Happy New Year [eve]! Welcome back! The last few years I have caught myself saying, “Where did this year go?” I am starting to believe this is what adulthood is like. The hustle and bustle of daily life keeps rolling by without even noticing. It’s not until the holiday season I begin to reflect on what the year was like.
2017 was a good year for Lexi & Lady. The blog had a facelift, I learned how to use WordPress, started social media accounts specifically for the blog (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Bloglovin’), implemented a newsletter (subscribe below), joined Style Collective (learn more), and grew!
In 2017 I set out to grow Lexi & Lady. Meaning increase my reach and add new and dedicated readers. What I didn’t realize is I would do more growing through learning new things in the world of blogging, “meeting” some great women through Style Collective’s sisterhood, and branching out into new topics (i.e. college advice). All this to say, blogging has given me an opportunity to grow personally, but I want to focus on cultivating a community. I want those who visit to feel like they’re getting valuable information and connecting with me and one another through comments here and on social media. There are so many wonderful and brilliant women who read my posts and I want them to connect with each other!
Before Christmas, I sat with my best friend and talked about Sequins & Things and how amazing Haley is and her envy worthy style. Neither of us realized the other one followed Sequins & Things until then. I always say “this blogger I follow…” because something they’ve done or shared has inspired me or made me think. I want you to tell people about Lexi & Lady and what post(s) inspire you. That’s how the community begins and grows! It is easy to share my posts on Facebook, retweet from Twitter, and tag me in Instagram posts and stories.
Touched a bit on this in my last random ramblings post (read here). Still not sure what my New Year’s Resolution will be, but I have a few more hours to think about it 🙂
Story time…I began working full time in Undergraduate Admissions in 2009 after working as a student ambassador during college. I loved helping students decide their future (their energy is infectious).
To achieve my career goals I left in 2012. I made this move to learn more about the enrollment management process (i.e. financial aid, advising, registration, etc.). While I learned a ton through this process I didn’t feel it was giving me the exposure I needed.
In a career rut I joined Continuing Education (i.e. workforce development) where I worked with and supervised some of the most amazing young women God could have put in my life. These 3 ladies changed my focus and reminded me of why I chose a career in higher education. From this realization forward I knew I needed to get back to my passion. My passion has always been serving students and helping them achieve their educational goals. In order to do that I needed to have a larger reach, a bigger voice, and I didn’t have that in my current role.
When I was approached about applying for a new position I never hesitated. Deep down I always knew I left where I was meant to be career wise, but I made the most of my time and learned a lot. I’m happy to say as of the new year I will be reunited with Admissions. Not only am I excited to work with some familiar faces, but with a whole group known as the A-Team. More importantly, I’m back to working alongside one of my original partners in crime. I look forward to this next chapter in my higher ed career!
Gosh there is still so much growing to do in my personal life in the new year. We are all a work in progress right? I am SO blessed to have my biggest supporter and best friend by my side. The hubs is always pushing me to achieve things. He’s one of the reasons I keep sharing here. I want to continue to grow our love and be his cheerleader. Together we will continue our journey to becoming debt free (read more here and here), being healthy, connecting with others through friendship and fellowship, and checking off places on our travel bucket list! (Helloooooo, Colorado in a few days!)
What is your 2018 New Year Resolution(s)? Leave them in the comments below. I’d love to hear what your plans are! Until next post…xoxo Becca
Welcome back for another edition of Random Ramblings (read the last post here). I kind of like putting these posts together because it lets me talk about whatever and also gives you a glimpse into my everyday brainwaves lol
A new tradition the hubs and I started a few years ago was to adopt a child or children and supply them with the things they want from Santa. Each year we partner with our favorite travel friends so we have a bigger budget to give an even better Christmas for the child/children. This year we adopted 3 children and had a blast picking out toys, craft projects, and clothes for each of them. We made it an event; shopping followed by dinner with great friends.
It feels good to give. It doesn’t have to be reserved for the holiday season, there are many ways to give back throughout the year. I challenge everyone to give back, if not financially, through service or acts of kindness.
Also finance related, this year we were given a Christmas bonus. A first for me because that’s just not something my University does. It came as a total surprise and was well used. As of today I have paid off the first of my graduate student loans!!! Insert excited scream It feels so good to pay it off in 3 months when at the minimum payments it would have been another 10 years before being paid off. It’s truly silly to sit around paying the minimum on something when you could be focusing on becoming debt free.
The hubs and I are still making progress and it feels really good. I reflected on our journey since 2015 in the Instagram post below so go check it out (and follow me please).
The best thing I did for my blog this year was to join Style Collective. Style Collective is a platform for female influencers to connect, grow, and learn how to be successful bloggers and entrepreneurs.
Membership includes exclusive access to hundreds of sponsored opportunities, e-courses, resource library, worksheets, forums and groups, quarterly meetups, conferences, stock photos, media kit template, graphic design tutorials, tech tips, affiliate programs, and more!
I have “met” so many amazing women through Style Collective and can’t wait to see what 2018 has to offer for Lexi & Lady. Annie Spano, the founder, is a true entrepreneur and Girl Boss!
If you’re interested in learning more or joining a wonderful group of supportive and sweet ladies, visit Style Collective.
This time of year gets me thinking about what I did with the year and what I want to do in 2018. At the beginning of this year I set out to grow Lexi & Lady. While I did not achieve everything I thought I would, I learned a lot of things along the way. This year I know I want to continue to grow and impact readers positively. Please help Lexi & Lady grow by following me on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Bloglovin’), subscribing to my newsletter (enter your email address below, promise I don’t spam you!), and telling your friends and family about the blog.
The second thing I’m thinking about is doing something that scares me. Nothing amazing happens in your comfort zone! Now…I am not sure what I plan on doing in 2018. There are always things that scare me and I hold myself back from achieving and experiencing because of the fear of failure or embarrassment. This year I want to put those feelings behind and do things I normally would avoid.
What is your 2018 New Year Resolution(s)? Leave them in the comments below. I’d love to hear what your plans are! Thanks for visiting! Until next post…xoxo Becca
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Becca
born and raised Texan
Hi all and welcome to my cozy little place in the blogosphere. My name is Becca and I'm a born and raised Texan. After college I got married. Got a puppy. Got a house. And then I decided I wanted to share daily life, struggles, ambitions, and everything in between.
