My five year blogging anniversary was a few days ago on April 7. I had grand plans to publish this post on the actual date, but then I was in Minneapolis working at the Final Four and UVA just so happened to WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP (!!!), so needless to say, I’ve been a tad sleep deprived. (More on this amazing experience coming soon!)

When I wrote a similar post this time last year about my blogging journey, I was in a very different place. I was just starting to realize that I was unhappy in my daily life—I was bored at work, I didn’t love where I lived, and I was itching for a new challenge. This year couldn’t look more different. I spent a lot of time this past weekend about how a year ago, I never could have imagined where I am today—with a new job that challenges me everyday and opens doors my old one never could and in an apartment that I love in the heart of Dupont Circle. It would have been easy to stay complacent and stagnant and not push myself, but I am really glad I found the edge of my comfort zone and ran right past it.

This past year, my relationship with blogging has ebbed and flowed, mostly out of necessity. When I was looking for a new job, that process felt like a second full-time job, so I often gave myself a pass on blogging when I needed a break. And I have no regrets with that approach—this blog has always been a fun creative outlet, but my day job is where I spend the majority of my time and how I make the majority of my money, so it needed to come first.

Now that I no longer spend my nights and weekends trolling LinkedIn, I have a lot more time again to dedicate to A Touch of Teal, and that makes me really excited. One thing I mentioned here recently was that I am really trying to write a blog I’d want to read, so instead of throwing up “filler” posts, I’m really trying to focus on quality content. That’s my main goal for the next year of my blogging journey—fewer, better posts.

Over the last year, my blog has brought me some amazing memories—and I am so grateful that your readership of A Touch of Teal has unlocked many experiences and opportunities I wouldn’t have otherwise.

From a partnerships perspective, I enjoyed a one-night staycation with my sister at Morrison House Hotel in Old Town Alexandria. I had my first long-term contract (we signed a deal for a year!) with Master of Mixes (seen here, here, and here!) and I was able to create a delicious holiday cocktail for Total Wine & More. I went to one of the coolest events I’ve ever been to at City Tavern Club in Georgetown. And I was invited to some pretty amazing meals, including one of the best summer happy hours in town. I made tapas with the seasoning of my childhood summers.

From a life perspective, I FINALLY SAW HAMILTON. I spent an amazing fall day wine tasting with some of my best blogger babes. I checked a solo trip off my bucket list. I moved into DC. I went to my five-year college reunion. I bought one of the best pieces of furniture ever. I read 52 books. I went to San Antonio with my mom and Newport, Rhode Island with my family. I saw NYC at Christmastime.

Though I reflect on each year at the top of the calendar, it is nice to use this blogging anniversary as a marker of time. More than ever, I’m excited to see where the next year takes me—and take you all along for the ride. Thank you so much for reading. This blog is more than I ever imagined it would be. x

*** SHOP THE POST ***
Old Navy Midrise Rockstar Skinny Jeans
Lilly Pulitzer Gramercy Top
Steve Madden Slides—old, similar here
Circle Straw Bag—purchased at a Charleston boutique, similar here for $20!
BP 55mm Mirrored Sunglasses 

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I wanted to end today’s post with a quote I came across recently, because I think it sums up the biggest lesson I learned over the past year:

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road your trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low, and the debts are high,
And when you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
Rest if you must, but don’t you quit.

Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt.
And you can never tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar,
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit,
it’s when things go wrong that you mustn’t quit.