The last post twenty seventeen!! Can you guys believe it? Cause really… I can not believe it. TIME IS FLYING, but it’s exciting. Scary a little, but exciting.
Today I really just want to take a second to thank you guys for another year of your support. It is crazy that I bought this domain 10 years ago in 2008, & now, this is where I am. This hobby of mine became my passion and my passion became my career.
& if it weren’t for all of you, I wouldn’t be getting to do what I love.
I am feeling all of the feels right now. So bear with me while I get semi-emotional. I started Fashionlush as a creative outlet for me. To be completely real, I had no idea the impact it would have on me down the road. I love blogging about fashion, sharing pretty photos, & creating good content- but what really make this all worth it at the end of the day is hearing from my readers.
I have gotten the chance to connect with women all over the world, & when I get a message from a reader that something I said/posted about/Instagrammed helped them in someway or another gives me goosebumps. A reader telling me she went to Copenhagen cause of my blog & it changed her life (complete with an email full of photos of her trip w/ all my fave places), a young lady reaching out to me just cause she needs to talk about having anxiety, new bloggers wanting advice on where to start… all of that gives me goosebumps & makes me feel like I am really doing what I was meant to do.
I always have wanted to help people & wanted my work to have meaning. Since I wanted to work in fashion I wasn’t sure how I would tie the two together. In the end, it all fell into place, & I am just so damn grateful. I truly feel I am doing my life’s work, & that is a blessing I thank the universe for every day.
EMO MUCH? The new year always does this to me, but just know how thankful I am for all of your guys’ support over the years. There are not enough words to express my gratitude…
NOW- let’s talk resolutions, or in my case- lack thereof.
I don’t do resolutions. Honestly it’s because I don’t see the need to set yourself up for disappointment. I truly believe- the pressure you put on yourself by writing out resolutions makes them that much more likely not to stick. I look at a new year as a clean slate, & I don’t to go into it with a ton of expectations weighing me down.
Instead of resolutions, I am all about reflections. I like to look back on all the good that happened in 2017 so that I can enter a new year with gratitude… & the cool thing about having a blog is that I can revisit the year through my posts & kinda see what was a big moment for me.
Let’s look back on some of my FAVE moments from 2017 :)
Fashionlush Year in Review
☆ Zack & I went to Nashville, which was the first time I have been back in over 15 years! I grew up there, so this was just a really special trip to me & I loved showing Zack where I came from.
☆ My amazing, perfect, gorgeous nephew was born… & this could have been the only think that happened this year & it would have been the BEST YEAR EVER. Obsessed with him.
☆ I did my very first selfie squat (LOL!)
☆ My girl, Ruby Tuesday, launched her own website & is taking the Instagram world by storm. PROUD DOG MOM(ager)
☆ Linda Stolman, my Mom, took center stage on my Instagram, & I LOVE that you guys love her!
☆ Fashionlush got a HUGE makeover… & is my favorite blog design yet!
☆ WE MOVED into a new place, & I finally got my dream walk in closet…. which we built ourselves!
☆ I launched the Mary Jane Diaries, & you guys were so so so down. I am so lucky to have such an open minded & accepting audience who appreciates me for me (pot smoking ways & all!).
☆ I created my own line of jewelry, & I am so obsessed. The Fashionlush Collection speaks to me in so many ways, & getting to see a vision I crafted up in my head comes to fruition was pretty exciting for me!! Also, each piece has meaning that is near & dear to my heart!
Check ’em out: The Sylvia pinky ring | The Linda evil eye choker | The Whitney baby angel lariat
☆ I was a guest on The Skinny Confidential Him & Her Podcast where we talked all about how social media killed my confidence, my struggle with anxiety, & relationships! This was my first podcast feature, & I loved it!!!
☆ I was also a guest on Podcast by Scout which was SO fun cause we talked allll about cannabis. I think this was an important podcast because it really gives a different perspective on marijuana & how I want to help shatter the stoner stigma!
☆ We went to Jamaica, & it was one of the best most life changing trips of my life. I still have my trip recap coming your way, but this trip really changed my perspective in so many ways!
LOOKING BACK, this year fucking killed it & I can not wait for 2018!!!
I don’t have resolutions, but I do have goals: I want to continue learning how to say no to shit that doesn’t serve me, I want to protect myself from negative energy, spend more time w/ the people I love, expand my business, provide you guys with quality content, expand Fashionlush into something bigger (but that’s a secret, for now!!), & most importantly- CONNECT WITH ALL OF YOU MORE & MORE. My greatest pleasure in all of this is getting to know you guys!
I have some BIG plans for 2018 & a lot of stuff is the works, so stay tuned!! I’ve got a good feeling about twenty eighteen & am so happy to have all of you come on this crazy journey with me.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU, I appreciate you more than words could express! x, Erica
