BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: Dear Blossom Studios

I've been hinting over the past few months that I had something exciting in the works... and I can finally reveal what it is! My close friend and frequent collaborator, Emma, and I are starting a new venture: Dear Blossom Studios, a photography and content creation space located in the heart of the Flower City (our hometown of Rochester, NY)!

Both Emma and I have always loved the opportunity to take natural, captivating photos and to tell compelling stories through those images. We decided on the name Dear Blossom Studios to indicate our connection to nature and our desire to help others blossom into their best selves in front of the camera. I'm totally enamored with the name and with our branding, especially since I think it fits so perfectly with both of us individually and as a pair.

We've been working so hard to bring this beautiful space to life and to get everything ready to launch today. Our studio has two separate rooms and several great spots for shooting. We're starting out with senior portraits, headshots, and branding sessions, but we have a bunch of other fun offerings in the works to be launched in the near future. I'm also planning on using the studio space for my own photoshoots, videos, and brand content creation. I'm so excited for all of the possibilities and about working on something new and creative!

It would mean the world to me if you would check out our website, follow our Instagram, like our Facebook page, or share our posts with friends and family. Even if you're not based in Rochester or the surrounding area, your support can make a huge difference. (Plus, Emma often travels to photograph weddings and other events – so it's entirely possible that we could work together, no matter where you're located!) And if you have any questions, suggestions, or want to book a session, please don't hesitate to email us at hello@dearblossomstudios.com! 

It's been a tough year, but it's appropriate that I feel like I'm blossoming, too.

Poppies

Normally, I love an outfit that instantly transports me back in time. But in some cases, a dress becomes so emotionally loaded that I can't wear it without traveling right back into a certain frame of mind. For better or for worse, this is one of those dresses.

The last time I wore this dress, I was in a special place I loved with a person I loved. The last time I wore this dress, I had a good day with that person, which was a rarer event than one might guess. The last time I wore this dress, I was 40 pounds heavier and my mind was heavy with worry all the time. Just because this dress fit me better back then doesn't mean that everything was a perfect fit. Both my body and my mind are lighter now, but my heart's still weighed down in a lot of ways.

The last time... I guess I decided that this was the last time. The last time I would let him take advantage of my kindness and my forgiveness and my openness. The last time I would cry in front of him and because of him. The last time I might ever see him. So I made it count and called him out and gave voice to the truths I had wanted to express for so long and acknowledged the stinging realizations that came on fast and remain stuck in my mind. The last time I would stand by and let him hurt someone else like me – someone who is probably willing to overlook mistakes and who finds the joy in everything and who is too trusting and who ignores the red flags and who has a lot going for her and who doesn't deserve to be subjected to anything as ugly as alcoholism can be. I'm paying a price for my honesty and for my courage, but I wasn't about to let this be like every other time when I looked past the nastiness and saw only the sweetness. Instead, I saw him for who he chose to be... and my heart broke even more. But at least now there's something else fueling me and moving me forward, rather than having an excuse to stay stuck and fixate on what's left behind.

Poppies are often used as a symbol of remembrance. I didn't plan this symbolism out when I shot these photos, but I don't think it's a coincidence that I'm finding significant meaning in what I'm wearing. Six months ago, I'd reminisce and romanticize the good things (however few and far between). Now, I'm reminded of all the bad things and of the worst versions of ourselves and I know I don't ever want to be in that position again. Poppies can also indicate sleep or death, but I feel more awake and more alive than I have in who knows how long, despite the fact that part of me is gone for good and I still find it hard to even breathe sometimes. But, appropriately enough, I guess that's what happens when you get hooked and when you finally remember what it feels like to not be under that influence anymore.

These flowers are also left on graves, so it's only fitting that I'm grieving. Mourning doesn't always look like or feel like what you'd expect. It isn't linear and it doesn't involve just one emotion and it doesn't fit neatly into a nice little box – which, in all its confusion, perfectly aligns with many of the other seemingly impossible situations I've encountered over the past three years. That doesn't make it any easier to understand or make the healing happen faster. But I know what I'm capable of – and I know that I will blossom anew again, in spite of it all.

Outfit Details

Chelsea Dress in Poppy Field: Bernie Dexter

Red Poppy Necklace: c/o Hop Skip & Flutter

Boater hat: similar  ||  Sandals: Naturalizer (half off!)

Be good to yourselves, my friends. You're all you've got.

Celebration

Although this print is ideal for ringing in the New Year (in fact, I wore the other colorway of this dress in my last NYE post), I decided to put it on the other day – just because. For me, fashion itself is a celebration, and it brings me so much daily joy that I'm able to express my creativity and my personality through my personal style. I've also made so much progress in my life lately that this dress felt appropriate; I feel like this is a new beginning for me, and that I've finally started to transition into adulthood. I just feel really happy about where I am in this moment. And speaking of "where I am," below is another little sneak peek at my apartment! It's still not ready to show you all yet, but you can take a glimpse into the living room... and this gate outside is part of my driveway! My little place has so much character, and I feel so content here.

On that note, I think I can finally share my Exciting Life Update. So here it is: I left my customer service job, and ended up finding a position with another company... and I'm ecstatic to say that I'm now a full-time writer!! Basically, I'm writing content for articles and blog posts for a company that specializes in marketing solutions. It's such interesting work, the office is right near my apartment, and I'll eventually be able to work from home when I want. Although it's a totally new venture for me, I'm so happy to be writing all day long, and I'm already learning a lot. This is much closer to what I had in mind for myself, and the opportunity came along at the perfect time (thanks to a friend from high school, who also works as a writer there). I don't want to jinx it, but things do seem to be falling into place: in addition to my new job and my lovely apartment, my best friend just received a long-awaited kidney transplant and will be back home soon! And I also have an important guy back in my life. I know I don't consistently share a ton of personal stuff here (for numerous reasons), but I have to say that I'm feeling really good these days. Also, between all of that and Stranger Things and RuPaul's Drag Race All-Stars Season 2, there's a lot of stuff to celebrate. :)

Outfit Details

Bernie Dexter New Year's Eve Paris Dress: Zulily

Belt: from another dress

Flats: Amazon

That's all for now! What are you celebrating lately? 

Insta-updates

Sorry for the lack of outfit posts this weekend!  I had to work both nights at the box office, and was catching up on some other things this weekend.  We're heading into tech. week for the children's theatre show I'm doing, so this week's going to be a busy one.  I have outfit posts already planned, but I thought today would be a good time to recap some recent highlights, via my Instagram snaps.  Please feel free to follow me there, if you're not already doing so!  Here's what I've been up to lately:

Yesterday, I ended up going out to an antique co-op with my mom and out to dinner.  I got a few fun things for my room -- a couple of vinyl records, a mini mint classic VW bug, and two little fake donuts!  Lots of fun things to see, including this dresser:

We went to one of our favorite Asian fusion restaurants afterwards, before I had to go to work:

Thai iced tea and pineapple fried rice!

I got a wonderful package this week from Kate -- I ordered 2 dresses from her shop my closet update (both of which fit perfectly!), and she included this awesome Lisa Frank postcard and a little cherry pie ring she made for me!  So sweet!

I found this awesome sign for $10 at Homegoods last weekend!

Tikka Masala and naan heaven.

My little castle ring came in the mail!  So cute!

I have made a promise to my bicycle that I will use her this year!

I got my Shamrock Shake fix (and immediately regretted it -- I am in denial of my lactose intolerance)!

Adorable new phone cases!  I'm so in love with the Little Twin Stars one!

Girl Scout Cookies cure all ills.

I can't wait to wear this cherry fascinator hat that Polly sent me!

The self-satisfaction brought on by organizing my shoe collection is unparalleled. 

I'm spending as much time as possible with this little muffin.

Speaking of muffins... aren't these cupcake plates darling?!  Not sure how I'll use them yet...

I love this.

I am quickly accumulating a ton of pastel knick-knacks and I couldn't be happier.

I am also making it my mission to have a large collection of Disney records.  Robin Hood is my favorite Disney movie, so it's only fitting I have this one.

New purse #1 -- it's shaped like a house and made of wood!

New purse #2 -- of course, I needed a teacup bag!

I'll be back to outfit posting tomorrow!  In the meantime, you can check out a new post over at Flock Together -- we're talking about the monochrome trend today!  

Have a wonderful Sunday!

xox Sammi