BHG Stylemaker-A Decade Long Honor

After a decade of being invited to the BHG Stylemaker event, I am still honored and humbled. Looking around the room at all the insane talent, I often wonder, “How did I get here?”

In writing, cause and effect are BIG! But in real life, too. The impetus for this beautiful friendship with BHG started with sheer luck. And I say this with certainty because there are so many talented makers out there. It began on an ordinary Saturday in February with an email that changed everything. In a nutshell, BHG saw my barnwood coffee table project and wanted me to participate in a March Madness DIY competition. The email also said they would fly the winners to their BHG headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa.

This competition started with 16 incredibly talented DIYers and was narrowed down to four. I became one of four, along with Karri-Anne, Jen, and Diane. We met with the entire BHG team and got a full tour, from the test kitchen to the prop room and styling stations. Then, we duked it out in our own DIY playoff. I can honestly say this was a turning point for me. But I have to admit, I felt like an imposter, picked to play a part I had no business playing.

After this incredible opportunity, I became a Style Spotter for their website and pitched a “Give Back Makeover,” to which they said yes! So much of life is talent and dedication, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t reiterate that chance plays a key role. The fact that Kaelin, the digital editor, found my project ten-plus years ago while scrolling through Pinterest still blows my mind to this day.

That brings me to now, ten years later, and this BHG Stlemaker in NYC at 9 Orchard. I met up with my friend Meenu. We met last year through my friend Jamie, one of my oldest and dearest blogging friends. They’re both from Canada—the kindest, funniest girls! As always, it was a great day, and I have some takeaways.

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You can shop my look below. The olive floral dress is so pretty on. It runs small, so jump up a size. The sandals are shown in black below, but they also come in tan, like I wore.

After hearing the panelists talk about their creative journeys, the first takeaway is that everyone has imposter syndrome! I mean everyone! Even when you think it’s impossible, that there’s no way that confident person has insecurities. I would say they do, at some point or another. The next is failure, which is a part of almost every creative story, including mine. Oh, and did you know that “core” is trending, and if you add it to a word like Cottage Core, it becomes cool? In addition, everyone has a story, and it’s most likely not what you think it is. Lastly, I love creative women, and I feel very lucky to be in an industry where reinvention is as common as the seasons.

Have a happy day, friend!