A LIFESTYLE BLOG BY SYDNEY

Hi there, I'm Sydney, one of the co-owners of CoCapsules and this is my new blog. I've always admired true bloggers and aspired to write and share about my style. I actually started a blog just after college, but wasn't determined or patient enough to build it up and let it fall to the wayside as I began my career in the fashion industry. However, now that I have this platform and a bit more self-confidence, I am ready to jump back in and give this whole lifestyle blog thing a go!

As my introductory post, I'd like to share some things about me and how I got to where I am. And I'd also like to answer some questions you all asked over on my Instagram last week, so down below you can find a fun Q&A! But first off, I'd just like to thank you for reading and for being a part of the CoCapsules community. I am honored to be surrounded by supportive friends, family, colleagues, and even strangers who trust my vision and want to see this business grow; it is an honor to share my message with you and I am looking forward to getting to know each of you better through this platform as well.

Here's a brief history of my experience in the industry (I may expand on this in a future blog post.. would that interest anyone?): I earned my Bachelor's degree in Fashion Marketing and Management from the Art Institute of CA-San Diego. Throughout my few years in college, I worked part-time for a locally owned women's boutique chain and this was some of my most valuable work experience. I learned so much about how small businesses work, how each person plays an important role and no one is limited to one job title. After graduation and one last summer in sunny San Diego, I moved back to my home state of Washington.

I worked a couple short-term jobs including a temp position for a larger Seattle company that was expanding and then for a tiny Seattle company that was failing until I landed what I felt was my calling, or at least somewhere I knew I could use my skills and passion, and grow. A little women's clothing and accessories boutique in a quaint downtown neighborhood. I saw so much potential and jumped right in; I began merchandising, assisting with buying, and soon I was the store manager. It was exciting and challenging and I loved it so much. Although, one thing led to another and it was time for me to step out on my own and alas, CoCapsules was born!

So here I am, running a small business out of my home while raising my son and juggling married life. It's fun, it's crazy, and it's my life. And I'm excited to share some of it with you. This blog is going to focus mainly on my style as a WAHM (work at home mom), but I hope to also feature my home decor style, travel bits, and just some random things that I feel called to share. I hope you enjoy it!

And as promised, here are some things you guys wanted to know...

Favorite places to shop?

Other than CoCapsules... ha! I'm going to assume this is in regards to clothing. I am a habitual shopper and pretty much get obsessed with specific brands matching my aesthetic. I love Madewell and have always been a big fan of Anthropologie. There's a little boutique here in Bothell called Marlowe that I really enjoy shopping at, too. When it comes to brick and mortar shopping, the environment has to be pretty and I have to truly enjoy the aesthetic if I'm going to spend my time shopping.

Favorite brand of shoes, specifically booties?

Shoes are tough for me and always have been. I've never been a "shoe" person which can be hard because sometimes I loooove an outfit, but don't have the right shoe to pair it with and can't wear it out of the house. Boots are a whole other issue because I hate wearing socks... anyone else? With that said, I typically shop for shoes at Nordstrom because I know I can get decent customer service and they have a multitude of brands, styles, and price points. If I had to choose, and while I don't own any booties from these brands, these are some that I've always had my eye on: Sole Society, Sam Edelman (I have owned multiple shoes by this brand and am never disappointed), Lucky Brand, and Steve Madden.

When it comes to shoes, I prefer to invest and get the best quality I can because I know if I'm buying a shoe, it's one I love and plan to wear until they're unwearable.

When did you feel like you knew your true personal style?

Never. No, seriously. It's constantly changing, but I do feel like in the last six months, I've really committed and become comfortable with my classic, a little boho, very casual style. When I was working full-time in retail, I never felt like I needed to commit to a personal style because I could just play dress-up with the clothes at work, but as I began staying home, I realized I didn't really have practical attire for that lifestyle and it really challenged me to find clothes that I truly loved and could be comfortable in while still feeling put together on a daily basis.

I guess I felt like I understood my personal style better when I better understood my lifestyle. And that's something I am super passionate about helping other people find too.

What does your house look like/home decor style?

A hot mess, but the floors are clean now that I have one of those robot vacuum/mop things!! Haha! My home decor is something I still struggle with, but am slowly (and I mean sloooooowly) figuring out. I hope to use this platform to encourage myself and be inspired to better decorate my home. My home decor style is very similar to my personal style and I think that all goes back to really understanding my lifestyle. I'm casual, laid back, spend a lot of time at home, but like to play with textures and muted color palettes. Stand by for more!

Best way to clean out my closet?

With my help! I'm actually really good at cleaning out closets these days and we've just started offering it to our My CoCapsule subscribers. If you're not a subscriber, we have an easy resource to help guide you through a closet clean out. And if you'd like my help, sign up for the My CoCapsule lifestyling subscription! I'd love to help you, I can even do it virtually if you're not local.

Tips on closet organization, keeping it from looking cluttered?

This will definitely be a future blog topic and I'm excited to really style my closet and share my tips with you soon! In the meantime, I definitely recommend starting with a thorough closet clean out and then think of your closet as essentially another room in your house. Meaning, decorate it! Use pretty (and functional) hangers, a stylish mirror, hang art or photographs on the walls. For me, it's not just about organization, it's about styling or merchandising your space so that getting dressed is an enjoyable part of your day.

Once again, thank you for being here and supporting my new blogging venture. This is going to be fun! If there are topics you want me to cover, please share. I would love to know what you'd like me to talk about in addition to my one million ideas!

Cheers,

Sydney

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