Last Tuesday I broke my months-long hold out of attending public fashion parties in Chicago to toast the newly redesigned Coach store on Michigan Avenue. I’ve settled into working 40 hours a week and I’m not as tired after getting out. Plus, I’ve built a healthier relationship with my blog. Now I only do things I want to do as opposed to things I have to do, because I don’t have to do anything with blogging! My blog is my hobby, and I couldn’t be happier. A pretty serious hobby but still, it’s something I do on the side for fun as a creative outlet. I can be way more selective with parties, with corporate partners, and with editorial content. When have you ever heard a creative person tell you that having a 40-hour a week job is freeing?! Yes, that’s a chilly breeze you feel from hell freezing over…

 

My new Coach legacy clutch & Lanvin H&M necklace – Photo by Jena

So yes, I needed a loooooong break after pouring my heart and soul into building this website from scratch two years ago. I also wanted time to refocus my priorities with this blog. The best part about my blog has always been walking around Chicago’s streets alone looking for inspiration in everyday people. That’s the core of my blog, where my heart lies. After a long time spent covering events for sites like Pinkmemo, Racked and Refinery29, it’s immensely freeing to choose not to go out at all! For almost two years I didn’t feel like I had a choice. Of course parties are fun, but they’re time-consuming & exhausting. I can’t think of any other way to put it – I was totally and completely burned out.

Nicole Briese, me, Laila Chen, and Jena Gambaccini – phone pic by Bolaji

When the Coach invitation landed in my inbox I was like “oh! this might be a nice first party after taking a long break.” I picked out one of their new Legacy Collection Colorblock pieces to carry to the party. It was an easy choice for me with its simple, classic design and neutral, goes-with-anything color scheme. I had a blast hanging out with my coworker Laila. Attending the party with someone from my “real world” (a.k.a. not the fashion world) made the evening way more entertaining, because I felt a lot freer to be myself and bring a casual vibe to the event. It’s all part of me approaching my blog from a different perspective, integrating my blog into my everyday life a way that enhances it for myself and the people around me!