A little over 3 years ago, pretty early in my blogging days, a Dallas newspaper interviewed me and one of their questions was “if you could work / partner with any brand, what would it be?” I listed a few different companies I’d love to work with one day…one of them being Free People. Whenever you imagine getting an unlimited shopping spree to ANY store, what store comes to mind?! For years now, one of my top answers has always been Free People! I love this brand and feel like it sums up my style perfectly. Cozy, loose, flowy, natural, free-spirited. You can find bold statement pieces or cozy sweaters you will wear year after year. I am obsessed with this brand. [If you’ve been following me for a while, you know this to be true! I’d say at least 50% of my outfits I post are Free People haha].
So, I started partnering with this amazing brand about a year or two ago and it actually felt like a dream come true getting to communicate with them regularly, requesting product, hearing what was up and coming or them, etc. I recently thought back to that interview I did in the beginning of my blogging days where I said partnering with FP would be a major dream for me. It all of the sudden hit me…after years of hard work, somehow this dream brand recognized me and I’m now working with them!
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So many people think that ‘blogging’ as a career solely involves taking a few selfies, traveling the world, and getting free stuff. If you’re reading this and you’re also a blogger, you know that isn’t the case. I absolutely love what I do and it is, in fact, a dream job. But I’ve never worked harder in my life than I have in these past 4-5 years of making blogging a career. I had [have] goals in mind and work 40-60+hrs each week to reach those goals.
I don’t say all of that to just pat myself on the back or toot my own horn. I wanted to share this little Free People story today for any of you who are also starting a blog, or wanting to start your own business or working towards a goal – whether that is a professional, physical, or personal goal. “Anything worth having is worth fighting for.” When I first started blogging I never dreamed it could be a full time job. I never dreamed I’d be able to travel and partner with so many amazing brands. I never dreamed I’d be able to have a baby and stay home with her and still work at the same time. But…4 ½ years in, tons of hard work, and now two team members later, here we are!
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If you have a dream in your heart, a goal in mind, and you’re feeling discouraged or like things aren’t progressing like you want them to…let this blog post be a reminder to you: keep on keepin on sister! Goals aren’t accomplished overnight. Dreams aren’t just handed to you. You might be in the ‘middle’ season right now where it feels like nothing is happening and nothing is growing. But let me tell you, that is where change happens. When you keep putting in the hard work even on days when it feels pointless or hopeless. You will, in one way or another, at some point in this journey, see the fruits of your labor.
ALL of that to say…I’m super excited to share this Free People look with y’all today! If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I borderline live in these flats, year round. They somehow work magically just as well in the fall as they do in spring and summer. TBH I’m not a huge flats girl because most of them time I find them to be stiff and uncomfortable. These are hands down the most comfortable pair of flats I own! I’ve worn them all day before and had zero blisters and my feet felt great.
Onto my real obsession here, this quilted jacket is a DREAM come true. Another piece you will wear year round over a sweater in the fall, or over a tee in warmer months. This jacket is so chic yet cozy at the same time which is exactly what I love about Free People.
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Outfit details: Quilted jacket | Denim | Flats | Similar lace trim cami | Similar round sunnies
Thanks for reading friends! Hoping y’all feel encouraged to work hard for any God-given dreams that have been placed on your heart. Those dreams are there for a reason and in time, I promise you WILL see the fruits of your labor!
This post was created in collaboration with Free People. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own!
xo Lauren
