Black and White Winter Outfit

Happy New Year!

I still can’t believe it’s 2017. Seriously, where did the time go? Our weekend was pretty laid back and consisted mostly of watching movies since it poured rain most of the time. Yesterday, the sun came out for a bit and we celebrated the first day of 2017 by attending a beautiful wedding. Read on to see some of my blogging reflections from this past year and details on this Black and White Winter Outfit!

Black and White Winter Outfit

Outfit Details:

Dress: StyleWe c/o | Shoes: Christian Siriano for Payless (old) | Purse: LC Lauren Conrad | Headband: Headbands of Hope | Sunnies: Retro Sunnies c/o | Tights: Berkshire

I have always loved the beginning of a new year. It symbolizes a new start, a new chance, a new beginning. It’s a time to rid yourself of all the baggage carried from the previous year and a chance to look into the future with bright, new eyes that are eager and excited for change. In the past, I have had straight up awful years and although 2016 had it’s rough spots, it was not the worst. In fact, it wasn’t so terrible.

I am generally a positive person and I know there are things that I cannot change but I make the best of it that I can. Overall, 2016 was a year of growth for me… personally, professionally, spiritually and mentally. I can only think of one other year that offered as much growth as this one (and it was also my most painful year). In last week’s post, I talked about my resolutions…what I achieved last year and what I hope to achieve this year personally. Today, I am going to talk about professional growth.

I’m sure you hear this all the time, but I am so 100% serious about this. I am so thankful for this blog. I’m coming up on my second year and in the last 5 months of 2016, I have experienced more growth than I have since I started. My Instagram account has grown 25 times the size of what it was last January. 25 TIMES!!! (almost 500% since June).

I’m definitely not saying this to brag because I have worked my booty off the last six months to achieve this but I know that so many of you have a similar dream and I want to say that it is not out of reach. Definitely don’t give up! I’m just in disbelief. Never in my life, did I think I would actually get a chance to share my love of fashion with people around the world.

I have literally tried just about everything to live my fashion dream and kept getting knocked down time after time after time. Creating this blog was the last chance I gave myself before I gave up on my dream. I am so glad I took the risk. All this time, I thought I was chasing one dream and I ended up finding another that I love even more (I never thought this was possible!). I have found the thing I am most passionate about and the thing that makes me the happiest. Blogging does not feel like work…and don’t get me wrong because it is SO much work! Like more work than I would have ever thought it would be. And I’m basically working for free because I just love it that much!

This year has shown me what can be possible with this little blog of mine if I just keep nurturing it and growing with it. I believe that growth is so important, both personally and professionally. With a blog (and anything else really), you should constantly be growing, learning, researching and trying new things.

One of my best decisions from last year was investing in a professional camera. We did not have the money at all. My sweet husband took his bonus check that he earned and spent it on me….for this blog…because he know how much it meant to me. It was a complete game changer and the best money we have ever spent.

It might be the perfectionist in me, but I always felt insecure about my photos before. I am having so much fun now…experimenting with different things, learning how to edit and most of all, it has created a deeper relationship with my husband and I. He actually enjoys taking photos now and has been researching photography tips since we bought it. It is something that excites both of us and something that has given me more confidence. Just this little change has lit a fire in me that cannot be contained.

I have SO much planned in the coming months that I am really, really excited about. I know that 2017 is going to be an amazing year and I am incredibly grateful for your support! <3

What was the most amazing thing to happen to you in 2016?

xo