We’re looking forward to introducing you to Danielle Cazarez. Check out our conversation below.
Danielle, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
I learned a while back while I was having issues with depression during the pandemic that the simple task of getting dressed and putting on sneakers, helps me be more productive with my days. With that being said, my mornings start with taking my dog out for a walk. Once we get back, I feed him and go straight to my Nespresso machine. Once coffee is ready, I take it to my office where I log on to work for the day and start checking emails.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Danielle Cazarez and I’m the face behind Through My Brown Glasses. I started my blog in 2018. Things that bring me joy are writing, eating, and taking advantage of this fine city I live in. I started TMBG after dropping out of community college and getting my “big girl job.” I knew I needed something to keep my creative juices flowing. This was before Instagram did videos so I focused so much on photos writing entries that highlighted local small businesses throughout San Diego. Time has since passed and the algorithm continues to change, but I like to continue my focus on using my Instagram platform as a megaphone for small and local businesses. San Diego has such a diverse food scene.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
Through My Brown Glasses helped heal me in more ways than one. Before I started my account, I was a journalism student in community college in a DV relationship. I wanted to write and create. My parents even gifted me a GoPro (this was when the YouTube vlogging era was big) but my partner at the time told me if I put out content, no one would watch it or find me entertaining. Jokes on him. After we broke up, I decided to take my first solo trip ever. I visited New Orleans and it was magical. I felt like I got my spark back then and there. When I came back home, the first thing I did was start my new Instagram account and purchase a website domain. This November marks seven years!
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
To younger Danielle,
You were given these gifts for a reason. Be creative! Just start posting. It’s going to open so many doors and it’s going to bring you so much joy.
Love,
28 year old Danielle
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
I remember the first time I met a fellow food blogger in real life they told me I sound exactly the way I write online. To me, that was a HUGE compliment. When I started writing my blog entries, that was always my goal. I wanted people to really hear my voice in their heads when they read the work I put out. It wasn’t until recently that I came up with my “hey foodies hey” catchphrase but it’s been so fun to hear people call it out to me when they see me in public.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Yes because it’s never been about the amount of followers I have on Instagram or more recently, about the views on my reels. I do creative digital content because it brings ME so much joy. I love supporting local businesses. I love shouting out minority owned restaurants. I love eating food outside of my culture. And I love networking and meeting folks in the restaurant industry. Doesn’t matter how many likes my content gets, I’m going to keep posting.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Danielle Cazarez/released
