On March 26, 2010, I published my first blog post, aptly titled “Hello, World!” One could have never have imagined what the 10-year anniversary of my blog would be like on March 26, 2020.
C.S. Lewis wrote: “The great thing, if one can, is to stop regarding all the unpleasant things as interruptions of one’s ‘own,’ or ‘real’ life. The truth is of course that what one calls the interruptions are precisely one’s real life.”
Thank you, Mr. Lewis, for this wisdom. Now that I’ve (somewhat) found my footing in this new, temporary reality, let’s take a journey through the last 10 years of the blog.
My First Post
When I published my first post, I knew very little about blogging, and blogging was still fairly new. What I did know was I enjoyed writing. With countless other blogs out there, I wanted my blog to stand out.
An excerpt: “I got into image consulting to help people and to make a positive impact in their lives. So, here’s what my blog is about: I want to educate you, empower you, and help you become more aware of yourself, your style and your imprint on this world. I want to give you REAL information that will raise your awareness about image, style and fashion, as well as increase your confidence in your own personal style.” Read the full post here.
Shoes are a Hot Topic
Several months into writing my blog, I published “Your Shoes – They Matter.” An excerpt: “Everyone owns shoes that are purposeful. We have gym shoes, work shoes, evening shoes, etcetera. However, do you own a pair that communicates who you are?” Read the full post here.
My First Year of Blogging
I was very active in the first nine months of my blog publishing a total of 30 posts! Apparently, I had a lot to say. Then, the blog posts abruptly stopped for a year. There was a good reason for that. I had twins at the end of 2010, two months early! The next 12-14 months were a blur of bottles, diapers and burp cloths.
I began writing my blog again in early 2012. One of those first posts is aptly named “Seeing Double.” The title of course was in reference to my twins, but the post also contains five tips to shop smarter and not get overwhelmed. Read the full post here.
Don’t Wait to Lose Weight
Later in 2012, I published a post titled “Shop Right Where You Are.” This post discusses shopping for nice things now rather than waiting until you are at your ideal weight. It is very common to hear a potential client say she would like to lose weight before she works with me. However, in this post I make the case for not waiting. There is a client success story within. Read the full post here.
Stand Out For Being Yourself
One of my favorite blog posts from 2013 was a short, sweet one called “Be a Red Tulip.” In short, I encourage you to be yourself and to embrace the things that make you stand out. Read the full post here.
2014, the Year of Education
I was doing a lot of public speaking in 2014. As a result, my blog posts reflect topics I was speaking about including career style, a balanced wardrobe and body language.
A Few Guest Bloggers
It’s hard to believe I’ve only had a few guest bloggers. My first guest blogger was Deborah King of Final Touch who discussed civility, something we all need in giant doses right now! This blog was posted about two months into the start of my blog. However, it is a great refresher for what is happening in our world right now. An excerpt: “Civility deals with how we view and treat others. It requires us to look beyond our own interests and look to the interests and well-being of others.” Read the full post here.
My second guest blogger, my dear friend Deborah Hill, wrote a blog post called “Pregnancy Chic” about five months into the start of my blog. An excerpt: “Dressing chic during pregnancy is very easy, actually. The key is to NOT dress like you’re pregnant. In other words, dress your normal style in an accommodating size.” Read the full post here.
Seven years later in August 2017, I welcomed my third guest blogger, my younger brother, Marsh Buice. He wrote “It’s Not You, It’s Your Metabolism.” An excerpt: “To metabolize our lives differently, we must transform from a life of emotional resistance to a life of emotional resilience.” Those are words to digest right now! Read the full post here.
Fashion, Fashion & More Fashion
I’ve seen several amazing exhibits featuring incredible fashion designers over the years. However, I have only featured a few on my blog. They are in order: Oscar de la Renta, Jeremy Scott and Christian Dior.
The Blog Goes to the Dark Side
After we moved to Seattle in early 2015, I began to write more serious pieces including a popular one titled “Why I Allowed My Daughter to Cut Her Hair.” An excerpt: “Vivien is free to express herself through her personal image. While I still play the role of her mother, protecting, guiding and teaching her, she can make image choices for herself.” Read the full post here.
I reflected on the forced pause the move created in a post titled “When Life Demands a Pause.” This is a great one to re-read as the world is in a forced pause of sorts. An excerpt: “How wonderful to enjoy more time with my beautiful, kind children during these sweet, young years. My business can always get a re-boot. Our kids are only young once.” Read the full post here.
My Most Popular Post
The blog post that remains the most read of all, “The Day I was Asked to Move,” recounts a painful, embarrassing day. However, a few great lessons came from it. Read the full post here.
Southern in Seattle is Born
As I was finding my footing in Seattle, I launched a new blog in February 2017 called Southern in Seattle. The purpose of this blog was to share things I loved of the South with my Seattle audience and to also highlight southern things I found in Seattle (mostly food!). We have been back in Dallas for almost two years, but I’ve held onto the blog name, as well as the Instagram profile. I’ve kept it because it is part of my story. I want to remember our time in Seattle in a fond way. This blog emerging from that time is a wonderful result. My favorite blog post I have ever written across both of my blogs is on Southern in Seattle. It is my love letter to New Orleans. Read it here.
A Recent Favorite
One of my favorite blog posts in the more recent past is “Whose Style is it Anyway?” An excerpt: “We won’t always understand or agree with the fashion choices around us. It isn’t our job to. Our job is to find our own style and to work it fearlessly.” Read the full post here.
Do You Believe in Miracles?
You don’t want to miss my miracle story in “Tales from the Tarmac – A Girl & Her Orange Suitcase.” Customer service is not dead. Read the full post here.
Let’s Go for 10 More!
This blog has given me great joy over these last 10 years. It has allowed me to share encouraging words with you, my readers. It has helped me process my thoughts during difficulties, and it has kept me in touch with the good in others. While I started the blog for you, it has been a great help to me! I can’t imagine my life without it. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your support. There is more to come!
