It’s a Personal One!

I’ve been toying with the idea of writing this for the last month and in the end just decided to go ahead with it so it wouldn’t be niggling at the back of my mind in the New Year. I’ve got some big news to share with you all tomorrow and it doesn’t seem right to share this news without explaining the reasoning behind it. I am a completely different person to the one which I entered 2014 as. At the start of this year Rebecca Casserly was a ‘bride-to-be’ who had just bought and moved into a new house with her fiancé. On the outside I had everything I could have ever wanted in life but something wasn’t right and less than three months later in March 2014 that 7 year relationship ended. I don’t believe anyone is to blame and I have nothing but good memories of the time we shared together. When a relationship ends no matter who ended it or for what reason or how long you had being going out it is never ever easy. I didn’t want to speak to anyone for weeks and couldn’t imagine continuing this blog when I felt so unhappy. Every single time I think back on our relationship, usually at the most random of times, my eyes well up. Sometimes relationships just run their course and you both realise that you are no longer ‘right’ for each other. It’s not easy to admit it but that’s what happened. Not long after going through this break up and while trying to move on with my life this year I got involved with a man who was – plain and simple – not good! I could ramble on here about it but there’s enough stories to fill a book and quite frankly I don’t want to devote any time on Bec Boop to that person who impacted my life so negatively. This was an extremely negative time in my life and as I’ve been told by everyone since – I had a lucky escape! Ladies, please don’t let anyone ever make you feel that you are not good enough for them. Those kind of people don’t deserve a second of your time and I wasted enough of my year feeling like that.

My days have been a million times more productive in the last couple of months of 2014. I feel like I’ve finally found my old self again. I know it’s only two short months out of the year but I’m a much happier person and back to being the Rebecca Casserly who everyone around me knew. The most amazing part of all of this is the support I got from my family and friends throughout this time. They have stood by me and supported me no matter what! 

At the start of 2014 I could have in no way predicted the year that was in-store for me. And to be completely honest most of it was pretty terrible on a personal level. It could have been worse though and again – I had a lucky escape 🙂 Blog-wise things improved greatly when I began to shift my focus back. 2015 – the year that I should have been getting married now has a fantastic adventure in store for Rebecca Casserly and I can’t wait to take you with me on every step of the way. I’m independent again and not having my morale brought down by anyone around me. I’m surrounded by encouraging and genuine friends and family who have helped me retain my ambition and drive.

During the year as part of the #StandForSomething promotion with Dr. Martens I described myself as persistent and I believe that it is this trait which has enabled my to continue my focus on the blog throughout the hardship I experienced this year. It’s all too easy to focus on the hardships and difficulties we are all going through and I count myself lucky to have had this blog to direct my focus on during these times. It is only when we have something worthwhile to focus on we realise our own worth again.

Another quote which I shared over on Instagram this year and which really inspired me to move forward on this journey is the following:

“If ever you find yourself in the wrong story – Leave” Mo Willems

It’s not easy but sometimes that big decision to leave can be the best decision of your life.

Blog Year!

Despite everything, my persistence paid off and I had such a succesful blog year! Bec Boop was a finalist in three categories of the inaugural Online Marketing in Galway awards (categories of Best Blog, Marketing Leadership and People’s Choice), I won the #WalkYourStyle bloggers competition and I launched the Bec Boop YouTube channel which now has nearly 200 subscribers. I had the opportunity to work with some fantastic companies this year which you can read more about in my Outfits round up post. I also organised two charity fashion events – Limerick’s Got Style and Style in the City 2 Galway. I was asked to judge Best Dressed in the Stock Exchange venue, Galway and I also collaborated with some fantastic teams this year (models, MUAs and photographers) as a fashion stylist. I styled a cover shoot for the Look Magazine which was one of my greatest achievements this year and something I am very proud of. Another shoot I styled was featured in international magazine – Keel just this month! I’ll have a blog post with all the images from that shoot up in the New Year. I also had an opportunity to interview my favourite blogger ever – Naty from A Love Affair with Fashion. I worked with Greenes Shoes quite a bit this year and organised a fantastic fashion promotional event for them! One of the highlights of my year was definitely getting dressed up for the Galway Races and I was absolutely thrilled to be sponsored by Mark Garvie Millinery and Lora Millinery who decked me out in the most amazing hats for the week! You can take a look at my oufits here – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. I visited London three times this year for various concerts and also as I was invited to the London Bloggers Festival. I did so much networking this year and made so many new contacts through organisations such as OMiG, IrishBizParty, Galway Hour, ITWBN and Tweet Ur Sis. I also further developed my freelance writing career by reporting for over 30 editions of a local magazine and freelancing on PR write-up’s for local venues in Galway. I spoke at public fashion events on the topics of blogging and hosted a number of local fashion shows in Galway. Most recently I’ve been nominated in the Women are B.E.S.T. awards as best fashion blogger and you can give me a little vote right here. I’ve focused a lot this year on improving the content I share with you by developing my photography and video editing skills taking me from a complete beginner to a relatively ok photographer/videographer and I hope to continue to improve this skill set in 2015.

The stats in the top image really speak for themselves and I was blown away by the number of views the blog received this year! Last year my blog had only 41,000 views and this year it’s exceeded 430,000! Awesome 🙂 The most popular post was ‘Lost in Galway at night‘ and my favourite post of the year was ‘Proud Sister‘.

Thank you to my biggest supporter – my mam who has had to put up with my 24/7 blog talk non-stop and who has never complained once only shown constant support and encouragement 🙂

Stay tuned tomorrow for my biggest announcement yet!

Thank you so much for continuing to read my blog and interact with Bec Boop on here. I appreciate every single interaction I have with my readers and hope to deliver some top-notch fashion and beauty content in 2015.

As always, I’d love to hear from you in the comments below. How was your 2014? What would you like to see from Bec Boop in 2015.

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