A Breather

These pictures are from Memorial Day Weekend. It goes without saying that I am more than a little behind on posting. For the past couple of weeks I've been a one-post-a-week kind of girl. I was a little caught up living my tangible life. That's the one where I get together with friends for mid-week laughs, take myself on romantic dates, and go for long afternoon runs with Lua. And I got to do all that without pressuring myself to rush back to my apartment to get a post or two done before my eyes would start to close for the night. It ended up that I took an unintentional breather from blogging. 

I've written about similar issues with finding a balance between blogging and real life before. I bounced back from those breaks with a fresh take on how to approach this whole blogging business. Maybe this is just the breather I needed to kick myself into gear again. Blogging has become so important this past year and has opened up endless opportunities for me. In some ways, I feel like I'm being unfair to my blogging persona by taking such a step back. It's amazing to be even a small part of this vast community. I absolutely love the people I have met, and am so grateful that I've been able to use this space as a way to make some incredible new friends. I almost feel I'm being selfish in my relationship with this blog. It seems that I want to reap all the benefits, without putting in all the hard work. 

I honestly don't know how some of you do it. Full time jobs, full time blogs, some full time parents, all while balancing a seemingly active social schedule that keeps you healthy and happy. I was putting a lot of work into my blog, until I realized that I was putting more work into my blog then into some of my face-to-face relationships. And with the addition of gorgeous weather I really began to feel the itch to be outside my apartment after work, instead of cooped up, spending even more time sitting by a computer screen. 

I have a few options. I can continue to blog in a less than predictable way, constantly feeling guilty than I'm not providing enough inspiring, new, or thought provoking content. I can go back to the days where I came home from work to immediately sit down at the computer and work on the blog way past my bedtime. Or I can dive head first into this blogging world, start accepting sponsors, offering giveaway upon giveaway, spend all my time outside of work shopping for new clothes, networking with companies, and scouting outfit photo locations. Now, that doesn't necessarily sound terrible at all, but it does seem like more occupied time I'd have to take away from the time that I like to leave unscheduled in my life. 

My problem with going down the road of sponsors, is that I think it would change my blog tremendously. Right now, it's all me. I get to post whenever I want, write about the topics I want to, and say pretty much anything, all this over sharing included. If I start having to be a voice that represents different companies, that will unavoidably change. Personally, I would feel a responsibility to keep a certain level of professionalism on the blog. I'm just not sure I'm ready to be held accountable to anyone besides myself for this space. I share a lot here (probably too much). I'm not sure a clothing, jewelry, vintage, handbag, etc. company cares that I share my deepest darkest feeling with their target audience. Yet, I'm still being contacted. What am I missing here. What should I be doing here? 

AG Top, Brandy & Melville Skirt, Espadrilles from DSW
Friendship Bracelets from Madewell, Coral Bracelet Gift, Pendant from Clyde's Rebirth

I would love to hear your thoughts and opinions on all of this. I know it's hard for everyone to juggle all the things they have going on. I'm not giving myself an excuse, or saying that I'm more busy than anyone else, I'm just asking for advice. I know that most of the people who read my blog are also incredibly busy, want-to-do-everything-but-just-don't-have-the-time people too. Maybe you have some inside advice you wouldn't mind lending me. Or any advice on partnering with companies and how it's changed your blogging experience for the better or the worse. I'm all ears. 

Photos by Melissa

Thank you again for sticking around while the posting has been so spotty here. I'm going to try to do my best to get back up to speed and start sharing and interacting with you all more because that's what this is really supposed to be all about right? 

The Year Past

When I started to think about how to celebrate my one year anniversary I decided that I wanted to recreate my first outfit post, Girls as friends. Looking back on the pictures, it occurred to me that my style hasn't changed that much. Scarf, solid neutral top, cuffed pants, short boots. These are all things I've returned to over and over in the past year. I think the actual achievement for me has been that my non photographed, everyday outfits have improved from what they were a year ago. That isn't to say that I don't represent what I actually wear on the blog, because I do. What I mean is that I can now get dressed without all the stressful planning I had to do before and be happy about what I put together. Whether it's a weekend where I'm taking pictures for the blog, or not.

I didn't set out to change my style when I started this blog, I just wanted to feel like I could put together an outfit that would successfully communicate a little bit of myself to the people around me. I wanted to better represent myself when I went out in public. Not just that I was wearing jeans because they were comfortable, but that I was wearing jeans because that was the vibe I wanted to project that particular day. The majority of the time I get dressed with the intention of doing that now, I think I'm able to achieve it.

I started this blog at a time when I felt really lonely, despite the fact that I was in a relationship and living in one of the largest cities in the world. I was struggling with my friendships, my life choices, and I needed something I could look forward to at the end of the day. Now a year later, I'm happily busy with my life. I have plans with friends (some old and reinvigorated, some new budding friendships), I'm doing things that I want to do, and I'm slowly figuring out what things work for my life and what things don't. I'm making small steps to see all the necessary changes through. 

My goals when I started were to get a better sense of my style, reach outside my social circle to make brand new connections and friends, and get out of my rut by having a creative hobby that was fun and something I enjoyed doing. I have far exceeded all of my expectations. I've said it before, but I have met an abundance of amazing women through this blog. I don't know how well I would have made it through some of the harder moments that have happened to me this past year without them. More than being there for all the big crashing down moments, I have found real everyday friends. People I can turn to for the good and bad, the sad and the hilarious. I am so thankful to this blog for giving me a way to meet people who I would have missed dearly had I not given them the opportunity to become such a huge part of my life.

Sucre Sunglasses, JCrew Shirt, JCrew Pants
Vintage Scarf from my Mom, Vintage Boots from Capricious Traveler

Morgan and Lua has become more than just a style blog for me. It has become a keepsake for some of the most mundane and dramatic moments of my life. I'm glad that I can look back on all the trips I've taken and the things I've done in this past year. More than that, I'm grateful I have it so that I can continue to keep track of all the amazing experiences that have yet to come my way.
The only thing I changed about this outfit is that I cuffed my pants an extra roll. I had to wait a whole year to realize that's all this outfit needed. Even though it might not be that easy to see at first glance, this year has certainly changed me.

  
  
  

Thank you so much for being around this past year. Who knows what I'll be up to this time next year!
Don't forget to check out the One Year Anniversary Giveaway!!

Bridge the Gap

It feels strange not having documented everything I've been up to over the past few weeks. I don't know where to pick up. The weekend after Kim and Brian's epic visit I retreated to my parents for some quiet time. Then the following weekend I went back to Philly to help celebrate Brian's belated birthday. I even got to meet up with a few other Philadelphians, Veronika and Lisa while I was in town. 

That weekend is when I started to feel especially run down from blogging. I wanted to enjoy the weekend with people instead of feeling pressure to document every waking moment. Whether that was a seasonal, emotional, or hormonal reason I'm not exactly sure. I just knew that I wanted to be present that weekend instead of worrying about how I'm going to format my pictures into posts or when I'm going to use certain outfits or keeping notes on potential writing topics. 

I came to the unavoidable decision that I was going to take last week "off". Even though this blog is supposed to be a hobby, it was beginning to feel like a hassle and a job. I feel a responsibility to churn out a certain level of "work" that I think is expected. I know I put that pressure on myself but if I'm taking the time to write something almost daily, I want it to be worthwhile. At least, that was the thought process.

I wasn't able to keep up with blogging as well as the other day to day things I had to take care of. Nearly everything was taking a back seat to getting my pictures edited and posts written. I had over 1,000 unread posts in my reader, a bedroom of stuff that was overflowing into my living room, and some BIG life decisions that needed to be considered (I can't share those just yet). Basically I needed a breather because I wasn't functioning as a blogger or as a 25 year old single, tea drinking, granola eating, puppy mamma, living in Manhattan. Everyone needs to take a step back once in awhile. 

I couldn't keep up with the schedule I made for myself. I needed to spend more time in the real world. Especially since out of this whole blogging thing came the idea that I needed to embrace life experiences more. That includes my tangible life as well, not just my internet one. That said, I also missed my regular interaction with the blogging community. I wasn't commenting on posts or connecting with people who left me comments like I had in the past. I was bogged down and both aspects of my life were affected. 

So where does that leave me? I love this community and being a part of it has brought so much to my life. At the same time I'm not sure I should be denying my face-to-face relationships because I have to write a post or go out to take pictures. I think it'll be about finding a schedule that works for me, a good balance, because I want to do both, do each well, and bridge the gap between these two very important parts of my life. 

Selima Optique Sunglasses, Scarf from Anthropologie
Saint James Shirt - Cords - Socks - Boots from Madewell 
Pendant Necklace from Clyde's Rebirth

Have any of you dealt with similar problems managing your time? How have you handled balancing real life friendships with maintaining friends in the blogging community? That asked, is there something else you would like to see here? Something you'd like to know from me or hear my thoughts on that I haven't covered yet? I'm open to suggestions on how I can make my blog function better not only for myself but also for YOU, the friends who come to read and share. What about only posting a few times a week? More outfits without the writing? More Scenes posts? Some baking or food related posts? Fill me in. 

Photos by Kim and Brian

And don't forget that I live in NYC! If you're in town for all the fashion week craziness let me know. I know there are a few conferences this week, then probably even more cool things this weekend. Feel free to send me an email or a tweet if you want to meet up at any point! 

Into the New

We took these pictures at the end of New Years Eve day. I thought it was particularly appropriate that I spent my last day of 2010 with some of the newest people in my life. I haven't been shy about sharing what's been going on these past few months, but the reality is that the entire 2010 was quite a rough year for me. Many of the reasons I started a blog came from certain things I was trying to deal with, avoid, get away from. I needed an escape, a creative hobby, and a way to meet new like minded people. In September I was lucky enough to have part of that come true. I was in the city for NYFW and met a ton of bloggers during the long weekend of activities. 

I am so grateful for everything that has come from having this space. In the past year, while my job and living space remained stagnant, so many things have changed. It has felt like I've been bouncing all over the place while my day to day routine remains completely unchanged. 

That said, at the end of the year I was set loose and began to travel again. I love traveling to new cities and meeting fresh people. For so long I wasn't able to do that as much as I would have liked. I did alot of reflecting this fall about how to be myself and also how to be ok with who I am in this moment. Traveling, exploring, pretending, and being extra disheveled is all a part of that. I even began to take advantage of my own city again.

My first fall trip was to Madison, Wisconsin to visit Merl. I got the chance to share some moody for her Fall Lookbook. I never would have thought in a million years that someone would pick me as their "model". It was such an amazing experience and something I won't forget about anytime soon.

In October I had some beautiful guest bloggers fill in for me while I was away. I flew to Denver, Colorado to visit one of my dearest friends Sarah. Even though we have a long distance friendship I feel like she is someone who really understands who I am as a person, the good, the bad, and the quirky. It was so refreshing to be around her and her husband, Trevor. I was able to relax in Denver and become more aware of the little idiosyncrasies that make me, me. 

  

At the beginning of December I ventured to Philly to unwind and let my friendship with Kim become a real-life love story. I unintentionally fell in lust with the city, and accepted that I need to find my creative roots again. Before I left Kim and I made plans to get back together to celebrate the New Year. I realized just how happy I should and can be in light of these new friendships.

Floppy Hat, Olive Sweater, and Boots from Madewell, Citizens of Humanity Jeans, Old Belt
Vintage Shirt from Tree & Kimball Market, Custom Harness from Clyde's Rebirth

To be honest, I don't like to look through my archives, or think too hard on the distant past. Despite the negative memories surrounding these two posts, it was the start of something much better. I feel like such a different person, in a completely different phase of my life. And things are starting to be really good now, so why mess with that? I know there will be set backs, but I have to remind myself that there is so much to look forward to and that the NOW is kind of nice these days. 

 

Having the blog these past few months has really helped me reflect on my life and appreciate all the good things and good people that have come my way (...hey Kim and Merl). While things may be hard with some of my relationships now, I have all these new connections to look forward to. There are so many amazing, caring, honest, reliable people out there that I just haven't found yet. "Oh. Hey. YOU. I can't wait to meet you." Welcome to 2011. 

Photos by Merl and Brian

I thought it was also pretty fitting that on the last day of 2010 I ended up wearing two pieces from my some of the best people I've met online. The shirt is a vintage find from Lisa of Tree & Kimball Market, and the Custom Harness is the same I wore here and here from Merl of Clyde's Rebirth. These two items fit so well into my daily life, but what makes them special is that they are from such wonderful friends. I also wore the hat, my newest favorite item, for my Christmas card with Lua. And I don't know who I'd be without jeans, tall boots, and some olive green in my life. A little nod to the past and an enthusiastic wave to the future.