How has another year already gone by?! It feels like it has been one of the longest and shortest years all in one. Looking back, I see so much good that has come of it, along with some of the hardest times that I have had the opportunities to grow through.

Honestly, I don't even know where to start. When the year began, I was loving being a blogger, but I wanted more. So I searched and finally in February found a job where I could work from home as a personal stylist. It must be true what they say about time flying by when you're doing what you love, because it really doesn't feel like it's been almost a year since starting my journey as a stylist. Every day is something new and different, and every day I have the chance to help and uplift others, which is exactly what I've always wanted to do.

But to say that I have had the most motivated productive year wouldn't really be the truth. After all, things tend to get in the way. This year I made people a rather large priority in my life. Which isn't the worst thing but can sometimes stand between putting in the time to go after my own goals. I love the people in my life and spending time with them, especially when working alone at home can have its lonely times. But this next year I want my focus to be more motivated to really living out this life that God has laid out in front of me.

This next year, while it may sound strange to say, I do want to work more, build experience, and make my way to a business of my own. Along with that, I want to put more effort into this blog that I've really slacked on the past year. My intention is to not just grow it but to create better content that shows who I am as a stylist and post it in a timely manner to prove to myself that I can stay on top of things.

I've learned a lot over the past 365 days. People came and went, no matter what I did, with nothing I could say to make them stay. And I've had to face the fact that those people aren't meant for me, and there's nothing I can do but let them go. It's the total opposite of my nature - I wish I could keep everyone around forever. I wish things could always stay the same, just as they are. But it's not the way of life. Things change, people change - or at least they change their minds - and there's nothing I can do to stop it.



My version of 'normal' has altered so many times I don't even know what to think of as an average way of life anymore. This year has been all about adjusting to the changes, staying content in who I am and where God has me, and believing that no matter what comes, things will be okay.

With all of the emotions that have coursed through me over the year, there's one thing that has stood true, ringing out for each and every day. And that is while situations and people may be unpredictable and let me down, Jesus never has and He never will. Because even though He nudges me the whole time not to fall into what may cause hurt, He still stays to the end and picks up the pieces, reminding me that while other things will fail, He always remains. And that is the very reason for which I place my trust in Him.

This next year I want to move forward in His will for my life, giving Him the reign to speak truth over every area of it. No more will I allow myself or other things to keep me from going towards what it is I really want out of life. This is a year full of change, and while it may be hard, I will stay firm, keep moving, and finally get somewhere. That is what I want for 2019. What about you?

As I planned my outfits, packed bags, and prepared for my first ever cruise and first time out of the states, one thing kept running through my mind: how am I going to survive being completely out of contact with everyone back home for three days? I looked at the internet package available on the cruise ship multiple times, going back and forth between if it was really worth buying and how much I really did need a break from everything.

When there wasn't an option to use the package for just the two days I would be completely away, I figured that it wouldn't be worth it, as we wouldn't even be on the ship most of those days. Fears aside, I decided to just do what everyone else was doing and go without.

What was initially the thing I was most hesitant and dreading, became the thing that I actually appreciated the most from the trip. 

This was definitely a trip that I will always remember. Not only was it such a blast with new experiences that I never would have tried if it had not been for this cruise, but it taught me some of the most valuable lessons that opened my eyes.

 The first day when we set sail and lost connection with the outside world, I was close to terrified. How was I going to live without the daily norm and my people that I had become so dependent on? We learned our way around the ship, went to a club type party on the top level - so not my comfort zone, which made it a bit tough to handle right off the bat - and at the end of the night, I broke. The thought of how much I missed my people and wanted to talk to them stayed present in my mind. More than that, it was the notion that one day soon everything will change; I might have to move and leave everyone and everything behind yet again. I couldn't help but think what will I do without them, without everything I have become so used to?

Day 2 came and the fears began to subside as we stepped off the boat, into a new place. From the glass bottom boat to walking around the Bahamas, eating fresh local food and trying (not too well) to barter at the straw market, there was a sense of excitement to leave behind the familiar and step into something different.

We made our way back to the boat to get ready for formal dinner night. Thoughts of back home became distant far back in my mind, as I had the chance to finally be present in the moment. Every night at dinner, I tried something new. The first night was escargot (actually really good!!), second night was duck, and the final night was lamb! I figured, it was free, and I may not have an opportunity like this again to try it, so I took the leap. Worst that could happen is asking for a plate of something else - which, we were allowed to ask for as much food as we wanted.

After dinner was the dancing under the stars party on the pool deck. I walked into it not as afraid as the night before but still with a hint of hesitancy. My sister and I watched as everyone partied into the night and made our way to the bar (where all the other young people hung out). We met some new friends that weren't creepy, lol, and actually wanted to socialize - which was fun and not something I'm all that accustomed to. The excitement from the 'new' increased, as the attachment to the old faded. Rather than in tears like the night before, I arrived back to the room feeling content.

The next day we headed off to the private island owned by the ship and the cabana that my sister-in-law had booked for our family. All of it was the most fun break away from real life that I had in a while. I didn't even feel the longing to check my phone; the only times I looked at it was to take a snap to capture the moment for fond memories when it passed. We walked around the island, bought an overpriced pineapple drink, chatted with our other new friends - foreigners that made me laugh when they asked what limbo and hula hoop was, lol - and made our way back to the cabana for food and family time.

After boarding one of the last boats back to the ship, we meandered around before getting ready for our final dinner. I walked into dinner confident, at ease, turning heads, feeling good to be admired. We had a nice family dinner, singing happy birthday to my mom and spending time together. After dinner, I felt the night, along with the all-too-short of a trip, coming to its end and wanted to cry just thinking about it. We walked around the ship at least 15 times looking for something to do or the new friends we had made, feeling tired and defeated when nothing was to be found. Finally at the very end of the night, we caught up with our new bachelor friends and chatted for a bit before returning to the cabin to prepare for leaving early the next morning.


I boarded the ship afraid of the unknown, reluctant to leave everything I knew behind. But I walked off of it wishing it didn't have to come to its end so quickly, new memories fresh in my mind, new friends, and a new anticipation for what lies ahead. The break from daily life was something I didn't know I needed. I had to step away to realize that change can be good and exciting and that I could live life just fine without the people and the things I had become dependent on. It's the experiences and the time actually spent with people that matter. Not the texts and mindless conversation from people who seem to care less.

Stepping outside of my comfort zone made way for me to really be myself. I could try new things and talk to people without social anxiety or the expectations of others thinking I'm 'too shy' to hold me back. In my normal life, I wouldn't dare to go up to someone and talk with them or ask for their contact information or start a conversation with a completely random stranger. It was new to me, and it was something I learned that I could do.


As I look ahead to next year, the unknown staring me blankly in the face, I no longer feel so afraid. Whatever change comes my way, I know that I can handle it, because God knows the way and is in the works of leading me right where I need to be. I can live without the things I have now and I can look forward to change as a good thing. New experiences, new people, and new things await me. And I eagerly await what He has in store.

As October comes to a close - honestly, how did it go so fast?! - there's no time like the present to post about this trip at the beginning of the month to the cutest pumpkin patch/family run farm in the surrounding Tampa area! My mom and sister took the day off so we could all go together and it was the most fun.

Not only did the pumpkin patch offer almost every pumpkin you could want (with mini pumpkins in the barn as well!) but there were hayrides, corn mazes, fresh lemonade and cider, games, and all things fall. I honestly loved it so much!

On that day, while I may have been running on only a few hours of sleep, I still felt present in the moment and fully there. Which, as I've written about before, isn't always a common occurrence. But that week it was like something turned a light on in my head and I was awake after walking through a fog for so long. I didn't know how; all I knew was that I didn't want that feeling to end. Because living present in the moment is so much greater than living weighed down and distracted.

As I have been learning and being made aware of recently, the key to being present I believe is a mind over matter type of thing. It's choosing to not allow other people or things or feelings to dictate your perspective, but living in the fullness of God and who He has made you to be. When we walk through life focused on what others might think of us or feeling hurt by various things, our attention becomes so centered on the problem, that we aren't really there in the present. But when we choose to lay aside the things that we have been allowing to take hold of us, then we begin to live in the now, aware of all the good around us and able to better enjoy where we're at in this very moment.

It's not about what happened yesterday, the day before, or even months or years ago. It's not about what this or that person thinks - people are gonna think what they're gonna think, despite your efforts to change that. It's not about the things that have implanted feelings of hurt and rejection. And it's not about the past. That's long gone, can't be taken back.

It's about the now. It's about living in God's love, knowing that despite what others may think of us, we are fully loved and fully accepted by Him...and that's more than enough. It's about living loved and going out no longer dependent on others or on our situations, but on Him, with the notion to live out that love without limitations dictating who we are or how we should live. It's about being fully present in this moment before it's all but gone.

We only get a handful of moments. And we decide what to do with them, how to live them out. I believe the best way is to live present, and live in His fullness...in His love. The only question I can think to wrap this up in the most honest, thought evoking way is: How will you choose to live your moments, right in the now?

It's been about a month but this post is finally going up! If you follow along on Instagram, Facebook, Snap...whatever other social media outlets I post on, then you have probably seen something about this girls weekend trip to St. Pete last month for my birthday and for the fashion show. I still can't get over how great of a trip it was, just a fun time to spend with some of the best friends and take pictures and enjoy fashion together! So looking forward to more trips and good times with these girls. ♡


I styled these outfits weeks ahead of time, mostly by thinking about the itinerary I had planned and gathering ideas of what would work for each event. For the brunch, I knew I wanted something lace but couldn't find the dress style that I had wanted. So instead, when I grabbed this lace top I thought it would be perfect with a chic skirt and bandeau set, paired with neutral and gold accessories.

For the fashion show look, I had previously already ordered a dress that was on sale and perfect for fall, and when I got it in I was trying it on and figured it would make a stylish statement top as well! All I did was gather the bottom flowy skirt of the dress and tie it into a sash at the waist. (If you're not up for that, no worries! I added some similar tops below in 'shop the looks') I knew that I had wanted to pair it with neutral flare pants and when Boohoo had one of their 60% off sales I grabbed one for such a score! I added the same pair and a similar one below for y'all to shop - it's honestly the perfect statement pant. And again, the gold accessories stayed on allll weekend, couldn't get enough of the layered coin necklace trend!

On our final day, we walked around St. Pete, browsing coffee shops, boutique stores, and taking photos by the murals. I just threw on this fit and flare dress for the outing, as it was way too hot out to wear anything else! And we all put on our heels that day even though our feet hurt from the day before lol. It was the best trip, and I'm sorry to just now be getting around to posting about it!


I know that the "life gets busy" excuse gets old, and honestly I'm tired of hearing it from myself too. Truth is, it's not always the staying busy that causes things to be put off. It's this cloud that I walk through almost daily, making it hard to think clearly or do anything besides work, which, even that's difficult to get to most of the time.

Things come up that are often out of my control, and as a result I'm stuck focusing so much on what's going on around me that I just completely dismiss what's in front of me. Seriously, you should see the amount of emails I've yet to get to and the ever-growing memory space on everything I own that desperately needs clearing out. Not to mention an online course I've been putting off for entirely too long with a deadline now close in sight.

When something knocks me off my feet, it takes a little while to stand back up again and even after that to start thinking clearly enough to do any good at what I've been needing to get to. I live for the days when I wake up and it feels as though the cloud I've been walking through has lifted, the days when I feel normal and more like myself again.


It's not something commonly talked about, but I think that others feel the weight of the cloud too on most days. Even when you have the motivation, it can prove difficult to do anything with it when your head just isn't thinking straight. I get that it's hard living in the fog. And I think that there are some things we can do in the meantime to try to push through it.

For one, getting enough sleep, eating right, and exercising to get the blood flowing is so important to this. I am not at all one who can brag about living a healthy lifestyle physically. And that probably most definitely plays a large part in why my head is always in a cloud. So I am right there with ya on treating myself better. If you're in the same place, we are working on this together!

Our mindsets and how we prioritize things also has the potential to affect the state that our heads are in. I've noticed that when I start out my days with God first, getting in the Word and just giving all my worries for the day to Him, that things seem to run so much smoother than they do otherwise. My mind feels refreshed and able to take on whatever is set before or around me. When the right things come first and our mindsets are clear, everything else seems to fall into place.

If you're in this spot too, you don't have to go it alone. My messages and comments are always open so we can get through it together. And when I or a friend or anyone else isn't around, just start talking and praying and you'll begin to feel that you're not alone in this after all. ♡