So, something kind of crazy/scary/exciting happened over the past few weeks…

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I quit my job.

I have never done anything like this before. I’ve always had a plan, I’ve always been prepared, I’ve never taken a risk, I’ve never even quit a “real” job [I’ve had the same job since I graduated college 5+ years ago]!

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Since deciding to make 27 my game-changer year, I’ve done nothing but change up my “game”. The last 6-ish months, I really focused on my personal life + happiness…once that was in a good place, my professional life was next on the agenda.

Since resurrecting this blog in the Fall + paying it proper attention, it has provided me with some really incredible opportunities + opened a few doors that I haven’t been able to pursue or walk through while holding a full time position. I was getting overwhelmed, I developed this insane motivation + unbearably strong drive I had never felt before… I could barely contain it! I was building something that I was really proud of, but couldn’t properly maintain. I’d spent one too many weekends running on nothing but coffee, I’d be up nearly every weeknight writing, editing, planning…and functioning at my “real” job was becoming difficult. I did my best to always keep the two worlds separate, but it was becoming clear that I couldn’t do both. So, I gave my notice once returning to work after the holidays.

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My boss was certainly understanding. Obviously she’s known me for a long time now, we’ve spent nearly everyday together for years! She could see me changing in recent months, and understood why I needed to do this for myself.

So, today is my last day of work! Though a little scared, this year has been all about doing things that scare me, right?

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What do I plan to do with my new, job-free life you ask? Well, after I take a day to do whatever the heck I want 😉 …I plan to work! 

I want to take some time to fully dive into my blog + the opportunities it has presented. If not now, when?  I am young [enough] ;), I have no husband or children, I have minimal “real world” responsibility, and I am ready! It’s time to invest in myself. I really don’t think I could put my time, money, or energy into anything better. 🙂

Where will I eventually end up? Who knows. But I am really excited to find out!

In addition to my incredibly supportive family, friends,  boyfriend, and rock of a roommate, I want to thank all of YOU. Every comment, message, e-mail, DM, RT, FB  post, re-gram, every person who has said that I inspired or helped them in some way, every brand [both big + small] who has reached out + trusted me with their products, everyone who has sought my advice on fashion/beauty/blogging + found my feedback valuable…ALL OF IT means more than you could ever know. You make me feel like I’m doing *something* right + I hope you truly understand how genuinely grateful I am. I don’t think I could ever really explain it.

So, here’s to making the last 5 months of this crazy year of mine worth it! It’s going to be hard to top the last 7, but I have a feeling I juuust might be able to do it! 😉

XOXO

What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken?

| 81 Comments

81 comments on “The Next Chapter.”

  1. Congrats! This is a great story of self awareness and self discovery. My biggest risk has been going through med school but I know I will triumph in the end. Blogging has helped me grasp on to motivation and to find a part of me that was hidden away and neglected, but that I desperately needed. I just shared that story on my own blog. Keep moving forward and things will fall into place, happiness is essential to succeed IMO.

    XO
    -Jani

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    • That’s amazing, Jani. Thank you so much for the kind words + sharing a bit about your story with me. I’ve definitely been on a journey of self awareness and discovery for a few months and it’s been nothing but a positive + exciting time in my life! I’m definitely going to check out your recent post ASAP! Thank you so much for the kind words of support, they mean more than you know. I wish you the best of luck with everything! There’s a lot for us all to look forward to! 🙂 XOXO

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    • That’s amazing! I’m a new reader, and I think it’s wonderful to do something for YOURSELF that makes you happy. I think it’s a constant battle that I’m trying to accomplish: happiness. Life gets so crazy and sometimes I need to remind myself that happiness is the main goal in life.

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      • Aw, thanks so much for stopping by! 🙂 It’s taken a really long time for me to get to this place, so it feels good to be making all of these positive changes + having the chance to really try and do something that I love doing!! You’re so right – happiness *is* the main goal in life, without it, what are we seriously doing….? Keep in touch, love! XOXO

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    • I am super proud of you and believe that you will conquer everything you set out to do. You are a wonderful person and have amazing people behind you. Shoot for the stars and don’t let anything hold you back. Congrats on all you have accomplish so far and stay focus on what it yet to come.

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      • Ahh, thank you LaToya — you are so wonderful! I cannot get over how many people have been so supportive. I am beyond appreciative!! I’m really excited for what’s to come. 🙂 I miss you all, I hope we can all get together soon! XOXO

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  4. I wish you the best of luck in all that you do Amanda!! You can do whatever you set your mind and heart to! And, I will continue to faithfully read your blog 🙂

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    • Thank you Colleen!!! You are so sweet + supportive — I cannot tell you how thankful I am! I’m really looking forward to the next couple of months! We shall see where it goes! 😉

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  6. Go girl!I can only see bigger and better opportunities coming to you. You are very brave to move from your comfort zone, something many people never get to do!So proud of you!

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    • Thank you, Millie!! Definitely a little bit of a scary jump, but I could not be any more excited to dive into this new chapter! I appreciate you always reading, it really means so much to me! XO

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  7. AAAAAA totally crying over here for you!! Girl this is so awesome!! I just knew it!!!! You are on your way to be a top blogger…I just know it!! Still need my autograph from you haha!!! But for real, I am just so proud of you!! With big risks…come big rewards for those who work hard. And dang do you work hard. I seriously can’t wait to see what 2016 brings for you and this blog!! I can’t wait to learn about all the opportunities you are presented! AAA I am so excited for you and will be here to support you through the entire journey! Scary yes…Worth it…HECK YES!!!!

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    • HAHA! Your comments NEVER FAIL to make my day! EVER! Thank you so much for always being ridiculously supportive, kind, and encouraging – thank you for linking my posts in your blogs and for being such a positive face/voice in this community. You have a crazy gift/ability to lift the spirits of so many people, I’m not sure you even know how powerful it is. I’m definitely a bit nervous, but I know I haven’t even *really* tried yet – so I’m not letting myself go down that negative road lol. I’m looking forward to the next chapter + watching us all continue to grow together!! XO

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      • AWWW and your comment just made my day!! So awesome what we can all do for each other!! The world is so negative…it is so nice to come “HOME” (to the blogging world) and be lifted with such positive people! It really does give us hope!! I am just so excited to see what is in store for you!! Girl I know you can do it!! I just know it!! And I will be there cheering you on every step of the way!!

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  8. omg awesome! im the same way, never do anything without a plan! can’t even imagine life without one! but so wish i could do what u did!
    can’t wait to see whatever doors have opened for u, and what you’re going to do next! 😀

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    • Haha, thank you so much!! It is a bit crazy, but when you feel so strongly about something, I guess you just do it! I’m really looking forward to what’s next. 🙂 Thank you for your support, it means a lot to me! XOXO

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  10. Oh my gosh, Amanda!!!! I’m amazed/shocked/inspired but also weirdly not surprised, because I believe in you and I know you can do it. Here’s to a year of risk-taking and dream-chasing; wish you all the best girl!!!

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    • Thank you Cara!! You’re very sweet – I’m so excited + ready for this new chapter and cannot wait to see where I end up! Thank you for always reading and sharing your positive + constructive feedback! You’ve helped me in more ways than you know, I really do appreciate it! XOXO

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  11. Congratulations on taking this step towards your future. I know you will be successful. Can’t wait to see what’s in store for you. Good luck on your journey! Xoxo

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    • Thank you, Gail!! Lot’s of exciting things in store for all of us! I appreciate your constant support + encouragement! I’m trying to catch up on a few things + then I’m off to work on our pics!!! Very excited about our collab!! 🙂 🙂

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  12. this is just the beginning 🙂 can’t wait for you to go on this adventure and not hold back – the best has yet to come!

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    • Thank you, Kell!! I’m really so lucky to have a friend like you. We shall see what happens, but obviously I’ll be filling you in on every little thing along the way! 😉 Have fun in Maine!! I want to get together ASAP! Love you! XOXO

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  13. Hi Amanda!

    I’m not sure if you remember me but I was a suite-mate of yours in James Hall my freshman year. I recently stumbled upon your blog (through Jessica Iannotti) and I am so inspired by not only your posts but your work ethic! As a fitness blogger/vlogger I totally understand what it takes to fully invest in this. I wish you the best of luck as you pursue this exciting new adventure 🙂

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    • Ok, *please, please* forgive me that I don’t recall. Your name definitely sounds familiar, but were you in 714 the same time that I lived with Jess?! It may have been the following year! My roommate + I were the only two to stay in the suite another year… all of our new suite mates were a year or two younger, but going in we didn’t know any of them personally. I’m determined to figure this out – gahh, I feel so bad! But regardless, but thank you so very much for connecting and for the sweet comment! It is absolutely a full time gig + it’s so amazing to talk with others who understand the effort it takes. You better believe I am off to check out all of your stuff ASAP!!! Keep in touch, girlie!!! :):)

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  14. I am so proud of you. You truly are one of the most motivated people I know and I KNOW you will be successful in whatever life holds for you next because I know you won’t take anything less! xoxox

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    • Thank you, beautiful! And thank you for your sweet text yesterday. 🙂 I am really looking forward to what’s next and I’m looking even MORE forward to our date *sometime the second week of February* 😉 … officially in my calendar!! 🙂 XOXO

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  18. Amanda, I can’t begin to explain to you how much I enjoyed reading this post – I am giving you a virtual high five as we speak 🙂

    I quit my job at the end of 2015 too, so I am in a similar frame of mind – I am so, so happy/excited/nervous! I only worked for a year but a couple of months into the job I knew it wasn’t for me. I felt as if life was just passing me by and I wasn’t living the kind of life I wanted – I was so depressed, lost, confused and heartbroken really; because I was working towards that job since high school. I studied hard and worked my *** off; so when I was exactly where I wanted to be, I very quickly realised that it didn’t bring me the happiness I thought it would. It devastated me. But as soon as I came to terms with the ‘loss’, with the help of my husband and parents; it became easier for me to accept that life never works out the way you plan it to. And I can now say, I am so relieved and excited to know that I can carve my own path; that it doesn’t have to be a one way road.

    I applaud you for sticking it out that long; I couldn’t take another second of it and made the leap with an effort to find what will make me happy. Sometimes that is all we need 🙂

    May 2016 bring loads of opportunity for us all 🙂 Xo

    Nihaad – Read & Seek

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    • Thank you so much for this, Nihaad! I’m virtual high-fiving you right back! 😉 It is certainly a nerve-wracking, but tremendously exciting time. Good for you for coming to terms with your situation + looking at the future so positively! It’s nice to know people in similar situations and I will absolutely be following along on your journey as well. Thank you for the kind words, and support. I know that there will be wonderful things in store for all of us!! I wish you the best of luck, beautiful!! XOX

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  21. So proud of you! To often time flies by and we look back and wish that we had taken more chances. Pushing past the fear of unknown possibilities is a huge step. You are a girl after my own heart in the change and chance dept. I took so many chances in my life and still wish I would have taken more. Don’t hold back. The world is yours.

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    • Thank you, Angie! That is so very true. Good for you taking so many chances in your life! It’s certainly exciting + I think it’s finally time for me to start taking more of them as well. You’ve been so supportive from the start + I know I’ve told you before, but thank you, thank you, thank you! I really do appreciate it! 🙂

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  22. I’m so excited for you! With all of the positive energy and motivation you have, I can only imagine what amazing things are about to happen. You have definitely given me so much inspiration and I can’t wait to see what the future holds! 🙂 XO

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    • You’re the sweetest! It’s so cheesy, but feel like I am just bursting with good things/thoughts right now! It’s a great place to be in life.I am so glad to have connected with you – you are a true sweetheart, I mean, you sent me that CARD!!! I have it hanging up at my desk. 🙂 You can tell that you’re a motivated girl yourself + I know that great things are in store for you as well! Keep it up girlfriend!! XOXO 🙂

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      • Aww, thank you!! I couldn’t help myself! I was so happy to have won the giveaway and connect with my first blogger friend and all the extra little things you sent, I definitely felt like a thank you note was in order 😉 That’s so funny, I have the card you sent me hanging by my desk too!!

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  23. Yay! I am so excited and proud of you for following your dreams! That takes such guts to do! You are going to do great in whatever you encounter…I can’t wait to see where this journey takes you and follow along as you grow and become UBER successful!!

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    • Hahah thank you, Jamie!! You’re the best, always so kind + supportive. It definitely takes some guts, but I think it’ll be worth it. 🙂 I’m so excited to see where we ALL end up!! 🙂

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  26. A couple of years ago, my husband and I knew we wanted to start a family. At the time, I was working a full-time as an AR rep, and it was a HIGH-stress job. I wasn’t happy (as the job definitely didn’t fit my bubbly personality), and I was afraid that the stress would endanger a pregnancy. But at the same time, we definitely needed income in addition to what my husband was making. Sooooo, I took the leap of faith, and I quit my job. I’ve played piano for YEARS and music has always been an important part of my life. I thought, “why don’t I try teaching piano from home?” When I quit my job, I had four piano students lined up, and I was more than a little freaked out over what I was doing. After one year of teaching though (thanks to word of mouth), I had jumped up to 22 students!! I teach two very full days, and then I can be a stay at home mom the other days. 🙂 I couldn’t be happier!!
    Sometimes (most times), taking that leap really pays off! As long as you are a hard worker and organized, the sky is the limit! And what’s the worst that can happen? If it doesn’t work out, then you will find something else! But if you don’t try, you will probably always wonder ‘what if’.
    Well, I’m sorry for this ultra long comment! Ha, ha! I just wanted to encourage you!! You’ve got this, and I think that you will be SO successful!! Good luck! Go make your dreams come true! 🙂

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    • Thank you so much for this.

      Honestly, I *love* hearing these kinds of stories. First off, GOOD FOR YOU! That is so amazing that you were able to take what you loved and really build something from it! Very inspiring! And you hit the nail on the head — if I don’t try, I WILL always wonder “what if”. I don’t want to take that chance, and now was really the most perfect time to do it. 🙂

      I really appreciate your support, and you sharing your story with me. It applies to anyone – when you can put your time and energy into whatever it is that you love…amazing things are bound to happen.

      Again, THANK YOU for this, and thank you for the kind words. 🙂 XOXO

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  27. Wow! I am so proud of you Amanda for taking such a brave step! I don’t know anyone around me that would do such a bold thing and I can feel your energy, I can feel your passion for this new chapter in your life emitting from the pages of this blog already.
    I’m so incredibly happy for you and I’m here for you to support you in whatever you need for as long as you need it’s!
    Love you baby girl!

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    • Thank you so so much, Dana! I’ve had a couple of other brave souls in my life + I watched them make it happen + when things didn’t go as planned, they still made it work one way or another. So that’s inspiring!

      I’m definitely feeling this awesome surge of energy lately + I just want to keep going – I love that others can feel it as well! 🙂

      Thank you so much for your kind words + your support, it means a lot to me! I’m really looking forward to seeing what’s next! Lot’s of love! XOXO 🙂 🙂

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  29. Excellent news! Well done lovely! It takes balls to do what you’re doing – and it looks like you have made the best decision. I wish you all the very best and hope all your dreams come true. You’re such a wonderful blogger and you really do inspire me as you do many others. I adore your blog. Looking forward to see what the future holds for you 🙂 xxx

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  32. This is so amazing!! You go girl!! I have totally been feeling that way career wise and am so excited for you!!! You are gonna kill it, I just know it!!

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  33. Taking a big risk is always scary so props to you for being brave and going for it! I’ve been feeling kind of stuck in my job recently so I’m exploring some other things as well. I quit my first real job with no other job lined up which was quite the risk. It was necessary though, I was really unhappy and it was taking a toll on every aspect of my life. I was unemployed for 3 months and then got a job at a company that’s #2 on the best places to work in America list so it paid off in the end. I can’t wait to see where life takes you!

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    • Aww – that’s amazing! Good for you for taking the risk + ffiguring out a way to make it work! It’s definitely scary, but the idea of change, and something completely new in life is super exciting! 🙂

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