So, I have a confession to make: I feel like I’ve been living a double life. (Don’t worry, I’m not about to get all Dateline NBC on you.) Allow me to explain…

Every day for the past year and a half, I would wake up, shower, demand politely ask Matt to make me a double espresso, and then head into my office at a big fancy magazine. It’s a gig that—to quote the prolific film The Devil Wears Prada—“a million girls would kill for,” and I know it.

I’ve been hustling to land this exact job as a magazine editor since I was literally 10 years old.

But even though I love what I do (and I mean really, truly love) I’ve had this nagging feeling that my purpose, or at least the one I’ve come to recognize as my purpose, isn’t to work for a big magazine anymore—it’s to work for myself. And, more than anything else, to work for you guys.

For the record, I would never actually wear these hooker heels to work.

In a way, I feel like I’ve been married to my job while trying to carry on an illicit affair with 133,ooo people.

I work during the day, and then spend every other minute of my time focused on providing value to the community I’ve created on Instagram. Most nights, I’m in bed on my phone until 2 in the morning answering your beauty questions, planning your honeymoons, helping you pick out outfits for a big event, posting travel guides, trying new products to see if they’re worth recommending, etc. (Now you probably understand where #insomniabeauty came from.)

Being a trusted resource to you all is more fulfilling than you know—but juggling it with a full-time job has been REALLY. FUCKING. EXHAUSTING.

So…where am I going with this?

Well, I wanted to let you know that I’ve decided to end my marriage (to my job.) Which is to say, I’ll now be devoting myself to you guys 100%. My blog, which is brand new (please poke around!) will serve as a resource for all the things we chat about on Instagram—tips for planning your trip to Positano, beauty products I’m dying for you all to try, shopping advice, the rosés I’m currently drinking, and more.

In the coming months, I’ll also be working on YouTube videos, collaborations, and other exciting things that I can’t wait to share.

This was by far the hardest decision I’ve ever made in my life but it’s a leap that I knew I would regret not taking. It’s scary and intimidating and all of the feelings…and I hope you guys will be here to support me as I navigate this very new, very exciting path.

A few things you should know:

MY STANCE ON SPONSORED POSTS & COLLABORATIONS.

Believe it or not, I’ve never done them. In fact, most people are shocked to hear that I’ve never made a single dollar off of my Instagram account. Obviously, that’ll be changing in the next few weeks, because let’s be real—my bills aren’t going to pay themselves.

BUT! You should know that I have never, and will never, recommend a product or hotel or even a damn cocktail that I don’t believe is worth spending the money on. I’ve worked for ten years to establish myself and my credibility as a trusted magazine editor, and no amount of money from a brand is worth giving that up. (Quite frankly, I’d rather be broke than recommend something shitty for a paycheck.)

So, if you see something #SPONSORED on my account, just know that I agreed to work with the brand because I thought they were cool and legit. (Oh, and make sure you like it or comment on it so I don’t feel like a total loser. K?)

Not #sponcon but I feel like it should be? @jenatkinhair HIRE ME

I WILL ALWAYS KEEP IT REAL.

Honestly, my biggest pet peeve is when bloggers or Instagrammers create the illusion that everything in their world is perfect. SPOILER ALERT: it’s not. And all it does is make other people feel bad about their own less-than-perfect lives, even though they shouldn’t. Surface-level shit is sooo one-dimensional and boring to me. If I post a really sick picture on Instagram but was actually sweating my balls off in order to get it, you better believe I’m going to tell you.

Sweating profusely in this photo.

I WANT US TO HAVE AN OPEN DIALOGUE.

I want you to tell me everything about your lives, what you’re thinking about buying, where you want to travel, where you just got back from, etc. We’re in this together! If you’ve DMed me before, you know that I ALWAYS answer—and my goal is to continue being that available to you.

If there’s anything you ever want to see from me, stories you’d like me to write, or tutorials you want me to film, just ask—your wish is my command. The entire reason I made this move is because of you guys, after all.

So let’s keep this thing going, shall we?

(Now excuse me while I go drink an entire bottle of rosé to calm my nerves.)

Xx
Lindsay