As some of you know, I have moved A LOT throughout my life. I know how it can be when you move to a new city, and I always loved when people went out of their way to make me feel welcome and get to know me.
When I read on A Piece of Toast that Molly Miller, co-founder of the site, was moving to Houston a little over a year ago, I immediately reached out to introduce myself. Once she got settled in Houston, we met up for breakfast, and she was SO sweet. We also found out that I used to work with one of her best friends (Cristina Lynch, founder of Mi Golondrina) in NYC. Small world!
I’ve bumped into Molly out and about at various events a few times, and I continue to follow APOT. I knew I HAD to feature her on FPTP one day. APOT is SUCH a well done blog, and with there being SO many blogs out there these days, it can be hard to stand out in the crowd. However, APOT certainly stands out and continues to grow. They’ve partnered with Shopbop, Neiman Marcus, and Kate Spade, to name a few, and have been featured in Elle, Lucky, In Style, and more. Keep reading for my interview with Molly. She talks tips on blogging, her favorite spots in Houston, where she loves to travel, and more. Enjoy!
When and why did you start A Piece of Toast?
We started the blog in November of 2010 – right when Pinterest was in its infancy and before Instagram was invented! The idea came from a friend of ours who insisted we blog as a way to catalog our taste and the things we were loving at any given time. Though we were serious and committed to posting, the blog was definitely a hobby – we didn’t even know there was money to be made and the idea of one of us leaving our day jobs for it was laughable back then.
How fun that you get to work with your sister, Sally! Do each of you focus on different things or you share all the tasks/jobs?
Working with Sally is amazing – there is no one I trust more and being sisters means we have unconditional love and respect for one another in the business. We definitely split tasks depending on our talents and though I carry more of the weight (it is my full time job, after all) I could not do it without my partner in crime.
How do you think blogging has changed since you started?
Such a loaded question! Let’s just say that when we started, lifestyle blogs and bloggers ruled the scene and the mantra was “content is king.” Once fashion blogs and bloggers became more prominent and affiliate networks took off, it was like there was a PSA that “bloggers make money for taking gratuitous for photos!” or something to that effect. I’m joking of course, but I do think that the industry really shifted a few years back and for better or worse hasn’t shifted back to what it started out with (storytelling, skill development in writing and photography, relationship building, etc.). What hasn’t changed is that there are incredible people that I have made friendships with that I continue to interface with on a daily basis, and I have the pleasure of meeting new people all the time – the blogging industry has connected me to like-minded brands, companies, and individuals I may have never gotten to know otherwise.
There are TONS of blogs out there; as we all know, it’s a very saturated industry – what’s your advice to someone just starting out in the blogging world to stand out and really differentiate themselves?
BE YOU. Know that starting a blog is a big commitment, that growth does not happen overnight, and that if your intention is to “quit your day job” you should probably rethink things. Entering the industry for the sole purpose of making money (or making money easily or quickly) is not a very…authentic reason for doing so. However, if you have passion and/or a point of view you want to share, then I firmly believe that the internet will be lucky to have you!
You’ve partnered with some really big brands. What has your favorite partnership been, to date?
Impossible to choose…truly. Sally and I are so freaking grateful for all the projects and opportunities we’ve been able to have. One thing I love is that there are certain brands we have been working with from the very beginning – when we were small and they were small – and we still work together and continue to partner on exciting projects. Sometimes (a lot of the time) it’s not about how big the brand is, but the underlying relationship there…what happens in the developmental phases of a project is sometimes the part I love the most because I get to know the brands and talented people behind them!
If you weren’t blogging, what would you be doing?
If I wasn’t blogging AT ALL anymore, I would probably be back doing marketing and may have gone back to school to get a Graphic Design degree.
What’s your favorite place you’ve ever traveled and why?
Santa Barbara. I’m a nerd and love traveling within the US – so far, Santa Barbara is one of the prettiest places I’ve been. But I have a lot more to see.
How would you describe your personal style?
Classic with an edge and comfortable.
You moved to Houston not too too long ago – how are you liking it here and what’s your favorite place to eat? To shop? To drink?
I just celebrated my first year in Houston and I love it! Favorite place to eat…so many! Tiny’s No. 5 for lunch (turkey burger, sweet potato fries, chocolate chip cookies). Pizarro’s for Pizza. El Tiempo for Tex-Mex. Underbelly for when I want to get so full I can’t breathe. RDG for something fancy. To shop…Biscuit, Kuhl-Linscomb, Ann Mashburn, Brooke Feather, Kick Pleat, St. Bernard Sport. To drink….Anvil, La Grange, Camerata, Alabama Ice House.
If someone were to play you in a movie, who would it be and why?
Well. People say I resemble Jessica Chastain – which is a HUGE compliment but I think it’s just because of the hair color. I think my personality might be most similar to Jennifer Lawrence (but she’s way more of a badass) or Shailene Woodley (aside from the fact that she isn’t into material possessions and is like, the nicest person ever).
Thanks, Molly!
Be sure to follow Molly and A Piece of Toast on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.
All photos c/o A Piece of Toast