WHY I DECIDED TO REBRAND AND RENAME MY BLOG.

I’ve had my blog since 2011 and since then it’s gone through many changes. If you’ve been following me for a while you might remember the days when I was a jewelry designer and my blog was called, “Hate’er Jewelry Blog.” SMH yeah, let’s not talk about that one-ha.

Even though I’ve had my blog now for six going on seven years, truthfully until recently I haven’t put much effort into it. Between school, changing career paths, starting a PR & marketing company, Arreis and trying to maintain some degree of a social life, blogging hasn’t been top priority.

Truthfully though,  I think I lost my passion. 

Maybe it's the creative in me, or perhaps it's the inner artist but I'm definitely my own worst critic. In some ways it's been beneficial to hold myself to a high standard. My desire for excellence has helped me in creating a cohesive brand for Arreis and gaining a lot of the success and clients I have today. Being tough on myself has pushed me to grow but in some ways it has definitely held me back. A big example is my blog.

Over the years I've switched focuses but one goal I've always had was to show more of my personality, more of me on my blog. However, when it comes to putting myself out there I can be pretty tough on myself. With so many awesome bloggers in the industry it's hard not to compare yourself and want to produce content on the same level as them.

For a while I neglected my blog because I felt like I didn't have the right camera, the right software, the right (fill in the blank). Bull shit. Everyone, no matter who they are has to start somewhere.

Success is being able to use what you have to the best of your abilities and grow what you have into something more. 

There was once a time when I thought I had to wait until I was fully "ready," to put myself out there but something I've learned during my blogging journey, is that you will never truly be ready. You may feel more prepared sure, but you'll always find little things that could be better or aren't quite perfect yet.

Whether it's your blog, taking a trip, starting a business or a new venture, if you're waiting for the right moment, the right time, the right opportunity you will always be waiting.

Sometimes all it takes is taking a risk to realize that you were already ready.

So that’s it. That's the heart of where the rebranding and name change came from. Though I’ve had my blog for six years I haven’t built it to a place where changing the name and redesigning my site would make that huge of a difference. YET!

I'm excited to move into my seventh year of blogging with a new look, a new vibe, and a new mindset with no doubt and no second-guessing myself.

....and it’s exciting!