BACK TO SCHOOL INTENTIONS

BACK TO SCHOOL INTENTIONS

All clothes from Tori Radday's Depop

How?! HOW is it that TOMORROW I drive down to Savannah to begin my senior year?! In one bound to fly by week, I will be waking up early to embark on my LAST first day of school, like, ever. That is if I don't completely fail out of SCAD at the last possible moment, yikes, that would be bad. Let's not put that out into the universe, okay? Okay.

OKAY! so, senior year.
Holy crapola. Even though I still have a week or so before classes actually start, I thought it would be good to set some back to school intentions to start the year off with the right foot forward, no not the left foot, the right one, of course... Let's begin!

1. IT'S OKAY TO SAY NO after my freshman year I told myself to say, "yes" to everything. The result of that? Making lots of new friends, connections, and having cool and different experiences, the real outcome? Total burnout. I even made a video about it. Do I agree with that now? No.

I genuinely need to learn how to say, "no" to people. More often than not I find myself spreading myself MUCH too thin for the sake of others. I already know I am going to be busy, I need to... (transition)

2. PUT MYSELF FIRST going off of my last intention, I need to put myself first, seriously! My grades, health, both mental and physical, happiness come FIRST this year! I need to quit pulling so many all nighters, I need to begin taking steps back when self care is necessary. Speaking of, it's currently 3am and my eyelids feel like they have weights on them, SLEEP!

3. GROWTH IS NOT LINEAR I am prepared for this year to be full of ups and downs. I know I am aiming towards to goal of graduation in the spring and job in the summer to kick off my future career. But I need to remind myself that the path towards that will not be a straight new paved road, but perhaps a rocky passageway through a shaded wood, something more mysterious and dangerous, what's life without a little bit of danger, right? It may take a lot to get to where I'm going but I know that I will eventually wind up where I am meant to be.

4. APPLY YOURSELF And with that, I want to do everything I can to achieve my goals. I want to really push myself forward to creating the best work I can this year, being my best self, and making sure I am doing all that I can to get to where I want to be. With out pushing myself too hard of course...

Okay, now I really need to get packing. Let's get this thing going! Here's to new opportunities, new experiences, adventures, joys, highs and lows, and GROWTH! I could not be more excited for this journey to begin. I want to enjoy every last minute, and I want you to enjoy it with me every step of the way! Here we go! xo, O

AM I A FASHION BLOGGER?

AM I A FASHION BLOGGER?

all clothes available via Tori Radday's Depop
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Hello!
I'm writing this to you from my unmade bed in my unkempt, half packed room wearing two, (two?) ((yes, two)) bathrobes, trying to think of some type of useful information to share with you all at 12:39 am that is worth your time...

That's the thing with blogging I've realized lately, I am constantly torn between the age old quality over quantity argument. You see, part of me has been lead to believe that it's quantity that is better for a blog, it boosts engagement, it increases my views and clickthroughs, especially if I'm consistent with the quantity of my posting, posting on a regular schedule and what not.

But then the other part of me thinks that quality is much more valuable. I want people to see me as more than, "hey guys, I've really been loving this new sweater lately! Here's the link to buy it, use my 20% off code in checkout! Bye!" partially because that gets old pretty quickly, but mainly because I am so much more than that.

There are so many sides of me, of course blogging, fashion blogging in particular, is deep in there at the core of things, but my roots are infinite and I stretch and grow much further than my core. There are stormy parts, sunny parts, hurricanes, rainbows, all the weather patterns you can tie to an analogy, I've got it.

I don't post much on here anymore, I'm not going to deny that. Does that mean that I can no longer take the title of "fashion blogger?" If you sell paintings for a living, and then don't sell one for three years, are you still a painter? I think so, right?

My point is, I'm growing, changing, trying to figure out just exactly what it is I want to do in this world. I graduate this (school) year. My future is a head of me. Will I be a stylist? Creative director? Influencer? Content Creator? Social Media Manager? Popstar?! That last one is sort of far off, but you NEVER KNOW!

I am starting to question my place as a blogger in this world where there are so many larger problems at hand. Our president is insane, the Amazon is on Fire, women STILL aren't being payed equally to men, people are dying EVERYDAY from shootings, racism is alive and thriving fueled by hate. The world is a mess, how can I sit over here and simply discuss discounts and designer?

I try to use my platform and voice in a positive way, but it can be defeating when there is little to no change in the numbers, in fact, LESS people than ever are reading my blog, looking at my Instagram, and watching my YouTube videos... way less. It's discouraging, ESPECIALLY when I have opinions, thoughts on change, ways to help, move, plan, and create! 

What's the use in trying to show the other sides of me and trying to make change or an impact when I feel so small? Every time I post on here I post with intention to do it again and again and again, today, tomorrow, the next day, and the next and the next. But I get distracted, I want to post about fashion, but I feel selfish and self-righteous when posting about handbags and headbands when there are people dying in the world. What do you think?

xo, O 

Don't get me wrong, I read lots of fashion blogs and do have LOTs of respect for fashion bloggers, this is just my personal opinion about myself.

Hey RVA!

Hey RVA!

pants- Buffalo Exchange // top- Trunk Up Boutique // glasses- Oui Fresh //

I'm HOME?! Hey, I'm just as surprised as you are! It feels like just yesterday I was announcing my move to France. This year has been one full of moving, changing, learning and growing and it's not even close to over.

New York was absolutely fantastic. There were highs and lows, but I felt so inspired there and ready to take on the world! Being surrounded by so many people constantly on their own hustle made me want to go go go!

For now, I have a few weeks back home before I begin my next adventure of senior year. Typically I would be going straight to Savannah so I could get started right away on that adventure, but due to family and transportation, I've got to stay here for a little longer than expected. But perhaps it's for the best.

Sometimes we need to remind ourselves, or even force ourselves, to take a step back and rest. As creatives we, at least I, often feel the need to constantly be producing, working, and creating, but sometimes it can be a bit draining. It is important to listen to yourself and know when to slow down and just spend time on yourself, whether that be at home, or some place new.

While I'm home for these next few weeks, although I do feel like I have a lot to do (of course) I am going to make a conscious effort to relax and take time to really reset before I go back to school so I'm ready to take it on.

So I'm home, but you didn't think I could leave New York with out doing some thrifting did you? These pants are my new FAVORITES! They came from the Buffalo Exchange in NoHo in New York City! As you all know, Buffalo Exchange is one of my favorite stores. They offer a giant variety of recycled fashion, it's sustainable and stylish! What's more to love?

Buffalo Exchange has MANY locations so no matter where you are, check it out and go get your shop on! AND be sure to check out my thrift with me video to get a taste of some of the fun you'll get from shopping there!

SO! Happy shopping and relaxing, retail therapy is a thing right ;)
Xo, O

Do You Like or Like Like Me?

Do You Like or Like Like Me?

Happy Friday Babes!! 

I'm going to get right into this, word on the street is Instagram has plans to disable the like feature to be viewed by users other than oneself. I wanted to write a little blurb about that and get your thoughts! 

Instagram has built a world where we often find ourselves basing our worth off of something intangible, likes. Of COURSE I am guilty of this, the more likes I get, the better I feel not only about my content, but myself! Posting a photo of something I'm super proud of and it doesn't get that many likes? I'll take things personally and go as far as feeling offended. What about posting a photo of mySELF?! A flood of likes? MEGA CONFIDENCE BOOST! Little to no likes?! INSTANT HURT! 

Naturally, taking away likes would possibly take away the comparative toll it takes on our mental health, but that serious topic aside, what about how it will effect content creators and influencers? Some think it will be a big issue and hurt a lot of brands and bloggers. My opinion? It's the best thing Instagram could ever do.

As a small creator I am constantly frustrated by numbers because I KNOW my content is good, and yet somehow I am not getting the likes to represent that. Taking away likes levels the playing field for all content creators. I get denied from working with companies all the time because I don't get enough likes when in reality, to totally toot my own horn, my work in my own not-so-humble opinion is just as, if not BETTER than a lot of the influencers who pose with products in front of a white brick wall and deem that as good content while I'm spending hours on stop motion animations and full on videos or photoshoots?

no shade, but like.........................shade.

Leading our lives surrounded by likes that define our worth is toxic and unfortunately something undeniably addictive. Perhaps my opinion is unpopular, but I want to start a conversation about this! Bigger blogger babes what do you think? Aspiring content creation creators what do YOU think?

For the longest time I admitted to caring about likes for the sole reason being the ability to grow, collaborate, be seen by the algorithm, and literally EVERYTHING ELSE IN BETWEEN that has to do with being a blogger. It has been TOUGH, growing is HARD, making content that wants to be seen is FRUSTRATING! This begs the question how the algorithm will change, perhaps it will be chronological again? I hope!!

This post was more of a quick little rant than anything, but it's sort of me just putting my thoughts out there and I want to hear yours!! DM me on Instagram to keep the conversation going! 

Xo, O