Brick by Brick

10 Apr Brick by Brick

When I first was laid off, I doubted who I was a writer, a blogger, and I wasn’t sure what I was doing with this site.

I’ve had a vision for it and now seemed like the perfect time to bring that to life. But was it worth the investment? I just needed a sign.

I got an email about a paid opportunity with Family Dollar.

It was right on time.

I started redesigning my site, I ordered new business cards and perfected my blog’s elevator pitch without having to mention that I technically unemployed.

Side note—I’m exploring the idea that a job doesn’t have to be a dream to pay rent. Sometimes, it just has to fund the hustle. And that’s okay, too.

My sister-friend, Yasmein, and I have a habit of sending each other inspirational links.

Whenever I read something that I find inspiring, be it a blogger, job posting, whatever, I send it her way and she does the same for me.

On Wednesday, she sent me an email with a subject line that read, ‘this made me think of you.’ In the body of the email was a quote, “It’s a way more ballsy move to own that you are a powerhouse and substantiate that yes, you built that house brick by brick. You built that house even when tornadoes threatened to rip it apart. You built that house even when people scoffed at the color of the paint. You built that house even when you were low on resources and tapped out on faith.”

She didn’t say anything else in the email, save for the link to the she pulled the quote from.

In the five years that I have written my little heart out on this blog, the past two months have been my favorite. I’m not sure if that speaks to me wanting to be more transparent, growing up, or literally having nothing else.

Wearing: Zara Moto Jacket// BaubleBar Necklaces// MissGuided Laser Print Skirt// HUE Socks// BCBGeneration Booties// Rebecca Minkoff Bag

The content, in my eyes, has been really good. Engaging and true to who I am. The photos, thanks to my boyfriend, are the best that they’ve ever looked. I like the space that I’m creating.

I have so many ideas. Ways that I want to express myself here. And it’s crazy to think that literally a couple weeks ago, I took my lease ending as a sign I should pack it up and go home.

An advertorial ran in the March issue of Ebony magazine with Kerry Washington on the cover. I was in it.

That too, was right on time.

I’m just here building my house, brick by brick.

p.s. If you flip through Sports Illustrated’s annual swimsuit issue, I wrote all of the content behind swimsuitsforall’s #CurvesInBikinis campaign, the magazine’s first ever ad to feature a plus size model.