A Touch of Teal turns three today!

And what better way to talk about such an occasion than to talk about ironing? Only half serious. Because, y’all—I ironed this gorgeous off-shoulder dress before we shot these pictures. Or more accurately, I steamed it with my iron. Then I drove into DC’s Logan Circle neighborhood and learned the hard way this dress wrinkles fast. So if you’re eying it for a summer wedding or an island escape, definitely pack that travel steamer, too.

But, I’m not going to bore you today with a diatribe on ironing. (Though I did consider writing a metaphorical post relating my blogging journey to my ironing experience last weekend to show you how blogging isn’t always perfect and you make do with what you have, but deleted that real quick because like I said—who wants to read about ironing?!)

So instead, I wanted to take a few minutes to reflect on my blogging journey so far—where has the time gone? Like many people, I started blogging as a creative outlet from work—sometimes the iterative process can be draining and I wanted something that was solely mine. I wanted a space where I could share all the things I love and use the fonts and colors I wanted. And I wanted a way to continue writing for fun—something I’ve loved since my high school journalism days.

And it’s turned into so much more than a creative outlet over the last three years.

As I’ve mentioned before, one of the best things my blog has given me is an outlet to connect with other creative, talented, caring, kind, boss b!tch ladies in DC. My “blog friends” are now very much my real friends, and any fellow post-grads can attest—it’s hard to meet new friends once you’re out in the real world in a big city. I never take for granted how lucky I am to have met such true friends—in a really unexpected and unusual place.

Recently, I’ve been reflecting on how many technical skills blogging has given me. I essentially taught myself DSLR photography because I was so frustrated with the blurry, terrible photos I was posting and knew that if I ever wanted to grow my blog further, I’d need to learn the real deal. I would have never needed to know Lightroom if it wasn’t for that new side photography hobby, and now I feel mostly comfortable in the program. It’s also done wonders for my SEO, Google Analytics, and social media skills—which have not only helped me here on the blog, but at my day job.

And, of course, blogging has also allowed me to explore my city even more through after-work networking events, media events, and social mixers. I certainly don’t take these invites for granted.

After three years, it truly is hard to imagine my life without blogging. Because seriously—what else would I do after work and on the weekends?

(PS—here’s my two year blogging anniversary post and here’s my one year anniversary post. Remember when I was a brunette?)

Before we leave, I wanted to share a few highlights the last year of blogging have brought me:

I attended my second Blog Societies Conference in Charleston, South Carolina and represented DC with 12 of my favorite local bloggers.

I began writing travel guides on my favorite cities—something that brings me so much joy! Here’s Charleston, New Orleans, Annapolis, and Charlottesville.

I collaborated with brands like ghd, Mud Pie, Krimson Klover, Basic Invite, Uncle Julio’s, The Mint Julep Boutique, and many more.

I’ve written more in-depth posts that I am really proud of—Is It Okay to Cry at Work?, On the Difference a Year Makes, I Hired a Financial Planner—Here’s How It’s Going, How I’ve Made $1,000+ Selling My Clothes on Poshmark, among others.

And, something that I really love—I’ve shared my knowledge with others through posts like My Top 3 Tips for a Cohesive Instagram Feed, An Easy Lightroom Tutorial for Bloggers, SEO by Yoast, and My Top 4 Tips for Pitching Brands.

It’s always fun to look back and see how much progress you’ve made in a year. I am excited to see what the next 365 days bring—and if you have any thoughts on what you might like to see, please don’t hesitate to reach out. x

*** SHOP THIS POST ***

Ralph Lauren Faux-Pearl Stud Earrings • Ralph Lauren • $24
Rebecca Minkoff Chase Leo Leather Envelope Clutch Bag • Rebecca Minkoff • $145
Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick – Certainly Red • Revlon • $8.49
Women’s Vince Camuto Mindie Ghillie Sandal • Vince Camuto • $99.90
Women’s Bp. 55Mm Round Sunglasses – Black/ Gold • BP • $12
Circle Lace Off The Shoulder Dress • LOFT • $89.50

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Photos by J | Rae Photography