I’ve done a ton of those drop a question in this box on Instagram stories and low and behold I never actually do anything with them. Y’all Instastories are a full-time job for me and once I’ve gone through them, I’m pretty much done for the day. But I’ve collected a ton of questions over the last few months, a lot of which have been asked multiple times whether via comments or DMs. So I thought I’d compile a list and answer them all in this post! It also helpful that you all can refer back to this post to find what you’re looking for easily. I am answering the 30 most asked questions about my personal life, blogging, money, shopping, my apartment and beauty/skincare/haircare. So if you wanna know a bit more about me, read on and drop any additional questions you have below in the comments and I’ll be sure to answer! There’s also a YouTube Video where you can learn more about me as well.

APARTMENT QUESTIONS

How did you find your NYC Apartment? I found my apartment by walking around my neighborhood. I have a knack for spotting empty apartments. My best advice for anyone looking for an apartment is to walk around the neighborhood you want to live in and look for those little realty numbers posted everywhere. 

How much is your rent? Currently my rent is $1480 per month for a 2 Bedroom 1 Bathroom apartment. When I first moved in over 5 years ago my rent was $1300 a month. I live in a rent stabilized building so I don’t expect my rent to ever be more than $2000. This is why I will never leave or get rid of my apartment. This apartment will stay in my family forever.

Are your plants real and what kind of plants are they? Yes, my plants are all real. The plant you’re probably asking about is over 7 ft tall and is a White Bird of Paradise Plant from home depot. When I bought it 2 years ago it was just 3 ft tall. If you want details on how to take care of a bird of paradise plant check out this Instagram post and watch this YouTube video.

Where did you get your book shelf, couch, dresser, closet etc? For links to everything in my living/dining space watch this video and this blog post. For details on my closet design read this blog post and watch this video. For my bedroom details watch this video. For details on my bathroom watch this video and details on my Foyer watch this video and read this blog post.

Do you play the guitar? I get asked this a lot because there is a guitar in my living room on display in my Bay Window Nook. Yes, I do play the guitar but only ever learned 2 songs that I taught myself watching YouTube videos. I started getting carpal tunnel from playing and eventually stopped. I also dated a guy for a while who was a musician and he’d play songs for me. 

BLOGGING QUESTIONS

What apps are you using for Instagram? I use a ton of different apps for Instagram and Instastories. The main one I use regularly is InShot. It pretty much does it all. If you want to know what apps I use to edit my photos, create my fashion videos, the apps I use to create cool instastories then check out my Instastories Pro eBook on my Etsy shop for the Top 10 Apps I use and how to use them. 

What kind of camera & equipment do you use for blogging and YouTube? Most of my photos are taken with my iPhone 8+. Seriously you can make any photo look good with a great edit. For my YouTube videos I use a Canon Mark II G7x. If you’d like to know more tools I use for blogging check out my So You Wanna Be A Blogger eBook on my Etsy Store. 

How do you edit your photos? I edit my photos using Lightroom App on my iPhone.

Do you offer mentorship? I don’t offer mentorship. I am at a point in my career where I’m grinding hard and I simply don’t have the time to devote to mentoring. I’m hoping to change that soon once I have a bigger team and am able to delegate more work. But all of the knowledge I can teach I’ve already written about in the Blogging Category on this website or in my 13+ Pitch Templates and eBooks on my Etsy Store. Please start there if you have more questions about blogging & being an influencer. I’m 100% sure I’ve answered every question you could have on the subject over the last 10 years.  I’m also launching a teachable school this month so stay tuned!!!!!!

How often should I be posting on my Blog, Instagram & YouTube to grow quicker? I recently wrote a blog post that spoke on How I gained 7 thousand followers in a month (organically before the follow Black influencers spree). Definitely check that blog post out for details on how to grow your Instagram following and engagement. Choose quality over quantity. Post when you have something informative to post that will always be relevant. For the bare minimum I’d say once a week on a blog or YouTube Channel if you are looking to  grow and monetize.

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MONEY QUESTIONS

You spend a lot of money on clothes/shoes etc, why are you still renting? Please see apartment rent question above lol. My rent is hella cheap. I’m never leaving this place even after I buy a home I will still keep my NYC apartment. Also my finances and how I spend MY MONEY emphasis on MY, shouldn’t be so concerning to you. My bills are paid, my savings is stocked, I am debt free and I will buy whatever the hell I want. And not that I have to justify anything but I am single without any children. I make a significant amount of money and can spend it as I please. Don’t get mad, go get your own bag.

How much do you make a year as a full-time blogger? 2019 my was first year as a full-time blogger and I made a little over $150K. I’ve already made that much in 2020 in half the time.

How much do you make on average per brand campaign? This is a hard one to answer because they range widely in terms of what they want. If you are having difficulty deciding what to charge for your campaigns make sure to check out my newest ebook: What Should I Be Charging for all the tea and so you’re not leaving money on the table. On average I make between $5000 – $10,000 a full campaign that includes Blog posts + Instagram/Social Posts.

How do you go about saving money? Do you have a system for savings? I pretty much save everything. I only spend about 10% of what I actually make the rest goes into savings accounts (House Fund, Retirement, Taxes & Rainy Day). I also invest a bit of it into stocks as well. 

What books do you recommend for being more savvy with money? I recommend watching this YouTube Video where Earl Knightingale’s spills all the tea on the human psyche when it comes to succeeding  I also love Jen Sincero’s You Are A Badass At Making Money Master the Mindset of Wealth and You Are a Badass How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life. 

SHOPPING QUESTIONS

Where are you favorite places online to shop for pre-loved designer items? A few places I get a lot of my pre-loved designer items include TheRealReal (mainly for designer shoes & clothes), Vestiaire Collective (designer bags and shoes), Fashionphile & Rebag (designer bags) and What Goes Around Comes Around (vintage Chanel). 

How do you find all of the sales, sample sales, discount codes etc? I sign up for email newsletters of all the brands I love and online stores I shop at so I’m always notified of the sales. I also use websites like Lyst and Shoptagr to find items I love online and I get email alerts when those items go on sale or there’s a new discount or coupon code for that item.

What do you think your next designer bag will be? I’m pretty sure it’s going to be a Dior Matte Orange Saddle Bag. I’ve also been looking at the Bottega Leather Stitch Pouch Bag in Pink to go with my Pink Bottega Mules. But we will see yall. I’m not much of a bag person and that’s an expensive habit to take up.

What’s your process for choosing what you buy and what you don’t? I’m a lot more conscious about what I buy. I don’t like creating a lot of waste or buying things I’m never going to wear so I automatically think about how something will fit into my wardrobe and how often I’d wear it. If I don’t already own a few things I can pair it with, it’s a no go. But generally if it makes my heart flutter I buy it lol. I don’t deprive myself of anything especially when it comes to designer shoes. There are shoes I didn’t buy that haunt me till this day!

How do I find the stuff you wear and are you planning on creating your own fashion brand that we can shop? I post all the outfits I wear on Instagram and Instastories here on my LikeToKnow.it account. It’s an app you can download and follow me just like you would on Instagram and every time I post you will get links to shop everything I’m wearing. I plan on having a physical products soon in the fashion category.

BEAUTY & HAIR QUESTIONS

What products are you using to clear your skin & hyperpigmentation? If you have skincare question definitely check out this blog post and this video for all the details. For my hyperpigmentation I use Hyper Clear Vitamin C Serum and Pixi Beauty Vitamin C Tonic. For the texture of my skin and to help with acne I use Obagi Retinol .5% and Elemis Peptide 4 Nighttime Recovery Cream. My favorite cleansers are Elemis Gentle Foaming Face Wash and Rael Beauty Daily Detox Oil to Foam Gentle Cleanser. For pimples I use Rael Microneedle Technology Acne Healing Patches and Kiehl’s Blue Herbal Spot Treatment with Salicylic Acid.

What are 3 skincare products you can’t live without? Chanel Cotton Wipes, Elemis Peptide 4 Nightime Recovery Cream and Supergoop Daily Moisturizer SPF 40. I wear SPF everyday even if I’m in the house. Elemis also just came out with a few new super food products you can check out here. Use my code: Monroe20 for 20% Off at Elemis.

What is that bright pink lipstick you’re always wearing? It’s Laura Mercier Bring It and it’s amazing. 

What products do you use for your twist outs? Watch this video for details on how I do my twist outs but for the most part I use Miss Jessies Leave in Condish to lock in moisture and then Camille Rose Naturals Almond Jai Twisting Butter or Aloe Whipped Butter Gel for my two strand twists. I also use a variety of Shea Moisture twisting butters as well. 

What do you use from your body acne? I know you mentioned issues with acne on your back and you suggested a product but I missed it. I found that using Herbivore Bamboo Charcoal Bar Soap works wonders on any type of body acne. It has definitely helped me in a very short time to reduce the acne on my upper back and shoulders. 

PERSONAL QUESTIONS

How do you deal with the criticism that comes with being an influencer? Whew honey chile. Fortunately, I’ve been doing this for over 10 years and have a pretty thick skin. It wasn’t until I started doing YouTube that I got a lot of criticism for my skin, hair, teeth, body, speech, personality, spending habits and everything in between. It took me a good year to stop caring what people had to say. I’m not letting anyone stop me from living my dream and securing the bag. I’m never going to be perfect but I love the person I am, so I don’t give those negative comments any time to flourish. I immediately block people and move on. Trust me most of those people wish they had the courage I had to do what I’m doing.

Why are you planning on moving to Miami? There’s something about Miami that I love. The sun down there does wonders for my mood and my skin. I love the food and all of the culture and the cost of living is actually a little lower than New York City. I am not actually moving Full-Time to Miami. I am buying an investment condo there that I will live in half the year. New York will always be my primary residence.

Are you Caribbean (you like a lot of Soca Music) & Are you African (you like a lot of Afrobeats music)? I am just Black. I just happen to love a lot of Soca and Afrobeats Music. Check out my favorites playlist here. 

Will you ever go back to practicing Physical Therapy? If you didn’t know I have a Doctorate Degree in Physical Therapy. I practiced for 9 years before going Full-Time Blogging. Watch this video for more details on that. I don’t see myself going back to working as a PT for the foreseeable future. But my degree and license to practice in the state of New York (and soon in Florida) lasts forever. So if I should need a fall back job, it’s already secured. 

Are you dating anyone and why don’t you ever speak about your relationships? People already judge me enough, I’d never bring someone else into that kind of scrutiny if they don’t need to be. I will probably never speak or show any relationships I’m in until I’m married and even then he won’t be a focal point in my content. Everything isn’t for the internet. I give enough of myself for people who follow me to be satisfied. My last relationship was a 2 year one and it didn’t end well so I’ve been happily single and married to my career.