My friends and family give me the inspiration to be unapologetically me. My cousins view my stories and react to my Facebook and Instagram posts. Now that may make me somewhat of a social media slut but it does give me confidence and makes me feel loved.
Let’s start with my family. While there are too many to name, I will only choose a select few. However, I’m blessed with a wonderful, loving family.
My cousin Emily (Gaffron) is so sweet and always finds the nicest things to say in our chats on social media. Back in March when I posted my #joyspotted, she posted some kind words on my Instagram.
“You’re incredible and so beautiful 😍 inside and out ❤️”
“You deserve every kind word and more ❤️❤️❤️”
I took those words to heart and made them my own. “You’re incredible. Shine bright ☀️ like a diamond 💎.” “Embrace your style.” “Explore your beauty.”
My cousin Katie (Nicholson) has made her blog, Everyday Adventures With Katie, a hit with her weekly posts. I started this blog, Stylish and Trendy, in November 2019 to compete with her blog which has been so successful itself. Katie is always following my blog and my updates on social media and she too provides some great compliments.
I have come into my own with the blog as much as I have with my fashion and style. Last year, building upon the quick run of success in 2019, I felt my head was getting a little bit too big. I was blogging every day and I posted some stuff that I shouldn’t have. At least the shutdown helped put some things into perspective.
Next is my adopted family. Paula and Sara and I have known each other since 2008 when we attended church together at Greensburg Alliance Church. We parted ways for a bit but life brought us all back together.
I met up again with Sara in 2018 when she was working at Old Navy at Westmoreland Mall. She had gone through a lot herself and it was nice that we reunited. Paula and I chatted on social media. Both women mean a lot to me. We all got to meet in person at Rob and Sara’s wedding this past May. I had a dinner date with the Newsoms back in December and a coffee date earlier this year. Of course we also communicated via text and social media.
Paula and Sara inspire me because they accept me for who I am. I worried at first that no one would like how I dressed or what I carried on my shoulder but these girls were always here to give their approval.
When I was interested in buying a new bag, and I posted pictures of Coach purses, they shared my interest and even were a little envious that I was purchasing one. Paula and Sara showed their love to me instead of discouraging me.
When I post my outfit of the day on social media or share my blog, Paula and Sara will always find the nicest things to say. They compliment me on my posts on Facebook and Instagram. “SLAY 🔥”
Paula and Sara aren’t just friends, they’re family to me. I am family to them as well.
Another person who gives me inspiration to be fashionable and stylish is my coworker, Emily Swager. It was a little more prevalent in 2019, but a couple times outside of work, her sense of style really rubbed off on me. It’s amazing how those couple of experiences changed my perspective. She deserves credit even if she doesn’t realize it.
I liked her ban.do lunch tote so much I had to buy one of my own. She’s also part of the reason why I became interested in Coach and eventually bought my crossbody and tote. I liked her Coach purse so much I had to have one of my own. But it’s also because of the encouragement I’ve received from Sara and Paula.
I’ll close off with some coming attractions. Club officer training is next Saturday and there will be a blog covering the experience. I’m going to take some time this weekend to get acclimated into my VPE role for Greensburg. We made Select Distinguished and big things are coming in 21-22 for my home club.
I’m planning a visit to ULTA Beauty and Target to shop for HBA products and check out some of their cosmetics. I might even get some work done at the salon 💇♀️. I’ll even look for dinner too. I’m scoping out a good place to go. Monroeville, North Hills, Cranberry, Robinson, and South Hills all have an ULTA and Target close to each other.
I’m also looking another outlets visit for some back to school deals (I’m not going back to school but this is something I want to report on 🎤 for the blog). Finally, I want to shout out my local businesses and visit some boutiques and florists. Sara and I want to check out a shop in Ebensburg right up our alley (Sandy Johns).
Bye everyone. ❤️ you.
this inspiration blog series.
Stylish 🍒 