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I’ve had this jacket in my closet for quite some time now. In fact, I’ve had it for so long that I almost completely forgot about it and thought I had missed the opportunity to wear it this winter, considering it was about 80 degrees in Charlotte two weeks ago. BOY, WAS I WRONG. For those who don’t know, it is cold AF in Charlotte right now and I am not happy about it. Well, I’m happy that I got to whip out my army leather jacket, but that’s about it. I’ve also been dying to wear this Free People bodysuit, and I have a feeling this won’t be the last time you see it on me this spring/summer.
This is the first time I’ve written a post in a while. I took a little hiatus from this blog of mine for a few reasons, the biggest one being that I’ve been unsure about a ton of things… and I’m wondering if there’s anyone out there who can relate.
First of all, putting myself out there all the time does not come easily for me. I am naturally somewhat of an introvert. I wouldn’t say I’m “shy”, as I’m sure there are people out there who find me to be loud and annoying at times (sorry, my b), but I can certainly be on the quiet side when it comes to large groups of people. Therefore, constantly posting photo after photo of myself on social media for tons of people (including strangers) to see isn’t something that comes to me without overthinking things at times. On that note, posting picture after picture OF MYSELF, BY MYSELF doesn’t come naturally, either. In fact, it feels super weird. I’m so used to posting pictures with friends, and now that I’ve started the blog, my photos are mainly solo shots. The first time I took photos for the blog and had to pose by myself, I was like, “WHAT DO I DO WITH MY HANDS?!” They were #notcute.
Second, after hitting the one-month mark on my blog (launch day was January 25th), I began to question my progress. Was my blog growing at a normal pace? What is a “normal” pace, anyway? Is my site getting enough traffic? Should I have even started this whole thing? I needed to take a step back and remember the real reason I started this in the first place. The reason I started this was to share my tips, tricks, and advice with the world, not to compare myself to others and play a numbers game. Building myself/other people UP was the goal, not the other way around. I’ve decided to push all self-doubt aside.
Thirdly, I’ve learned that a strong support system is crucial when it comes to taking the plunge and diving into something you’re passionate about. Sure, do what makes YOU happy and don’t worry about what other people think, but a strong support system along the way certainly helps. There have been so many times, over the past week especially, when I’ve questioned myself. Luckily, I have amazing family and friends who support me and cheer me on and tell me to keep doing what I’m doing. Currently, my roommate Taylor is the one taking most of my pictures for me, and my friends from work/home/EVERYWHERE give me tons of blog ideas all the time. I’ve even run into acquaintances around Charlotte who have told me my blog is awesome, and while that might not seem like a big deal to them, it means a whole lot to me. Heck, even my mom, who swore she would never make an Instagram, created an account just so she can follow along with my blog and see my pictures easier! On top of this, I’ve also met a bunch of other bloggers who are AWESOME and I can’t wait to see where those friendships go in the future. The best is yet to come.
FUN FACT
Did you know: I pre-gamed my blog announcement on Instagram? Yep. I drank two full glasses of Cab and frantically texted about five of my closest friends repeatedly asking them whether I should tell anyone about the blog or not. After annoying them for about two hours and feeling a wine buzz, I finally hit the “go” button, and my only regret is not hitting it sooner.
Shop this spring transitional look below, and happy Friday Eve!
xo, Ashlen