CH-CH-CH-CHANGES: Embracing Innovation

Hey babes, you may have noticed (and just might of caught a few hints when reading my post last week) a shift is happening here, and I'm thrilled to spill the beans on the exciting changes taking place in the realm of Stark Raving Chic. With this shift, I am working on evolving from a strict focus on fashion/style to a delightful fusion of fashion and lifestyle. Meaning there will still be some #OOTD style posts here and there, but I’m really embracing some new vibes. Think: lifestyle, local spotlight (either when Adam or the besties and I check out new and old spots we dig around the ‘Burgh and sometimes NOLA, or potentially YOU!), personal development, and some content for foodies to boot! So darlings, let’s dive into why this change is happening and what it means for you:

Why the Shift?

1. A Holistic Approach to Style:

To me, fashion isn't just about the clothes we wear; it's about the lifestyle we lead. By expanding into lifestyle content, I aim to provide a more comprehensive perspective on style – one that encompasses not only what we wear but how we live and express ourselves. After all, I have always said style and beauty are two of my biggest artistic outlets (only second to well, photojournalism/writing!).

2. Meeting Your Diverse Interests & Engaging in Meaningful Conversations:

You, my amazing readers, have diverse interests beyond just fashion. So, this shift allows me to cater to a broader range of topics, from beauty and wellness to travel and home decor, to even personal development and mental health/wellbeing ensuring there's something for everyone in our growing community. Furthermore, lifestyle content opens the door to more meaningful and relatable conversations. So by expanding my content I will also broaden my reader base, which could allow all of us to broaden our community and connection to one another. I'm excited to delve into topics that resonate with you on a deeper level, fostering a sense of community and camaraderie.

3. Adapting to Personal Evolution:

Just as fashion trends evolve, so do we. This shift reflects my own personal growth and changing interests in the past a little over 6 years. I want this space to be a genuine reflection of who I am and the lifestyle that I lead, and makes me well,  me!

What to Expect?

1. Style with Substance:

Snapped during Adam and I’s trip to NYFW and he begrudgingly stopped at Shake Shack with me—though ultimately he was happy he gave it a second chance!

While fashion/style will always be a core element of Stark Raving Chic, you can expect a richer,  more colorful, tapestry of content. I'll be weaving in lifestyle topics that complement and enhance our understanding of style, making this space a one-stop destination for all things chic and meaningful.

One of the first little knick-knacks Adam bought us when we first moved in together.

2. Beauty Beyond Wardrobes:

Beauty isn't limited to the makeup and clothes we wear; it extends to how we care for ourselves—even when we might not be feeling our best. So get ready for beauty and wellness content that celebrates the art of self-care and embraces a holistic approach to looking and feeling our best. (I am tying to incorporate some of that six years of schooling into this somehow—especially since it’s partially the reason I was on hiatus!)

3. Wanderlust Chronicles:

Roadtrip snapshot from our time in NYC for Fashion Week.

Travel has always had a way of inspiring fashion, and vice versa. So you can also look forward to joining  me (and most of the time Adam) on exciting journeys as we explore new destinations, uncover hidden gems, and draw inspiration from the diverse cultures that shape the world of style as well as give me personal style inspiration.

Adam (looking good) at Phipps Conservatory

4. Home Sweet Style:

Though Oliver at times is an enigma, I was happy to see he made an appearance for this photo.

I believe your space is  not only an extension of your style, but an extension of your personality. And I do like to admit, my clients have proven my theory right when they walk into my office and say things like “this is just so you. It’s safe, comforting, and warm”. With this being said, expect glimpses into my world of home/office decor, organization tips, and lifestyle hacks that elevate your living and working space while maintaining a chic aesthetic.

Memories, from knick-knacks to photographs.

5. Local Spotlight:

Thank you to Shaolin, of Black Horizon Tattoo, for this awesome little rabbit (I named him Harold Footless!)

I want to shine a spotlight on YOU AGAIN! Much like when I did my 2017-2018 spotlights on other local bloggers, I want to get out more in the community and extend this—though fellow bloggers are also still welcome. So, get ready for features that highlight the incredible individuals, businesses, and awesome places in our community. Your style, stories, and experiences are what make this space vibrant and diverse. And as mentioned earlier, if we’re slow on getting takers/a line up, I’ll also be incorporating some of my own favorite spots with family and friends!

Our Journey Ahead

In making for time for self-care, something I have been trying to do is incorporate coloring and other peaceful activities I enjoy into my daily routine.

In closing, I want to say this shift isn't just about change; it's about growth and evolution. I'm just absolutely thrilled to embark on this journey, exploring the intersection of fashion and lifestyle, and creating a space that celebrates the beauty of both.

Thank you for being part of this incredible metamorphosis. Let's embrace these CH-CH-CH-CHANGES together and make this fashion and lifestyle journey a vibrant and inspiring one!

What changes have you gone through in the past few years? Let’s chat about it in the comments below!

Xx, Bree

Hi, hello, I’m BACK! (Feat. Finding Balance: Why I Took a Break from Blogging)

Hey there, it’s been a while, hasn't it? What, 2018? That’s the last time I posted minus my little teaser a little over a week ago?! $#@%! It didn’t seem that long. You might be wondering why I went MIA for quite a bit. Was it personal reasons? Was it the pandemic? Well, let me pull back the curtain and share why I decided to take a break from blogging.

Disclaimer:
The TL;DR version of this answer is I am well and happy, I had a bit of a career shift since 2018, and then the pandemic happened in 2020 which is when I initially anticipated relaunching following my second degree. But spoiler alert: I earned my third degree (my masters in professional counseling) during the pandemic, passed my NCE exam over a year ago and am currently working as a clinical therapist and LPC. I also plan to begin working on getting my MSN and possibly DNP in the future—however considering I also got engaged in the midst of all this and am currently planning a wedding, my academic endeavors are on a slight pause; but focusing on the now, outside of that, still the same old Bree!

And, regarding the blog, it will be undergoing some changes, but I plan on continuing to post because I’ve greatly missed this part of my life (to get a bigger scoop on the ch-ch-cha-changes, stay tuned in the next ten days!). So, for y’all who’ve been wanting my life update and what I’ve been up to for the last (almost) six years, here’s the scoop:

1. Prioritizing Mental Health:

Life can get hectic, and so did mine. Juggling work, grad school, personal life, and blogging can take a toll. I realized I needed to prioritize my mental health and step back to recharge. It's essential to acknowledge when the creative well needs a refill.

2. Quality Over Quantity:

In the pursuit of consistency, I found myself prioritizing quantity over quality. I decided to take a pause to refocus on creating content that truly resonates with me and, hopefully, with you all too. Quality always trumps quantity, and I want each post to bring genuine value, and not feel like forced labor to keep up with sponsorships and sometimes perceived competition. Because all in all, I’m doing this for me, it’s my creative outlet and I feel I should enjoy creating content as much as my audience enjoys consuming it!

3. Embracing Change:

Change is inevitable, and sometimes, it's crucial for growth. I took this break to reflect on where I want my blog to go and to embrace the changes happening in my own life. It's okay to evolve, and my blog should reflect that evolution too.

4. Personal Growth Journey:

Life is a journey of continuous growth. I wanted to dedicate time to personal development, learning new skills, and gaining fresh perspectives. This break allowed me to invest in myself, ultimately enhancing the content I create for my wonderful readers (psssst I’m talking about y’all!).

5. Avoiding Burnout:

Blogging can be demanding, and burnout is a real concern (especially as my main profession, a clinical therapist, has a high burn out rate too). To prevent reaching that point of exhaustion here and in my full time gig, I decided to step back temporarily. Taking a break is not a sign of weakness but rather a proactive measure to ensure I can continue to deliver my best in all aspects of my work, on and off the blog.

6. Reconnecting with Passion:

Blogging should always be a passion project, not a chore. I took this break to reconnect with the initial spark that inspired me to start this journey. Rekindling that passion ensures that every post comes from a place of genuine enthusiasm, because that’s what myself and my readers deserve.

7. Balancing Responsibilities:

Life's responsibilities can pile up, and it's crucial to find the right balance. My hiatus allowed me to reassess and reprioritize, ensuring that I can manage my blogging commitments while also fulfilling all other aspects of life. Again, I want this to be something I enjoy and share with others as a means of connection—not something I force myself to do.

8. Quality Me-Time:

Self-care is not just a buzzword; it's a necessity, and I learned this all too well during my time in grad school during the COVID-19 pandemic. I took a step back to indulge in some quality me-time, enjoying activities that I'm passionate about outside the blogging sphere. A rejuvenated blogger means better content for you!

9. Setting Boundaries:

Blogging often blurs the lines between work and personal life. Taking a break helped me set clearer boundaries, ensuring that when I'm working on my blog, I'm fully present and passionate about the content I'm creating, opposed to feeling like “I have too” it’s an “I want too”. Like any labor of love should be. This also has helped me set boundaries for when I’m not working on the blog as well, my personal time shouldn’t be consumed by worrying about sponsorships and deadlines—just like in my clinical work, I need to leave my blog work on the blog and enjoy my experiences outside of it. I have found this makes for a much more harmonious work/life balance.

10. Coming Back Stronger:

Sometimes, you need to take a step back to leap forward. I assure you, this break was not in vain. I've spent this time brainstorming, planning, traveling (*cough, cough* there will be a post very soon about my excursion to New York Fashion Week with my wonderful ghoulmate Adam) and creating content that I can't wait to share with all of you! So get ready for some exciting new posts coming your way!

I appreciate your understanding and continuous support during this hiatus. Let's dive back into this blogging journey together with renewed energy and passion!

And as always, I’d love to chat and catch up! So please feel free to tell me about anything and everything you’ve been doing to rejuvenate and care for yourself in the comments section down below!

P.S. All my socials are still the same, but just in case you forgot you can follow me on Instagram (and connect with me on Threads!), Pinterest, BlogLovin, Twitter (oops I mean “X”, major eye-roll), you can also like/follow me on Facebook and connect with me on LinkedIn!

P.P.S. Also, though my shop is currently under construction, you can still connect with me via LIKEtoKNOW.it (now LTK for short!) and then you’ll be able to shop my closet again once I get some new style posts uploaded.

Xx, Bree

2017: Recap, Reflection, and What's To Come

Whoa, whoa, whoa! I cannot believe that the new year is only four days away! And though 2017 hasn't been the best year ever, considering it has definitely hit some ultimate lows, it has also had some great highs too. From the #MeToo movement empowering women to Prince Harry proposing to Meghan Markle, 2017 really did have some positive points minus the cloud of negativity overshadowing it. So, hopefully, 2018 will end this cycle of negativity and will continue the positive aspects of 2017, which I think we'd all agree that we need. (Not to mention, the new year starts on a Monday, so what better time to rejuvenate and make positive changes?!)

As many of my long time readers know, 2017 has not been an easy year for me either. Early this year, someone I cared for, and still care for, deeply, ended our romantic relationship, and though we are now still friends, the breakup was not easy on either of us. And as a result of this I took a hiatus from blogging to just do me for much of the first half of the year. However, after spending sometime traveling and practicing a great amount of self-love along with positive thinking, I came back to the blogging game and my blog is now stronger than ever and is continuing to grow rapidly (more on this in the "what's to come" section of this post)! So, much like the year 2017, I myself have had some low points, but I feel the high points have surpassed them, so I just wanted to take a moment to recap my "Best Nine" of 2017, and share what I have planned for the new year.

Lovely In Lace (Feat. StyleWe)

My top ranking post this year was actually this little number from StyleWe, who has now been one of my sponsors for over a year now, and I actually have some more upcoming collaborations with them next year. Which thrills me because I'm sure you know from my past posts that I absolutely adore their clothing. 

Autumn Hues (Feat. StyleWe) 

Speaking of StyleWe, my next top ranking post was actually of this fabulous dress from them as well! As you can see, I'm sure it was a favorite due to its lush color and assmetrical cut.

Summer Vacation Style Guide 2017

My next follower favorite was actually my style guide when I showed off my vacation packing list for my trip to New Orleans this summer. 

Partnership With Sally Hansen

Next up, if you follow me on Instagram I'm sure you saw my post about my exciting collaboration with Sally Hansen and you got to see my awesome manicure featuring their new InstaDry nail polish.

Elegance Underneath (Feat. PPZ Lingerie)

My fifth highest ranking post was actually my partnership with PPZ, which featured this gorgeous set of lingerie plus a kick-ass body positive message.

Style Steals & Holiday Deals 

Much like every year, my holiday steals and deals posts are always a hit! So I wasn't surprised to see that this flat lay made the list.

Warm & Fuzzy (Feat. SheIn + Rocksbox)

My next ranking post, featuring two of my longtime sponsors SheIn and Rocksbox, took the seventh spot in my Best Nine. And I have to say that though these two sponsors have been with me since the very beginning, I'm still thrilled to continue to work and partner with both of these wonderful companies.

Holiday Gift Guide

Much like my holiday steals posts, gift guides have also always taken a top spot and the year 2017 is no different! Aside from featuring some new sponsors.

Let's Get Knit Started (Feat. StyleWe)

Last but not least, my final photo in my Best Nine is yet again, another lovely dress from StyleWe.

What's To Come for Stark Raving Chic in 2018

Even though 2017 had a few ups and downs, I have to say after looking back at all my achievements (along with some non-blog related ones such as going back to college and getting a 4.1 GPA after my hard work this semester), 2017 actually wasn't all that bad of a year and I am so happy with how far my blog has come and am looking forward to it continuing to grow. So, what's next?

Well, starting next year, now that I am more acclimated to being back in the grind of college, I plan on going back to posting once a week opposed to biweekly because I missed writing (and all of you) tons! So, going into the new year and next semester I am working on managing my time better and have re-broken out my trusty editorial calendar to keep me better organized. And speaking of blogging and staying organized, due to the high demand for more blogging tips posts, I will also be trying to do more tutorial style/blogging for beginners posts along with my typical style posts.

And lastly, along with adding more insight about how to blog successfully and keeping organized, I also have a bunch of exciting new material that I will be sharing with you all within the next year. These things will be ranging from some awesome new collaborations, along with some more lifestyle/travel posts, and to top it off, you know there might even be a giveaway (or two!!).  And of course, I will be continuing to work with my favorite sponsors, so you'll be seeing new material from them too!

Needless to say I am so stoked for 2018 and am looking forward to what's to come. But I would also like to take a moment to thank all of my followers, readers, and loved ones, because without you guys I wouldn't be the success that I am today. So thank you all, and I wish you the happiest new year!

What are you guys excited for in 2018? Let's chat about it in the comments below or you can tweet me at @StarkRavingChic. And be sure to follow me on Instagram at @StarkRavingChic to stay updated on all my latest posts. Later, babes!

Xx, Bree