Brooke Webb

staying true to your brand, also being vulnerable. She's been blogging lately about real things, and she says being true to yourself an authentic is so key, and just don't be so hard on yourself. Don't feel like you have to reach perfection is her advice. And I just love Brooks so much, so I know you're gonna love this interview. She is a mother of two. She also has a badass job, like at some bank position. She's like a major big wig at a bank and also a major blogger.

She has two full time jobs. Brooke is incredible. I love her so much. Y'all get excited here. She has Brooke Web. Okay, I'm here with Brook Web KB styled otherwise known as kab styled. Yes, ma'am, I heared that out by paying you Benmo. That the k is Kristen. Yes, yeah, I always get that question. No one seems to know what the case stands for, and why I don't go by that name? Actually, why don't you go by Kristen?

I love bro Yeah, I don't know. My my parents just named me Kristen Brook and after so the Brook is after Brookshields and they like the ring of Kristen Brook. So back in the day when I was born, Brookshields was, you know, the queen. She was the queen, she was in all the movies and every one loved her. So they wanted to name me after Brooke. And they didn't like Brook Kristen. They like Kristen Brook. So that's what happened. You look like Brooke Shields. You think so such a compliment?

Thank you. I always think people live into their names. So that's case in point. And you've got mad fashion style, so Jane, totally, this is fitting. Thank you. Little secret backstory, A little secret backstory. Now everyone knows. So we are in the middle of this Influencer season, Serious Influencer Season of Life and Influencer series on my podcast because lucky me, I fell into this group of girls. I don't I

don't even know. I didn't know what an influencer was or how to even do this, because there's this whole social media thing happening where you can truly have a huge fan base, a whole business based on your style. What you blog about, your influence so you have tons of followers. Did you get into blogging and how did you get into style and making it a business for yourself.

It's such an for me. It's an interesting backstory because when I graduated college, I didn't go to school for anything fashion oriented, nothing, you know, any anywhere in that realm. Actually went to school to be a venarian. Didn't stick with that clearly. Here here we are today. I still love animals, but I'm not doing anything with that. Um. But I graduated, and I moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, and at the time, my sister was working for a

women's apparel company. It's a small company in North Carolina, not small in North Carolina, bigger in North Carolina. But anyway, UM applied and got a job with them, So I was allocating merchandise. You know, I was receiving the merchandise in the buyer who purchases a merchandise for a certain division, it comes in, I'm looking at it, I'm determining what stores receive it. So I started allocating merchandise in my

first job out of school. And I've always had a love for fashion, So people would always come up to me and say, friends, you know, or family, where did you get that? What would you recommend for this? How should I style this? So I was constantly giving that fashion advice. You know, people turned to me for that. Um So, the combination of the two between working in the women's apparel industry after college and then my personal passion years later, you know, here this comes this whole

blog thing. They collided. Yeah, well it was a little more than that. I mean, essentially, my best friend out of well she's in South Carolina now but at the time was living elsewhere. She's in South Carolina, she's a blogger and she was doing mostly food stuff and she wanted to incorporate style a little bit herself. So she said, why don't you, you know, dabble in this and maybe do a couple of style posts for me, which I

did and it was received really well. Um, and then eventually more and more requests started coming to her like, oh, we would love to collaborate with you on this, and she was like, well, I'm not the stylist. I am kind of started handing off to you a little bit, she did, and then it got to the point where she was like, you know what, maybe you should really think about starting your own own website where you can house everything collaborations can come to you kind anctural thing. Yeah, yeah,

it was totally natural. It was I mean, I was dabbling in Instagram before I started the blog, so obviously I knew on Instagram that there was a market for it. I could see that, and I was following other bloggers at the time, and I was watching what they were doing and learning a little bit through that. And then, you know, contributing to my friend's blog gave me a better understanding of what a blog was and the behind

the scenes of what goes into that content creation. So, you know, you put the Instagram activity that I was doing together and then the dabbling on her blog together, and it just resulted in, Hey, it's my time here's Kenny styled. Tell me about the behind the scenes stuff, because that is what I have found so fascinating learning about all. This is the world, like the financial world world. You could make a lot of money with brand partnerships

with this the way posting goes. But how does it work to actually learn how to make money as a blogger? I mean, for me, in the very beginning, there wasn't a lot of money to be made. I mean, and no money makes money. I don't think doing this out of the get go. Yeah, it's totally what it is. Yes, So you're how does it start from the trades to actually making money? Well, I think you get to a certain level where you have a certain amount of followers,

you have a certain amount of traffic to your blog space. Um, the content obviously is very important. So the quality of your content um obviously is a reflection of you and the material that you put out there to the world to see. So if brands are saying, Okay, she's now at x amount of followers, you know her analytics show this, we really think her content is beautiful. Let's offer her money instead of just here's a free gift in exchange for a post um. So in the beginning, I was

a yes woman. I said yes to everything. I did everything. I mean, all the bloggers I've interviewed the same at the beginning. You just have to because it's awesome. Yes, well, and it might result in the brand reposting you or you know, putting you in their newsletter or on their website or something of that nature. More eyeballs on you,

on you, that's right, that helps you grow. Yes, So in the beginning I was yes, yes, yes, yes, And then I got to the point where I'm like, I am burning myself out and I'm really working hard to because I will always work with a professional photographer. So that was out of pocket. Yeah, that's always been an

expensive mine. And I was creating this beautiful content and the stuff started calling up, like I don't need another X, or I don't need any more of this or you know, it's just coming in so fast, even makeup and hand. It's like, Okay, someone would give you a set of this type of hairspray, but you already have like seventeen bottles.

You don't want to post about that again, that's right, well, and not only I mean you have to obviously the gifts are always appreciated, you know, That's something I'm always super appreciative of. But at the same time, it can become too much, like what do you do with all of that stuff? You can only post about you know, so many makeup items like you said, or so many hair care products, or you only need so many pairs of jeans. I don't know, whatever it is, you only

need so much. So at some point it then becomes what was a hobby for me at the time it was an outlet, it was a hobby, started turning more into a business, and I started seeing that shift in the opportunities for earning income through you know, being an influencer. So that's what really, you know, I still say yes sometimes the things that are unpaid. It really depends on the opportunity, um exactly for your brand and lifestyle and for you and all these girls in this series are

very true to who you are. You're only posting about stuff that you love or that you're interested in trying. Yes, and if you're not, then you're you just don't do it right and how you operate. Yes, everything fits your brand, well, thank you? Yes, I mean exactly, because you have to stay true to yourself. So, I mean, one tip always give people when they're first starting out is you need to find your voice. You need to figure out what

makes you unique because there's a lot of us. So explain to me what your voice is like having you just find like, what does that mean? Exactly? Well? For me, my voice is I'm a mom of two. I've been a working mom of two for a long time, so I've managed t um well. I'm an h N h R, so I'm a vice president and HR for a bank vice president to full times. It's it's been, it's been, Yes,

has been full time. So I mean usually you know the bank hours or what the bank hours are, and then the blogging hours are those two and then you have being a mom and a wife on top of it. Yeah, so you are like bursting at the scenes. Yes, yeah, and losing lots of sleep while doing it looking fabulous, trying, trying. You know, that's what I need. All the I creams I can get, but we need to use your cream. Thank you, thank you. I appreciate that. Gosh, build me

up a little bit. I'm feeling good about myself. Every watched your Instagram other day and I've been wondering how to curl my hair, and I always love yourself so happy because I haven't catching Instagram story where you actually doing it here. Yeah, and You're like, I curl all mine away from the face, and I was like, yes, I wanted to do. Some people like you need to alternate every other and I'm like, I was like, okay, great,

dad doesn't I'm done. This is I feel like when you curl the pieces forward, it like it comes, you know, it hits me on the face, and I'm like, I need it away from are always just magnes. Thank you, Oh my god, thank you just so sweet. I appreciate that because like you have built up trust, I trust your opinion. So knowing that you said that, I'm like, awesome, Okay, done, i haven't worry about that anymore. I'm just gonna curl it all the way from it. And that's what people

are looking for. I mean, those that choose to follow an influencer, they're looking for us to tell them here's what you need to do, here's what you need to do that, and you know, case close, that's it. Nobody wants to spend People want the bloggers and influencers that they followed to have done the work. Yes, yeah, we do the leg work. We tell you what's good, you

read the benefit, there's there's a win win for everyone. Yeah. Yeah, So everyone looks to us for that, and you know, they want to know what's trending or what's really popular, what the best curling iron is, or you know what's hot for spring this year. So those are the things that we as influencers do. We do the research, we provide the information, and everyone gets to, you know, take that information and do whatever they will with it, which is good, it's awesome. So how do you juggle it all?

How do you like? What does the normal day look like for you? All of it at once? When I'm doing all of it, Well, let's just put it this way. So I have a husband who travels too, so he's not always here, but when he's here, he's beyond helpful. So when he's traveling, usually especially during the school year, I'm very busy in the morning with the kiddos. So

it's the whole morning routine. I don't need to get into the nittygrede and that that would be boring, but it's you know, everything from just trying to get them out of bed, you know, just trying to get them out of bed to get to school on time. That's like my main focus in the morning. And get them fed both where I get them to school. Um, so we start there. If if I succeeded that, I know it's going to be a good day, I'm winning already. Um. I come home and I'm lucky with the company that

I worked for. I've worked from home for nine of the almost eleven years and of work for them, which is a blessing. It is. It's such a blessing. You have your own like you can kind of working around your life. Yes, yeah, it's it's flexible to an extent. It's still corporate America. It's still a very busy job and a very busy role, but flexible that you know, if I need to pick up the kids early or I have a sick child. There have been times where

I've been able to flex my schittle around that. But my day when I'm working for the bank is very busy. You know, I'm on the phone a lot, um conference calls, any type of HR function that you can imagine I'm doing throughout the day. Um, and then I wrapped my day and pick up the kiddos from school, and depending on what's going on the evening, they're both very highly

involved in activities. And then you got to transport them around. Yes, so I'm a chauffeur, you know, turn in from an employee to now the show for and I travel around with them, take them to their activities, get them fed somewhere along the way. You know. I try and make dinners at home as much as I can, but I get them fed, which is a good thing. As long as they're eating, as they're not starving, they're good. Um.

And then come home. You know, the nighttime routine. There's lots of things that go into that, and then after the kids go to bed, it's focused on k be styled. So you are working all What time are you waking up? Um? Usually not as early as people would think. I mean seven o'clock. Okay, so you're waking up by the time you get to the kve be styled part of the day. What time is that? Usually I'll sit down and start focusing on that around nine o'clock and then I'll stay

I mean, I've pulled mornings. This morning, I was up until probably one getting that together. Creating content for today. You know things like that today, when you do a shoot, do you take multiple pictures that you'll spread out throughout like weeks? How long do you make a shoot last? Well, I shoot every week. Yes, so I shoot every week. UM, and that's no matter what, and you figure it out before you get there standing you have like a standing

time with your photographer. We just know we shoot weekly. It depends on the weather clearly, or the day or what's going on, but we do shoot weekly and depending on the campaigns that I might be working on or the season. I mean, Easter is coming up, so today it was a lot about Easter content. Um. And I have a couple of projects that I'm working on that I had to shoot content for. So really what I'm shooting and how how long that will last just depends

on what I'm working on. Um, Because I stay busy with with campaigns and things like that too. So about how how you get involved with campaigns, Well, I mean that's brands reaching out directly and a lot of times it's through their PR firms that their firms reach out and say, we're working on this campaign with x y Z brand. You know you were on our radar for that, do they reach out through your Instagram? You know, usually

direct email, so you'll have like a relationship already. Sometimes or sometimes it's a brand that maybe I've never worked with. So I mean, for example, today one of the brands that I have a really long standing relationship with, I have a campaign coming up with them, and it's a travel post, so you know, um, give me tips on what I should do to plan for a trip or how to pack for a trip. So with your campaign, do you do like an Instagram post and then a

blog to follow it? Yeah, so there's options usually there, you know, usually that is what it is. Usually it's a full blog post with full content, so there's a write up, there's five to seven images alongside of that. Most brands usually want the social post too, so the social amplifications where you're pushing on Instagram, you're pushing on your Facebook page or Twitter, Pinterest, penning on Pinterest. So um, there's you know, when we talk about my rates and

how I package things, there's options. So a brand will have the choice. But a lot of times they come direct to us and saying, you know, we have to offer yeah, and here's here's what we're asking of you, and here's the rate that we are offering for those particular asks. And most times they do want the full blog post plus the social amplifications because that just covers all the bases. Yeah, so your full package. And this is the new wave advertisement in like fashion stylists are.

It's the new way. Who's gonna look at a magazine. We can just scroll through Instagram and look at your favorite bloggers, your favorite style like stylish people, and they are telling you what to do, like I'm gonna go with that over some random magazine ad, right, well, and it's more relatable, so you know, trust, you build trust to these influencers, like you said, like so when you post something like you have approved this, this is what you like, and you're going to break it down and

tell the truth about it. Yes, and so then it's like that's the best way to find out. It's the best way to find out. And we've you know, we've tested it, we've warned it. I mean, instead of seeing a very editorial advertisement, you're seeing it on a real person, Yep, someone who may not be model status, which is life.

That is life. It's way more normal, right, No, Yes, I mean you know, the normal mom can see me wearing something and see herself in that, or see herself experiencing something that I've done with my children or that we've done together as a family. That's right, not letting yourself go as a mom still being functional, I mean, you know, but still absolutely fantastic, sweet, it's still amazing stylish. But also it's just like you're saying that mom could

see this, and like I could wear this. It's not out of my reach. Yes, And you know, moms, unfortunately, a lot of moms have, you know, that mentality that they have kiddos and they have to sacrifice for their children, which is simply not the case. It's look at you, you're sacrificing all day, but you're still but you're wearing yourself out, but you're making it a priority. Yes, always

really appreciating you because I'm the same way. I don't have children, and I can only and that not yet, but when I do have kids, I'm not going to want to just drop all my stuff that I'm bringing because it's so great and it's so fun, and that's your outlet and it's your income, but it's also a huge part of who you are so I love that you car about time to thank you. It's so important. I mean, in my opinion, your better mom or a better parent if you have something that you're passionate about

and the fuels happiness for you in a different way. Obviously, my children give me so much happiness and joy, but there's so much more to me than just being a mom. So balancing that and you know, navigating that in life is so important because I really feel so much more fulfilled as a person and I feel like I'm a better mom to them when I'm happy, you know. I mean that's just kind of goes without being said. But

you have to take the time to figure that out. Yes, And I mean that's incredible to figure out all day and you still make time for events, you still make time for your friends, you still make time for so much stuff. I can always be a better person that I mean, there's always always am like there's more. I need to be doing more, or I need to connect, I need to do this, I need to so I'm always feeling as much as I do, I always feel

like I can do more. And that's just me. I mean, that's just my personal you know, I don't know I feel like I can always be better, So I'll always feel like that. Though, what do you wish you would have known when you were first getting started in the blogging world that you know now that like you wish someone would have told you that would have been like, Okay, if you just don't do this, but you do this, it's going to help you out in the long run.

Don't waste your time on this, even though you might think you should really put your energy on that. You know, like little tips that you wish you would have known. Yeah, I mean, I think the biggest thing for me is just to stay true to yourself and like stay focused and don't let the setbacks set you back, like what would have setbaut me? Friends, Well, I mean you weren't selected for this campaign, or you were denied for this, or you weren't included in this, or you didn't get

invited to this. So mean, there's you know, there's all of those little things that come along with it that could make you feel like you know your steps behind everyone else. So it's all about perception. Yeah, this is all perception because it's all on social media and it's all who knows what the truth is anyway, that's right. It's all the highlight reel. Everybody has a highlight reel. So what's behind that? You know what I mean? I

love them. Don't get discouraged, Yeah, don't get discouraged. Don't let the setbacks really um limit you from moving forward with your passions and your desires, because it can. It can get in your head and it can mentally drain you and then your second guessing and you're wondering if this is right? Should I be? Should I not be? Comparison? Why am I? You know, why am I not being invited when she is? Or you know, things like that,

So to compare especially so easy. Although I do feel like this group that I've happened to meet out are so kind to each other. Yes, and we've got a nice little group of friends supported friends, I don't know. Yeah, a great experience, and we won't let you have anything other than great experience. I could promise you. You did well. We did too with you. I mean, we truly hit the gold mine with you. But it's true. I mean I hear it through friends that I know the outside

of Nashville that are in this industry. Um, you know, it's it's true. I mean there's a lot of unfortunate's women, you know. I mean women can either lift each other up and be supportive or they can tear each other down. You can go one or the other way. That's right, and usually it does. So I choose to lift other people up and be supportive. And you know karma, right, I mean you it comes back. You do that and you um live your life that way and that's going

to come back tenfold. So you don't do that and you treat people poorly and you get that back too, That's right, that's right. So I choose the positive because you're fourishing. So you said, don't get discouraged if you feel left out. But what's a tip to do that? You would say, definitely do this. You put yourself out there. I mean, how do you suggest people putting themselves out there? Reaching out, reaching out? I mean I connected to and how do you find these people to talk to? Well?

I mean you on for example, Instagram, you can easily search our hashtag Nashville influencer or Nashville blogger and so many different posts will come up. So you can just direct you know, direct message any of those people. You can reach out and say hey, I'd love to grab coffee, I'd love to pick your brain. You can email them. I mean there's so many people that I've met that have reached out to me over the years just through that avenue. Yes, So I mean putting yourself out there

is key. Otherwise, if you're gonna be left behind, yeah, it's a no. Or you're gonna be left behind wondering what could I have done? And I say put yourself out there, go to events. You might not know one single person, but you're going to meet people. Yeah, and then that person might include you and something that they're doing or something that they're hosting, And next thing you know,

your little network is really expanding. Um. Collaborating, Collaborating has been I didn't know about collaborating at all until because I wasn't like the MUSA world. I wouldn't really collab much. But now I've kind of switched over to this other side. It's like collaborations are amazing because you end up sharing. Fan bases. You share are not fan bases like audiences. Whatever you do, yeah, things are called like people. It's exposure. It's exposure for both for everybody. When it shows that

you support one another. So it's just a total win win. Really, it's a it's a win win. So I mean, you know, don't let the setbacks put you back and then put yourself out there. I mean, really just go for it. Don't be afraid um to do that, because otherwise you're going to be left wondering all the what ifs, what if I had done this differently? You know, and you don't want to be left doing that. So what do you like to blog up? Um? Well, it used to

all be style. I mean for me, that's where it started. That was the main passion for me. And now I'm really evolving because so much. To be honest, yes, there's so much. There's the layers. It's like the onion, right, you pull it back and ars layer after layer after layer. But I think I was realizing too for the last several years, like I'm blogging about fashion, there's only so

much you can say about an outfit. And I like to write and I like to share and I like to get personal, and you can't really get personal about an outfit, you know what, I mean, what you could say. So there came a point last year where I was like, you know what, I'm feeling um unfulfilled. I needed more. There was more of me. When I wrote posts that actually had meaning, I felt alive and I felt rejuvenated.

And so I just made the determination like I'm going to create more meaningful, um, more relatable, you know, share more parts of me, welcome people into my home, share my home that Yeah, how you style your life, and it can be much more than just close how you live your life, you know. Yes, So I mean there's so much more of that to come, and I'm really just getting started. I feel like it's so exciting. Yeah,

it's so exciting. I'm honestly feeling like the future for me, because I'm shifting a little bit, is a little bit unknown. But because of that's so exciting. Like, you know, the collabs may change because I'm doing different content. There's always going to be that style component, though, Like I never wanna forego that. You know, I can style a entertain you know, show someone how to entertain at home, but

here's what you wear when you're doing it. So there will always be the outfit to talk about, right, But yes, it's beyond the outfit, and I'm feeling fulfilled taking the outfit into situations and yes, exactly, the well put Yeah, so the outfit is still centerpiece. Yeah exactly. Yeah. So you know, I'm lifestyle is what I would say, with a very heavy style component. So it will become much

more of a lifestyle brand. I want it to be a place where people come and say, Okay, I can find out, you know, in Nashville where I should go if I come for a weekend. I can find out from Brook you know, if I'm planning an Easter brunch, how I should what I should plan for or what

to do for that. So just different, you know. Or she really was feeling something moved her and she really needed to share that with us, like I'm feeling inspired and anything about stock could just from heart, and it was, and that's how I started. I wrote a post really from the heart. It was very simple about you know, the comparison and how that kind of took a grip on me last year, how it overcame that but it needed to be spoken. You know. I just started realizing, like,

there's one me. There's no one else in this world who is me? So you know, spower, it's my superpower. Yes, So I just was like, you know, focus on that and always remind yourself that everyone is their own self. There's everyone as individual. I can't compare myself to you because I don't know the true story. I don't know the backstory the highlight room. That's right, we say, but we don't know really like what is going on. Everyone has struggles, you know, no matter what they put up

on different and they're all different. That's the thing. I used to think everyone had the same struggles as me, or no struggles. Really actually just think I like not realizing not only are my struggles just for myself, that no one else would even think these things about me, But then they have their own that I would never even imagine to think about them. Most of the time, it's not even what someone would think. The struggles are

hung one. No, it's so true when someone tells when someone tells you their story, you're like, WHOA, you know, I would never guess that. I would have never And that's because a lot of people choose to withhold. I mean, you know, it's not Things are personal to a certain extent, and most people aren't going to put it out there for the world to see and digest and pick apart.

And you know, I think It's great that you're willing to talk about the tough subject to talk about that, because talking about it and saying, wait, we all do have struggles actually is so freeing for people who are living trapped in their own mind. Oh my gosh. Well, not only was it freeing for me, but I got so many messages from people saying I've been feeling, Yes, thank you, I've been feeling the exact same way. You know.

I'm so glad you wrote this post because it really hit home for me, and I was reading every word saying she's basically writing about me in my life. She's writing about me right now, and that just you know, made me feel like okay. Like for the longest time, I felt like I felt alone, you know, because I wasn't willing to talk about it and I wasn't quite ready. And then once I was willing to talk about it, everyone was like, hey, you know, like me too, me too,

and I'm like, there we go. It is the whole comparison thing. I had to do a lot of therapy myself in my twenties, and then I feel like my podcast interviewing people has healed me so much because I talked to people who I look up to an admire and then we talked about their stories and I really I realized everyone has and it just makes you feel like, Okay, I need to stop trying to put up this front because we're all just trying to do the best we can.

We're trying to do the best that we can and we're trying to yes and be as happy as we can. And you know you have to. I mean, that's a huge part of just anyone's everyday life. You just posted about that. Yes, you need it. If you didn't read it, need to back and read it. That takes almost bravery to put that out there. Did you feel a freedom

when you did it? I mean I felt like you know, as I was writing it there, I probably held back a little bit because it was just I really wanted to just like go black and it all be on paper and tell everyone, you know, exactly I was feeling and how miserable I was feeling at times, and how down I was feeling. And I mean this was not just from comparison, yeah, and feeling left behind, and you know, I mean there were a lot of things going on

at the time. But then I stood back and I'm like looking at myself from the outside, and I'm like, what is the root call of this? You know, where is that that route coming from? So I had to think about that, what what did you find the route? Yeah? I mean I think I just allowed myself to get caught up in the nonsense and called up in yep. And you know, I wasn't super focused on my faith at the time. I wasn't praying as much as I

normally do. I wasn't turning, you know to my faith at the time, um as much so that I know had something to do with it. And really, I mean, I just was allowing myself to be an unhappy, like woe is me person and that is not like me because I've never been that way. So going through that phase of life was tough. Not to say, I'll never go through that again, you know, but I'm glad that it was a short stint. I came out of it,

and I'm feeling in a much better place now. I kind of when I first opened this, and I am such a baby, I wouldn't even consider myself an influencer because I don't really know what is but I'm learning. But like even like fashion, when I first was realizing, oh, I can trade do post for clothes and like do

some trades. And then I started kind of getting stucked into this world too, Like I felt not into like a depression, but into this really weird, dark, deep wormhole of just social media stuff and like you said, comparing and all this stuff and feel like, how I ever get to this level or how does this person do that?

Finally I was like the same thing, faith, God, like guid faith, you have to take this from me and just just keep leading me, give me the ideas and then open the doors for me and I will do it. But otherwise you could get lost in that. You get lost, and then you you know, I would. My self worth was in a number. It was in how many lights I was getting on a picture. It was you know, how many new followers I got in a day, how

many people visited and commented on this blog post. Oh my gosh, I got no comments on this one, you know. I mean, my self worth started revolving around something that yes, yeah, like I needed. It was almost like I was looking to all these stray jurors for validation and really, you have this incredible actual real life. It's easy too. It's easy to forget that. It's easy that you do, to get lost, to get lost striving in this other area

that is such a real thing. It is a real thing, and you too, you know, at the end of the day, and I always remind myself of this here at home with my kids and my husband. It's what really matters. I mean, life is so short, right, it is so short. We don't know, you know, when our time is. There's only one person that knows that. So to go through life being so sucked into, you know, the focus, you know, a focus on external things that really you can't control.

Can't control these things, and to put so much of your time and effort into that not to not to be filling a return. You just have to have peace with it, and you have to separate yourself a little bit and say, you know what, I'm doing the best I can here, best I can be as much of you that you're willing it to get, sacrificing everything else,

your family. And that's why, like if you're a single actually Houston said that she's like, I'm thinking on this work and I have two kids and a husband, So there is no excuse for a single blog around there who has no commitments to not be killing it right, Yeah, doing all these other things, but you can't sacrifice the rest of your life. So tell me how you found that balance and how your faith plays a part of that.

Because I love talking about faith. I think faith would make every If we all had faith faith, the world would be a much better be a much better place. I couldn't agree more. Um, So, just telling me about your faith and balance. Yeah, I mean obviously you know I turned to God for a lot of things, and I pray about a lot of things. Um have you felt God work miracles in your life? I have you? I mean, your miracle is a strong word. This is a strong word for me. Have you seen God make action?

Here's here's what I will tell you. So I have felt and this is not This is certainly not patting myself on the bag or building myself up or making me seem like, you know, I'm better than anyone. But I've had this. It pains me to say this because it's almost like you are. You know, I don't know. I've had a blessed life. I will say that I've had a very blessed Almost sounds gross, but yeah, it's true. It's true, I haven't had a lot of really tough things happened to me in life. I haven't had a

lot of really major setbacks in life. You know, everything with my husband panned out perfectly the way it was supposed to. You know, our children, our home, I mean these aren't home. Can be materialistic, but you know what I mean. Like the timing of my life and my life as a wife and won it has had a

wonderful flow. There haven't been very many interruptions. So for me to ever not be super appreciative and grateful for that, it's tough because so many people have it, you know, way worse, and um, so I really try and focus on that. Like God, it's being thankful. Yeah, that could be blessed. But they choose not to see their blessings. Yes, yes, and that's part of it. You've got to see your blessings. Oftentimes we ever look them, right, God saying this is

this is your season of life. I'm here standing right beside you look at the blessings in front of you, but you're like, where are they? You know, actually it feels like a hard season. Yeah, it feels like a hard season. And He's like, no, no, it's right here in front of you, you know. So, I mean there have been moments like that throughout my life, you know.

And I think about our daughter, who, um, you know, had surgery at one point, and you know what that was telling us and us as a family and where our focus was heart surgery? Yeah, um, but yeah, I mean that that's been one of the most difficult things that I personally and that Peter and I have gone through together. But she's great. Um, So we've we've definitely had those moments throughout our marriage and we've I've had them personally prior to being married and being a mom.

But just staying focused on you know, what you're grateful for, and being well you know, grounded in your faith and also being well grounded in and everything every aspect of life has kept me focused and kept me moving forward. Um. How do you apply that to blogging now? Just adding

your faith into that. So, like after you wrote that about comparison, how did you how did you change the way you were thinking that put put you in that place to changing it to the freedom place to your honestly you through prayer, just go to God and say I turn this over to you. Take this you know, and I still have moments where I'm comparing. I still have it. I mean, that's silly for anyone to think

that you can never not right. There's always gonna be those moments it looks good, yes, or you know whatever it is or um. I still have those moments, but I will just you know, like I said, when I was through that that kind of low in my life,

I wasn't really turning to God very much. I was just kind of going through the motion of every thing and a little bit better about things, and so hanging on stuff because you find a thing, yeah, a little grudge, little grudges I find out whenever I'm in my spots and I'm like, how do I get this place? Wh I'm just piste off it everyone because I've just decided to let things and to let myself be left out. But then I'm like, like you said, no, it's not it can touch yes. And that's been a big part

of it, honestly. I just you know, if if I'm feeling down about something, I'll either just put things away, well, I will put things away, and then I usually just pray about it and I'll say, you know what, you know, you've blessed me with so much, and here I am I'm focused on something so silly, something so trivial, something that really, in the grand scheme of things, don't matter.

And honestly, when you sit down and you think about what's going on in our world and you really do stuff to think about that on a daily basis, that keeps you centered. It keeps me centered. So I'm trying to be very aware and more conscious and make that conscious effort to the big the big picture. Yeah, and just understand that, you know, I have two young children

who need me as a mom. You know, if I'm called up and being bitter about things that don't you know, aren't directly related to them, but I'm taking it out on them, that's not fair to them. Or I'm you know, taking it out on a husband or upset about something, it's not fair to him, you know. Really, then you check yourself too, does this even matter? You know? Worried about it? No? And when you ask yourself that no,

it doesn't always know, Yeah, it doesn't really matter. So that's very wise and aware of you, because a lot of humans don't think about that, don't step outside themselves ever to look and see like, what could I change about myself to make this situation better? Because I have realized it is always the way I think about things. It does not change my thinking. I can change my environment.

It's not like, well this is happening I used to think, and I still get caught up this, Like we were saying, when things go bad for me, it's because I'm thinking things are happening to me. But really I'm like, no, I have power to make this whatever I wanted to be in my mind. When you can control your response

to those situations. So either you're going to be the bigger person and you're gonna really power through it and you're gonna come out on the other side, or you're gonna let it tackle you and you're gonna waller in it and you're gonna woe is me and you're gonna be down and out. I mean, we all have that choice when faced with tough things, and we're gonna have tough circumstances arise throughout our lives. So what do you want to do with it? Yeah, And it's easier said

than done, right. I mean, it's so awesome that you're sharing your real struggle with people, because someone would look at you and be like, she has the perfect life, like from but then to get to go deeper and realize, Okay, she has a perfect life, but also it's perfectly imperfect and here's her and here's her stuff. It just makes people feel like, Okay, I don't have to go off a bridge day. Well know, and you know, things like

I keep touching your leg. I'm like, you know, things like you know, anytime IM gonna post something on Instagram through stories and I talk about addison or the challenges with the kids, or you know, I'm frustrated about this, people are like, thank you for being so real, because so many people don't talk about those things, or something so silly like showing my bathroom floors, which I just

don't like. And I'm like, I would much rather be able to get on Insto stories and share this picture perfect white, bright, clean looking bathroom and my bathroom is not that you know, so I'm showing the real meat and people. I mean, something so silly is that people are like, oh my god, thank you, You're so real. You know, things like that that you don't think other people are looking for from you, but they totally are. Yes, yeah, I mean they want to see me without the makeup.

They want to see me when I'm just at home, when you're doing stories, like you're like, this is what's happening right now? Yes, like face mask wants once a week, I swear by it. So I love that broken. I think that's not I think that's so how because it makes you not only someone that they love their style, love their lifestyle, can relate to and like look for inspiration and also love for inspiration on just like, Okay, we're all just trying the best we can. Here's my struggles.

I'm sharing them with you. Feel free to be human and let's just all try to do this together. Yes, Like at the end of the day, when you lay your head on your pillow, do you feel good about yourself today? Do you feel good about you accomplished? I mean, you know, And there's so many like we were talking about earlier, so many people are struggling and just you know, social media. I mean we talk about teenagers how social

media is just impacting teenagers. Well, it impacts everyone. Anyone who's out there on it, experiencing it, being a part of it. We all take that and think about our own lives and compare our own lives and you just can't. You just you know, try your hardest deadlies and that's it. Yeah, that's all you can do. Okay, I'll talk to you forever. Something I have to wrap up because we're gonna end up talk for almost forty five minutes. We could go

on forever. You'll probably have other things to do that I don't know what, but be here with you. I don't either. Okay, So what's a piece of advice? Like I like to end all my interviews with leader life, what is some inspiration? Actually I want to ask you a few questions like this because I's like you have great answers. What does love mean to you? Oh? My gosh, love is unconditional for me. I mean, love is something that, um, you know, stands the test of time. I mean that

sounds a cliche, but it's so true. Like someone some love is something that will never falter for me, that just is rock solid, has roots dug deep in the ground. You know that you can't it won't, will never waver. It's unconditional love. That what is darkness? M M gosh, that is such. That is such a good question. Um, you know, darkness is to me is a lack of faith. I mean, darkness to me is lacking that spiritual awareness, lacking spiritual well being, lacking the love for yourself, the

love for for me, love for God. Um So, to me, darkness is just the lack of that spiritual well being in overall faith totally and like you said, the lack of love. True, the lack of love. The lack of love. I mean, we all need so much more of that, and that's you can see that in our world right now, there's so much of that missing. Faith and love, right two things that are missing totally totally. Why do you

think why do you think people are unhappy in the world? Like, why do you think people because I feel like everyone has good in them, starts good and then something happens along the way. Why do you think people hit that spot where they get bitter and they don't want to be helpful or they like they're angry, Like what what happens to someone to make them get there? Do you think? Well, I mean everyone's situation is different, but I think hardships

play a part in that. I think, um, you know, maybe unfortunate circumstances or if you don't have for me being a parent, I think have overall Like, okay, so I have two children right that I'm raising my husband are raising. Um. The love in the home is so important. And how you choose to parent and and love your children and raise them and and still faith in them

is so important. So it starts there for me. So if we're talking about the root of two human beings that are being raised by too, you know, unconditionally loving parents who have a love for one another, who will always show that to our children, who have a faith in God, who have that relationship with God, and we demonstrate that to our children. That's the root and the foundation.

So if you're loving them through their difficulties, through their setbacks, you're teaching them along the way, You're instilling that faith along the way. Um, it helps set them up to overcome that. A lot of times I think that that people probably don't have that foundation. So yeah, so it's

like a shell. You know. The tough things happen, they build a show you know, UM, and start becoming to your point bitter, unhappy, UM, looking for some sort of self love from other things or substances or you know, external components. And really it's it's it starts years and years and years. Yeah, I think it starts coming with you. I totally agree with you. Okay, And what does the world need? No, Well, I mean we're talking about love. I mean I think that's a huge part of it.

I think I think we need to talk about God more. I think we need to stop being need to talk about our faith and now get some gross thing. I feel like it's getting better. Actually, that's a benefit of social media is a lot of people express their faith through social media like cool people. And I feel like that is a positive thing. Oh, it's a d percent of positive things. We need more people doing that and incorporated into life like God on a shelf. Ye. Yeah,

it's just your normal everyday well being. It's normal. You know, your persona, it's my persona. You know. It's interesting because some people I see on their Instagram or wherever I'm looking, you know, Christ follower, and I don't feel like I need to profess that to anyone because I just live it, right. Yeah, So I don't need to have a title beside my name that says Christ follower. You know, God is my savior, Jesus, you know what I mean, Like that's I just live that. So,

I mean a d percent. We need to feel more comfortable talking about our faith, you know, and we're people are going to have different faiths and that's fine. We need to be open minded. We need to be um. We need to be appreciative of other faiths and other beliefs, you know, belief systems and other opinions. And we need to be respectful our kids respect. But then like when adults trying to have conversations and they disagree, people just fight yell at each other, like politicians are the worst.

Like adults can't comment, like we tell our children too. I know what I think parents are not all parents, but I think parents can do a better job us

included of continually teaching that respect. I mean, we live in such a fast paced society now and there's so many external distractions and so many things that can get a child's attention and pull it away and you know, create them to or create that mentality that they are entitled, you know, And so we all can do a better job at teaching respect, love for you know, your neighbor, um, you know, talk about faith more, um, you know, in the car line, dropping my kiddle out, pray out, loud

for them every morning, you know. I mean it's you know, they need to feel that for me. They need to understand that's part of who I am. They need to feel that from their father. So I mean, I think the world needs a lot of things, but if it comes down to it, you know, respect, faith, love, um, you know, and just appreciation for human beings. Appreciation for one another and love for one another is so important. I totally on that. Yeah, what's the best advice you

were gone? Oh my gosh. Be true to myself. I mean, stay true to yourself. You know. That's my mom has always told me to that, my dad too. Just really be who you are and don't try and be someone that you're not. So um, I've always try and live by that. I don't try and you know, I don't consider my myself a fake person. I don't consider myself ever trying to create something that's not or you know,

I don't necessarily consider myself a super outgoing person. I'm very personable, but you know, sometimes you are made to feel like you need to be like the life of the party. Just gotta be you. You just have to be you. And yes to the to the route from the top to the bottom, everything about you down to the core. You've got to be who you are and don't be ashamed of who you are. Right you are? You are? Yeah, and there's so many everybody so different, so you need to be proud of who you are

in variety. Yep. So don't you saying how boring? Would life be so boring? But like you said, to figure out what makes you great and then be that. Just let that be who like, focus on what's great about you, not with what what you're lacking, and always work to be a better version of you always, I mean, because we never get it. We're never done that. He has never done improving. No, no, I mean we all can be better people, right, so be you, stay true to yourself,

but always be a better you. Try and strive to be a better you all the time. I love that. And lastly, leave your life. This whole thing has been inspirational, but just leave some inspiration. Maybe what you want to tell young bloggers, what you want to tell anyone? Just like what it's what you have learned over your life that you want to share with people. I mean you kind of said it this whole time. Yeah, yeah, except

that perfection is not something that's achievable. I think for a lot of my life I've chased perfection, maybe because of you know, the expectations of me growing up. Um my parents did a wonderful job raising me, but you know, there was always expectations through school. I had a very high bar that was set for me. I met that, but you know, there was always the expectation of more. And perfection is just not achievable. So work towards being the best person that you can be without trying to

achieve perfection. Right. I love that. I feel like people need to know that, Yes, well, it need to need to really believe it because self grace and then get everyone else grace. To give yourself grace and give everyone else grace. I could not agree because listen, I mean, we're you know, we're not perfect. We will never be perfect. God did not create us to be perfect. That's exhausting.

It's exhausting. You can't let down lest you feel all the time when when perfection is what you're striving for, because like you said, you'll never get there. No, it's constant. It's like you're chasing, chasing, chasing, it's right there, it's right there. It's right there. But you're never gonna get it, I mean, and that's okay, because who is perfect? Right?

Not a single person that I know. I'm sure not a single person that right, So why even strive to to do something or achieve something that's really not achievable? So just stay true to yourself. I mean, I think that's my overall you know mantra what I expect people to be. Be good to other people. I mean, really be kind and be gracious and be humble. Um, so be the best person that you can be while doing all of those other things, and stop trying to be perfect.

Just stop trying to be perfect. Broke, everyone, you're amazing so much for all of your information, your wisdom, your heart, your talent, everything in your time. So welcome. I know that you love that episode so much. And Brooke, how inspiring is she? She's pretty amazing. I'll get excited. We have so much more of the Influencer series going on. It's not ending anytime soon, So more of your favorite influencers giving you all their tips coming up next week