Bittersweet

Today is a bittersweet day for me as it is my very last day working at the lovely Heritage Row boutique.

It's been a full year already since I got hired. And it's a year that I will always hold dearly. Not necessarily because of the boutique experience (which was great, too), but because I got some lifetime friendships out of it. But now has come the time to close this chapter of my life as I go and embark on an exciting new one.

Remember when I did that thing everyone hates by posting this picture on Instagram with a very vague caption? Something like, "Exciting day, friends!! No matter the outcome, it's about pushing yourself (even if it's a little scary) to go after your dreams. #wishmeluck #fingerscrossed".

(Yeah, I hate when people do that, too.)

Well. Now I can finally do a follow-up to that vagueness and share with you this exciting new chapter!

As you know, I've been a part-time stylist for Stitch Fix since last April. What you probably don't know is that if it weren't for Jenny (Owner @ Heritage Row), I never would have even known about the company and been encouraged to apply! And if it weren't for getting let go at Virgin America a year ago, I never would have thought to apply at a boutique. And if it weren't for.... well, I could go on. (But you see what I mean that life just has a way of following the dots and unfolding new adventures for you in a way that only in hindsight does it really make sense?) 

Anywaaaayyyy, for the last 8 months or so, I've been styling my little heart out and loving every moment of it. But I knew I wanted more. More responsibility, more growth, something full time...

Just recently, I got the opportunity to apply for a Lead Stylist position. Which, trust me when I say, is right up my alley. It's a management position where I would get to have my own team of 30+ stylists to coach and train and help them be the best stylists they can be (All while still working from home!!!)! I can't tell you how excited I was to apply (and terrified that I didn't have even a slight chance of getting it).

It started with a phone interview. Nailed it.

The next round was an in-person interview downtown (that's from the picture above). The interview lasted almost an hour. But like, that really good kind of hour that was filled with easy conversation and laughs. I definitely walked out of there feeling pretty confident.

But then, come to find out, there was ANOTHER round of interviewing with the VP of Styling!

....And that's when the nerves hit full throttle.

I remember feeling like I had just drank a gallon of coffee. I was talking super fast, I'm sure my eyes were opened really wide in a very creepy way, I was moving my hands a lot, I was saying how excited I was (which, I was, but come on Michelle, calm the eff down), and well, in my mind, I was like, annnnndddd that's how NOT to interview.

I left feeling just as nervous with not so much confidence. BUT - I was proud of myself for getting that far anyway and for going after something challenging! I told myself that if I didn't get the job, then it just wasn't the right time and there would be another opportunity down the road.

Speaking of road.

It was two days before Christmas, Verner and I were driving down to San Diego, when I got the call. And after being offered the position, I very PROFESSIONALLY responded with, "YAAAAYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Yep. Keepin' it classy over here.

So that brings us back to today, my last day at the boutique, so that I can focus full-time on this new adventure. I'm so grateful for my time here and I'm so grateful for this new opportunity. 

It's always so amazing to me just how much can change in a year, you know? I love seeing this life unfold. It might sound very optimistic or even naive of me to say that things always have a way of working out. But trust me, I've had hardships in life just like the next person where I've questioned why and wondered what the point was and what could I possibly learn from it, blah blah blah...but like I said, it's those hardships that you DO learn from and that you get to grow from and can then appreciate the greater things that do and will come. Does that make sense? I feel like I'm rambling. Point is: Trust the "system." We're all doing the best we can and we're all trying to make the most of this life.

Dear Jenny & The Heritage Row Gals: Thanks for bringing me into your family this past year. It's been a lot of fun and I'm so thankful to have you in my life. 

But more importantly, I'm thankful for the hundreds of opportunities I had to partake in my ever-important selfie taking.

Love you all!

xoxo