Stark Raving Chic

Hello, everyone! It sure has been awhile hasn't it? Though I had yet another unplanned hiatus (I don't know why but they always seem to happen in early spring, what's up with that?), however, I'm thrilled to say that this most recent 2018 hiatus was for a much brighter reason than last years. This time, and there will be more on this below, my hiatus had a HUGE focus on self-care and as a result has left me feeling happier, healthier, and more motivated than ever to get back on to the blogging scene!

And of course, aside from being happy to be back to writing and styling (which are just a few of my favorite things), I am also thrilled to be back because I also have some very exciting collaborations coming up this summer and will also be working with some really awesome people. But most of all, I am excited to be back because I have missed all of you, which as always I am forever appreciative of all of your on going support! Now, let's get to the good stuff, plus my brand new #OOTD.

Life/Blog Updates + What I've Been Up To

So, I am sure many of you are wondering why I have been away (especially without warning) for so long. The short answer to this is back in late February, I unfortunately caught that nasty flu and bronchitis that had been going around this year, and was in and out of the hospital for weeks. That in itself was rough, however, what made it worse was due to being ill I fell behind in my classes at Point Park University. The latter was originally the main reason for my hiatus because I take my schooling very seriously (good news is, though I'm not thrilled my GPA didn't stay at a 4.0, I did come out of this semester with a 3.6 all things considered), I also started focusing on getting healthier and taking better care of myself.

In order to do this, I began making time to do things that I enjoy again. These activities include yoga, running, ballet, singing, and of course photography. I also made strides in my personal health by making sure I made time for myself (because like many of us do, I occasionally forget that I am in fact important too) to relax and do things that I love, in order to keep my mental health in tip-top shape. I also have been eating better and have been sure to avoid pulling all-nighters at all costs, considering I know my sleep habits were an issue.

As for updates on the blog front, for one, my blogiversary was back on March 20, 2018, and Stark Raving Chic turned three years old! And though I didn’t get a proper post done about it, I’m still so happy to have had this success over three years. I was also thrilled to find that I haven't only not lost any followers, but I gained a significant amount, and actually hit 25K on Instagram! So along with some more exciting interviews (similar to the kick-ass one with Terra McBride back in February), as well as awesome upcoming collaborations with a few major companies, I will also be hosting a 25K giveaway sometime this summer, so be sure to stay tuned!

New Photography Work

As mentioned above, along with practicing self-care through being sure to make time for myself, I also really got back to my artistic roots and began photographing nature again. Though my focus was in photojournalism, and I love fashion photography, another thing I always loved focusing my lens on was nature, and honestly hadn't shot anything new until recently. However, it was so uplifting and I am so excited about the photos that I have decided I might have found a new passion in nature macro photography. If you head to my "Portfolio, Nature: 2018" section you can see all the photos I've been working on, but I picked a few of my favorites to show here (also note, all photographs can be printed and framed for purchase, pricing is available upon request via email):

Gorgeous Greenery

Last but not least, though this portion won't be as extensive as my other "Outfit of the Day" posts, I did want to share one of my new favorite early spring dresses from my affiliate and sponsor, FashionMia, along with some gorgeous jewelry from my favorite South Side boutique, Terry Jolo.

The reason I love this dress is due to its lush green color, which in my opinion, is absolutely gorgeous for spring. It reflects the new greenery we get this time of year as well as everything coming into bloom. I also like this dress’ flowy, a-line, cut, which gives this dress a soft and feminine appearance—adding to the soft look, and touch, of the velvet.

To style this look, I chose to keep it classic with some gorgeous gold jewelry from Terry Jolo. The reason this necklace and earring (see below) duo work so well for this look is due to the fact that they make a a statement without overwhelming the dress.

Lastly, to complete this soft and feminine look, I chose to keep it simple with my makeup and opted for bareMinerals BarePro in Aspen, Maybelline’s Bronze Rooftops City Minis pallet for my eyes, Dior’s My Rose Blush, and Kat Von D’s Studded Kiss lipstick in Lovecraft.

One Last Look

What have you been up too for the past three months, and what are some of your favorite ways to practice self-care? Let’s chat about them in the comments below or you can tweet me at @StarkRavingChic! Have any fabulous photography or spring looks that you have just been dying to show off? I’d love to see them, so feel free to tag me in you Instagram Story at @StarkRavingChic. Later, babes!

Xx, Bree

P.S. Psssst! just in case you haven't heard, I am now a proud member of rewardStyle and LIKEtoKNOW.it! Meaning you can shop straight from my Instagram feed when you click here or here. Don't know what LIKEtoKNOW.it is all about? Learn more, here!