Another year has come and gone! I’m going to skip the “I can’t believe we’re already headed into another year” comments because we all say it and feel that way. I want to look back at this past year to reflect on all of the incredible memories I made and the people who made them so special. The only reason you should look back on something is to appreciate and learn from the experiences, not to worry or stress about what “could have been.” It’s important for me to say that because I know there are many things I could list out right now that I wish I had accomplished in 2018, but how would that help me now? We all know you can’t change the past, you can only learn from it. So I’m choosing to look back at this year with a big smile and a grateful heart. I have so many people to thank for being so instrumental and influential in my life, for helping me in some way, or for just making me laugh and feel loved. I’d like to, however, dedicate this post to one person in particular who has believed in me since day 1, someone who has been my biggest supporter, and who without them this blog would not be what it is today; my fiancé Jonathan.
JUMPSUIT: Express (currently sold out online but may be available in store! linking a bunch of similar ones below too) | COAT: Cajun (similar here, here & here) | EARRINGS: Banana Republic (mine are old but these would look great with this jumpsuit) | HEELS: Banana Republic (old, but here’s a similar maroon colored pump) | WATCH & BRACELET: Daniel Wellington
I could write about Jonathan forever; I have endless things to say about the amazing man that he is and how happy he makes me. As I type this out I’m actually looking at him through teary eyes in awe of the man that God chose for me. I remember falling in love with him and feeling so safe. I’m going to clarify what I mean by “safe” because it might not be quite what you’re thinking. I don’t mean “safe” as in comfortable (although of course I’m comfortable with him, heck, he’s my photographer for this blog!), but rather “safe” as in I knew from the very beginning that he would always provide for me and our family someday, that he would always keep us safe, that he would always love me unconditionally and without limits. If you were to ask my dad he would tell you that that’s the reason why he fell in love with my mom too. When they met she was taking care of her sister’s three children. She did everything for them and with so much love. She caught my dad’s eye because she was beautiful, but she captured his heart for her selfless and loving ways. He knew instantly that he wanted her to be the mother of his children, and that’s exactly how I felt about Jonathan when we first started dating almost 8 years ago. That’s a very special feeling to me, and even more so because now I know exactly how my dad felt when he met my mom.
Sometimes people ask me how you know when someone is “the one” and for me that’s precisely how I knew; it just felt right in my heart and for the future of the family that we’re going to build together someday. This world is a crazy and sometimes scary place, which is why it’s so important for me to go through it with the right people. Jonathan is my right person. This past year has been a whirlwind of wedding planning, family gatherings, and endless memories that I’ll cherish for a lifetime. I’m so blessed for all of it and even more excited for it to continue in 2019. Saying I’m excited for the New Year is an understatement because, well, WE’RE GETTING MARRIED!!! I get to marry my best friend, which is quite literally the best thing that could ever happen to me (until we have kids).
When I pray to God I always start by thanking him for his blessings and the life that I have, especially for the man that I now get to spend the rest of my life with. He’s my rock and a very big part of this blog. I’m sure most of you know by now that he’s the one who takes all of my pictures. When we were actually shooting for this post he made a comment, in a joking manner, on how he never gets a shout out even when he braves the cold to get the perfect shots. I know he was half joking but I realized that I want to talk more about that on here; not just about him and how well he does with my pictures (he’s improved so much– he always wants to improve and do the best he can for me, reason number 103948039 on why I love him), but also about how challenging doing this can be. One of my biggest New Years resolutions centers around my blog and continuing to improve it, build on it, and try new things. I want to be more vulnerable on here because I don’t think I did a very good job of that in 2018.
The comparison game is tough since the beauty and fashion blogger industry is so saturated. There have been days where I get so down on myself that I forget why I started this blog in the first place. The purpose in all of this is to share my fashion and beauty in hopes that it’ll inspire someone and make them feel as good as I do when I put on my favorite pair of boots. I also want to share my story because we’re all unique and sometimes we can feel very alone with our feelings, but there’s always someone out there who’s feeling the exact same way. If I can reach a few people and help them either sort out what they’re wearing for date night or make them not feel alone in a certain situation I’m going through, then I’ll feel fulfilled and happy.
I love looking put together and sharing the best sales with you guys because it gives me purpose. Right now my finance job pays the bills, but I’m hoping that someday I figure out how to make this passion of mine pay the bills. Life’s too short to do anything other than what makes us happy, but sometimes those things take time, and that’s why I haven’t quit my full time job. I’m actually grateful for it because it allows me to pursue my dreams on the side. That’s also why one of my New Years resolutions is to take my blog more seriously and to continue to step out of my comfort zone. I want to give this a real chance and to stop thinking that I’m not good enough or that no one’s listening. If you believe it, then you can achieve it. So….CHEERS TO THAT & HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
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