Well, hello there!
THIS is my very first blog post and I’m so freaking excited to have my site officially launched! My name is Elyse and I’m the girl behind this lovely little blog about life as I know it. I’ve been wanting to start my own blog for quite some and my birthday (big 3-3) just happened to pass so I figured, why not now? I always ask myself “Why didn’t I do this a year ago?” Welp, unfortunately life is why! If you would have known me eighteen months ago, I would have told you my newlywed husband and I (and our Cat Dexter) would be living in Downtown Chicago forever, going out to eat at some of our favorite hidden gems and exploring new ones in the West Loop, as they continued to pop up. The hubs and I would take trips to somewhere warm throughout the year and I’d be on a beach sipping margarita’s more often than not, along with occasional weekend trips up to Michigan, see our families every few weekends back in the Suburbs and our lives with work would be full steam ahead. Just so you know, our lives with work are still full steam ahead without a doubt! Unfortunately, life happens though and we had no idea that just one week after my husband and I celebrated our 1 year wedding anniversary, that my Father at the age of 63 would be diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung Cancer and would be gone in just three short weeks after his diagnosis. I know, I know a lot of people are probably sad or crying as you are reading this and I’m sorry. I didn’t write this first blog to make you sad but I’ll be sharing a lot about myself and that is a huge part of my life. It has brought me to where I am today and why I finally put my foot down and opened up this blog of mine. I was a Daddy’s girl without a doubt and I miss him more than I could ever try and tell you. I also know, I am stronger because of the loss I had to endure. I have learned the things I am truly capable of over these last eighteen months. As time goes on, I’m sure funny stories or maybe even flashbacks about my Dad may come up but that is what this world is about. You never know who is reading your story and if they are going through a hard time themselves. I’m here in hopes of sharing my fashion tips, open my home up to see how I decorate and style certain things, share yummy food and an adult beverage or two, and just the life as I know it! I hope my blog will make someone feel better about themselves, know that you can get through anything you put your mind and heart to. I’m all about affordability and a dang good sale with the occasionally big purchase (my husband will laugh when he reads that and say it happens more often than not!).
I hope you’ll enjoy this journey with me and see how much more I grow as a person with my new adventure in life!
Xo, Elyse
*Pictures were done by a friend of mine Katie, thank you for the great pictures as always! If you’re local to the Chicagoland area check her out here at Katie Brsan Photography.