Let's Catch Up, Vol.2 - Wear Bows and Smile

~ The above photo is my the amazing and talented, Cara Marie Photography! Cara is the photographer behind one of my favorite blog shoots at Longwood Gardens, and I share a little bit about her in the post! ~

~ B L O O M W H E R E Y O U ‘ R E P L A N T E D ~

~ For all of you new here, thank you so much for stopping by and following along! Just last month, I started a new series called “Let’s Catch Up.” Since I consider you all an extension of this amazing friend group I have supporting the blog, I felt it was only right to check in every once and a while to let you know what’s going on in my life. And if you resonate with this at all (and I always hope that you do), please feel free to reach out with a note to connect (wearbowsandsmile@gmail.com)!

~ This past month has been a WHIRLWIND! I have been on the road more than ever and currently at this moment, haven’t been in the same state for over 48 hours in 10 days. I went down to Kiawah and Charleston to for a little blog related girls trip with my blogging bestie, Amy Littleson, and stayed for a couple of extra days with my wonderful friend, Tucker, in her beautiful home! I then headed to my dear friend, Andrea’s, bachelorette in the Hamptons, where I got to see so many friends that I love and haven’t seen in a while! I have been back and forth between MD and PA for freelancing and each day on set has been such a gift! It’s all been wonderful…it’s been exciting…it’s also had points of exhaustion. Major exhaustion that’s been catching up with me in so many ways.

This month, I’ve been really picking the minds of my blog loving friends and asking them all kinds of questions as to why specifically they enjoy following the blogs that they do. I am lucky that most friends love to talk about who they are loving at the moment and why! One thing that has clearly stood out is the fact that they like it when bloggers are REAL – when they share the good and the bad. Some friends have even gone as far as to unfollow bloggers that are “too perfect” and “staged.” And so, I tell you this for 2 reasons. The first is that I would really love any feedback from you! What content do you love to see from me or other bloggers? What would best serve you in your day-to-day? The second is to let you know that I promise to keep it real. I am far from perfect, and we are on this whole adult life journey together.

Most of my friends will tell you that I am known as being a bomb of happiness and energy (most of the time)! And my co-workers will often say that is what they like about me coming into their studios (YAY! That’s the goal!), but, I am not 100% top level happy all of the time (life is….life). I’ve been doing a lot of research (podcasting and audiobooks) into the psychology of happiness during all my driving(#nerdalert) and what I know to be true is that besides genetics, happiness is something that you always have to work on. I TOO work every day to be more positive, grateful, and happy. We can ALL be hard on ourselves when it comes to the social media comparison game….myself included. I just want to make sure I give you all a healthy dose of realness with the other (*hopefully inspiring and happy) posts. I think it’s important to share the real struggles, too.

Where was I? Oh yeah…exhaustion! THE STRUGGLE IS REAL! As much as I love freelancing and am SO grateful for my amazing, kind, talented, and wonderful clients…all of the back and forth (and living out of bags) can definitely get the best of me. Trying to keep up with freelancing, blogging, traveling, and normal life, has left me with a weighted question on my shoulders: Is this kind of life sustainable? Have any of you been feeling this in your own career hustles?

I made the decision a little over a month ago that I needed to stop hustling for and stressing about future opportunities and start just enjoying my current clients and everyday work. I seem to be having trouble sticking to that, but still believe it is the right move for me for the time being. Perhaps I’ll re-asses in a month or two, but I need some time to breathe…to catch up…to spend some time doing the things that bring me joy (yoga, pulling inspiration, golfing, hiking, reading…). What activities do you do when you need to come up for air and re-charge?

I have a huge challenge in front of me: to bloom where I’m planted. Seriously, it sounds ridiculous, but thinking of doing that here in PA sounds somewhat similar to climbing Everest. But, I am so lucky to work with such incredible teams every day. I am also so lucky to be only 1.5 hours away from close friends in Baltimore (closest distance to them ever). I am also lucky to have a beautiful commute here in PA that goes through mountains along the Appalachian trail, and I’m beyond grateful to be on set styling as much as I am. I’m not 100% sure how, but for the next month or so, my personal challenge is to see the beauty in all things here in PA and to count my blessings (and not worry so much about the future and what I don’t have)!

What lessons have I learned in the past month?

~ The heightened importance of having a “you shine, I shine” mentality and supporting all talented women and bloggers.

~ I learned how to properly slice a pineapple and am currently on my 3rd in 2 weeks! (haha I swear this is an important life lesson)

~ If you are confident enough and shine bright enough, the “are you dating anyone?” questions decrease in number drastically (I swear!).

~ Gratitude is the bridge from negativity to positivity. (It’s been working like a charm in sticky situations)

~ If you are open to all people and all experiences, the right people will pop into your life for a reason (seriously…so many incredible new friends have been met over the past month).

Lastly…

~ I struggle with all things Italy (and no, I still have not cleared through my Italian phone). Keeping with the “Bloom Where You’re Planted” theme, I felt that I wanted to share the stunning beauty of the flower festival that was on my street (Naviglio Grande) last spring. Fiori e Sapori is when both sides of the canal are flooded with FLOWERS! I remember getting more ranunculus than my arms could even carry for a blog shoot for under 10 euros! It was a dream come true. Editing these photos felt like taking a big step for me…so here is a little beauty to brighten up your week!