In ADVICE + THOUGHTS

I wanted to start this post by giving you my definition of what it means to be a blogger.

To put it simply, a blogger is someone who enjoys sharing parts of their life online. You can share just about anything you want on the internet, and as long as you’re influencing people who choose to follow along with your content, the list of ways you can make money from a loyal following is endless. Obviously, you can blog as a hobby, but if you’re calling it your career then I’d assume it’s generating income.

To be more specific, I’m a fashion blogger that dabbles in lifestyle content. Lifestyle is such a broad term, but that’s the best part – I never feel boxed in when it comes to what I want to write about. This means my content can always be evolving and that I can make the executive decision to publish whatever I feel compelled to share. I love cultivating my sense of style and sharing my creativity to inspire my readers. Especially my petite followers! I totally understand the struggle to find clothing that fits and makes you feel confident. I use my website and Instagram to inspire outfit ideas, decor inspiration, organizational methods, to share my faith, thoughts, etc. I advertise for brands and products I believe in and want to share with the world. Ultimately, I do my best to use social media to show young women what I think it means to be both classy and bold in all areas of their lives.

I think of my blog as an online journal – somewhere to process my thoughts. Whether I’m sharing how to get through a break up or how I organized the drawers underneath my bathroom sink…the information is available to anyone who cares enough to stick around and read it. I love sharing a few of the 123875898 thoughts that go through my head on a daily basis with you. I’m a compassionate person who craves human connection more than most things in life, and my goal on here is to connect with you whether it’s bonding over how comfortable a new pair of boots is or sharing a piece of advice from a lesson I learned the hard way.

Which brings me to the topic of this post.

In the past, I’ve struggled finding the right balance between my two contrasting worlds.  Wedged between the glamorous industry of fashion & beauty… and life as a Christian woman. I’m not saying the two worlds can’t coincide -I follow so many incredible girls who do an amazing job of sharing their both their faith and style through their platforms (like Brighton Keller & Kara Stout). But, I do think things can get a little confusing when it comes to chasing success in my career while simultaneously searching for my identity in Jesus. I can say this because I know what it feels like to work 150 mph towards your goals, actually achieve them, and then still feel like something’s missing in the end. This year I learned that sometimes success in business requires huge sacrifices, and at times I found myself sacrificing things like a healthy work-life balance, my relationships, and even my beliefs. It’s easy to get a little lost when hours of my day are spent on social media where materialism thrives, comparison is unavoidable, and the more edgy the content the better it performs. I’ve always viewed fashion as an expression of creativity and to me it’s never been about vanity or having the latest and greatest. Yes, I love beautiful outfits and interiors, but there’s also the Olivia who hibernates at home in the same Arizona Tea sweatshirt 3 days a week and writes and listen to podcasts to escape from all the fluff – and I love that life too.

I learned a good lesson a couple years ago when I posted something on Instagram I’m not too proud of. It was last year in Cabo at the time when my Instagram was growing really quickly and I was beginning to notice that the amount of likes I received increased whenever my clothing in the picture decreased. Look you guys, I’m human. And of course it feels good to post a picture on a beach when you’re feeling confident. But the moment I hit publish on this very cheeky bikini picture, marks one of my all time fails on Instagram. It took about 3 minutes before I realized what I just did, and then I deleted the picture immediately. As confident as I might have felt in that bikini at the time, the type of message that picture sent was no where near who I am or the type of message I wanted to share with the thousands of girls following me. I take so much pride in showing girls that you don’t have to be a bikini model on Instagram or post sexy pictures of yourself for justification or attention. You guys know how it is, you scroll through your explore page and see so many beautiful women with perfect figures and minimal clothing. In my opinion, that’s not something that needs to be shared with millions of strangers on the internet. This was the first of a many posting mistakes I’ve regretted on Instagram that I’ve learned from.

Choosing not to conform to the ways of this world was never meant to be an easy task. What’s easy is to go along with what everyone else is doing – to fit in with the crowd – to blend. But as Christians that’s not what we’re called to do. We’re called to set an example of what it looks like to a life influenced by Christ. I have the best examples of Christian women in my life who are paving the way for me and showing what it looks like to live a life of purpose. My mom and both of my best friends Linds & Rachel. They understand what is means to express yourself through style, beauty, and creativity, without letting it overshadow their true purpose. I encourage you if you don’t already to draw closer to the women in your life who are inspiring you to be a better person. Whether you live in New York City or Granger, Indiana – you can find wonderful & inspiring people everywhere.

Obviously, work is work. And at the end of the day we all have to do our best with the talents, gifts, and circumstances we’ve been given to make a living. It’s how we survive and pay the bills! Whether your job is to help manage someone’s finances or you’ve been given a platform to share your ideas on how to plan a bridal shower, we’re all making a difference in each other’s lives with our careers. Sometimes all it takes is changing your perspective and seeking out ways to positively impact people’s lives using your unique skills and talents in your job. Which is what I’ve been trying to do more of through my platforms lately.  If you’re feeling burnt out at work and lacking purpose in your job, remember this verse: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people” [Colossians 3:23]. If you keep this in mind, I can almost guarantee your mindset at work will change. There are so many ways you can use your career to better the world and make someone else’s day, and in that you will find more purpose in what you do.

I’ve found the key to keeping the right balance between my career and my faith is constantly keeping myself in check. To balance my drive to be financially successful with my desire to be spiritually successful. To always ask myself every time before I publish something – does this align with who I am and what I believe in? Am I posting this for self-serving reasons or so I can benefit or inspire someone today who might scroll past this? Am I using my platform to share the light that’s been given to me?

I mess up a lot and I’m not perfect, but I’m still trying. If we had all the answers laid out perfectly for how we’re supposed to live our lives, I wouldn’t be writing this post. I’m writing this because we don’t, but I’m doing a lot of soul searching during this season of my life to figure it out. I thought since I share so many other areas of my life with you guys, why not share more from my journey of faith and how I feel as a Christian woman pursuing a career in the fashion and beauty space in New York City.

Do any of you struggle with any of these things?  In what ways have you guys found more purpose in your careers? I’d love to hear more about how you incorporate your faith into what you do. And for those of you who are influencers, what are you thoughts on the topic of bringing Christianity in the blogging space?

I’m ending this post with one of my favorite C.S. Lewis quotes that I think applies to anyone searching for more purpose and God’s will for their lives. “Look for yourself, and you will find in the long run only hatred, loneliness, despair, rage, ruin, and decay. But look for Christ and you will find Him, and with Him everything else.”

Recent Posts
Showing 74 comments
  • Annaliese
    Reply

    Oh my gosh Olivia I think this is my favorite post of yours ever (and I’ve had a lot of favorites!). Thank you for being so honest with your readers on this topic!

    I am a Christian and a blogger as well, and I’ve definitely thought some of the same things as you before. It is tough to balance faith and the online world, but it can be done, and I think you’re doing amazing!

    xoxo A
    http://www.southerbelleintraining.com

    • Hannah Tillou
      Reply

      I’ve followed you’re account for awhile now and got to see your transition between moving from Chicago to New York. I love your content! To be honest this is the first time I truly took the time to read one of your blogs. This message hit home and I’m sure to many other Christian girls who follows you. Thank you for being so honest. It’s always uplifting and motivating to know they’re are other girls in the city who have a hectic NYC schedule, have a passion for fashion (lol) but still has that heart and desire to balance all of that with their faith. I’m in the same position as you (except the blogging part) but in a way that I always want to make sure Faith is my #1.

      Ps. Have you been to Hillsong. Truly recommend going to one of their services on Sundays!

    • Chelsea Adams
      Reply

      I feel like you are speaking into my soul!! I am also a model, fashion blogger, & Christian. Almost daily, I question if I’m doing the right thing, accepting the right deals, making the best moves. Thank you so much for your honesty!

  • Trinity King
    Reply

    I LOVED THIS POST. I’ve recently started my own blog, and I want my faith and the light I’ve found in Christ to filter throughout my space but it’s hard to know how. I’m still figuring that out, but it was so inspiring to read this and know that one of my favorite bloggers is trying to do the same thing!!! Thank you so much for sharing!!!

  • Baily Elaine
    Reply

    This is the best blog post I’ve read in a long time (all your posts are amazing) but this was WOW!!! I’ve been sitting in front of my computer trying to figure out what was missing, what I was doing wrong and why I was feeling this void and you completely landed it! Writing about my faith is what’s missing and not spreading the Good News of Jesus to my followers (aka my mom and nana still a baby blogger lol). You are so inspiring and I’m beyond blessed God placed it on your heart to write this blog post!! Thank you for putting this out there and sharing the Good News!! Keep up the amazing content and great writing! You’re someone I look up to so much!

  • Alison Bowles
    Reply

    I LOVE this post! I believe when it comes to taking pictures for Instagram and fashion blogging, your confidence can show girls that they can be confident too. However, I think we can all relate to what you said- the less clothing the better it performs! As a blogger myself there’s a lot of pressure for everything to be perfect and to compete against the other girls. It’s important to be real and to share the things YOU want to share because it’s your passion! God gives us each a unique passion to serve our purpose, whether it’s blogging or anything else. You are using your platform to recognize and draw others closer to him, and also serving as a role model for other girls!

  • Ivy
    Reply

    I absolutely love this post. I already really respected you as an influencer but now my respect has gone through the roof!!
    I just recently became a worship leader at a mainstream church. I’m only 24 years old so obviously when I go on vacation or out with friends I’m tempted to post bikini pics or us clinking our champagne…but that’s not always the best idea when I have eyes on me who are fresh Chrisitan’s and may be struggling with addiction.
    It truly is a hard balance but I think you do an amazing job of it! Thank you for bringing His word to the social media world. You’re changing so many hearts right now!

  • Rachel Grindstaff
    Reply

    Hi Olivia! This post is very near and dear to my heart. 2018 was a painful one…it literally dragged me. I live in a small town outside of Louisville, KY! Over the course of the year I went through a what seemed to be very “public” divorce, family deaths, and an apartment fire on thanksgiving day. At age 25, I felt as though my world was already falling apart. Let me tell you, Jesus can transform brokenness into beauty! It seems as though I finally learned what it meant to seek Jesus for validation before anyone/anything else! Long story short…. no amount of yoga, essential oils, meditation, workout classes, “self care”, new clothes, green smoothies, career advances, or money can fill the void that only Jesus can fill! I was left feeling so empty this past summer, but I live by that verse you posted in your blog! I know it’s not exactly the same, but I felt compelled to reach out. I really appreciate that you shared this! I’d love to connect with you, let me know if I can help you in any way, you are doing a great job! We are daughters of the king! By surrounding myself with like-minded and faith based individuals, I found the biggest blessing. It seems as though we share the same views, keep doing your thing sis! Thanks for sharing!

  • Lauren
    Reply

    Really enjoyed reading this, Olivia! And coincidentally, I grew up in Granger IN as well. Cheers to you as you pursue the happy balance of being both (which I believe is totally possible!)

  • Cailyn
    Reply

    This is one of the best posts I’ve read of yours! I love how open and honest you are. I find myself struggling often as well but this was a beautifully written reminder as well as inspiration.

    http://bloomwithstyle.com

  • Yanna
    Reply

    Wow, thank you for writing this!! Love the honesty and completely understand what you mean about comparison on social media and posting only to serve yourself. It’s the ugly truth. I too struggle with wanting to fit in and being hesitant to share my faith. I really need to work on that!! Thanks for inspiring me to show my true self in Christ. Keep doing what you are doing. ❤️

  • Claire
    Reply

    Thank you SO much for writing this beautiful post, Olivia!! I’ve been following your account for a while and I’ve always appreciated that you use your platform to share your faith. This is truly my favorite piece you’ve ever written! Thank you for being a great role model for the women who follow you!

  • Chantelle
    Reply

    This post is so beautifully written! It truly resonated with me, and I wanted to thank you for being so open and honest! It can be hard to do so on the internet, and sharing my faith is something I can feel hesitant to do on my blog at times. But you’re absolutely right in that we should share the light we have been given and use our platforms to give glory and honor to Christ! Thank you for this post–keep them coming! xoxo
    http://www.blushfulbelle.com

  • Liz Aldinger
    Reply

    Goodness, girl. I could have written this!!! (Probably not so eloquently, though😊) I recently took down a picture on my Instagram for the exact same reason..although, mine took a month (rather than a few seconds) lol and it truly wasn’t that scandelous. I had friends say why would you take that down?! Etc etc. Because It had almost a few thousand likes which is a lot for me😉 But God TOLD ME exactly what you explained in this post. I am trying to grow as a fitness influencer and WOW people are scandelous in this niche…So I really related with this post. I appreciate you being vulnerable and honest about where you’re at. Because I am right there with you and I’m sure many others are as well. You are a shining light for Christ and I cannot wait to see where this life takes you.💖💖

  • Steph
    Reply

    Thank you so much for stepping out of a comfort zone and sharing this! This blog post was so relatable and it is so sweet to see the word of God being shared in the fashion and lifestyle blogging industry. You rock girl!

  • Olivia
    Reply

    SO SO GOOD! You are changing the game. Thanks for being apart of the astounding few.

  • Morgan
    Reply

    Thank you so much for writing this! I am a Christian blogger as well {still finding my online voice} and I believe this industry can provide two things – inspiration to readers, which is great and self doubt stemming from comparison and the desire to be great even if it means compromise, which is not so great. I commend you for your journey and for sharing it with so many of your readers who look up to you. I know I do, and I guarantee you that seeking and honoring Him will give you success beyond your dreams! Love following along, keep up the amazing posts ❤️❤️❤️

  • Breanne
    Reply

    So good! Your honesty and vulnerability is so encouraging.

  • Catharine
    Reply

    This.is.amazing. Literally everything I was going through in 2017/beginning of 2018. I found myself spending more time on my makeup and outfit than I did with Jesus. While a lot of people can balance this lifestyle, which I did too for a while, for others it can be a stumbling block. I found myself more concerned with myself and craving more of what I didn’t have when my life was surrounded by clothing and all things girly. Not that any of it is bad at all, it just is not healthy for me personally. Since then I have switched majors and I rarely put on more than concealer, eyebrows, and mascara, and I am not drowning in clothing and the need for more. I admire you, because I know how tough this industry is. You are so great at balancing it and being honest with us. Thank you for that. I think it’s awesome that even though you had that Cabo moment, you learned so much through it. Keep doing you Olivia!

  • Brooke D.
    Reply

    Wow. The honesty in this post is so pure. It shows not only are you human, but you are trying to figure life out just like the rest of us! Thank you for being a light and an encouragement. The Lord put you in this position for a purpose and it’s so refreshing to see someone that is trying their best to glorify Him through the platform God has given them! That’s where the joy comes from and that’s what you deserve! Can’t wait to see more!!

  • Ally
    Reply

    I love this post and your courage. I feel like faith is something that less and less people have. I grew up in an extremely French Catholic family and I want my children to have God in their life the way that I did. I feel like He influenced me to make better decisions and become the woman I am today. Everytime I found myself in a hopeless situation I turned to Him and found my way back to my true path.
    You’re such an amazing woman and role model, this makes me look up to you even more!

  • Taylor
    Reply

    While I’m not a blogger, I relate so much to what you wrote in my normal day to day life. Because of decisions I made in college I often find myself not feeling worthy enough to share things about my faith on social media due to fear that others might think I’m “faking it.” Ulitimately, I know that my identity is in Christ and not what others think of me but it sure is a constant battle. Thank you for being honest with us and I hope you continue to share more about your faith!

    • Maddie
      Reply

      I 100% can relate to this comment! Except with me it was HS (yikes) When in reality I was just lost, and now I am found!

  • bean
    Reply

    you know what, i have to admit – i really love this post. i was hesitant when i started reading it because, well, i’m an atheist and don’t believe in god whatsoever… but ultimately i found that i could still relate to it. because things like modesty are still important to me, too, and like you i’ve gotten caught up and made mistakes and posted things only to realize immediately that i wasn’t comfortable with how much i was sharing with the world. and, on another note, i grew up in a very religious family and i’m still trying to find my footing as someone who has decided to walk away from that part of my background. at times i, too, feel like something is missing or like i’ve gotten lost in the shuffle and i need to take a minute to sit back and reevaluate my priorities and the weight of each one. at times i feel like i can’t relate to most people because of my beliefs (or lack thereof…) so it was refreshing to read this and find it was actually very relatable. thank you for sharing your perspective!

  • Christina
    Reply

    Great post Olivia! Really do love it! I remember the photo and actually really loved it (and can still find it pasted to another of your sharing platforms).

    Anyway… Since you and your boyfriend are now living together it’s at least safe to assume that others assume you are having sex. What are your thoughts on being a Christian influencer and living with your boyfriend and the message that sends?

    • Angela Rose
      Reply

      It doesn’t send any message. Most people who look up to her don’t even think for a second about what goes on in her bedroom. I don’t think her personal and private life are anyone’s business other than her own. I LOVED this blog post Olivia. It’s hands down the best one I have ever read. Keep following your dreams!

  • Gabby Forte
    Reply

    I totally understand how it feels to be caught between 2 competing forces in life that are important to you all the while juggling a million different other things. I resonate so much with this post!!! I love how honest and open this was and it’s good to know I’m not the only one who sometimes struggles with staying true to themselves and finding Jesus amongst all the noise in your life. And I’m *still* trying to balance it all! Everyday is a learning curve.
    Thanks for writing this <3

  • Sara
    Reply

    Olivia, this is such a beautiful written inspirational post! I love your authenticity and courage! I am not a blogger, however I feel that I can relate to the struggle of image/influence and being a Christian woman and sometimes the confusion one can feel. What an amazing gift you have been given; the platform to reach so many and the wisdom to follow the Lord. Keep up the great work! Loved your post!!! 💕

  • Heidi
    Reply

    I was so incredibly encouraged by your post and the comments from other Christian women! I can’t even express my gratitude for you for trusting God’s guidance in writing this. I always felt alone in trying to juggle the two worlds, but I think that’s all part of the Christian journey. You are doing it far far better than I have ever been able to! I feel a lot more confident and prepared going forward after reading this ☺️ Thank you!

  • Tayler
    Reply

    This is absolutely beautiful. Thank you for being an amazing influencer on so many different levels!

  • Ashley Wierenga
    Reply

    Olivia-thank you so much for sharing your heart in this post. I resonated with what you said so much. There’s such beauty in seeing everything through the lens of our faith instead of feeling like we have to choose…posts like this remind me of that. I have struggled with the same thoughts on how to navigate all the distractions of this world with the beauty of what we believe. So lovely to hear that others are working through the same thought pattern. Thanks again for sharing.

  • Burghandy
    Reply

    This is such an inspiring post! Thank you for sharing about your faith. I am a college girl who may be moving to New York soon to attend school out there. I have been slightly nervous about blending my interest in fashion and being involved in a fashion school while also staying faithful. This post was inspiring and helped me to gain perspective! You are seriously one of my favorite bloggers and a large reason is because of this, you stay true to yourself and what you believe in.

  • Laura Wingate
    Reply

    Amazing! I have been looking for more women to look up to and inspire my own journey to strengthen my faith! I look forward to reading more like this. Thanks for being so open and honest. Reading this has already changed my outlook for my work day tomorrow! I get the gift of working with infants and their families, it can’t get much better than that. But I like how you phrased “make someone’s day better.” Reading this post has caused me to reflect on the fact that I have the power through Christ to make the world better in simple ways.

    Thanks for the quality inspo!

  • Molly
    Reply

    I know you don’t know me, but I am proud of you. So proud. As a sister in Christ it is refreshing to see someone that has a large following and platform to use it to shed a light on what matters. So many young girls fail to connect their purpose only because social media can be so negative!! Jesus is proud of you. No matter what happens with your following, GOOD FOR YOU. And remember God never promises it will be easy, but WORTH IT! Again, so proud to follow someone who truly try’s to walk with Jesus in all faucets of a life he’s so greatly blessed. XOXO

  • Emily
    Reply

    I really enjoyed this post and I am very proud of you for writing this! I’m sure it is hard to balance the two but I truly think you do an amazing job in all that you do!! Sometimes I post things whether it be on Instagram or Facebook and I think after I did it “hmmm that’s not really a good representation of who I am and what woulda God think of this.” It is especially easy for us to get caught up with how our society is constantly changing with the way we wear our clothes, etc. In my opinion, as long as it is modest and as long as you have your faith in God that is truly what matters. Thanks for posting this is made my night!!! I also really enjoy those bible verses you post occasionally…they are great reminders!

  • Gabby
    Reply

    This is so good! Thanks for sharing & being so transparent, this was my favorite post you’ve ever done- and they’re all great 🙂 The pastor of my church (Louie Giglio, Passion City Church) is in the middle of a series called Passion, Purpose, (& Designer Jeans) and it’s SO GOOD! All about what it looks like when your passion isn’t necessarily ministry or working at a church, and what our purpose truly is as Christians. I highly recommend if you’re having a sweatshirt/podcast kind of day 🙂

  • Jessica
    Reply

    🙌🏻🙌🏻 This post hit me. Thank you so much for sharing, one of my favorites!

  • Jenna
    Reply

    I couldn’t agree or resonate more with this post. As a Christ-follower and new blogger myself, my goal is definitely to make sure I balance the business and career side of things with making sure it aligns with my faith as well. I 100% want to make sure my content is real and authentic and for the people who don’t know me personally that follow me and read my posts, I want it to be apparent that Jesus is a part of my life. Thank for this and it’s nice to hear from someone else who is struggling with this too! You’re doing a great job!

  • Savannah
    Reply

    Olivia,
    Love this post! I completely understand that it’s hard and vulnerable for you to put yourself out there while also being a Christian woman when were at the height of telling women to ‘be yourself’ or ‘express yourself’ or basically ‘do whatever you want’ to be taken seriously, noticed, etc. You’ve always had just the right amount of class and sass and I know you’ll continue to do so!!

  • Amber Sweet
    Reply

    Thank you so much for being so brave and posting this! I wish that every young woman could read it. That they would know that it is okay to make mistakes on social media, do some soul searching, and say “you know this isn’t right for me anymore.” I cannot imagine being a blogger where thousands of people watch what you post everyday but I’m here to tell you, thank you. Thank you for leaping out in faith and sharing something so personal that each woman experiences online. I can’t wait to see what God does through you with your platform. Xoxo

  • Rachel Perez
    Reply

    This is such a great share! Whether it’s fashion or another industry, many of us relate with the struggle of being stuck between two worlds. Really appreciate your courage with this and the willingness to live at a different standard.

  • Shanna D
    Reply

    Olivia, this was such an encouraging post! I was just processing purpose and my career and this was so thoughtfully written and encouraged me to be more intentional about shifting my perspective at work (I am an attorney) and to find ways to serve others even if it means just having a better attitude. Thank you for sharing this post blessed me!

  • Corrinn McCauley
    Reply

    Thank you so much for sharing your journey Olivia ! I am studying public relations and interning at a bridal magazine where I spend a lot of time on social media and browsing lifestyle content. I love fashion and lifestyle, but as I’m developing my skills and determining what kind of career I hope to have, I often wonder where my place as a a Christian woman is within the highly materialistic fields I’m pursueing. Reading your blog and watching you navigate these two worlds inspires me that I too can find my place.

  • Hallie
    Reply

    Olivia,
    You are an absolute inspiration. I’m not going to lie i’ve been struggling with this as well. As someone in vocational ministry but also having a passion and dream to inspire and help others through social media, I have been discourage time and time again by the enemy,
    I have believed that they cannot coincide or thrive without sacrificing the other. THAT IS SO WRONG! The Lord places desires and dreams on our hearts and the more we chase after being like Him, the more those dreams will coincide with His will for us. I believe you are doing a truly incredible job seeking after Him and admitting when you make mistakes.
    Just know that because of the sacrifice Jesus made for us, that God will endlessly give you His grace and mercy. Please don’t stop seeking this dream of yours, the Lord is using you in the greatest of ways!
    Blessings!

  • Stephanie Leslie
    Reply

    This! This was such an encouraging post and such a beautiful way to use your platform to be authentic, vulnerable, and to spread the truth and light of Christ. Thanks so much for sharing. Thoroughly enjoyed it. 🙂

  • Wennie
    Reply

    Liv, thanks so much for sharing the struggle and for your courage to address the bikini photo. I’ve been following you for a while, so I know exactly which picture you’re talking about. I remembered as much as I like that shot I was confused by your motive to post it. This post is so encouraging, we as Christians fight the same battle whatever fields of work we’re in. Thanks for the reminder!

  • Ashley
    Reply

    Favorite post to date!!

  • Tori Friedman
    Reply

    I’m SO SO SO happy and overjoyed to read this! It reminds me of Romans 12:2. My heart is so happy. Thank you for your boldness and for spreading your light.

    To answer one of your questions in the post: I try to just glorify God in everything I do everyday. And thanking Him for any everything. When I get in my car, I praise Him for my car. When I call my mom, I praise Him for giving me her 🙂

    I’m so excited for the future fullness of your blog and content. Thank you for sharing your heart!

  • Heather
    Reply

    Absolutely my favorite post of yours. Thank you for being so open and using your platform to share the love of Jesus.

  • Laura
    Reply

    Your content is amazing but your heart is gold!! Thank you for this! I’m a blogger also and lived in NYC for four years, while there were so many highs, inevitably it came with some lows. I’m so happy you have this blog as an outlet especially during those times. One thing I do, is say “okay you can’t post a photo until you’ve done your devotion.” And that has helped me so much as well as give me caption inspiration 🙂 Hope this helped and again thank you so much for this and being you!

  • Sarah Ferguson
    Reply

    Olivia, THANK YOU for sharing this. Reading this and knowing your values is a breath of fresh air in the world we live in. I am grateful to have women like you to follow that know the value of keeping the Lord present in your life and it reminds me that we should be proud about our faith and be open about that part of our life. I have always enjoyed following you but your transparency about your faith has made it that much better. So glad you shared, keep on shining!

  • Maddie Hammond
    Reply

    Olivia,

    I have been looking forward to this post since you mentioned on your IG story that you were posting it. How I see it is that God has exceedingly blessed you with an amazing platform to share with others how He is working in your life. Thank you for taking the road less traveled, and being that extra push that we need to do the same. In the end, it will only lead to more joy and glory in His name.

    Thank you for sharing your heart!

  • Lauren LeBlanc
    Reply

    Olivia!!!! This is one of of the many reasons that I love following along with you so dearly! You are such a beautiful soul. Keep being an inspiration!!

  • Brianna
    Reply

    Thank you so much for sharing! You can keep in mind that I will always follow you no mater what you post, I like who you are as a person and that’s all that matters to me 🙂
    Brianna | http://briannamarielifestyle.com/

  • Jean
    Reply

    Olivia,

    I love this post!! I first knew about you from the Create and Cultivate Chicago conference last summer (August 2018). Thank you for being honest about your faith! I think it’s amazing and bold for bloggers to openly share their faith. I am a Christian as well, and I want to be able to share openly about my faith like you do. I think it would be amazing if there is some sort of community for Christian bloggers. It could really make an impact!

  • Kyla
    Reply

    Olivia,
    I came across your blog from another blogger I follow, karlierae, she posted that you had written this blog topic and I knew I had to check it out. I have wanted to start a blog/share my love for the beauty industry but have always had this little voice saying that “that’s not Christian” or it’s too materialistic. So I’ve never really pursued it for the exact reasons you talk about in your post. I want to thank you. For being brave enough to write this, for speaking truth, and for showing me that the two worlds can exists together. The Lord needs us in every area of life to be the light for others. May he receive the glory for everything we do. I’ll definitely be following you, and your journey and pray that the Lord strengthens you and helps you achieve the balance you are striving for.
    Kyla.

  • Kristen Dawn
    Reply

    Love this! Appreciate your boldness with your faith!

  • Mariah
    Reply

    I love this! I am so glad you shared some of the things you’ve been feeling and contemplating. We all struggle and we all fall short and fail but it’s how we respond when we realize we have that matters. Thank you for sharing and encouraging everyone else to keep themselves in check too!

  • Ashlee
    Reply

    I absolutely love this. Thank you for being so real about this! I admire what you do, and your blog is one of my favorites to read, and to read about your faith is awesome in addition to all the other cool posts you have! Thank you again!!

  • Sue
    Reply

    Amen to your blog post. I LOVE that you talked about your faith !! The older I get , the more I realize what is most important !! JOY!! Jesus – Others -You !!!! In a social media driven world it is very refreshing to know there are people out there like you who “get it”. Keep being the beautiful person you seem to be — INSIDE AND OUT!! ❤️ I hope to run into you sometime in NY or at the Veuve Polo Match again !!

  • Dayna
    Reply

    Olivia, this post is so incredible! Thank you for being vulnerable and striving to be such a wonderful, open example of being a woman of faith first in a world when it’s often hard to do so. As a small lifestyle blogger, I often struggle with comparison and feeling as though I’m not doing well enough. I have to remind myself my identify is in Christ, and that I am more than enough in His eyes – the only place it matters. Love following you and would love to see more faith content – it’s so raw and it’s you!

  • Jen
    Reply

    I have followed you for a long time. I always admired you for sense of fashion and boldness. Olivia, my admiration for you just went boundless (like His love for us). You are bold and brave–Thank you so much for this message. You have touched lives with your witness and honesty. Keep up the GREAT work.

  • Joy Quint
    Reply

    Thank you so much for sharing Olivia, God has really been glorified by this post.
    As a young woman, seeing woman embrace God and his love for us is more than I can ever imagine seeing in these times we are living in. You are so Blessed.

  • Stig
    Reply

    Hi Olivia!
    What a brave post!! Thank you for sharing. I just started blogging after I switched from being pre med after a brain injury. I hesitated because I had always felt called to serve, especially in medicine specifically, and switching to a potentially “superficial” area was concerning. Would I be able to make the world better by blogging about fashion?
    There was a list of soul-searching happening. I realized that, like almost anything in life, it’s about how you do what you do.
    I’m Catholic (although extremely liberal, so I think some folks would say I’m not a “real” catholic, but whatevs) and have always been spiritual. I feel that the most important thing is to simply treat people (including yourself) as Jesus would have. Full stop. That is the greatest service we can do. Everything else comes second.
    So for me, I try to see the people behind the fashion. Who are they and what drives them? How is what they do an expression of their God-given passion? Perhaps this is the Catholic in me, but beauty in any and every form is a gift. I see YOU expressing that so wonderfully in your writing, in how you interact with your readers, and the visuals on your blog. THANK YOU for what you do!

  • Leah
    Reply

    Your wisdom is really showing out this 2019! I have always been a huge fan, but I really like this Olivia. I think you are doing a wonderful job balancing faith and career, and it sounds like Alicia is a good friend to keep around to help with that! I am inspired by your transparency and if anyone gives you crap, let me know. I am cheering for you!

  • Libier Reynolds
    Reply

    Oh, my word!!! You just wrote everything that I’ve been feeling just now. I just found you on instagram and was so captivated by your exterior beauty. Then I caught a glimpse of your heart for Jesus and I could see why you glow with so much beauty. Thank you for who you are. Just thank you for being you and being brave and courageous. I needed to read this today. -Libier

  • Gretchen
    Reply

    Wow.. this is probably my favorite one you’ve ever posted. I LOVE the idea of bringing more of your faith into blogging!

  • Adeline Almendinger
    Reply

    This is an amazing post! I can connect with this on so many levels as a merchant. I have always grown up in a home with such a strong faith and I have felt myself tested at times when material things can stand in the way. This post is something that truly spoke to me and I love every word of it.

  • Shaylene
    Reply

    Okay obsessed with this post. It resonates so much with me. I think about how I have started my blogging career. I don’t know if I even consider myself a blogger but this would be the industry i’m trying to make a name for myself in but really it’s all wellness and spiritually related. I struggle sometimes with the whole insta fame girls who are literally all the same with their skimpy outfits and worshipped by followers. It’s not who I am nor will it ever be but I do struggle with thinking my content isn’t enough and you speaking the truth of all this is amazing. So thank you for sharing 🙂

  • Huong
    Reply

    Oh Olivia, I JUST discovered you and the funny thing is, I feel the same exact way. These lines: “It’s easy to get a little lost when hours of my day are spent on social media where materialism thrives, comparison is unavoidable, and the more edgy the content the better it performs. I’ve always viewed fashion as an expression of creativity and to me it’s never been about vanity or having the latest and greatest. Yes, I love beautiful outfits and interiors, but there’s also the Olivia who hibernates at home in the same Arizona Tea sweatshirt 3 days a week and writes and listen to podcasts to escape from all the fluff – and I love that life too.” totally speak to me. We could be sisters from another mister, haha!

    I’m sure what you’ve said is why I feel like I’m struggling being a blogger because I’m trying to find that balance. Sometimes, I think to myself, “How can I show others Jesus when I LOVE fashion, but without coming off like I’m materialistic?”

    I haven’t LOVED a blog post in a long time, but THIS. This blog post speaks volumes on how I’ve been feeling lately and serves as a guide that women like us aren’t alone. I will say that Christian women pursuing a career in fashion and beauty is very much needed. If you think about it, we’re part of the entertainment industry and this world can be our ministry. Thanks so much for sharing. I will be hitting that follow button over on Instagram, fellow sister! xo

    She Sweats Diamonds

  • Jessica
    Reply

    Beautiful! We need more God EVERYWHERE. I too, am going through the same right now. Also, I began following you not knowing you were from Granger – I live in South Bend 🙂 Love your posts, especially this one.

  • Anam Masih
    Reply

    This is so moving! Thank you for sharing your perspective when it comes to being an influencer! You are one person that I look up to and an influencer I take to heart when it comes to life, faith (being a Christian girl too), and just being myself! And I know you’re not perfect and I’m definitely not perfect either and we will disappoint or fail each other sometimes but it’s by the grace of God that keeps us grounded, loving others, and forgiving others! Thank you thank you thank you for inspiring me and motivating me to keep sharing my life on Instagram and YouTube. Baby steps and always learning lol 🙂 🖤

  • Robin Carnett
    Reply

    I just now read this post even though you posted it a year ago. Just excellent. Thank you for being so transparent. I used to have a blog—I let it fade away a few years ago—and feeling like it’s time to start blogging again. Thanks for letting your light shine.

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Start typing and press Enter to search