Lifestyle

FROM YOUR 30-YEAR-OLD SELF…

I have had this saved on my phone for the better part of a decade, and while it’s always appropriate, it’s just crazy actually turning 30 and looking back over the years; when could I have used this advice more? was any of this accurate?

Before you read it, the answer is “yes!!!!!!!” And it’s all advice that we give each other, that older people give younglings, yet applying it is always a little tricker… Earlier this week I took every paragraph from this note and wrote down how it is true, when I did it, when I should have, etc. and to anyone who blows off parts of this note as untrue or not necessary, well, then you’re probably a few years younger than me. I don’t mean that in a bad way at all! I just mean that there are certain understandings that come with time and age, and while I’m talking like I’m 50 and know everything, I just know the feeling of being in my early 20’s and reading this note thinking, well that sounds silly but maybe it’ll be true someday. Some things are harder to understand until you experience them, and some things you only experience over time.

My 20’s have brought way more than one decade of learnings for me. I’ve lived in six states these past ten years, I’ve visited 12 countries, lived internationally, held 5 different jobs, adopted a pup, gotten married, and probably made a bajillion mistakes in between all of that. But looking back at who I was in my early 20’s, and who I am now… I know that all of those things happened for a reason and have made me who I am today. Sure did my relationship ending in my early 20’s feel like the end of the world? Totally! But now as I look back my mindset is now, “why did I even date that guy?”

You change as time goes on; whether it’s from the things you learn, things you experience, or the mistakes you make, you change. And that’s not bad!! If I was the same person I was when I was in my early 20’s I would be working at a job that I don’t like, dating a douche, with no idea where I stood in my own world. Now, while at 30 I am still confused AF at time, i now get to fall back on my experience or mistakes or learnings from the past ten years.

Now, remember that letter I mentioned a few paragraphs ago? Well, you’ve been very patient (or you just skipped ahead, which I’m cool with), let’s see how this letter unfolds, shall we?

Please don’t be so hard on yourself. Be gentle

Speak to yourself in more loving and encouraging ways. You inner dialogue is the most powerful voice you hear. Turn down the volume of the critic so the voice of your inner knowing gets louder.

Smile. A lot.

You are doing the best you can. Always looking for ways to be more, better or different is NOT the formula for success. You think it is motivating you to create results, but it is completely exhausting.

Look for what inspires you rather than what drives you. Allow your curiosity to lead you.

You know that guy you are obsessed about getting to like you? In five years you won’t even remember his name.

You know that job you are devastated about not getting? There is a way better opportunity coming around soon.

Don’t wait for fear to go away before you go after something you want. Being scared is natural. You’ll become more courageous each time you feel fear and do it anyway.

Stop comparing yourself to others, it is preventing you from seeing and discovering your own unique gifts and what you are here to express to the world. Know the qualities you admire in others are the qualities you need to recognize and nurture inside yourself.

Your parents are people too with issues, and triggers. They are getting used to having an adult child, just as you are getting used to being an adult.

You are going to get over your heartbreak. I know it feels so painful right now. Cry all of your tears, get it out, then let it go. Take all lessons you learned and move forward. You will love and be loved again. And you will be so grateful for your heartache because it taught you so much about love.

Take leaps of faith — even when you don’t know where you are going to land. You are going to develop so much courage and trust in yourself as you take risks. It’s okay not to be 100% sure — 51% sure is enough to take the leap.

Be of service. Have a generous heart. That is how you make a difference in the world.

Enjoy your body. Stop obsessing about it. Stop trying to make it into some perfect image of what you think it should be. You look fantastic, take lots of pictures and wear bikinis more often.

“No” is a complete sentence. You don’t need to follow it with justifications and apologies.

The decisions you are making re not all forever decisions. I know you feel so much pressure to figure it all out right now and everything feels like a major decision. It’s not. Choose what feels the best for right now and trust you will learn from each choice you make.

You will find your passion and purpose. Everything that you are going through now is a piece of the puzzle. Just because you don’t know how the puzzle comes together yet doesn’t mean it’s not being assembled.

Sometimes figuring out what you want isa process of elimination. Let yourself experiment and try different things. It’s okay to change your mind, and the only way you’ll know if something is a fit is if you try it.

Cultivate you’re friendships. They will become the family you get to choose.

Find friends who will grow with you, and let go of the friendships that have reached their expiration date.

List the things you are grateful for every day.

What other people think of you is nono of your business. People are always going to judge you. So what!?! It’s impossible to please everyone to be liked by everyone. Be you, the real you, not the version you think you need to be for others.

You are enough. You are perfect just the way you are.

Ask for help and support . You do not have to figure everything out on your own, and you are not supposed to have everything figured out right now. It’s okay not to know how, what, when, where and why.

Take compliments.

You are doing the best you can. And so is everyone else.

Enjoy the moment. Your mind is always in the future. Stop living in when/then’s. Be here now and have fun. This is a time in your life where you can be a bit selfish and focus on what makes you happy.

Forgive — yourself and anyone else you are holding judgments against.

You are not alone. So many other people feel the same way you do. Be willing to be vulnerable.

Each step is moving you forward, even if you feel like you are moving backward.

breathe. Slow down. Take your time. It all works out. Your dreams come true and there are magical surprises in store. Life is amazing now, and it gets even better!

I hope that you copy and paste this into your phone, because no matter what age you are, we could all use these reminders here and there!

So cheers to turning 30!

No, really, I’ve got a cocktail in my hand, so, join me?

 


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Lifestyle

ONE

Today’s my birthday! The blog turns one whole year old!  

 


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And while I have been working on it for almost double that, this milestone still feels like a big one for me. 

I started this blog as a hope for something greater to take with me to wherever we might move! I knew full well that whatever I did, I would go all in, which is exactly why I worked so hard on the blog before anyone ever even saw anything. And that work has only increased from there. I love working on the content you see on social media, or brainstorming ideas to write about on the blog, or hone the overall look and feel of both! And these are just a few of the things that I do every single day. 

But one part of this whole journey that I never dreamed of was the people and networking that would come of it! I am a very open, extroverted person, but putting myself out there professionally can be very scary and nerve racking! So knowing that I have spent these past 12 months reaching out, making connections, and relationships with local and national companies is definitely a point of pride for me. 

 


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A few months ago I appeared at an event in Columbus, OH with a panel of other influencers where I heard something that has stuck with me to this day and I apply to this blog and other aspects of my life. He said, “you don’t get what you don’t ask for”, and as simple as that sounds? It made so much sense and has simplified so much for me! In any aspect of life it is so easy to get caught in the cycle of waiting for things to happen to you; waiting for your dream job to find you, or waiting for your favorite brands to want to work with you. I definitely caught myself doing that when I first started. But now, I reach out to dozens of brands a week which is why I am the proud ambassador of all of the companies that I work with now. 

But the world of social media is tricky. I grew up in an age where social media wasn’t a thing, and all we used in college was Facebook, and the main priority wasn’t to look good for a selfie. So the idea of posting pictures of myself was an awkward concept to get used to. And to be frank? I’m still not entirely comfortable with it. It’s easy to get caught up in how many people like your pictures, or how many people follow you, but you have to ask yourself: is what I would post be any different if I had 5,000 more followers? Or if I knew more people liked my pictures? 

My answer? No.  

 


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I post what I do because I believe in it. I believe that enjoying eating healthy is a very important part of life, and staying healthy. I truly believe that getting a good workout can make you feel amazing, and that you can do that workout anywhere. And I believe that feeling good in what you wear can change your confidence and help you to feel amazing about yourself!  

I believe all of these things because I have experienced them. I have been in a place where I had an unhealthy relationship with being (too) healthy. I used to think that I had to go to the gym and work out for 2 hours to have a good enough workout to feel good about myself. I also used to be self conscious about my clothes and my style, because it was different from other people’s.  

I hope for this blog to be a place for inspiration, ideas, and support in all things fashion and fitness. I don’t just want to share what’s going on in my life or the workouts that I do (because I think they’re so awesome :-/ ) I  share things that I think I would have wanted to a few years ago! Or workouts that I would have loved to have tried when trying to stay fit on the road! Inspiration can come from many places, I just hope that this blog can be one of them. 

To kick off year two? More collaborations! September is going to bring one of the biggest partnerships and collaborations yet, which means more workouts and more ways to keep your fit life inspired. Is there more? Yes! More recipes! I have some amazing fall recipes coming to kick off year 2! Still healthy, but still oh so enjoyable and seasonal to keep your fall vibes going strong.  

This past year is just the beginning for me in this blogging world and I cannot wait to see where it takes me!  

 

 

Health & Fitness

ANOTHER YEAR

Remember the days when you would round up so that you felt older? Yeah, not really a problem anymore… 

But coming one year closer to 30 doesn’t really bother me, anymore! When I was in my early 20’s I used to think it was a huge deal. But that’s before I realized how little I knew. About… like, everything. 

 

 


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I remember a few interviews I saw on TV with actresses where they are asked about turning a certain age. I didn’t really understand what they were saying at the time, but now, a few years later I’ve grown to appreciate it. They said they aren’t upset about getting older because they have a new-found confidence. They’ve experienced so much in their lives that as they have gotten older, they know who they are as a person: as a wife, daughter, mother, actress, etc. And with that they are immensely confident in their everyday life as well as any obstacles they may face. 

And now, I totally get it. 

There is so much you don’t know that you don’t know, when you’re younger. Yes, read it again. I promise it makes sense. Coming out of college and entering the real world we think we’ve got it figured out. Excited to conquer the new challenges. When we have no idea what those challenges will be, or how we will get through them! Coming one year closer to 30 I feel so much better about who I am as an adult and I know that I can overcome so much, because I already have!

You know the saying ‘make plans, God laughs’? It’s true! When we’re younger people tend to make plans, or expectations for their lives. “I’ll totally be married by (enter age)”, “I’ll have my dream career by (enter age)”. I have heard friends say these things all the time! For some reason I was never really a “life-planner”. Yes, I’m type A and I plan out my day, and have color coded planners… but let’s not dwell, shall we? For some reason, I never really felt the need to make those bigger life-plans. I always felt like there was going to be some level of uncertainty there, and I was okay with it. In fact, I preferred it that way! Sure, there were times when I wondered where I would be, who I would be with, and that can be agonizing, having zero clue. But as I have gotten older, I really don’t mind not knowing. I actually enjoy it! 

And a huge part of that are my supportive friends and family. I wouldn’t be able to go through those unknowns without my husband, or that daily call with my sister venting about who-knows-what! 

So, whatever stage of life you’re in. Appreciate it! Whether you’re in college, out of college, or approaching a new decade :-O there is a purpose for every stage of life, there are lessons to learn in each of them. Some of them suck! You won’t understand why it is happening to you, at the time. But know that for every one of those sucky lessons, there is a moment 5+ years later where you’ll be thinking about it and laughing. Yes, even that crappy boyfriend had a purpose 😛 I know, shocking! 

There’s also a respect for the process. I now know what my sister (5 years older than me) has meant all this time when she said I “just didn’t get it”. And I didn’t! Why, in my early 20’s would I? You really don’t even know who you are as an adult yet at that point. But now, I’ve reached that point 5+ years later, where I am sitting on my front porch (no really, I am) thinking about those moments in my early 20’s, laughing. Laughing to think that I had any clue as to what I was doing, what would happen in life, or that I would know how to handle it. Odds are, we don’t know how, but you can figure it out. And maybe in another 5 years, I’ll be sitting on the front porch (in what state, TBD) laughing at my 29-year-old self… odds are pretty good. 

 

 


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