Speed Dial with Julia Dzafic

Julia Dzafic runs the wildly popular blog Lemon Stripes, which gives readers a look into her colorful life in Connecticut with her husband and new puppy. With a penchant for the preppy and, of course, stripes, Julia’s feed is peppered with pretty shots you’ll want to regram. We’re so honored that she took time out of her crazy busy schedule to talk blogging and Beyonce with Nat.

Nat: What made you start blogging?

Julia: My friends encouraged me to start the blog.

Nat: What was it about you that made them think you should have a blog?

Julia: I was just bored and wanted a project. I didn’t think I’d be great at it and I certainly never expected a big following at all!

Nat: What was your very first post? Looking back, how do you feel about it now?

Julia: It was called “How to Cook Greens”. I love it when I look back at it now and wish I had time to create more food/health content.

Nat: When did you notice the shift from friends and family reading the blog to starting a following?

Julia: It’s so weird because I can’t remember the actual shift but all of a sudden I realized that this could be something real.

Nat: What was the game changer for you?

Julia: At the beginning, I wrote for the Glitter Guide for a few months. I think that put my name out there in just the way I needed at the time.

Nat: At what point did you feel like you’d made it as a blogger?

Julia: When I started getting too many incoming requests to even process.

Nat: What’s your advice to beginning bloggers?

Julia: Be yourself and lift up other bloggers around you instead of trying to tear them down.

Nat: What’s the best piece of blogging advice you’ve received?

Julia: Brush off the haters.

Nat: What’s the best part of blogging?

Julia: The amazing people that I’ve met and the good friends I’ve made along the way.

Nat: What’s the most challenging part of blogging?

Julia: Finding the time.

Nat: Favorite thing to blog about?

Julia: Home decor.

Nat: Favorite post ever?

Julia: Oh that’s a tough one! Probably On Blogging or The Nose Diaries.

Nat: Most popular post?

Julia: How to Pack the Perfect Carry On. I wrote this 3 years ago and it’s still one of my most highly trafficked posts. Go figure!

Nat: Most challenging post?

Julia: Tips for Overcoming Anxiety. It was scary to talk about such a raw issue for me.

Nat: How did you and your husband meet?

Julia: We worked together at a holistic nutrition school. We were friends for 6 months before we started dating.

Nat: How was your husband different from all the others?

Julia: He wanted to get to know me on a deep emotional level and his heart was made of gold.

Nat: How did he propose?

Julia: At the Eiffel Tower in Paris on my 26th birthday. It was quite romantic!

Nat: Thing we’d be most surprised to learn about you?

Julia: I’m a total homebody. I’d almost always choose to stay in than go out.

Nat: Beyond stripes, your signature look always involves shades.

Julia: I’m not doing it to make a statement or anything like that, I just have crazy sensitive eyes so if I shoot outside wtihout them, I squint really hard and look incredibly stupid. I only have two pairs that I wear: Karen Walker Super Duper sunglasses and classic Ray Ban aviators.

Nat: Let’s talk some other favs!

App– Instagram

Blog– Design Love Fest

Insta feed– @thisisglamorous and @thefatjewish

Magazine– Vanity Fair

Binge Watch- Old episodes of Sex in the City. It never gets old.

Movie to Quote- Zoolander

Guilty Pleasure- coconut milk ice cream

Splurge- Chanel 2.55 classic black bag

Save- The guestroom rug I bought on Overstock

Scent- Tuberose

Sound- My four-year-old brother’s laugh. It melts my heart.

Getaway- Turks & Caicos- it’s a quick plane ride away and magical when you arrive

Place on Earth- Amalfi Coast

Way to Break a Sweat- Hot yoga, which I don’t do enough of

Dance Song- Drunk in Love (still, yes)

Mood Music- James Taylor

Workout Tunes- I love working out to hardcore rap. My husband makes so much fun of me!

Date Night- dinner and drinks

Girls Night- cocktails and apps

Online Shop- One Kings Lane

Time of Day- golden hour

Way to Unwind- Run on the beach or reality TV. I enjoy them equally!

Cocktail- Ketel One and soda with a splash of St. Germain

Party You’ve Planned- my wedding

Thing to Gift- Experiences like a hot air balloon ride or a vineyard tour, something that the other person will never forget.

Best Gift You’ve Ever Gotten- a trip to Sicily for my 30th birthday

Quickest Way to Make You Laugh- potty humor

Front row or back? Front- I get car sick!

Salty or sweet? salty

Bake or Cook? cook, all the way

Recipe- my vegan basil pesto

Day Outfit- leggings, boots, silk blouse, blazer

Night Outfit- leggings, boots, silk blouse, statement necklace

Dream Dinner Guest- Jenna Lyons

Perfect Day- at the beach with a good book, family, and friends

Last Meal- my dad’s famous lasagna and a bottle of pinot noir

3 Things you cannot live without- iPhone, Burt’s Bees lip balm, my S’well water bottle

Most Cherished Possession- My grandmother left me her engagement ring when she passed away. My husband had it made into a necklace and I wear it every day.

Most Embarrassing Moment- Now that’s a story for cocktail hour!

Defining Moments in Your life- Getting my first job, making my first dollar from Lemon Stripes, getting married.

Proudest Moment- Buying our house a few months ago.

Julia’s Next Adventure? I’m looking forward to starting a family in our new house!