What is a “Haphazard Guide to Happiness”?

Well, it’s not a “guide” as much as it is an encapsulation of my (ever-so-slightly disastrous, but generally pretty positive) approach to life. I think that there’s an unbelievable amount of negativity out there in the world – and especially on the internet – and that fear of being judged impacts people’s ability to embrace what they truly enjoy. The point of this site is to encourage you to shut out all that noise and do what makes you feel good.

What’s your educational background?

I went to high school at Dalton, and then majored in cognitive neuroscience (basically, the biology of psychology) at Harvard. I’ve also studied at Lee Strasberg (acting), the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (acting), Parsons (fine arts), and University College London (my semester abroad), and have completed half of a Master’s in Hospitality at NYU (a very expensive moment of total career confusion).

How do I advertise on Ramshackle Glam?

Just shoot me an email at jordan@ramshackleglam.com and we’ll chat! Options range from sponsored posts to videos and ad packages, and I’ll tailor some fun stuff just for you.

Do you have representation?

Yes – Karen at Digital Brand Architects.

What do you do for BetterTV?

I’m a freelance correspondent. That means that they call me when they have a story they want me to cover (or sometimes I call them when I have a story that I think would make a good one). I also do hosting and production work for the parent company, Meredith, which owns magazines including Better Homes & Gardens, More, and Parents.

How did you and Kendrick meet?

We met on Myspace when I friend-requested his band (I’d gone to high school with two of the members). We went on our first date when I flew to NY for a Fashion Week job (I was living in LA at the time), went on our second date when he came to LA on tour, and got engaged six weeks later, in Vegas.

Do you disclose whenever you get a free product or get paid to write about a product?

Yup, and I have from the moment I started blogging in August 2009. When the FTC regulations passed, I wrote this, and that continues to be how I feel. I want you to trust me, and telling you when I’m getting paid to write a post is a big part of that.

How do I know that you’re disclosing?

You’ll know that a post is paid for if you see a “Sponsored Post” button, or a statement clearly stating that compensation was provided by the advertiser. FYI: as I’ve started doing a great deal more beauty coverage, the beauty products that I review are almost always provided by the manufacturer. This enables me to sample as many products as possible so that I can provide valuable recommendations to you without emptying my bank account in the process.

What’s your commenting policy?

I try to maintain a positive vibe and keep the conversation flowing, but sometimes – fortunately, very rarely – I need to delete comments. I delete comments for the following reasons:

1. Rudeness and aggression (there is a difference between a politely expressed difference of opinion and an outright attack on my person or character). Stay on-topic and keep things civil, and we’re all good.

2. Disclosure of my – or anyone’s – personal information (a safety precaution).

3. Negative comments about my friends and family (even if you just comment saying you don’t like my friend’s haircut, I’ll delete that, because I don’t want my site hurting any of the people that I love).

If a commenter does any of the above three things repeatedly, I may block him/her from commenting on the site in the future. Also, just FYI, comments occasionally get stuck in the spam filter, so if you leave a totally innocuous comment that doesn’t show up, it’s not because I’m in a bad mood. Just shoot me an email, and I’ll fix it!

Do you have a trust fund?

No.

Well, then, how is it that you can afford to go out to eat all the time/do fun stuff?

I don’t do fun stuff all the time – but I do take more photographs of the fun stuff than the not-fun stuff, because it’s more…fun.

What does Kendrick do?

I don’t discuss how Kendrick makes a living, because he didn’t choose to start a blog – I did. I will tell you that I’m super proud of him for having done this (download the whole album for free here).

So how do you make a living?

I make a living from freelance writing, on-camera hosting, production work (for example, developing concepts and writing scripts for segments) the occasional residual from my acting days, and revenue generated by this blog in the form of sponsored posts and ads.

Do you want kids?

We’re expecting a son in October of 2011.

Are you really happy all of the time?

Nah, I just smile really big .