So let’s start at the very beginning – Who Are You?
I am Dani Sauter, the content creator and blogger of Blonde in the District. BITD is a curated collection of my personal life interests, style picks, beauty faves, and travel diaries, all with an emphasis on confidence and supporting the local community. I live in Arlington, VA with my husband and cat, and my husband owns a small business in Old Town Alexandria. I work full time for a IT contractor supporting the government and blog as my side hustle, but I hope to transition to blogging full time in the future.

DCF: Why do you love what you do? What makes you funemployment?
DS: I love blogging for a few reasons. The biggest reason is the creative outlet it gives me. I started my blog after leaving a depressing job that tied my hands of creativity. I needed something to inspire me, so I started BITD and it is the best decision I have ever made. I’m a big daydreamer, and thanks to my blog, it has given me the confidence to go after my personal goals and aspirations.

DCF: Who was your first mentor and how did you find them?
DS:  Angelica Talan of Angelica in the City and Clarendon Moms. I still remember meeting her for the first time at a blogger event when I was a newbie blogger and we clicked. She was also one of the only people who talked to me at that event, and that event is what led me to create Bubbles & Bloggers as I felt like such an outsider there. Angelica is always giving me amazing advice, listening to my vision and letting me bounce ideas off her, and always says it like it is. She also genuinely wants to see me succeed, which can be rare for bloggers. I also look up to Alison Gary from Wardrobe Oxygen, who is another veteran blogger who is always sharing some of the best advice.

DCF: What’s your happy place?
DS: My happy place is people watching with my husband and a glass of wine at the Cafe de Flore in Paris.

DCF:  Where do you get your energy?
DS: In a large cup of iced coffee….or champagne- depending on the time of day, while listening to my curated Kanye West playlist.

DCF:  What does balance mean to you and how do find it?
DS: Balance to me means not taking life so seriously. Its stopping to smell the roses every now and then and appreciating life. We sometimes get so consumed with work we forget the good things in life. I try to find my balance while taking walks, to free my mind and letting the surroundings inspire me.

DCF:  What sacrifices did you have to make to get here?
DS: Time. The time it takes to create content, to take pictures, brainstorm on content and collaboration, plan blogger events- it all takes A LOT of time. But I view it as time well spent building my brand and its worth it.

DCF:  What struggles have you faced as a women in your industry?
DS: Cattiness and being looked down upon by other women. Women so often view each other as competitors instead of as support systems, and I don’t agree with that at all.

DCF:  What is the early advice you didn’t listen to that you wish you had?
DS: About a year ago, Alison of Wardrobe Oxygen gave me some of the best blogging advice I’d heard- “Never compare yourself to any other blogger.” This is SO true, especially with blogging. Its taken me some time to realize that everyone has their own vibe and stride as a blogger- everyone is in a different place and has different goals, and that is ok! What works for one blogger may not work for you, and vice versa. It’s important to not set yourself in a standard. Know your voice, stick by it, and be proud of it.

DCF:  What was your greatest failure and what did you learn from it?
DS: Doing free promotions for a brand. When I first started blogging, I would get SO excited whenever a brand reached out to me. Unfortunately, it took me some time before I realized that I was being taken advantage of and promoting someone elses product for little to nothing in return. I learned to never do work for free, and that my time is very valuable.

DCF: What was your proudest moment to date?
DS:  Being invited to NYFW this year. Attending NYFW has been a goal of mine ever since I was a young girl, so receiving invitations was a huge deal for me.

DCF:  Currently Conquering? 
DS: I recently relaunched my website so that was a big thing to conquer! My redesign is a breath of fresh air for me and I am loving the new vibe! I also have a number of collaborations with local DC brands and businesses coming up, in addition to planning some amazing events. I am also making strides to plan out upcoming Bubbles & Bloggers events to continue to make the blogging community more inclusive.

Let’s Get Social (Media!!)

Website: www.blondeinthedistrict.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blondeinthedistrict/

Instagram: @blonde_inthedistrict

Twitter: @blonde_district