Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Braddock.
Amy, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’ve been married to my husband, Caleb since June 2005 and we have four children; two boys and two girls. After becoming a mom for the first time back in 2009, I stopped working at my husband’s office to fulfill my dream and become a stay-at-home-mom. It was easy to stay in lounge clothes all day, but I still loved having reasons to put on a pair of skinny jeans or a dress, and wear high heels. I love fashion, especially classic looks, and enjoy getting dressed nice.
It was common for me to be wearing high heels to go grocery shopping or just to take my kids to pre-school. Not always, but it was nice to feel pretty and put together for a moment. Even if it meant I would have spit-up from the baby on me in no time. Or one of my children would rub their ketchup covered mouth against me as they came over for a hug. And even if I was only out of the house for an hour that day. It felt good. I felt more productive with my days when I spent a little bit of time to make myself look and feel put together.
Friends and strangers would often comment on my outfits and regularly ask me where my dress or shoes or top was from. My husband and friends encouraged me to start a fashion blog for over a year, as I had been following several for years. One friend even nicknamed me “Fancy” and would text me asking for fashion advice. Living in a small town that is anything but fashion-forward, and that nickname, is how I created my blog name, Small Town Fancy.
I worked with a friend who does web developing to create my blog and to take my basic knowledge of blogging a little deeper. I set up my social media accounts and started spreading the word about what I was venturing into. From there, I worked on creating content and engaging with social media more. It wasn’t long after that when I was offered my first sponsored post. I had to figure out and teach myself how to do a few things to meet the requirements for the post, but I loved the feeling of success when I accomplished what I set out to do.
From day one, I was anxiously waiting to become part of the Reward Style program as an influencer. When the day finally came with an email saying I had been accepted into the program, I felt like I advanced to the next level of fashion blogging. Being about to utilize ‘liketonow.it’ opened up a whole new opportunity for me to share my outfit details. Writing/blogging and fashion are both two things I enjoy and am able to do while still being a stay-at-home-mom to my four little ones. I’m excited to see what the future has to hold through Small Town Fancy.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I knew very little about the fashion blogging world when I launched my blog back in November 2016. It’s an area that has become saturated and is challenging to succeed in. My husband works full-time and is my ‘photographer’ so it is difficult to find time for photoshoots between his work schedule and the schedule that comes with four kids. For me, my role as a wife and mom come first, so my time to dedicate to the blog and social media has its limits. I’ve had to learn as I go and continue to learn new things all the time. I get excited when I figure out how to do something or am presented with a new opportunity through my blog. I’ve experienced some really fun projects and there is so much more I want to learn and do for Small Town Fancy.
Please tell us about Small Town Fancy.
Small Town Fancy is a fashion/lifestyle blog. I primarily share outfit ideas and beauty products for the everyday woman. I share items that are inexpensive, items that are splurges, and everything in between. I hope to inspire women, especially mother’s, to still take time for themselves to feel pretty. It is possible to be, cute and comfortable, while chasing around little ones. You can trade in the lounge clothes for a cute top, flattering jeans, and flats. Or put on a dress when going out on a date night with your husband/boyfriend. When you look good, you feel good! We all know that mom life is the best life, but it isn’t always easy or glamorous. It’s important to not lose ourselves in the days, months, and years we spent taking care of others.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
If I had to start all over, I would have learned more about what it takes, behind the scenes, to make a blog and social media account stand out in a sea of so many others.
Contact Info:
- Website: smalltownfancy.com
- Email: amy@smalltownfancy.com
- Instagram: @smalltownfancy
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/SmallTownFancy
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