In 2012 I started the blog, Life Unrefined. I did it for my former self, the middle-school girl who was constantly told phrases such as, “You’re so ugly it’s scary,” and “You should have been born a boy.” As a teen, eating disorders became my companions. Determined to reverse my destiny, I dreamed of a career in fashion and landed internships with Betsey Johnson and Paper Magazine, as well as a job working for a celebrity jewelry designer.

In 2014, my entire website was erased due to a server crash. I grieved over the loss of two years of work, but took the time to reflect on the purpose of my blog. I realized that though I get excited talking about style and appreciating the craftsmanship and artistry that can be found in fashion, ultimately, there is so much more to me (and life) than that. I had been encouraging others to be authentic, but by only writing about fashion, I wasn’t fully living out my own words. While I still want to talk about finding a great pair of jeans, I also want to share about the joys and struggles of marriage, the rewards of traveling, and my journey in faith that ultimately saved me.

Life continuously changes, in all its unrefined moments. I hope you will stick around and grow with me, as I share my mistakes and discoveries in life and hopefully hear about yours.

Embrace the journey.

“..because once you are real, you can’t be ugly except to those who don’t understand.” -The Velveteen Rabbit