Since I’m on a new platform for this anniversary {my own website!} – I thought I would reshare my one year post from last year – ICYMI!
Enjoy!
Y’all – I can’t tell you how excited I am!
The Brooke Allison blog is
celebrating turning ONE today!
Almost a decade ago, I discovered Money Saving Mom and her blog on Pinterest when couponing had just become a thing. I enjoyed reading her regular posts and realized I much I missed writing. So I wrote a few posts in my original blog back in 2011 (still there actually…).
In 2015, I discovered Kali Dee after joining Instagram and trying to get serious about my health. I followed her transformation and journey through her first bodybuilding bikini competition and have loved following her & her life still.
One breakup and a couple of life-changing, eye-opening events later, I was again feeling like there so much more I needed to share with my friends, my community, an audience, the world.
*
Where did it start?
It started with a carousel photoshoot in July 2018 (that I booked in March just for myself because of a ruined photoshoot that never happened 6 months before that).
Then in October 2018, I came across the #last90days & Rachel Hollis’s #madeformore mantra. At the same time, I found Christy Wright & her Business Boutique podcast – one of the first episodes I heard was about eliminating the word “just” from my vocabulary and to “do it scared”.
I had thought about going back to my side hustle – my wedding business and I did! I had closed my books for the last two years (2016-2018) but decided to try it out again in Knoxville and I got my feet wet again at a new bridal dress shop opening.
Then I found Peyton Baxter (I shared on my Instagram about discovering her a year ago – click here to read about it!). Not even kidding – this girl in my town changed – my – life.
I discovered blogging on a new level than from what I had seen before with recipes & couponing from mom blogs.
I found influencing – and I was so intrigued!
*
How did I start?
I always knew I was made for more. From the time I was a little girl I was always looking for ways to make extra money: from using Lisa Frank kits to make and sell bracelets & necklaces to our neighbors to ironing clothes for family and friends.
I also loved teaching anyone anything I felt I had the knowledge to share – piano, young girls (I created a class for tween girls based on Proverbs 31) or organizing events (as a teen: a weekly church bulletin for our youth group, my high school graduation then started my own wedding planning business 11 years ago).
But in my adult life, after one too many times of being told that I was “too much” of something – I thought I should try to tone myself down a little and had started putting myself in a shell that better fit what other people preferred. I would downplay my wedding business, accomplishments or opinions to fit in.
I was still trying to do this even when I first started my blog and then a few months later,
I came across this quote from Rachel Hollis:
“Stop living as half of yourself so that others can handle all of you.”
That lit a fire in me that I cannot explain.
I realized I had something to offer if I just embraced who I was fully and not try to play small because of other people’s opinions!
There’s Dr. Suess quote that I love that I first heard in one of my favorite movies “What A Girl Wants”:
I started working on embracing who I was immediately and realized I had some things to learn:
I had to learn how to be confident in my opinions.
When I listened to one of Christy Wright’s Business Boutique’s podcast episodes last October, she was talking about how we as women devalue the things that matter to us because we’re afraid of what people might think (judging us, thinking it’s a bad idea, coming across too strongly, etc).
“I just think, maybe…”
“I have this little side thing”
Who has used those words?? You don’t have to have to have a small business or be a climbing professional to use these phrases. Women especially use them all the time. Don’t think you do? Neither did I.
So I focused on NOT using that word anytime I felt the need to “soften” my opinion. I quickly realized how often I was doing this!
I had to learn how to stop apologizing for everything.
Don’t take this to mean you don’t have to apologize for wrong doing. No one is perfect we MUST apologize for being in the wrong.
This is all about being confident.
This year, I read Rachel Hollis’s new book “Girl, Stop Apologizing.”
I learned I had to:
* Stop apologizing for your opinion on a specific topic (at work, with friends/family).
* Stop apologizing out of some weird form of politeness when someone else actually should be doing the apologizing (think: when someone bumps into you on the sidewalk or in a store – we default to saying WE’RE sorry!)
* Stop apologizing for things that you did not do or say to hurt someone intentionally.
Be confident – but also gentle and full of grace. Not everyone will agree with you – but you can still gracefully express your opinion without apologizing.
If it matters to you, you have no reason to apologize for it. If you’re scared of an opinion, a goal or even a dream you have – do not apologize for it or bury it because of others.
So stop apologizing for and stifling your dreams, goals, wishes or opinions because someone else – no matter how close they are to you – does not understand them.
I had to learn to stop caring about others opinions.
“The opinion of others is none of my business.” – Rachel Hollis
Working on the first two (confidence and not apologizing) will really help you in not focusing on the opinions of others (especially negative ones!).
I hate that it took me to year 33 to understand these things and put them into practice but no matter what age – it is the perfect time! Find your strength to back those things that matter most to you without “softening” them.
I wanted to be loud about the things that I loved, had experience in & and were important to me.
What did I do this year?
I had no idea what I was doing one year ago when I published my first blog post. But I did know that I had to start and figure it out as I went! Some days I have felt like I was drinking from a firehose (when I was deep in learning in a course, or chatting with a mentor, or bursting with ideas), but I have tried to focus on making progress and not worry about perfection.
In this first year of starting my blog:
– I shared about some of my favorite events – Awards Season Fashion & the Met Gala (that before I used to only bore co-workers or family with) and topics (budgeting, social media interaction, travel – with my brain bursting with more to share!)
– Met some amazing girls on this same journey and built valued friendships!
– worked with and communicated with some of my favorite brands already!
– Started building a community!
I learned to stop apologizing, decided to chase. my. dreams, even if I was scared.. 😀
Things I did scared in the last year:
* Published my first blog post
* Had an amazing photoshoot with an award winning photographer
* Videoed myself – while talking – to y’all (probably one of THE most scary things! Check my highlights on instagram to see old ones: Kindness, Real Life, Highlights are the best!)
* Put together my first styled shoot for my wedding business. Watch the video by Summer Simmons here
* Walked in Knoxville Fashion Week
* Met my original inspiration, Peyton Baxter!
* Ran for queen as a fundraiser for one of my favorite local charities, the Wesley House
* Reached out to brands (and landed a couple too!)
* Reached out to complete strangers & built connections/friendships
* Posted more pictures of just me (another HUGE scary thing!)
* Started a weekly blog series
*But why?
One of the reasons I knew I wanted to start a blog was
1) because I love to write
2) because I feel that I have learned and experienced so many *different* things in my 30 years that I have an obligation to share them to others – even if it only helps *one* person!
3) because I LOVE human connection. I love building a community – hearing from all of you with your likes, comments, and DMs! Then being able to interact back with you! It warms my heart to know that I can not only educate one of you – but to entertain you and inspire you too.
I listened to/read/have been asked “what’s your why” and I would always freeze because I “know” in my heart/head – but had never sat down and wrote it out to be able to really articulate it to others.
So I knew I needed a mission statement but I didn’t want to quickly come up with something and force one out – so I’ve contemplated it over the last year (and really seriously over the last 6 months) and have come up with:
I want to educate and qualify others in experiences, teach someone something new, encourage someone that it is ok to be different, to be kind to others and to have courage – tackle your dreams!
I am a quirky, country farm raised girl who definitely doesn’t have it together on a daily basis (I’m not your everyday style blogger!), who loves to learn, travel, meet new people and experience new things; who no one would have never thought would have a deep love for the big city, heels and high fashion. The girl who doesn’t love to shop or the color pink. The nerd who loves history, musicals, spelling & sports. I dream of having tea with the queen, walking the Oscars red carpet, riding a camel past the pyramids in Egypt, performing on a stage in front of the talented stars I admire, chatting with Rachel Hollis about success, starring in one of my favorite Broadway musicals (Wicked, Cinderella, Rent…to name a few!), laughing with Johnny Depp & Ellen DeGeneres, getting style tips from Blake Lively, singing a duet with Julie Andrews, Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, and Idina Menzel, riding through an African safari, being on the cover of a magazine (or two or 10!), skiing in the Alps, attending alll the fashion weeks to see my favorites (Zac Posen, Oscar de la Renta, Valentino, Versace, Diane von Furstenberg) with all of my favorite style fashion icons, seeing all of sites of the world on my bucket list (and it’s long…).
I want to take you all along and show you that it’s possible for anyone!
“A million dreams are keeping me awake” – The Greatest Showman
Who Inspired me?
I have to call out several people who dramatically shaped/impacted my last year. Some are close friends, some I’ve only met once or twice and some I’ve never met before at all! But every single one of you have been a mentor whether you know me or not! I could never truly thank you all enough for all of the knowledge & support you have given me! I hope to still have you all over the coming years too!
God – I’ve always tried to stay positive and see the good in everything – even negative parts of my life – and that has only been possible because of my faith & relationship with Jesus. I hope that faith will inspire others and to show that you can do the same!
Andrew – Thank you for dealing with times when I’ve been trying to finish an Instagram post/story series or blog post. AND for being my photographer in training!
My friends & family – You all have supported me more than you know by reading my blog posts, sharing my posts, liking and commenting on Facebook or Instagram posts, participating in polls and questions! Thank you thank you! Please keep it going! <3
Peyton Baxter – I’ve already shared with you how you impacted me when I discovered you. But seriously. I love learning from you. Thank you so much for always taking the time for me. You have no idea how much it has meant to me! And if I get discouraged, YOU remind me that it is possible. Hard work, hustle, consistency and kindness will pay off.
Rachel Hollis: I feel like Rachel when she talks about her own mentors when she started who didn’t know who she was (Oprah, Beyonce, John Maxwell, Brendan Burchard). She is that person for me. The things she was opened my eyes to that I need to change to be a better person and to change the world has seriously been life changing. Her motivation is contagious and I think if she can be that motivated and accomplished – I can too. Rachel, you have hustled to wear your mentors not only know who you are but bring you along with them on their stages. My goal is for that to be the same with us!
Quigley: This girl. I felt a little awkward at the beginning because I didn’t fit into the style blogger “look”. I DO NOT have it together every day. Regular try-ons are not really my thing. About 5 months into blogging, I came across her page via one of my other favorites, Olivia Rink, and I’m so thankful I did! She inspired me to be more myself and breathed life into me trying to figure out so many things I was struggling with early on. Her views on mindset are exactly up my alley and so are her beautiful & creative photoshoots. She encouraged me that it REALLY is ok to be your quirky, weird self. Quigs/Casey – you are so amazing! I hope I can hug your neck someday for all you done for me from the other side of the country!
Julie Solomon / James Nord / Jenna Kutcher / Hilary Rushford: Business & Instagram Pros.These four taught me the basics of Instagram for business and working with brands. I didn’t even start working on this part until about 4 months into my blogging adventure. Literally had not one clue how this worked. I have so much more to learn, but I have a solid foundation thanks to each of them!
Tabatha / Bre / Heather / Bailey / Laura / Stefanie: Bloggers!I have learned so so much from each of you! Most importantly – how you connect with your communities and staying true to myself! Beyond grateful to have discovered you – whether we’ve met in person or not!
Brittany / Erika / Kelsey / Saray: My photographers over this past year! You ladies are the real MVPs. I’ve never been good at being in front of the camera. EVER. You have each done your part to make me either more comfortable by encouraging me or by teaching me – especially when I looked like a deer in headlights. I can’t wait for what else I will learn and create with you in front of the camera!
KC / Southern Sirens / Becca: The makeup artists and hair stylist!You ladies made me feel so beautiful in the shoots that we worked on together. I cannot thank you enough for the work you put into my face and/or hair! Thankful for each of you and to call you friends!
Olivia Rink/Alicia & Grace Atwood – More inspiration! These two ladies are both incredible and incredibly different. They both inspire me in the content they put out to the world in their blogs and Instagram. Just two more mentors that have no idea who I am but are daily teaching me so much!
The brands I’ve worked with so far! You all have believed in me when I haven’t had 100k+, 10k+ or even 2k! I can’t wait to continue working with you and even more of my favorites!
I SO APPRECIATE very single one of you that has followed along, commented, DM’d, texted and talked to me about this adventure in the past year! YOU are the reason why I chose to do this and why I can continue too! I cannot thank you enough! You’re support is so important to me, so thank you thank you thank you!! {Keep reading to see what I’ve got in store for you!}
“It’s time to be yourself, unapologetically, and to show the world what happens when a woman challenges herself for greatness. It’s time to become who you were made to be.” – Rachel Hollis
You will be happiest when you’re making others happy – which is why I choose to be in this blogging space – influencing others.
Watch out world, here comes year 2 and I’m so excited to see what this year brings!
This week I’m headed to RISE Business to hear Rachel Hollis herself and her amazing lineup of speakers and I’m so excited to learn from everyone! Can’t wait to share more about it with y’all!
As a thank you for your support, I want to give back to you guys who support me!
When I got to 1k followers earlier this summer, I was so surprised!
I almost set a goal last December to reach 1k followers in 2019 but I told myself that was too lofty of a goal and maybe I could shoot for that next year. Well you all blew me away and you got me there halfway into the year!! So I pulled together a little package of my favorite products and my favorite places to gift someone!
Instead of doing the giveaway a few months ago, I decided to wait until my one year since it wasn’t too far off! So all you have to do to enter:
You don’t have to go follow anyone extra (other than making sure you’re following me on Facebook or Instagram!)
You’ll get an extra entry if you:
– subscribe to my blog
– like my Facebook page (if you haven’t liked it already!)
– like & comment on any of my last 12 posts (if you haven’t already!)
The box includes:
* A pair of earrings from Val’s Boutique
* 15% off on any purchase at Kendra Scott
* My favorite eye gel from Mary Kay (for puffy under eyes & dark circles)
* Starbucks mug & gift card
* a couple more surprises!
I’ll share a picture on Instagram stories!
And that’s a wrap!
Check back next Monday for another weekly series post! And again,
Thank you
Thank you
THANK YOU!! <3
Happy Monday!
I’d love to meet you/interact with you!
Instagram: @thebrookeallison
Facebook: Brooke Allison
If you like reading my posts, subscribe (at the bottom of the home page!) and you’ll be notified every time I share something new!
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