So, today my little baby, Fashion.Style.Beauty, turns two years old. Now with 955 posts, three New York Fashion Weeks, countless events and a large number of sleepless nights, here I am.  Here are ten things I’ve learned about life in the past two years, in no particular order of importance:

10) People make negative judgments on things they don’t understand. Every day I hear someone say the word “blogger” like they’re spitting something on the ground at me. People tend to make rather swift, damning judgments on things they don’t understand. I realize this is due to personal fears. It used to bother me, now I just feel sorry for people who don’t ask questions or seek further knowledge.

9) We have GOT to stop making fun of/being so mean to each other. Hear me on this: reality television is ruining our lives. We watch people say and do some of the most hurtful, hateful things and we mimic this deplorable behavior to the point where we don’t know how to be human anymore. Manners and decorum are all but dead. The culture of hatred we’re building is not a good thing. We live in the most privileged society in the world as Americans. What in the Hell are we so angry about all the time?

8 ) Beauty products can change your life. I get the power of lipstick. The right bubble bath is like a hug from God when you’re dealing with a tremendous amount of stress in your life (and it’s cheaper and safer than a glass of wine.) Caring for yourself and putting your best face forward can change your outlook on life. I write about these products because when you feel and look good, life can- and does – improve.

7) I still love fashion magazines. I will make my statement here: I love, love, LOVE magazines. I have at least ten subscriptions and I live for Robbie Meyers of ELLE, Joanna Coles of Marie Claire, Brandon Holley of Lucky and Kristin Van Ogtrop of Real Simple who are among my favorite people on Earth. These women inspire me every day. I have no intention of taking the place of a magazine. I’m a FAN, just like the rest of you.

6)Having your picture taken all the time is tougher than you think. I know that sounds obnoxious but hear me out: EVERYBODY has a bad angle (mine is a weak chin) and when you have no control over your image going out there, it’s stress-inducing to see said bad angle shot into the stratosphere. I just started wearing makeup more often out and posing unnaturally when I see a camera from Fear Of The Bad Picture.

5) Fashion is where all the misfits come together. Fashion is amusing to me because it’s like a giant gathering of all the Misfit Toys. All of us are weird, misunderstood and have at some point in our lives been ridiculed or picked on for the way we dress or express ourselves. We gravitate toward fashion because no one really understands it either, but it accepts us and we will live and die for it. Fashion is fascinating people creating beautiful things surrounded by people who guard and protect it by whatever means necessary. It’s art, plain and simple.

4) Hire slowly, fire quickly. Someone I worked with once said this to me and it’s one of the most genius things you can ever do in business and in life. It means be methodical and slow about bringing people into your life but not being afraid to remove anything or anyone from your life who isn’t a true friend and/or supporter. It works in dating, it works in business, it works in general.

3) If your name is on it, you own it. This goes from blog posts to emails to tweets to anything that bears your signature or likeness. If you send it out there with your name on it, people will associate whatever it is with you. You are everything you put out there so make sure that whatever it is, it’s deliberate. If you know you’ll have to apologize for it later, don’t do it in the first place.

2) Genuinely powerful people are not mean people. The best lesson I’ve ever learned. I’ve been exposed to people with real power and influence and I have to tell you that not ONE of them was mean, flippant or cruel to me. Individuals who use cruelty or malice to gain authority are effectively bullies and cowards. Real power is benevolent, everything else is just noise.

1) You can do anything you want with your life. Dr. Seuss said it best: “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own.  And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.”  You can do anything you want with your life. Want to become a fashion and beauty writer? Do it. Want to quit your job and go work on a cattle ranch? Cowboys are hot. Do it.  There is nothing more sad than an unanswered call to greatness. Listen: your life is speaking to you.

Most importantly, thank YOU for reading my musings about life, fashion, beauty, style and relationships. I’m getting ready to refocus some content and make it ALL ABOUT US moving forward so look for some amazing things to come your way next week.

Thank you for listening and helping me celebrate my blogaversary. It, and you, mean a lot to me. Have a cupcake and celebrate with me today, won’t you? You’re fabulous.

All the best,

Kristin Booker
Publisher/Editor-In-Chief
Fashion.Style.Beauty