• 90% of my followers on my personal account are people I know from real life. Crazy concept, right? Though there are quite a handful of people who follow my personal account who are also blog readers (you rock!), there's just not enough of y'all to warrant lots of posts that are strictly blog related (i.e. - info about new posts, blog happenings, outfit posts, etc). People from my real life don't really care about that sort of thing and blog friends tend to care less about my real life things. So, there's a divide there and I struggle to post content that's pleasing to both parties, and most importantly, myself.
• I can focus solely on blog-related content/happenings on the new Instagram. Whether I share content from a new post there, blog related ideas, inspiration from other bloggers, or an outfit post I will have a more open platform and more of a target audience to narrow in on. You'll get to see more of an extension of this space on the new IG.
• Quicker, more efficient way to keep up with Dearie Lovie!
• I can develop this IG and my personal IG separately and guilt free. 
• I can focusing on following solely other bloggers/inspiring people through this account.

Recently I was selected by Marlee over at Marlee and You for the Very Inspiring Blog Award! How awesome has this week been? I always love completing things like these because it gives me an excuse to share some facts about myself. So much fun! If you'd like to participate, scroll on down to the bottom.

My Facts:

1. I've been working on a novel since junior year of high school. I've always enjoyed writing stories, ever since elementary school, but I haven't ever stuck with an original piece this long. It's a story that has truly evolved over time with me and I have written a majority of it by hand, on paper. I don't aim to publish it, but I do aim to finish it. It's my baby.
2. Chocolate is not my go-to sweet. I know, I'm failing the female race everywhere by not be a self proclaimed chocolate addict. If given the choice between chocolate and apple pie, I'll probably always go apple pie. Chocolate is more of a like than a love.
3. I hadn't seen 10 Things I Hate About You until this year. This may have been the biggest mistake possibly ever. Kat Stratford is everything. Obsessed.
4. April & May are my least favorite months for whatever reason. I don't know if I just dislike transitory nature of them or hate all the raining it seems to do. In the past, they've just been emotionally draining months.
5. Since HIMYM ended and Vampire Diaries is on hiatus for another week or so, I've been lacking for tv to watch. I started watching The 100, but it's been slow. Anyone have any really great Netflix/TV recommendations?
6. I like to go to Barnes and Noble in my spare time. Bookstores are just one of those amazingly happy places for me. Everything is so quiet and calm and it smells like new books and coffee. Amazing.
7. I prefer tea over coffee. I love coffee, don't get me wrong. It's amazing, but it usually hurts my stomach so it tends to be a rare treat rather than a daily remedy for fatigue. Tea is much more gentle and I'm endlessly fascinated regarding all the different types out there. What are y'all's favorite teas/coffee orders?

Happy Saturday! I have been a bundle full of energy this past week and have really felt more connected and more plugged into my blog (and readers) than I have in awhile. With that being said, I've been dreaming up lots of new ideas for Dearie Lovie as far as content goes.

If you read my blog, it would make my day if you could answer 5 quick questions regarding potential ideas for the blog. Most of them are "yes or no" and the whole survey takes less than a minute to complete (trust me - I've tested it out)! The survey is anonymous and requires you to input approximately zero personal information. So, you can answer quickly and without concern. Plus, I've embedded it into this post so you don't even have to leave this page!

My questions are based around things like possible link-up ideas (!), shop-my-closet events, guest blogging, and potential new features on DL. As my readers, I want you to see content that not only I'm passionate about - but that you are too!

So, without further ado...

Okay guys, I thought I'd add the disclaimer of "non-religious," just so any of you wouldn't think, 'oh goodness, another post about how devout someone is...how they go to church on Sundays instead of blogging...blah blah blah.' Even though I do try to go to church on Sundays and I'm still on my path for figuring out my faith (that's a whole other story), that not why I don't post on Sundays. Reading about someone's faith can be seriously inspiring and uplifting, but if we're being honest I'm not sure I'm ready to delve into that territory when there's still so much growing and learning and deciding to do on a personal level, so you won't find a whole lot of religious gab on the blog - especially not in this post.

Anyways, in the past I've talked about the subjects of blog scheduling before and even about blogger's block, but that's also not why I don't post on Sundays.

I think I responded to it best when Maddie was talking about challenging herself to post every day for a whole month. The idea certainly came off as ambitious and inspiring to me. I'm making it a goal to keep posting consistently here even though things like sorority recruitment and school are taking center stage in my personal life. Usually, I justify scaling back on my posts out of necessity (there's nothing wrong with giving yourself time or a break). In the past, during the school year I think three posts a week was my average, if that, and though I was getting a lot done on a personal level I felt like my blog suffered severely and so did my mood regarding blogging.

So when Maddie presented the idea for this challenge to herself, I responded with the following comment (a comment which surprised even myself in it's direction and personal clarity):

"Love the idea of this. August is a significantly stressful months in terms of posting. I head back to college and in addition to starting classes, sorority work week and recruitment keep me especially busy. Even though, I don't think I will be able to post daily, I am trying to make a commitment to myself to post every day except Sunday (since me and my really good friend have made a pact to really make Sunday an off day for everything - a day to reboot before the new week). Thanks for the inspiring words! I loved the part about discipline taking our art to a new level!"

And there you have it folks. 

A few weeks ago my friend Jenny (who I most of the time call Jennifer), told me about a little experiment she and her man-friend (aka almost boyfriend...if you're reading this Jennifer will you please just start dating the dude, he's awesome) were going to try for the new school year. They decided to make Sunday their off day, their true day of rest. They were going to reserve Sunday as a day to reboot for the new week - a day to do what they wanted to do without the hold back of things like homework. They want to make Sunday a day for exploring or maybe a day for laying in bed. They want to be able to make Sunday as spontaneous or as practical as they saw fit. When she told me about this idea, I thought it was AMAZING.

It would make them more dedicated to getting things like school work, appointments, studying, or errands done in earlier in the week not be left to do frantically on Sunday. The concept sounds simple. The weekends are for rebooting right? But when I started to think about all the things I put off onto Sunday, I started to realize I wasn't letting myself reboot at all. I was just pushing the stressful stuff to a later date, and my friends - that's no way to live. 

I know there will be unavoidable trials in this experiment/challenge/project - whatever you want to call it, but I'm excited to see if it will last into the new academic year. It has done me well over the summer. 

So, I beg the question, is there a day you don't blog - if so why? Also, what's your blog posting schedule like? Do you fly by the seat of your pants, pop in and out, post 360 days, or are you a stickler to a schedule? I'd love to know! 

• ·         July 26th --> N/A
• ·         July 27th --> About Blog: Regarding My Posting Process
• ·         July 28th --> Mom & Dad (?)
• ·         July 29th --> Life Lately
• ·         July 30th --> Fill Up Entire Sketchbook. Done. (?)
• ·         July 31st --> Brother + Sister Style Week 11 (Final Week)

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About Blog is a series of posts/articles about blogging, the blog world, and online things in general. Read my previous About Blog post about 'capturing a blogger's life: where showing and doing meet' in the blog world here.



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Sudden inspiration overtook me. That can only explain the reason behind my sudden blog redesign, or rather, the timing of it. I was browsing a few new blogs and I was genuinely inspired by each and everyone of these blogger's lovely layouts. Plus Mandi's blog switch provided lots of inspiration itself!

I needed a project and I needed it NOW. I've had the idea for a redesign for awhile (that part wasn't so sudden and random), but I finally got the motivation and time in order to do it. Also, I had a more clear direction of what I wanted. So I went to the drawing board, which looked a little something like this:



That's the worst part about designing something new and personal. There are several 'looks' that I feel could represent me and my blog (since every human is dynamic). Also, sometimes as a designer/blogger you get trapped in a comfort zone. This was a big reason why I didn't redesign sooner. I knew what I liked...or rather didn't hate with a burning passion. I got comfortable with the look and feel of my online home (only tweaking it to keep my internal 'constant change' urges satisfied), making me hesitant to go outside the box.

Even though this isn't a remarkably huge change, it's a pretty big one in my book. I've always kept this blog soft and girly. I've always played up soft hues of charcoal gray and baby blue. So, I knew I wanted to consciously break out of that comfort zone upon my redesign. Since it was summer time and I wanted to incorporate color, I thought I'd pick colors that were young and summery (bold, but not overpowering).

I also wanted the look to be somewhat girly, but very clean at the same time. I'm very happy with the way this design is turned out. Each and every time I refresh my page I'm shocked, but fall right back in love. I'm sure it won't go without it's tweaks, but I am happy to say that this is the big picture guys!


Do you like this new design?

Also, while we're on the subject of my blog, I just wanted to say thank-you to each and every person that comes across this blog and takes a few moments out of their day to read a post about my day-to-day/inspiration. I would love to thank every single person that leaves a supportive, insightful, or uplifting comment. Every time I see a new comment on a post I feel very lucky. Not only have you read what I wrote, but you've also responded. I love getting to know readers, thanking them, and connecting with them. It's a beautiful thing that the blogosphere has to offer. If you follow my blog, I love you even more. Knowing you're consistently exposed to my posts, as I am exposed to so many of my favorite's bloggers posts on a daily basis is a completely surreal and wonderful thought to me.

So to all that read, look, browse, comment, or follow...THANK YOU. You don't know just how much you're appreciated!

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That's right! I'm away on vacation starting...NOW (though technically I won't be romping around in my bikini on the sandy beach til tomorrow)! I'm so excited to be dipping out on reality (work, college stress, social life, blog mania) for a week to spend time with my family and best friend. This could possibly be the last family vacation in a very long time (college ain't cheap folks!) so I'm going to be setting my sights on soaking up not only the sun, but some valued time with the people who love me most in my life. My best friend Callista Marie is going out of state for college and I cannot tell you how special and precious this time with her will be as well!

However, I don't intend to let DearieLovie sit static while I'm away. Oh, no! I'll have a slew of fresh posts daily (one for sure and any other updates/posts that I feel particularly eager to share) so the blog never gets stale. I'll have all the regular features and some beach-themed treats on the posting front for all of you lovies out there! Also, if you need to contact me for any reason leave a comment or shoot an email!

So, without further ado...let this much needed 'beach break' begin!

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I've spent all week contemplating things and it all started with a dream about my favorite blogger Elsie Flannigan. In my dream I was visiting her quaint vintage store in Springfield, MO. I met her at the counter and she asked me what I was doing with my life and (most importantly) blog. I was looking at the pretty vintage and I failed to come up with an answer. I was dumbfounded. Where exactly was I going? The next morning I woke up feeling motivated. I grabbed my journal and realized that I was ready to try my hand at the big leagues of blogging. I knew that it wouldn't be an overnight transformation, but one that would take careful planning, a little spending, and a lot of time, care, inspiration, and effort.

First off, I asked myself: What makes a business successful? Then, I wanted to know: Who are my rolemodels and why? This part was a breeze. I had a slew of blog-running rolemodels who had cultivated a unique, inspirational, and personal online space to share with the world. They are women who have turned their blog into a brand. They're passionate women who I can easily look up to! (click any of the images to enlarge)















After listing off my rolemodels and examining them, I wondered: What do I have to offer? What are my strengths? What will make my slice of the internet stand out in the best way possible?Lastly, I made a plan of action and a timeline to boot.





















Every blog (and blogger's) journey has to start somewhere. Mine starts here.