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turtleneck // skirt c.o // headband // nude heels // sunglasses // handbag c/o
Last month marked my 5 year anniversary of blogging– my blogiversary! I can’t believe it has been 5 years!! Time really goes by fast. It feels like yesterday I was creating a vision board and coding my website (that looked like I coded it myself ha). At the same time, however, so much has happened since then; A TON of growth and improvement in content, lots of brand partnerships, experiences I only dreamed about, friendships that I created, and my own personal growth. Although my blog and myself have improved over the years there is still so much more I want to do, want to learn, want to experience, and want to perfect and improve.
I remember making my parents take me out to dinner to celebrate hitting a thousand followers on Instagram. I was blown away that it actually happened. Even now I am surprised when someone mentions that they read my blog post or follow me. In my mind only my mom reads this little online diary of mine. For those of you who have been with me for years I can’t thank you enough!! I really am grateful. For those of you who are new to Blush and Blooms, hello!! Welcome!
Since some of you may not know me as well, I thought a little round up of fun facts about me would be a great way to celebrate turning 5! I have written some of these fun facts in the past– revealed how I am deathly afraid of Ostriches and have broken both of my arms at the same time during cheerleading practice (read here and here ). So without further ado here are 5 more facts!
1. I had a traumatic accident as a child: When I was only 18 months old my cousins were in town visiting from Georgia. We were all at my grandmothers house playing outside by the creek that was in her backyard. Side note: this was the 80’s so children playing by themselves in creeks were normal. My mom was picking up my other cousin from preschool and my grandmother and aunt were babysitting us. My cousin Adam, Hannah, my sister Amanda, and I were on the edge of the small hill that goes down into the creek. They were all throwing rocks and sticks and I decided to join in on the fun. I picked up a stick and threw it, only the momentum was too much for me and I slipped. I fell face first into the creek with my head facing down in the water. My cousin Adam (the oldest) jumped in and grabbed me while my sister and my other cousin ran inside to get my aunt. I was covered in mud and later in life found out my aunt and grandmother called poison controlled because I swallowed so much water. I was completely scratched but was so very lucky I didn’t break any bones or my neck… or drowned. I remember this incident well. I remember throwing the stick and slipping, then I remember being in the bathtub crying while my aunt washed the mud off of me. I also remember my mom running into the bathroom. My cousin Adam and I have had a special bound ever since– the boy saved my life. This of course did not stop me from going back in the creek to play for years to come.
2. I have scoliosis: Ok this isn’t a fun fact, but it’s a fact. I discovered in 6th grade that I have a slight curvature of my spin when they did screen test during school. You know, the one where they made you line up and go into the locker room, take your shirt off and bend over in front of the nurse. She immediately told me I had scoliosis and that I should go see a doctor. I was so embarrassed, I lied to everyone afterwards saying I didn’t have it. I spent years going to the doctor to measure my spin as I grew, making sure it did not go past a certain angle. Luckily I never had to wear a brace or have surgery. I have, however, endured a lot of pain. When I was in college and dancing for hours a day, my back would hurt all of the time. I would end up getting a massage every other week. Going to yoga and being active helps as well. Apparently being active as a child and dancing (stretching and learning to align my body) has kept my spin from curving even more according to my doctor. You can’t tell by looking at me straight on, only if I bend over without a shirt or with a workout top. Yoga instructors love me because of my curve, yet my back is pretty flexible. I no longer have as much pain, mostly because I know how to take care of myself (stretch, ice, foam roll). I used to be so insecure about it, now it’s just part of who I am. My mom blames the one shoulder backpack look of the 90’s. Who knows!
3. I produced a dance recital for charity: Part of my senior year of high school’s graduating curriculum we needed to do a final senior project. It needed to be something big; people created boats, learned to ski, created paintings, murals, statues, created music, did research, wrote books, etc. My senior project was to produce a recital piece and raise money for breast cancer. I choreographed two pieces and the rest were dances from my dance studio. I had dancers from my studio participate. The performance was held at my high school auditorium. It was pretty cool being the director of the recital- dealing with production (lights, marking, etc). I had my dance teacher help me out with direction and what to do. I forget how much money was raised but it was an experience I’ll never forget. It had been my dream to create a recital for many years and knew that I would someday do it as my senior project. I know I got an A on it!
4. I have a major sweet tooth: Having a sweet tooth runs in the family. My mom used to eat puppy chow for lunch (and still weighed 115lbs… life is unfair). Anyway, I blame my mom on not being able to say no to chocolate. My sister and I were potty trained with M&M’s, which we call num nums. I would rather have dessert than any other meal. Of course I do not and have trained myself to have will power. If I do feel like having a treat during the day I will eat Skinny Dipped Almonds and at night for dessert I’ll have Hu Chocolate.
5. I worked at a church camp during college: There is a popular church camp in Columbus called Camp Akita. The camp is affiliated with a non-denominational church called First Community Church. I grew up Presbyterian and my grandparents started our church, so when a friend of mine invited me to camp in 5th grade it took a lot of convincing my mom to say yes. Thank god she did because I went every year after that. I became a L.I.F.E Guard in high school (someone who cleans up and serves the camp), in college I was a camp counselor, then my final year I was on staff as the head girl counselor. To this day being head girl counselor has been one of the things I am most grateful for! I remember getting the phone call from the camp director offering me the position as I was walking home from class. Akita is still one of my favorite places on earth. I honestly would not be the person I am today if I didn’t go. It strengthen my faith in god and wanting to talk about it. Sometimes it was the only thing, the camp, that got me through hard times and struggles. But it was more than just a church camp and learning about god, it was about life and being a good person. It taught me so much, and we had a BLAST! We had giant water slides, volleyball tournaments, dances, camp fires, etc. Sometimes when I am feeling down or lonely I think of sitting on a chair on the back porch looking out over the camp, or up on bald eagle writing in my journal, or morning prayer at Vesper Hill. It truly was one of the best times of my life.