The truth behind blogging | 4 year Blogaversary

To tell you the truth, I wanted to share a whole lot about my plans for T&P today. Instead, I am sharing my heart and the behind the scenes that aren't always fun that no one really talks about in the blogging world.

OUTFIT DETAILSDRESS c/o | HEELS | EARRINGS c/o | BRACELET | LIPS (Snob)This dress was a dream and can be worn for so much!Formal event, wedding, holiday party, prom, homecoming, etc.

First off, I want to say THANK YOU for helping make T&P possible the last 4 years. Every comment, view, like, or click on my content keeps me motivated to share my passion with you and to work hard on this blog.

It means the world to me and often results with me in tears when I hear that a blog post I wrote spoke to you, that you are finding confidence in your clothes, that I helped you find your style. Without you, I wouldn't be able to do this.  So what is this?

Twirling in the streets of Portland looking like Audrey Hepburn?Well, today it is! Most days, it is not.

From the outside looking in, like any job, it looks like all fun! New clothes, fun pictures, amazing connections, BLESSINGS abound in opportunities I could have never dreamed of, and the ease of being ME confidently *most of the time.

While this is the BEAUTY of blogging, it's just the surface.

Blogging is so much more than what meets the eye. It's a business I started from the ground up which means I manage every aspect of it. Talk about putting my business degree to work lol.

It's also a business that isn't easy to explain.

It's is a huge part of me. I hope this sheds light on the work I do for T&P while also bringing encouragement on why I do what I do for you. 

Being a Blogger IS...

Self-advocating.Honesty.Empowering.Simple some of the time.Difficult a lot of the time.Hard to explain to others.Creating and processing contracts. This means writing them, discussing terms, and being bound legally. Accountant/Tax Agent.Photographer.Writer.Writing ONE blog post, inputting the pictures, links, and the nerdy background stuff I won't bore you with takes me upwards of 4 hours.Editor.Creative designer.Stylist.Website developer. Ya, that weird symbols and numbers mixed up message you see sometimes. That is HTML coding and I do that to make this website run :).Result Analyst.Social media strategist. 

As you can see, blogging is a lot of things you probably never knew! Now, there are always draw backs or difficulties from a job. Here are some of the things that blogging is NOT.

Being a Blogger is NOT...

-FOR EVERYONE: Blogging is by far the hardest job I have ever had. It's hard work and takes a lot of time to build. I am still in the small sector of blogging even though I have been doing this for 4 years. I wish I had my "big break" already but the truth is, a big break may never happen and that's OK by me. What's important to me is to be here (on T&P) for you no matter what!

-BEING A SALES PERSON: I don't enter into sponsorships because I can guarantee sales for companies, that is the role of a salesperson. That is not what a blogger is. I can guarantee to share my honest opinion with you that can help you with your own life.

-FREE PRESS: Unfortunately, blogging is a business that isn't always understood. I have to advocate for my services and my strengths on a daily basis. The only reason why I enter into sponsorships or collaborations is that I love the company, product, service, etc. The payment of my services is not buying my opinion but my time for the project (min. of 6 hours per blog post).

Soooooooo why do I blog? 

I am passionate about it: passionate about helping women, passionate about writing, passionate about style and fashion, passionately creative, and passionate about what God has laid on my heart to do.

YOU are what makes this possible for me. Without an audience to share this passion with, I wouldn't have an influence. I feel blessed each day I get to grow this blog, even the days that I want to quit because it was a hard day (we all have those days, but God definitely uses them for good!). I feel honored that God chose me. 

Being blessed with something doesn't always mean it's perfect, it means that you find the blessings out of the imperfections. My challenge for myself each day.

If you want to start a blog:

I am writing a Q & A post with all the questions I get from y'all about blogging. If you have any, please send them my way! Email me at topknotsandpearls@gmail.com , DM me on IG, or message me on my Facebook page!

MAJOR shout out to my girl Brianna from The Modern Sojourner for killing it with these pictures!

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