GETTING READY FOR NEW YEAR'S EVE

Merry (belated) Christmas! Hope you had a wonderful day surrounded by the people you love. Now that the day is over, that means everyone is getting ready for New Year's Eve. I absolutely love this holiday, mainly because I'm a sucker for symbolism and the idea of a new chapter or fresh start is so beautiful to me. But also, any occasion that involves champagne + celebrating is my kind of party. 

My friend Haley and I spent last New Year's Eve together in Paris and it was magical -- but more about that in a minute...

Since we knew we would both be back in the states come this New Year's, we decided to get a little head start on the celebration while we were still together in London. So we put on some sequins, popped some champagne and had our own little party in Earl's Court. 

This sequin top I wore for the occasion is currently 50% off!

Now that I'm home and the real New Year's is right around the corner, I've ferociously been making lists of everything I want to do to start 2017 off on the right foot. So while you're (hopefully) still cozied up in your Christmas jammies and taking things easy today, I thought I'd share a few things you can go ahead and knock out to get ready for not only New Year's Eve, but the new year in general. 

1. FIND A NEW YEAR'S EVE OUTFIT

If you haven't already, now is the time to order a New Year's Eve outfit! Lots of holiday sparkles are currently on sale like this embellished sheath dress or this Mango top. There's also some great looks under $100 like this geometric sequin mini-dress or this scalloped lace camisole dress. For jewelry try one of the many pieces under $50 like these chokers (here and here) or some earrings with sparkle (here, here, here, here and here). 

JEWLERY

DRESSES

 

2. ORDER THE BOOKS YOU WANT TO READ IN 2017

I always love using the iTunes or Amazon gift cards I always seem to get for Christmas to order the books I want to read in the upcoming year. Having them in hand when the year starts makes it that much more likely that you'll actually read them. If you're looking for recommendations, here are some I've read that really had a positive impact on my 2016:

VOICE OF THE HEART:  This is a book that was always referenced a lot when I'd go to counseling (another amazing + healthy way to invest in yourself). When a friend recommended it to me this year, I finally purchased a copy for myself and it's been a game changer. It clearly walks you through the gift + necessity of every human emotion, helps you identify what you're feeling and then experience it in freedom. Even after completing it, I often go back and reference it 

THE CIRCLE MAKER: As a dreamer myself, this book got me so fired up about praying over my God-given dreams. It shifts your perspective to be one that's a partnership with God where we boldly ask him to fulfill these dreams (which both grants our desires and brings him glory). If you're someone with a dream or the desire to uncover your heart's deepest desires, The Circle Maker will rock your world. (I'm also excited to start another book by the same author called Chase The Lion, which is also about dreaming big!)

RISING STRONG: Brené Brown can do no wrong in my mind, and Rising Strong may be my favorite book of her's yet. If you're living a brave life (which we should all be striving to) you know it's not always easy and that at some point, falling down is inevitable. In this book, Brené discusses the benefit of regaining our footing in the midst of struggle and shows that rising strong after a fall is how we cultivate wholeheartedness and learn the most about who we are. 

BIG MAGIC: You probably have heard of Elizabeth Gilbert from her bestselling "Eat, Pray, Love" but I'd argue Big Magic is even better. In her latest book, Liz encourages us to embrace our curiosity, tackle what we love most and face down what we most fear. She discusses the attitudes, approaches and habits we need in order to live our most creative lives.

PRESENT OVER PERFECT: This latest release from my all-time favorite author, Shauna Niequist, is another work of genius. Present Over Perfect is an invitation to a journey that changed her life-- walking away from frantic pushing and proving, and toward your essential self. If you're someone guilty of performing, pushing harder and producing more, this book will romance you into a way of life that abandons the pressure to be perfect and embrces the practice of being present. 

3. GET CLEAR ON YOUR GOALS FOR THE YEAR

I'm so passionate about everyone taking the time to get clear on what they want out of life that I started hosting goal workshops to facilitate the practice (see more here). But before I dive into more about that, remember when I mentioned Paris last New Year's Eve? While we were there, we all decided to pick a word for the year that we wanted to cultivate. It may sound like motivational jargon, but don't laugh just yet.  The word I picked was adventure. I chose it because had already been to Europe three times in 2016 but I still felt this burning desire to travel and see even more. But at the time, my life had zero adventurous plans on the agenda. I was working a steady 9-5 with no foreseeable plans of a career change or any upcoming travel plans for the year ahead. Little did I know, I'd soon be plunging into the world of self-employment and moving to Europe for almost 5 months. 2016 was hands down the greatest adventure of my life-- and I don't believe it was a coincidence. I knew I wanted the adventure before it happened.

It wasn't until I started to be intentional about setting goals with timelines that I really started to accomplish them.  There's no better time to get clear on what you want out of life than now- so:

In January and February, I'm offering 1-on-1 goal coaching sessions for a special rate of $50 per hour! If you want help setting goals, mapping out what you want for the year ahead  and identifying tangible action items you can take to get there, email me at theblondeatlas@gmail.com to book a session.

Regardless of what party you decide to go to or what books you decide to read, my only real hope for you in the year ahead is that you'll realize the God-given desires you possess and that you'll chase after them wholeheartedly. I truly believe that's the only kind of life worth living. So cheers to all the beautiful possibility that lies ahead for all of us this year. Amazing things are in store!

Stay tuned later this week-- I'm re-winding to share my Top 10 Trips of 2016!

xo,

Whitney

A LOT CAN HAPPEN IN A YEAR

Exactly one year ago, I launched Blonde Atlas as a platform for inspiration and living your fullest life. I thought it would be a fun little hobby, or at least a good creative outlet. And it’s allowed me to be creative, alright. So creative, in fact, that after a few months, I dreamed up this crazy idea to someday make it my full time job (what does that even mean!?) I told myself I could probably pull it off in 5 years if I worked really hard (maybe 3 if I was lucky). Regardless of when, I was excited about the possibility. 

But somewhere along the way this year, my desire to inspire others to live their fullest life prompted me to put my money where my mouth was and do the same for myself. It’s been wonderful, terrifying, and everything in between to chase after the things that make my heart beat faster: traveling across the globe, dreaming big with people, and believing that possibilities are endless. 

And now today? I’m beyond thrilled to announce that my 5 year goal is real life, because Blonde Atlas is now my full time gig. And life has never felt more right. 

Regardless of if you’ve never read my blog before, if you stumble across it every now and then, or if you’ve read every single post (God bless you if that's the case), let me give you a little context about what you can expect moving forward: 

BLOG

The blog will continue to function the same way it always has, as the backbone of my site. This section will be where all frequent updates are made (where you’ll see all my travels, thoughts on faith and everything in between). As I continue to grow and expand upon the things I’m passionate about (travel and dreaming with people) you can expect to see a lot more content that highlights those areas of my life. But in addition, I’ve added additional pages to the site for each pillar that’s developed within my brand that gives more specific context to each category: Dream Big, Travel Often & Find Your True North.

dream big

What would it look like to live your best life possible? Forget about bragging rights or how much money you think you’re supposed to make. We’re talking about those things you actually love – to awaken and dig deep to pull those things out and build a full life for yourself.

I get it though. It’s far too easy to let everyday life get in the way or distract you from your dreams- which is exactly why I started hosting goal workshops: to create intentional time that’s dedicated to discovering what sets your soul on fire.  Because I believe the desires on your heart aren’t there by accident, and that it’s time to start doing something about them.

During the workshop, you’ll set aside all the everyday clutter and start asking yourself what you want out of life. It’s my hope that you’ll leave with a clearer understanding of what you were made to do (or what I like to call finding your “true north”) and then start heading that way.  

Workshops are hosted around the world (stay tuned for one in a city near you!) If you're interested in hosting your own for you and your friends, colleagues or organization, contact me & let's make it happen.

TRAVEL OFTEN

I've loved to travel as long as I've been alive. If my internet browser is in use, there's a 100% chance that one of those tabs is a map of an adventure that I'm plotting. When I worked a 9-5, I used all my holidays, long weekends and vacation days to travel- but it never seemed to satisfy my appetite. 

Today, whether I'm consulting businesses or goal coaching, I'm able to do my work from any time zone or part of the globe. I've seen some incredible places (over 17 countries and 50 cities to date) and I'm just getting started.

My hope is to not only see and experience as much of the world as possible, but to also be a valuable resource on the blog for those who share my curiosity about travel. I'm on a hunt for the best places to see, things to do, dishes to eat and adventures to experience. 

I've partnered with destinations everywhere from Rosemary Beach, FL to Napa Valley, CA and am always ready to venture wherever is next. If you're a travel professional with a destination in mind, I've got a suitcase + a passport.

FIND YOUR TRUE NORTH

I don't just want to help you discover what your passion is, I want to help you bring it to life and see it thrive. 

For years, I put my advertising and marketing degree to use at some of the top global ad agencies in the world. I consulted renown brands (in categories everywhere from tourism, to luxury automotive) on how to optimize their marketing + social media strategies. Working for large corporations was extremely rewarding, but my passion has always been the origin of a dream behind a brand and the people who dreamed it. 

Today, I work full-time to create custom-tailored marketing and social media strategies that are unique to each of my client's needs. I want to hear who you are and what your vision is. And I want to help you position your brand's story in a way that's not only effective for your business goals, but in line with who you are at the core. If you're interested in hiring me to consult your business, drop me a line and let's talk. 

Working with great people makes me happy. Questions or inquiries about any of the above can be sent to: theblondeatlas@gmail.com Shoot me a note and let's talk about what's possible. 

So there you have it. Blonde Atlas has gone from an idea that existed in my head and my heart for years, to becoming my passion and livelihood. And it's almost comical now to be in such a joyful position, because when I finally pulled the trigger and launched it, I happened to be in one of the most barren, lost and confusing places I’d ever been in my life. There’s been so much stripped from me and so much I’ve shed over these last 365 days: relationships, a cushy salary, a life that felt predictable, safe and comfortable- the list goes on. But something beautiful has happened in the process of God uprooting these (arguably) good things: it’s allowed new life to be planted, bloom and flourish. 

I wouldn't have guessed in a million years that I'd be standing where I am today. I'm so proud of myself for the bravery it required to take risks that felt scary, and for the perseverance it required to overcome challenges that felt insurmountable. But more than anything else, I am completely beside myself with how much gratitude I feel towards all the friends + family who have loved me so well and encouraged me in ways that words won't begin to suffice. I’ve never felt more alive, more supported, or more confident about what I'm doing with my life than I do in this very moment.

Thank you (sincerely) for joining me on this journey- in whatever capacity you may have been involved. The road ahead has never looked more beautiful. Let's keep going, shall we?

Plan B

I'm finally home from Europe. I unpacked and put away my suitcase for a whopping 48 hours before I'll need to pull it back out and pack again. I'm heading back to Colorado in a couple days for another week, and I realized that in the chaos leading up to Spain and my time abroad, I never shared my post from the last time I was in Boulder. So let's rewind. 

I had plans to host my second goal workshop on a Tuesday night in Boulder, so that Monday I went to Chautauqua and found a spot in a field right in front of the flatirons. It was going to be perfect. There were wildflowers, blue skies and incredible mountain scenery. I bought some flameless candles (since I knew the park wouldn’t allow open flames), Mexican blankets, for us to sit on and tons of food and wine. I had planned and prepped and purchased  everything I needed for another beautiful night. I patted myself on the back and left to grab margaritas and tacos with a friend. 

The next day at work, one of the girls that was going to attend that night approached me and asked what the rain plan was. I blinked a couple times. “It’s not supposed to rain” I replied. “The forecast is completely clear.” She looked back at me with concerned eyes. “Have you been outside?"

The sky had gone from a beautiful clear blue to a deep, slate grey. Rain clouds were heavily hanging in the sky, looking as though they could pour open at any moment. And this was what I saw through glimpses of my tangled hair that the intense wind was blowing all across my face. I didn’t have a plan b. This wasn’t supposed to happen. 

"Surely this will pass” I thought optimistically. "Meteorology is  usually pretty accurate with this kind of stuff, right? It must be forecasted to rain somewhere else and these clouds are just blowing over."

I loaded the Subaru up with all the food, wine, candles, blankets, flowers and everything else I had gathered and headed toward Chautauqua. Sure enough, not even a mile into my drive the first raindrop fell on my windshield. And within moments it was pouring. 

"I’m going to have to cancel". I thought to myself. I can’t have a dozen people huddle around my hotel bed and recreate the same night I had planned out in my mind. I stupidly hadn’t considered what my fallback would be ("Boulder has over 300 sunny days a year" they say). The forecast said it would be over within the hour, but the ground we would be sitting on would still be soaked and the sky would still be grey and cover the view of the mountains (which was the whole point of that location).

I was already appreciative that so many people that really don’t know me all that well signed up for the goal workshop in the first place. But now that the beautiful night of wine and candle light around the sunset over the flatirons wasn’t happening, I imagined the RSVP list would dwindle down to nothing. It was the perfect excuse for everyone to bail. To stay in with take out and Netflix on this rainy night. 

But that’s not what happened. 

One of the girls called and said she had just redone her front porch (which was covered) and that we could use that as a space instead if we wanted. I was appreciative of her offer and had a car full of food and wine so I figured why not? It was better than wasting it all if a few people still wanted to come. 

When I arrived to the house, every person who said they would come was there. Every single one of them. Even though we were running late. Even though plans had changed. Even though quite frankly, the whole thing had become a mess. They still showed up. 

“What can we do?” they all asked as I walked in with frizzy hair and wet clothes. 

They took the bags from me and started to slice the baguettes, open the wine and prepare the charcuterie. 

Photos by Matt Lowber/Bootleg Cooperative

Meanwhile Shelby (shoutout for saving the day and opening your home) was sweeping the porch and hanging twinkle lights and lighting candles. 

Within 30 minutes the night had gone from a complete nightmare to a picturesque setting you’d see somewhere on Pinterest.  

Photos by Matt Lowber/Bootleg Cooperative

Yeah, Chautauqua would have been beautiful, but frankly this was better. After a week  where people had really disappointed me back home, this night reminded me that people are still good. That failed plans don’t always turn out to be a catastrophe- in fact they can turn out to be a blessing. 

It reminded me that setting goals and making plans for our dreams is exactly what we should be doing (hence the reason I host these workshops), but so is being flexible in your approach to them. That life is full of plot twists and things working out differently than you think they will.  That sometimes your goal will fail and you’ll have to wing it and come up with a plan b. But that plan b is where we learn. It's usually the place where good stuff happens.

Photos by Matt Lowber/Bootleg Cooperative

So thanks to my sweet friends in Colorado. Not just for still showing up when things fell apart, but for making the night even better than I expected it to be through your kindness. Thanks for laughing a lot, eating (and drinking) a lot, getting cozy on the front porch and for being open-minded to dreaming big with me. But most of all, thanks for reminding me that sometimes our happiest ending doesn’t happen until something else goes wrong.  

Photos by Matt Lowber/Bootleg Cooperative