Speed Dating With @theballeronabudget

Speed Dating is a series where we get to know some of our favorite brand evangelists, whether they’re artists, designers, entrepreneurs, activists, or full-time parents! Today in the hot seat is Aileen Luib (@theballeronabudget), an influencer who helps you outfit your home with budget-friendly tips and advice (plus awesome skin care tips!)

“I am the founder of The Baller on a Budget, a blog for women across all walks of life who want to save money while living fabulously. I was formerly an esthetician, a Realtor, and a photographer, and now I use my acquired expertise to help my readers become more money savvy from budget-friendly skincare tips to buying your first home . I also have an online course called The Blogger Bible that teaches others how to make a full-time income from their blog.“

We asked Aileen to sit back and relax on her Fillmore Queen Size Sleeper Sofa in Mountain Grey and answer some of our burning questions. You can also read her blog post here!

Round 1:
Lightning Round

left image woman and dog on grey sofa right image woman looking at fabric swatches next to grey sofa

What is your hometown?
Moreno Valley, CA

What show(s) are you currently binging?
Game of Thrones (rewatching!) & The Office

What’s your lucky number?
9 – it’s my life path number

Are you an early bird or night owl?
Early bird, but I pull all-nighters to get work done!

If you could sing a duet with anyone, who would it be?
Utada Hikaru – she’s iconic in Japan and has been my favorite since childhood. Not to mention, she has crazy vocal range!

What’s your dream vacation destination?
Probably a tie between Norway or Ireland… they have so many breathtaking places!

What do you collect, if anything?
Crystals, essential oils, and I’m starting a tarot card deck collection. My friends say I’m an undercover witch, haha!

What is your life’s motto?
Veni, vidi, vici – I actually have a tattoo of it. Keeps me motivated!
(for those who skipped Latin class: “I came, I saw, I conquered”)

Round 2:
Favorites…

left image a person touching essential oils containers right image person picking up a deck of cards

Beer or wine?
Wine

Springsteen or Jay-Z?
Jay-Z

Stripes or solids?
Solids. I’m boring.

Cats or dogs?
Dogs!

Favorite color and least favorite color?
I would say black. It’s just so chic. And I hate pink.

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?
Cookies ‘n Cream!

Favorite junk food?
It’s a toss-up between pizza and fried chicken

Favorite song to sing in the shower?
‘Officially Miss You’ by Tamia

Favorite smell?
My dog’s paws. I know. I’m weird.

Round 3:
Don’t Even Go There…

woman on pull out bed under covers with a dog

What’s the most embarrassing song we could find in your music collection?
Probably ‘Come On Eileen’ by Dexy’s Midnight Runners. It’s my life’s theme song.

If you could be on one reality show which one would it be?
I DREAM to be on Queer Eye – my friends and I have plotted to purposely mess our homes up, go on an all-pizza diet, and forfeit showers for a month in order for the Fab 5 to pay us a visit and make-over our entire lives

What’s a hidden talent you have?
I’ve played the guitar since I was in middle school!

Who is your style icon?
Rihanna. She can be girly one day, businesslike the next, and then a total rebel. Her outfits are based on her moods, and I feel like that’s how I also dress myself

Who would you want to play in the movie version of your life?
Probably Amy Poehler if we’re going for dry comedy, because I feel like I have way too many of those moments

Round 4:
Sinner or Saint?

What’s your guilty pleasure?
Blasting music and dancing in my kitchen. That, or keeping it civilized and binge-watching several seasons of a TV show

What is your spirit animal?
A shark. They’re fierce, will bulldoze through anything that gets in their way, and you can find them in the dark depths of the sea, probably plotting some devious plans

What superpower would you want and why?
Mind control – you could do anything! You could end racism, stop war, inspire charity, and promote change just by talking to people

What is your biggest pet peeve?
When people ask for advice and then don’t take it. That’s mind-boggling to me!

Who is the most famous person you follow on Twitter or Instagram?
Emilia Clarke

Who is the most famous person that follows you on Twitter or Instagram?
I honestly don’t know who follows me and now I’m curious…

If you could have drinks with any 3 people, living or dead, who would they be?
Cleopatra, Martin Luther King, and Edgar Allan Poe. I think that would be an interesting conversation to have over drinks