The Saturday Sit-Down #2 – Burke Does

Welcome back to week #2 of the “Saturday Sit-Down”! Thanks for popping in. 🙂 I so adore today’s blogger. She and I connected a couple of years ago before she officially launched her blog, and it’s been really fun seeing her succeed. She’s brilliant and beautiful and someone I would love to meet in person one day.

So without further adieu, meet Emilie!

Q: Let’s jump right in! Tell us as much about you as you can in three sentences or less.

A: By day, I work as a data specialist at a tech startup (the only industry I’ve worked in since graduating from Princeton), but by night, I run my own little space on the web known as Burke Does, inspiring millennial women to live financially, physically, and professionally fit lives. I live at Fort Bragg with my love Casey who graduated from West Point when I graduated from Princeton. In my free time, I referee rugby, do Crossfit, and am constantly learning how to code.

Q: Where do you blog and want do you write about?

A: I blog primarily at Burke Does, but also at Emilie’s To-Do Lists and What The Stitch.  Those last two are mostly for me. Burke Does is a life and style blog that specializes in personal finances, careers in technology, and millennial struggles. I write about overcoming debt, while balancing trying to eat healthy, stay fit, and have a little fun along the way.

Q: Try to describe someone who you think would really enjoy and/or benefit from reading your material.

A: When I decided to get my money-life together, I didn’t know where to start. My parents never budgeted. I thought everyone had a car payment and loans forever. I thought struggling with making ends meet was the norm. If you’ve ever thought any of these things, then Burke Does is for. Not only have I learned the error of my ways and worked hard and diligently to start to change them, but also I am working hard to help others in their own journeys.

Q: Why did you start blogging?

A: I started blogging way back in the days of xanga and livejournal. Then in 2010, I had a pretty big surgery that changed my life. I started blogging daily about that experience. One day, I put that behind a password protected wall and started up emilielimaburke.com where I started writing about things that I wanted other people to read. That became BurkeDoes.com

Q: I know that you graduated from Princeton. What was that experience like?

A: It was an interesting place. I will deeply cherish my time as a Tiger, as it was absolutely life-changing for me. There, I played rugby one our D1 team, with career highs of an Ivy Rugby Championship and Sweet 16 and Elite 8 Placements for both 7s and 15s. I was also very active in my sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma, and my eating club, Cloister Inn.

Q: What is one big career goal you have?

A: As I transition from data specialist to software developer, I hope to build and maintain my own paid app. I’m not expecting to become a gajillionaire (I wouldn’t complain if that happened), but I would like to build something that makes people’s lives easier.

Q: Where are three places you would love to visit one day?

A: I’ve been really blessed with the opportunity to travel while I was in college. I got to visit England, Canada, Brasil, Bolivia, and Chile. I am also well-traveled throughout the United States. I know there’s a lot I still have to see, though. At the top of my list are the Egyptian Pyramids, the Four Corners, and the Eiffel Tower!

Q: Are there any obstacles in your career or personal life that are keeping you from achieving any of your goals?

A: If you had asked me a year ago if I’d be at Fort Bragg for the last seven months, the answer would be a firm absolutely not. A year ago, we thought Casey would be deployed right now. I’m really glad with how things have played out and to be here and to be with Casey, but the Army doesn’t care about our timeline or my career plans. I’m committed, though, to making it work! I like to think of it as our own Army adventure.

And just for fun…

Favorite ice cream?

Cookie dough, but not chocolate chip cookie dough because I don’t like chocolate. It’s so hard to find. I guess it’s like the unicorn of the ice cream world.

Favorite big city?

I miss living in Baltimore every single day. That city will always feel like home.

Favorite athletic team?

I grew up in a pretty sport-agnostic family, but since dating Casey I’ve developed a taste for it. In addition to all things rugby, I’d say the Chicago Blackhawks, Army Football, and the New York Yankees.

Favorite TV show?

One Tree Hill 4lyfe

Favorite room in your house?

I work from home full time so I have a dedicated office space. I splurged and got custom-made wood furniture for it. My desk and bookshelves are not only beautiful and solid (and less than half of what the IKEA versions cost), but they were also custom built exactly how I wanted them. We have mine (undergrad and MBA) and Casey’s (undergrad and commissioning) diploma frames on the wall and my Princeton class banner. It also has a huge white board that I love. I also have a standing desk. The space is really mine, and I love how comfortable I feel there. Even Bo (our rescue), has his own space.

If someone is going to check out your site for the first time, where do you want them to start? Which post(s) do you want them to read?

How to Budget: http://www.burkedoes.com/how-to-budget/

Seven Ways to Make Budget Living Fun: http://www.burkedoes.com/make-budget-living-fun/

My Morning Routine: http://www.burkedoes.com/my-morning-routine/

You can find Burke Does on social media here: Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter | BlogLovin