Style, LifeRolanda EvelynUrban Outfitters, Mejuri, Everlane, J.Crew, Dolce & GabbanaComment

begin again

Style, LifeRolanda EvelynUrban Outfitters, Mejuri, Everlane, J.Crew, Dolce & GabbanaComment
begin again

It's a little crazy to write but I started this sparkly corner back in the summer of 2016. At the time, things- the blogger landscape, the influencer landscape, social media as a whole- looked a lot different.

When I think back, the reason I started this blog in the first place was because I wanted a safe place to create. I wanted a space where I could be the editor-in-chief of my own voice. If I’m being honest, I didn't know how to start a blog or what maintaining one would even entail. But, I decided to ignore the noise and reached out to a couple of bloggers who I admired for advice. I told myself “If they could do it, why couldn't I?”  

And, over the years, I’ve had some incredible opportunities! Not only have I been able to create and collaborate with other incredible bloggers, photographers, and brands; this space has also brought me you. I’ve been able to have some real conversations with you all about your journeys, your learnings, your goals, your dreams; the list goes on. I don’t take any of that lightly and truly appreciate those of you who have been along this ride with me. 

Somewhere over the last ~3 years, it has been more difficult than usual for me to create for this space. Part of that, I can attribute to focusing on transitioning from San Francisco to New York.  The other part of that I can also recognize as focusing on my transition from YouTube directly into the fashion industry. And of course, there has been COVID these last ~2 years, which I know I don’t have to belabor. But, most recently, I have also been able to identify there's something else that was keeping me from creating. I realized that my sentiments towards this sparkly corner, and, by proxy, creating for it, has been tainted by my feelings towards, well, I guess there’s no reason to be coy, Instagram.

If I’m being totally honest, I really miss the old Instagram. I miss being able to share things without the pressure of performance, and, truthfully, I miss the caliber of content that used to fill my feed. Nowadays, it feels like my feed is filled with fluff to appease the IG algorithm instead of creating meaningful content that sparks discourse and conversation. [Let me be so clear, there are accounts that I follow that I LOVE like @krystal_bick, @enigivensunday, @thelanguageofyolande to name a few]. It’s just that with Instagram execs openly dictating the kind of content they will be prioritizing (and therefore what they are de-prioritizing), I think it signaled to me, even if subconsciously, that the future of content was changing, and it wasn't something I thought was for the better nor that I necessarily wanted to take part in. And so, I leaned out. 

But I miss it; I miss creating. And what I realized, as I was committing to my 2022 goals, was that this sparkly corner has nothing to do with Instagram. So I’m going back to the basics, and doing what I did when I first started this space. I’m ignoring the noise. And I’m going to keep creating the kind of content that brings me joy, no matter what an algorithm may say.

So here’s to recommitment– recommitting to creativity, creating without boundaries or pressure, and, of course, recommitting to sparkle. I hope you’ll continue to come along with me!

Top: J.Crew//Pants: Everlane//Boots: Urban Outfitters//Vest: Thrifted via Goodwill// Sunglasses: Dolce & Gabbana // Earrings: Mejuri//

Photos by: Diana Davis

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Real Talk: Goodbye, San Francisco

My relationship with SF has had its highs and its lows from the very beginning; I’ve talked about that a lot here, and after 2 ½ years I’m ready to say goodbye. So I decided to write a letter to put into words the journey I’ve had over the last 2+ years. What follows is pretty personal and honest. These are my opinions as a result of my own personal experiences and  in no way do I mean to discourage others or come off as negative. I’m just keeping it real.

real talk., Style, LifeRolanda EvelynModCloth, Urban Outfitters, Quay, Baublebar2 Comments
Real Talk: Goodbye, San Francisco
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merry & bright

It may seem overwhelming or even chaotic from the outside, but I couldn’t love this tradition anymore. It’s nothing exotic or fancy, but it’s exactly what I want. Just time to be around my tribe. What are your holiday traditions? Whatever you may be doing to celebrate [or not], I hope you feel how I feel this Christmas Day- merry & bright!

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merry & bright
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a good 'different'

I hope to continue experimenting and creating during this time not only because it brings me joy but also because I hope it gives you a slice of normalcy, or maybe a world to get lost in, even if for just a minute. Shooting this [thank you, C] felt so different for so many reasons, but in many ways a good ‘different’; one that excites me to continue trying new things and sharing with you along the way.

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a good 'different'
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a new perspective

I thought to myself, what a difference a couple of steps or rather a change in perspective can make. I remind myself that the same thing will be true when this is all over. [Because yes, this too shall pass]. In truth, I already feel a change when thinking back to when this all first started. And I take comfort in that. What a difference a new perspective can bring.

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a new perspective