Hi! : ) You may have noticed that I didn’t post a new blog last week, but I needed to take an purposeful break. The week prior, I found myself working past midnight almost every night. By Friday, I nearly had a panic attack. I was beyond simply wanting to sleep in over the weekend. I felt as though I didn’t want to do anything at all once I had sent my final email. Any type of activity seemed like far too much, which if you know me is really rare. I thrive on being active. I rarely want to just be, but that’s exactly what I needed to do. So I did – I took a complete step away if for no other reason than to simply self preserve.

But, I’m back to blogging! So, an update on what I’ve been doing and what’s to come:

Rebrand: Other than being sincerely exhausted, one of the other main reasons I decided to step away last week was to work on a project for myself. I’m so excited to share I’m going to be updating and relaunching my website! I LOVE my blog, but since I started it two years ago quite a bit has changed. I have new photos to share, updated services I’m really excited about, and an overall refresh coming down the pipeline. Last week, I took some serious time to write all of my own copy for my relaunch. 1200 words later and a lot of time spent scrolling through about 300 photos, and I’m definitely on my way. I’m so excited to share more soon! Hint: Carly is Inspired will no longer just be a blog…you’ll see it as a brand very soon. Brace yourself. Or maybe I should just do that. ;)

Flowers: I love flowers. They’re always my favorite event detail, and I love creating centerpieces and bouquets. When my friend, Megan, mentioned she was taking a class to learn more, I knew I definitely wanted to do the same.  I loved the class I took because it forced me to work with flowers each week and be creative with what I made. I designed bouquets, centerpieces, and floral crowns. And I really, really loved the challenge of making each my own.

Blogging: Every Last Detail is seriously my favorite. I love the mix of information and real weddings Lauren makes sure to have on the site. I’ve been having so much fun writing for her audience, and a few of my most recent posts can be found here, here, and here. On another note, I want to live in the inspiration shoot that was posted yesterday.

Instagram: After reading Rhi’s post about social media, I decided I wanted to stop going on Instagram for a while. I haven’t placed an official time limit on it (maybe a week?), but I was feeling as though every time I popped onto the site I slipped into comparison mode. The site was taking away some of my joy and love for the wedding industry, so as of Monday I haven’t been on. Instagram has so much value. Seeing what other people are up to should be fun and inspiring, and posting my own content should feel the same way. But until I’m feeling as though I have stopped thinking in terms of what I would post on Instagram (or Twitter or Facebook), I need to take a break. So far, I’m loving it.

Journaling: I always update my planner each week; however, I’m not one to keep a journal.  But I felt a crazy need to dump everything – the good, the bad, and the just plain frustrating – into a journal on Monday. I didn’t have an agenda while I was writing. I just wrote…for a solid hour…with a pen and paper. I was shocked at how much I was holding onto, and I felt myself gaining more and more clarity as I turned each page of my May Book. Ask yourself what you want – not everyone else, but you – and write it all down. I cannot recommend this enough! Thanks to my friend, Chelsey, for the suggestion.

That’s my (ever so slightly longwinded) update for now! I still feel as though I’m in self preservation mode, because I  truly want to be back in a place of feeling and being much more positive. But sometimes taking a step away is the very best and only way to come back stronger than before. Is anyone else in the same boat?

P.S: My goal, as always, with my blog is to be as transparent as possible. Real life isn’t as pretty as what you see on social media. Overwhelm happens. Sometimes things that are supposed to make you happy…don’t. But the biggest thing I’ve learned is to lean on friends and keep going. This too shall pass.