My Insta-Year 2013 & 10 Things I’m Thankful For

Wow, it seems like just yesterday I was preparing the 2012 installment of this annual feature. Last year was my first time doing an Insta-Year Recap and 20 Things I’m Thankful For post. It got such a positive response, not only because it summed up my accomplishments for the year, but because it reminded alot of other people reading that they had an overflowing amount of blessings to be thankful for last year too. Well here we are on the eve of 2014 – can you believe it? This year has flown by. I learned just as many lessons as last year but this year’s list will be a little more concise (because I have SO much more to say!)

Here’s a list of 10 Things I’m Thankful For surrounding this past year:

1. Attending Coachella Music Festival

I went to my fair share of festivals this year. From Governor’s Ball in NYC to Essence Music Fest in New Orleans. The reason going to Coachella meant so much to me is because I had been trying to go for years. Year after year I would buy a ticket and have to sell it either due to financial or work obligations. This year was my first time attending, by way of collaborations with Indique and VIBE Vixen and as a full-time blogger. I am so proud of myself for being persistent and not giving up on a bucket list dream of mine to head to California for this festival. Check out my recap Part 1 HERE and Part 2 HERE.

2. Meeting Amber Riley (Twice)

Once, a few years ago, I got into a heated Twitter debate with a well-known socialite over Amber Riley. Said Twitter personality mentioned that Amber Riley needed to lose weight to fit in with her Glee castmates and to enjoy her life “fully”. When I saw the statement I was appalled and I came to Amber’s defense. I’m so glad I did. Literally days after that Twitter debate, Amber Riley went on to win the coveted “Best Dressed” title on E! Fashion Police for her stellar look on the red carpet of the SAG Awards. This year, I finally got the opportunity to meet her face to face at the Essence Black Women in Music event. She is truly beautiful inside & out.

I met her again during NYFW front row at the Tadashi Shoji show and we had a kiki about our obsession with ASOS Curve. Then later this year, she won “Dancing With The Stars” and looked absolutely amazing while doing it. She’s a perfect example of a curvy girl living her life FULLY and fearlessly. I admire her and wish more young women would embrace their shape and know that it can’t ever and should never stop you from doing great things in life.

3. Learning To Collaborate (Instead of Compete)

Anyone who blogs knows that when you do it right it is rewarding but can also be challenging. In the style and beauty realm in particular (and I imagine in other areas like tech, mommy blogging and celebrity/entertainment), the landscape can be incredibly competitive. People are mean, they will steal your content and not credit you, smile in your face at an event and talk about you behind your back. All types of nonsense. My biggest blogging lesson in 2013 was that you gain SO much more when you collaborate with others as opposed to competing with them.

Four of my best blogger buddies – Jessica of Glamazons Blog, Danielle of The Style & Beauty Doctor and Lexi of LexiWithTheCurls have become like sisters to me this year. Bloggers like Gabi of Gabifresh have opened up their homes to me when I visited their hometown. Bloggers like Patrice of Afrobella have given me priceless business advice I will never forget. I mean, the list goes on. We travel together, we attend events together, we bounce ideas off of each other and we support one another. In the end, collaboration trumps competition – always.

 4. The Increase In My “Faith” Muscle

There were so many times this year that I really wanted to give up, on everything. I’m sure some of you have been there. It seems like everything in life that can go wrong is up in flames. The world seems to be closing in on you. You want to give up. There’s a book by author & motivational speaker Lisa Nichols called “No Matter What – 9 Steps To Living The Life You Love” in which she talks about exercising certain emotions as if they are muscles that only get stronger as you use them. As it turns out, you can’t really have much Faith if you haven’t been through something and overcome it. So that is something I am absolutely grateful for. The trials before the triumphs and the strength of my Faith muscle. It is stronger than ever now.

5. Learning To Take Risks

This year I made the boldest career move I’ve ever made in my life. I walked away from a corporate full-time job to pursue my dreams of becoming an entrepreneur. It was one of the scariest yet most rewarding decisions I’ve made to date. I now truly understand the “No Risk, No Reward” philosophy. Once you begin to step out and do something you may have been scared of doing, it leads to an entire sequence of new and exciting things you’ll want to try. This may sound silly but I went all the way to LA for the BET Awards this year (courtesy of Ford Motors) not knowing how I was going to look on the red carpet. For a fashionista like me, that was nerve-wrecking!

This was just after finding out that I was 6 weeks pregnant, and amidst all the excitement and anxiety (and morning sickness…ugh), I neglected to secure a dress to wear, nails or hair! So I buckled down and did an entire DIY look. My dresses didn’t arrive to my hotel on time so I opted for this Bar III dress I already had in my closet. Thanks to YouTube tutorials, I made my own custom half-wig using extensions, and I went to work blending it with my natural hair. It turned out wonderfully!

I even did my own vampy nails! This was one of my proudest moments. I attended a star-studded red carpet event and fit right in by way of my own personal glam squad – me! You can do anything you put your mind to folks.

6. Recognition

I’m always so incredibly humbled when I’m featured anywhere. Whether it’s a huge national publication or someone’s personal blog. I’m beyond grateful when people take the time to recognize my hard work. Some features I was pretty proud of this year came from Essence Magazine (Sept Issue – Bloggers Spread), Jet Magazine (Beauty Blogger Spotlight), Black Enterprise (Black Blogger Month), Hello Beautiful (30 Under 30 Style Maven List) and Refinery 29 (Stylish Moms-to-be Feature).

7. Learning To Love…Again

I don’t really talk much about my personal life here on LBS (because I like to keep it strictly fashion & beauty) but I will share that 2012 was quite a rough year for me as I went through a long-term relationship breakup. Getting back into the groove of dating and looking for Mr. Right all over again was such a daunting and overwhelming thought. But I’ve learned over the past few years that even when love is lost it can be rekindled. For anyone out there who has gone through or is going through a breakup, know that one day you’ll be okay again. You will love again and if you’re lucky it will be even better than the love you had before.

8. My Princess #BabyBrownSugar

The best news I received all year was finding out that my sweetheart & I would be having a little bundle of joy. I was anxious, nervous, worried and excited all at the same time when I found out. So many questions raced through my head. Am I ready to be a mom? Is it the right time? How will this work with my career? Nothing can truly prepare you for the moment you realize you will be a parent. But it is a priceless moment. And the greatest gift. I can’t wait to meet my little princess in 2014. Make sure you follow my shenanigans over at BabyBrownSugar.com.

9. My LBS Team

I applaud the many bloggers out there who make their businesses thrive as a one-man show. I did it for years but now that the LBS empire is growing, I needed extra hands! I’m so thankful for my blog team. From my photographer Sharifa to our beauty editor Gracie J (both pictured above), fashion editor Evette Dionne, my assistant Jennifer, contributors Kisha and Chrislande, our UK correspondent Kaila and everyone in between who helped make LBS what it was in 2013. I’m so thankful for them.

10. Your Continuous Support

Last but definitely not least. I am beyond grateful for the love, support, encouragement and trust I get from each of you! Whether you’ve shared one of LoveBrownSugar.com’s articles on your social pages, showed up for an event I was hosting in NYC, entered a giveaway or just sent me a friendly email telling me you liked a post on the site – I love and appreciate you! LBS wouldn’t be what it is today if it wasn’t for you guys. You keep me going, you keep me motivated and you give me the push I need to get up every morning and do what I do.

Thank you for the support in 2013 and I wish each of you abundant blessings in 2014!