Sunday Stacks // Week 1

A new year + a new Instagram handle + a new blog = time for a new series! I want to share more of me and connect even more with all of you so I'm introducing a weekly #TLSWsundaystacks series. Y'all know I absolutely loooooove my #sundaystacks [insert pancake and drooling face emojis here] so I'm using a play on words to not only share my Sunday pancake stack, but also sharing a little bit more about me. I'll answer some of the top questions I receive via comments/DM's, share some highlights from the week prior and also how the upcoming week is stacking up. 

Given this is the first in the series, I thought I would use it as an opportunity to share some of my favorite #sundaystacks from 2017, a bit about me, why I've made the Insta-blog change, and whatever else comes to mind as I type! I truly love having this space as a creative outlet and just letting whatever comes to mind happen. Sometimes the best content happens when you don't overthink it!

GIVE US THE DEETS // TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF
- I am originally from snowy and cold Syracuse, NY and have been living in Philadelphia for over 10 years now [wow does time fly!]. I went to school at Temple University where I was a member of the Diamond Gems Dance Team and Delta Zeta Sorority. I was a little indecisive and changed my major 4-5 times but I graduated with a BS in Sport & Recreation Management.
- My family is my lifeline and am thankful to have such a close relationship with them. I try to get home to see them as often as I can and am hoping to make more frequent trips in 2018.
- I've always loved food, shopping, fashion and home decor. The Food Network and HGTV have always been a favorite of mine. When I was younger, I used to draw floor plans and create vision boards [I wanted to be an interior designer].
- Shopping is my weakness, whether it is for clothes, shoes or home decor. My ultimate weakness is probably shoes - they add such flare to any outfit, are the ultimate accessory and allow you to show your personality with every outfit. A strange "goal" of mine in 2018 is to invest in good, high quality shoes and find unique pieces to last!
- I have a pup named Bella, she's a yorkie shih-tzu and I love her to death! She has such a personality, is a slight diva and full of love! She loves being outside whether it's 90 and sunny or -9 and snowy. She lives at my parents house because her and my brother's dog just cannot be separated; they have such a close bond!
- Mint chocolate chip ice cream is my ultimate favorite and reminds me of my childhood [black raspberry ice cream is a close second].

WHAT IS YOUR JOB // YOU ARE ALWAYS ON THE GO
- When I'm not eating all the pancakes or blogging about all the random things on my mind, I'm hard at work as a Consumer Marketing & Events Manager for Philadelphia magazine. I am the lead event manager for Philadelphia Wedding and Be Well Philly events, and I also assist with all other events our department handles. In 2017, we had 71 events! I love that each day/week/month is different and that I'm always working on numerous events at the same time...wedding, health/fitness, food, festivals, home/design, etc. The job certainly keeps me busy but I love the rush event planning brings along with the creativity and organizational/planning aspects, too. Your girl has a slight obsession with spreadsheets so this is right up my ally!

WHY THE NAME CHANGE // WHY HAVEN'T YOU POSTED IN OVER TWO MONTHS
- The ultimate questions and I've actually loved that some of you have reached out asking...especially since we share similar feelings on the world of Instagram lately. As you may have noticed, I took many breaks from Instagram and blogging throughout 2017. It started with my once a week #notechzone nights, which I did actually enjoy. Then life things happened and I wanted to be in the moment of those and/or with my family; Instagram was not a priority at those times.
- The main reason for my long break and name change has been lingering over me for well over a year. I've felt stuck; I've felt pressure to be this "food blogger" that isn't true to who I am or my daily life; I've felt pressure that I needed to be perfect and always happy; I've felt pressure to only post perfectly plated food on white plates on white backgrounds and nothing else. THERE IS MORE TO LIFE THAN PRETTY FOOD ON WHITE PLATES AND WHITE BACKGROUNDS!! There, I said it! If I'm being completely honest, 90% of the food I was eating did not look like the way it was portrayed on Instagram. I was taking my lunch break to go home, make a pretty plate, take a picture and throw it in Tupperware and head back to work to eat it. I thought that was the norm. And I did that nearly every day...because I felt pressured to always have content each day to match my feed's aesthetic and given that my feed had turned to basically just food on white plates on white backgrounds, I didn't have flexibility in being able to post anything else. 
- I was also feeling a lack of connection not only to the content I was posting, but to the community of followers I once felt engaged with. There is no meaning behind "good morning I'm eating avocado toast with a latte, have a great day" - I was bored with my own content. I want to provide substance, I want to inspire people about real life things, I want to post about things I am passionate about. As I mentioned earlier, my passions lie in food, fashion, home decor, travel and LIFE. I want to post when I want, about what I want, with whatever color background I see fit.
- Yes, my prior Instagram handle had a meaning when I first started that account but over the past year it became to have no meaning to it. The Life She Wanders just came to me one day and seemed so perfect. We are all on this journey of life, wandering through it's daily ups and downs, creating our own unique path. I could not be more excited for this transition and can't wait to share more of myself and my passions with you.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE ALGORITHM // DID THAT STOP YOU
- If I hear or see "the Instagram algorithm sucks" one more time, I may slightly explode. It's been months and months and months since the transition happened and yes, it is weird seeing content days later but it is what it is. If you ask me, I think it allows for content creators like you and me the opportunity to be more creative and think outside of the box on how we can engage our communities in real time. I don't know about you but I am 100000000% up for that challenge!
- Also, it's not about the number of followers, or likes/comments on a post, or views on a story. And I know everyone is saying that but I mean it when I say it. I was never in this to be Insta-famous or have thousands and thousands of followers. If it ever blows up one day, that will be pretty awesome! But for now, it's a creative outlet on the side. Yes, for those who use this platform as their career and form of income it probably matters quite a bit more than someone like me who is just trying to share her passions and be creative. But again, there is so much more to life than followers, likes and comments. Just be you...unapologetically you; that truly is all that matters in this world of content!

Now that you know a little bit more about me and my Insta-blogging transition, I think that is it for week 1 of #TLSWsundaystacks! Be sure to send me your questions no matter how simple, silly or personal it may be. Have an amazing week everyone!