3 Years in the Biz

I am SHOOK. Tararrized formerly the Daiquiri Diaries turned 3 about a week-ish ago. Whoa! I created this blog, three years ago, as a means of escapism during my hectic nursing career and at the time, getting my master’s in nursing – to maintain my creative self. I often found myself so wrapped up in my job and school that I was losing some of the best parts of me that loved to embrace motivating others around me with words and fashion. What better way to do that than within a blog?

I rebranded to Tararrized at the end of 2018 to reshape the vision and attitude driving the blog. I realized I had been playing it safe and conforming to some preconceived notion of what bloggers should be and was severely limiting myself of the possibilities I could produce. I was over trying to fit the mold and yearning for RewardStyle recognition – because at the time, that’s what I thought would make me successful and what it meant to be “an it girl.”

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If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the past three years, it’s that recognition by some platform that has never once embraced me – or even a truly diverse array of bloggers -is a garbage way of defining myself and success. I’ve always been one to stand up for the underdog, strives for acceptance of anyone and everyone, and boldly speaks her mind without fear of differing opinions. Letting go of trying to be like everyone else has been the most freeing experience within this “blogging” world and opened up the door for some of my most cherished content throughout the past year.

It took it a step further this year by unfollowing a LOT of local and non-local bloggers I was following simply because I thought they were successful. Don’t get me wrong, I know a lot of bloggers/influencers who are amazing people who I love and adore for a variety of reasons, BUT there are many, many, many who have gotten too big for their britches. Where is the humble pie – servings all around please! When people start treating others less than, feel entitled to free everything bc of # of followers, are too good to respond to DM’s, have zero regard for the environment (like trampling poppy fields for the sake of pictures), or are so tone deaf when it comes to their privilege…. I just can’t. That might lose me some followers but I’m totally okay with that. A couple of months ago I saw a chic on IG taking a picture in Sam’s Club for some sponsored product post – and she seriously got mad that others were walking around her to do their actual shopping. She then proceeded to film it and discuss on her stories – and then made a remark about how they probably didn’t even speak English because they were speaking to each other in another language. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? It’s “influencers” like her that embarrass me and make everyone else seem as vapid as her. Gross gross gross.

While this blog has turned into a “business” in some ways – I still view it as my source of talking to people, directly or indirectly, and sharing things I love whether it’s sponsored or not. I am so thankful to have the opportunity and resources to create something I cherish so much – and the ability to talk to so many people I never would have otherwise met. People talk about the influencer bubble eventually bursting – but I don’t think that will be the case. I do think it’s morphing over time to make way for people of color, people with voices, and people who give a damn about every. single. follower who chooses to support them.

So I leave you all with this little nugget or two of inspiration that has guided me particularly over this past year and ask you one thing: what have you learned from blogging (if you’re an influencer) or what questions do you have altogether?