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