Mom Street Style + 2017 Goals

 

**Bear with me. This is a long post.**

Happy weekend, loves! What do you guys have planned for today?  We’re currently stuffing our faces with chocolate chip protein pancakes while listening to the Trolls soundtrack on repeat. The girls are still in the jammies dancing up a storm and all I can think of is how perfect this little moment is.

So let’s talk weekend style with moto jackets and over the knee boots (yet again) before we get into what today’s post is really about.  And if we’re being really honest here, I am having major winter weather withdrawals!  It has been so warm in Houston (like the 80s) so this outfit is neatly tucked away just waiting on standby to be worn again soon I hope.  I’m sure you’re so sick of seeing these OTK boots, but I swear they are the BEST boots ever!!!  And I found them for almost 50% off HERE.  Seriously – RUN and get them.  I have it in this color and the Dark Java.  It runs true to size. My faux suede moto jacket just sold out, but I linked some amazing alternatives below from Nordstrom.

My earrings and clutch are from Annie Allbritton‘s shop and I love how they compliment my outfit.  You may have remembered hearing about her shop in THIS previous post and I can’t rave enough about her boutique.  The clutch is available HERE and the earrings are also in her shop (but not shown online so give her a call to purchase them). The layering necklace is from Baublebar and I also linked 2 other pairs that I have my eye on.

Now, onto what today’s post is really about. We’re already 2 weeks into the New Year and I wanted to check in to see how things are going.  I’m sure you’ve seen a ton of posts circulating around the internet about people choosing their word (or phrase) to help them stay motivated throughout the year.  Have you thought about your word?

I’m not exactly set on having just one, but I definitely think it’s going to be a year of change, work, and faith.  I have several goals and things I really want to strive for this year all of which require stepping out of my comfort zone.  I’ll admit – I am terrified of putting myself out there and even more afraid of failing (or worst – rejected), but I know those “what ifs” will haunt me if I don’t at least try.  Most of my goals tie into my blog so I thought I’d share the future of A Beautiful RAWR.

I received a lot of questions last year about my blog so here’s a little back end story about it.  Back in 2014, I started this blog after having Marli and wanted an outlet to feed my creative side as well as document stages in our life for our friends and family to read about.  Over time, this “hobby” of mine turned into a full-time job – one that I am so utterly passionate and proud of.

Blogging is a lot of work.  SO MUCH WORK.  The behind the scenes work that goes into ONE post like this one may takes hours to create.  But, my goodness, I absolutely LOVE it and that’s why I continue to do it – pay or no pay. I never dreamed I would be doing this for a living, but here I am – getting paid to work with brands I absolutely adore.  LIFE Cereal, Carters, Janie & Jack, Bright Starts, Pink Blush and Hello Fresh are just a few of my favorite brands I have had the pleasure of partnering up with and I say this not to brag, but to encourage other bloggers to never give up on their dreams and stay true to their brand.  Trust me when I tell you that I am such a tiny fish in this big blogging world, but it sure does feel great to know that these brands believe in me and my work.  They value my opinion and my unique voice that I offer to my readers.

I will continue to accept sponsored posts if they fit my niche and brand, but rest assure I would never recommend a brand or service I would not use for myself or my family.  I really pride myself on creating original content that is truthful, authentic, and helpful to you guys because I deeply value each and every one of you.  I have turned companies down in the past that weren’t a good fit for my brand.  I have also received products that, sadly, didn’t meet my expectations after using it and therefore, I always gave the company the option of opting out of my post because honestly, I’m not in the business of bashing brands just because it didn’t work for me.

Moving forward, I would love to start posting on a more consistent schedule so you know what to expect each week (2-3 posts a week).  I plan on rolling out Motherhood Monday | Workout Wednesday | Fashion Friday posts within the next week or so and I am SO excited for the posts I’ve drafted up. What do you think of this idea? I would love to hear your feedback on this.

Speaking of fitness and health, I plan on stepping up my game in this area especially since I’ll be ONE YEAR postpartum in a couple weeks!  Matea is still waking up at night, but it’s getting better and that translates to more energy for me 🙂  I can’t wait to start documenting my postpartum progress because another HUGE goal of mine this year is to step on stage and compete in a fitness competition!  Annnddd now that I’ve officially announced it to the world, there’s no turning back.  I have always wanted to compete, but my fear of the stage has always held me back. Not this year though.  I’m going all out, baby.  I hope you’ll follow along on my fitness journey!

Another development for my blog pertains specifically to Houston.  I am super excited about creating a page to showcase and highlight my favorite local shops and services around town. I love supporting local and would love to share my picks with you!  I have a few things in the works, but essentially my list would include local boutiques, favorite beauty services, and health/fitness spots in the Greater Houston area.

And lastly, I’ve been thinking about adding videos into the mix for some of my blog posts, but especially for my workout routine IF you guys are interested.  By no means am I an expert in that field, but I would LOVE to hear your thoughts on this! Are you guys interested in seeing things like a fashion or beauty haul when I’m out and about shopping?  What about seeing a workout in action (rather than reading it in a post)? Or a mini cooking recipe tutorial?  I’ve done mini versions of it on my Instagram stories which got great feedback, but I’d love to hear your thoughts on it too soooo let me know!

At the end of the day, this blog would not be where it is without YOU.  I am so incredibly thankful for each and every one of you. Whether you’re a new follower or old one, I find it so humbling that you have taken the time to read my posts, comment on my photos, liked, messaged, or share things I’ve written.  Nothing goes unnoticed and I would NOT be where I am today without you.  At the end of the day, I want to blog for myself and for my readers.  I value your opinion and the relationship we’ve built with one another.  I hope to make 2017 an even better year and hope we can grow with one another. Thanks so much for taking the time to read this super long post 🙂 (And, if you haven’t already, I’d love for you to subscribe to the newsletter since I’ll be rolling out some fun things soon. The link to be added is located on the right hand sidebar.)

Photography: Hayley Jackson Photography