3 Years

Three years ago today, I sat down at my ancient HP laptop and wrote a short blog post (very cringe-worthy, don't go read it) about how to save money on Lilly Pulitzer. My blog layout was atrocious back then: I had a Lilly Pulitzer Lobster Roll background and used what were arguably the world's ugliest fonts. I so wish I had a screenshot of that layout; I can picture it so vividly.

Two years ago, I published a blog post celebrating my one-year anniversary. I was taking pictures exclusively on my iPhone 5c then, and they were mainly of preppy stickers and t-shirts.

One year ago, I talked about how much blogging has taught me. I had been using a DSLR for about six months, and I was still figuring out how to use it. I had just started my YouTube channel, and was looking forward to spending the summer taking pictures and filming videos.

And today, I'm hear to talk about why I love blogging.

It's so easy to get caught up in the stress of blogging: maintaining social media, shooting and editing photos, putting together outfits... it's a lot of work behind the scenes. I can't tell you how many times I've thought about closing this tab for good and giving up blogging. I've taken several breaks, but I always seem to come back to this blog. I can't imagine my life without it, because when I look back, I don't see all the stress. I see the amazing opportunities and relationships this blog has created for me. I see nothing but great things. Let's take a walk down memory lane, shall we?

I see the very first travel guide I ever published, and I see my most recent. I see my very first collaboration I ever did, and I see my most recent. I see the blogging goals I achieved so long ago, and I see the ones I'm still working towards. I see my ongoing list of things I want to achieve by this September, and I see each of those things chronicled through my "life lately" series. I see my very first outfit post, and my most recent.

I keep coming back to this blog because I need this creative outlet. I need a space to document my life, my memories, all these crazy twists and turns on the road called life.

My mom once asked me if I thought I was missing out on opportunities because I spent so much time taking pictures of everything. It's actually the opposite, you see; chronicling every little detail has allowed me to capture so many more memories and go on so many new adventures. I can't tell you how many things I would've forgotten if I hadn't documented them on this blog.

It's crazy to look back on old memories and see how much has changed. So often, I feel like I'm still the exact same person I was three years ago (seriously. I'm still the same height I was in sixth grade.) but then I go back and I realize how much I've grown as a person.

I can't wait to see what the future has in store for me, and as always, I'm looking forward to documenting it here for you. Thank you for following along on my journey, whether you've been here since my Lilly Pulitzer days or this is your first time reading my blog. You mean the world to me!