I'm In a Funk 2.21.2018

Part of me feels weird admitting this here, but the other part of me knows it's healthy to talk through things. I am in such a funk lately. I've been going in circles over branding, aesthetic, etc. and I'm feeling so unsure lately that I haven't even been wanting to edit photos or post - things I usually love and look forward to! 

I LOVE creating content, but I'm so in my head right now that it's feeling very stressful instead of like a creative outlet. 

Location, location, location
Part of the "funk" that I'm in stems from the fact that the aesthetic and vibe that I love and am personally drawn to is nearly impossible to achieve living in Missouri, especially in a smaller community. I think I've always done a fairly good job with creativity of photo locations, but ultimately the look I love doesn't exist here. So why not just work with what I have and be happy? Well, I'm trying. But I think we're all intrinsically drawn to what we're drawn to creatively. So, right now I'm feeling a little stuck on this front! In some ways I would love to pick up and move to SoCal, but I also don't see it happening for us :) So, somehow I have to figure out something that will work for me. I still haven't found that formula or "look" that's perfectly "me."

Self-doubt
I also fall into terrible little black holes of self-critique sometimes. I'm struggling to find my place right now, and trying not to compare myself to others!

Winter Doldrums
I also think a big part of the weird funk I'm in is honestly that I'm so sick of winter! I don't know if it's seasonal depression, but I'm not quite feeling like myself. I'm not feeling my usual motivation to go out and shoot content and get things done due to the cold and constant gloom. I'm hoping that spring brings a wave of fresh motivation to me!  

Anyways, the point of this post is just to let you in my head a bit, and to ask you to bear with me as I try to figure out what the heck I'm doing! You'd think I would know after years of blogging 😝 but I'm still exploring and learning where I stand in this crazy blog and Instagram world! I need to make the most of where I live and make it work with the aesthetic I like, stop comparing myself to others so much, and take advantage of spring weather and the energy it brings!

Now, a quick word about my outfit... This dress is one of my first spring purchases, and I love it so much! Looking at my closet, I've realized I'm really, really into black florals, so of course I was drawn to this little wrap mini dress situation. To transition it from winter to spring I stuck with a denim jacket and some ankle boots for now. I bought my dress here, but I also found it with all sized still available here.

Dress: available here & here  |  jacket (more options here)  |  boots  |  sunglasses  |  necklaces here & here  |  earrings  

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Why I Love Having a Side Hustle (or Two) 10.27.2017

Last week I shared about how I balance my full time job and two side hustles. To build on that, I also wanted to share why I love having a side hustle or two!

While I personally love having a couple of side hustles and multiple streams of income, I know it's not for everyone and that not everyone needs to. You may make bank at your job and/or be completely fulfilled there and/or work crazy hours. And if any of those are you, you go girl! But for me, I love having multiple gigs...and below are four reasons why...

Working in communications/pr/social media, there are definitely some creative aspects to my job, but I'm still working for "the man" and at an office Monday through Friday. So, blogging and photography have been amazing creative outlets for me, and have already opened me up to amazing opportunities and learning experiences. I have the flexibility to create as much or as little as I want, and I get to explore a taste of being my own boss.

 1 | You can explore different passions and interests

How many times I have you heard someone say something along the lines of "I wish I could go back in time and major in ____/switch to _____career"? While I definitely like my full time job and can't complain one bit, I also wouldn't say it's my absolute passion in life. At the same time, I can't see myself going back to school to do something else. I absolutely adore fashion and photography, so getting to explore those interests without necessarily locking myself into one career path has been a great choice for me so far. For example, I decided back in college that I didn't want to work in the fashion industry (like I thought I did), but I still get to connect with it (regardless of where I live) through this blog!

2 | You have multiple sources of income

Being "wealthy" really isn't a goal of mine (if it happens I'm great with it though 😉), but being financially stable and getting travel are both huge goals of mine. Having multiple streams of income helps Trey and I to achieve those goals! I also like having multiple options to fall back on if something crazy happens.
I'm no big-time blogger and my photography business is still pretty new, but both of these side hustles have already been a blessing financially. I would of course love to make more money blogging and to eventually actually cover the time I put into it, but I'm also not one to shove ads, affiliate links and "huge sales" down your throat. However, what little I've made has still been exciting for me, and blogging isn't really about the money for me anyways. However, in just a few short months of doing photography professionally, it's taken off so much faster than I expected and it's already allowed us to save up way faster for house projects and future travels. I can't wait to see where photography takes me in the future!  

3 | You learn more skill sets and build your resume more quickly
Sure, your resume will grow and improve with each job that you have and with the more responsibilities you take on there, but I feel like I'm growing my resume at double the pace by having side hustles. I've learned completely new skill sets, and significantly improved ones I already had. Not only do I have more to put on my resume, but I truly feel like a well-rounded professional and am confident in many different skills that I have.

4 | You get to dabble in being your own boss
I am absolutely not a risk-taker. The thought of quitting my steady job (with great benefits and retirement) is terrifying to me, but at the same time I do dream of being my own boss and maybe working from home one day. While I'm nowhere near ready to make that leap financially at this time, at least I'm developing side hustles that could help me achieve that dream and/or lead to other opportunities in the future... I also get to have 100% creative control over my own ventures, which is extremely difficult at times, but also extremely satisfying at the end of the day.

Dress (c/o | runs short, but I'm 5'8")  |  Jacket (look for less here & here)  |  Hat  |  Similar Loafers here & here |  Necklace

Do any of you have side hustles beyond your full-time gig? What benefits have you seen? I'd love to chat!

Thanks for reading, and have an amazing weekend! xx  

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Graphic Tee + Jean Jacket 9.21.2017

I saw this crape myrtle blooming on the side of the road, and pulled over to shoot right away! We don't have the SoCal bougainvillea here, but I felt this had a similar vibe. I'm also soaking up these end-of-summer blooms before winter comes along and everything is dead and brown for awhile 😪 

As you may have noticed on my Instagram stories, I've been wearing this tee a lot! I'm always looking for great graphic tees because they're so fun and versatile to style, and this one hits the mark! The colors, stripes, and fonts give it a vintage feel, and I love that the sleeves are sewn into a cuff! I got a size small and it fits perfectly - not too loose, yet still relaxed. Here are some others that caught my eye ⇩

I finally found my perfect oversized + distressed jean jacket! This trend is absolutely huge this fall (read my fall jacket guide here), and I'm here for it. A jacket like this is incredibly versatile! I found my exact jacket here & here, but here are some other great options ⇩

Jacket: exact here & here, similar   |  Tee  |  Jeans  |  Similar Sneakers  |  Similar Earrings  |  Bag: sold out Rebecca Minkoff

I got to have a fun afternoon with my mom yesterday after wrapping up a meeting and some work in Springfield! I needed to head to the mall to shop for an upcoming collaboration, so she helped me pick stuff out and we made a fun day of it. Living 45 minutes away from my parents really isn't far at all, but some months I don't get to see my parents as much as I'd like, so I always cherish my time with them :) 

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Fall Jacket Guide 9.08.2017

I love fall layering with jackets, and there are so many cute jacket trends this fall! Here are four trends/styles that I'm especially loving...

The obvious trend that I'm sure we're all noticing everywhere is oversized jean jackets! I love the effortless and vintage vibe, and I've already worn mine so much.

Bomber jackets are definitely still in this year, and I'm loving the varsity jacket look that's in the mix too.

A faux leather jacket is an absolute closet essential in my opinion! I found my perfect jacket last year and got soooo much wear out of it. I can't wait to wear it again this fall and winter. 

A new trend that I foresee being big this fall is shearling! Similarly, teddy coats and faux fur should be big as always too. 

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Floral Romper 6.15.2015

 Romper: BB Dakota from June & Beyond Boutique (wearing size S | online here & here)

Denim Jacket: LOFT (wearing XS) | Hat: Sole Society (sold out in black; nearly identical) | Bag: Rebecca Minkoff

Sandals: Steve Madden via Nordstrom (40% off) | Earrings: c/o Mad Jewels

Bracelet: Gorjana via Rocksbox (use code 'lovelenorexoxo' for a free month! | similar) | Lips: MAC 'Vegas Volt'

I know I don't wear a ton of color or prints, but isn't this romper just darling?? I love that it's a natural looking floral print, does that make sense? It's by BB Dakota and I recently realized how many of their pieces I'm loving lately (this romper definitely included!). There's a great selection at Shopbop that I've been browsing lately! I mentioned this in my June Wish List post, but I'm back in love with rompers, and love how easy they make it to get dressed. I also think they look adorable with a little denim or cargo jacket, or long cardigan layered over the top, which means they will be perfect for our upcoming California trip! 

Speaking of denim jackets... I recently purchased this jacket from LOFT and it's the perfect denim jacket! I've been looking for the right fit and comfort level for awhile, and this was the perfect match. The torso is slimming, and the sleeves have just the right amount of stretch so that you're still comfortable and can actually move (seriously, why are most denim jackets so freaking stiff?!).

Completely unrelated, but how was your weekend?? Mine was different from usual, but great. If you follow me on Snapchat (jacylenore - add me!) you saw a little bit behind the scenes, but my sister turned 21 last week, so we celebrated on Friday night and then spent Saturday relaxing (err, recovering) and doing a little shopping. So, we got in lots of great sister time! I also snapchatted that I took Russell and Lulu (my dogs, but basically children) to stay at my parents' with me! It's always a little chaotic, but my dad took them on a bunch of walks so they had a blast and also got nice and tired :)

xo,

Jacy

  

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