Sister Style: Slow Down

In a few months we’ll celebrate ten years since the first post here on A Beautiful Mess. And while there is so much to celebrate, I’m feeling the need to slow down and ponder all that’s happened with our small company. It’s been a miracle in so many ways. Ten years ago no one was trying to be a “full-time blogger”. It was a different world, and one that I often miss. People blogged solely to share, solely for fun. In those days, most of the blogs I followed shared their daily lives and a few just shared random things they found beautiful, like decor and design.

Fast forward ten years and so much has changed. There is incredible opportunity in the blog world, both  for bloggers and for brands. We’ve created our own little industry and I’m so proud of that. With that said, I do feel nostalgic for the beginnings of our own journey. So for the next few months, I plan to set aside time for a lot of reflection. Entering a new decade in blogging is something I never considered. I had no idea we’d do this for so long. And now there’s no end in sight. So I feel like it’s time to try to envision what these next ten years could be, or at least what we dream them to be! Because, really, it’s up to us to decide.

Keep scrolling to hear Emma’s thoughts. 😉

Elsie’s Wearing: Jacket/Madewell, Necklace/Madewell, Dress/(similar), Purse/Ruche, Bossy Pin/Moorea Seal, Clogs/Swedish Hasbeens (probably my favorite pair of all time!!)

Take it away, sister!!

My, my, how the time has gone by so fast! There are a few things, like you, Elsie, that I miss from the good old days of blogging. 🙂 I guess the number one thing I miss would be the low stakes. It wasn’t an industry or a “job” at first, and there were a lot less people reading, so there wasn’t as much pressure as there is now. And low pressure situations tend to be more fun, or at least less stressful. (Obviously) I also think the Internet and social media moves so fast that when you think about having to be creative and keeping up with all of that forever, it can feel overwhelming. Sometimes I think I was built for a slower-paced world than the one we live in right now.

But my goodness I would be remiss if I didn’t point out all the truly amazing things that blogging has given me. I have a career I LOVE where I get to make things and connect with people from all over the world. I get to own a small business, write books, travel, take photos, cook stuff, make things, work from home, we got to donate a house once (!!!!), and the list could go on! Sometimes it feels like I have to give so much to keep up with blogging, but I’ve also received so much in return. It has been a crazy wild ride so far, and I’m excited to see what the next ten years holds for us – no doubt it will be full of changes and new challenges.

I personally LOVE to constantly (maybe too much at times?) reevaluate and try to big picture plan – so glad I’ll be coming to Nashville at the end of this month to shoot cookbook photos, and we can also talk about blogging for, like, EVER while we’re together, sis. Sounds like a good ol’ time to me. 🙂

Emma’s Wearing: Shirt and Sunnies/Oui Fresh, Jeans and Jacket/Levi’s, Shoes c/o Seychelles from Threadsence, Purse c/o Modcloth, Flare pins: The Uncommon Place, Georgia Perry, Greenwich Letterpress, Hello Apparel, The Golden Girl Rum Club.

Credits // Emma’s Photography: Janae Hardy, Elsie’s Photography: Amber Ulmer.