetest Thing, and Go Blog Social of course!

What are your future plans?

I plan to attend The University of Kansas in the Fall at their journalism school. I’m so excited to meet new people and start this new chapter in my life! I want to continue blogging and learning more about the world of social media.

Abbye

Name + Age

Hey! My name is Abbye Caldwell (yes that’s Abbye with an “e”) and I’m 18 years old.

What’s your must have item(s) for spring?

My must have item for spring is nude flats and a bright lip color. A bright lip always adds a burst of color to a natural look; nude flats go with almost any spring outfit whether it be a sundress or cuffed jeans.

What are your hobbies?

My hobbies include crafting, baking, nannying, and bargain hunting for the best deals. I am the type of person who goes straight for the sale rack at Department stores. I will never pay full price for a designer item. Crafting and baking is what I’m known for in my friend group. I either paint on my fingers or flour on my pants!

Who are your favorite Bloggers?

I haven’t always been into blogging but lately I have been obsessed with Jana Style Blog, Eat it Kansas City, and Charmingly Styled.

What are your future plans?

I will be going to the University of Kansas in the Fall. I plan on majoring in Business Management and minoring at the Journalism School. While at school I want to join clubs and be actively involved within the Lawrence community. I hope to stay involved with Go Blog Social and use the connections I’ve made to improve my understanding of the career path I have chosen.

Megan

Name + Age

Hey  y’all! I’m Megan and I’m 17.

What’s your must have item(s) for spring?

My must have spring item is anything with bright pops of color. I love how it adds fun details to a bland outfit.

What are your hobbies?

My hobbies include shopping, watching Netflix, and spending time with my family and friends. When I’m not out with friends I enjoy staying in with my dogs and watching a new series on Netflix.

Who are your favorite Bloggers?

I love Lauren Conrad, Sarah Scoop, and of course, Go Blog Social!

What are your future plans?

I’m planning on attending the University of Kansas next year and majoring in Business Leadership Marketing with a minor in Strategic Communications. I’m so excited for all of the new opportunities and adventures I have yet to experience!

We look forward to taking on this new challenge with the Go Blog Social Team!