Let’s Catch Up! 7.28.19

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~ Photography by the talented Natasha Anne Photography ~

Outfit Details: This AMAZING Dress comes in Petite, Regular, AND Maternity ~ Straw Circle Bag ~ Similar Wedges (which I am OBSESSED with) ~ Sunnies ~ Earrings ~

Preface: if you are new here…welcome! This blog is usually a space where I share inspiring Empowering Women stories, adventures in travel and life, as well as style guides, shopping guides, and fun looks. However, since I LOVE cultivating relationships with you all and that’s what really keeps me going in this blogging journey, I started doing these little “Let’s Catch Up” features! Friends catch up with friends (ok, admittedly I could be better in this area with my real long distance friends…but I’m working on it), and as a member of this community, that’s what you all are to me! Please reach out if you haven’t already, and thanks for stopping by! I’m SO glad you’re here! xoxoxoxoxo 

~ Let’s catch up, friends! It’s been a hot second. To be honest, I feel like it’s been a hot second since I’ve caught up with EVERYONE I love in my life. I just got home from another work trip (it was extra special to me!) and truly had the most fun and full weekend with my old college roommate, Hannah, who is visiting with her boyfriend from Sweden. Hannah lived in Columbus for a year and connected me with Beth, my now best friend here. I will ALWAYS be a little sad that we never overlapped with our time in Columbus.

I AM SHOOK that it’s been an entire year here in Columbus and a full year working for Justice. In some ways, it feels like the longest year of my life, but in other ways, I feel like it’s really just flown by.

It’s been the most quiet year on the blog since it’s launch, and that makes me really sad to think about. The blog is always a bit of a litmus test as to how happy I am at any given moment, and the silence on here has probably given away the truth: This year has been really hard!

In the past, moving to a new city has included a crew of co-workers that quickly became best friends, a yacht club filled with wonderful people that became family, lifelong friends who lived within driving distance, or (*in Milano) unforgettable once-in-a-lifetime experiences with classmates from around the world. This move was really different and I can’t really say that I got any of those things. I DID however, quickly become closer with the 5 friends I had when I moved here who SERIOUSLY were my lifelines my first couple of months and have been ever since. I’m SO grateful for each of these girls and am not quite sure what I would have done without them.

I think the lessons that I’ve learned this past year are lifelong, unexpected, surprising, and BIGGER. Through work, I’ve grown more as a person than as a stylist (though I think I’ve learned SO much in styling this year, as well). I’ve definitely become stronger and more confident in the work that I do. I feel really triumphant in making it to the one-year mark in my new career and in my new city. I’ve done the work to settle in, now I feel like it’s time to take a big sigh of relief and continue to grow in a positive direction.

I’ve realized that in order to make a life here, I need to build community! I think that’s really what I was lacking this year. I recently joined the Athletic Club of Columbus and it already feels like my happy place. I also am absolutely obsessed with my Small Group Bible Study of women – it’s such a joy and something I look forward to every week. While I’m not sure if Columbus is my forever place, I am FAR from giving up just yet.

The past couple of weeks, for the first time in a while, I feel a little bit lighter and am really delighting in my city in a new way. I took advantage of restaurant week, met so many new friends out of the blue, and have checked off 3 things on my Columbus bucket list! I felt really excited landing back in Columbus on Friday and meeting my friends in the airport…I think it’s honestly the first time I’ve felt like that.

Life is full of peaks and valleys, and I’ve learned that sometimes we have to go through the valleys to experience the peaks. 25 was a “peak” year for me, and Milan was, of course, a “peak” year for me. September on the Vineyard when I came back to the states was a “peak” month for me, and I had a lot of peak moments with the most amazing freelance clients in PA and in Annapolis.

I’ve had some peak moments on set with Justice this year, too! I’ve also had some peak moments with really special people this year, too. My first few weeks here, it was clear that I would probably have more valleys to get through than I was used to. But since then, things have continued to get better each day. I made it through this “valley” year, and am SO glad I did. I have a strong feeling that this is going to be a “peak” year, and the more I think about all that I have to be grateful for now, how could it not be?!

How is your summer going? What would you like to see more of? Let me know! I’m sending you lots of love and sunshine. Thank you for stopping by this little space…I want to make sure it serves you/ inspires you in the best and most positive way.

Gratefully with love,

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxxoxoxoxo Rhiana