UncategorizedMy Promises to You and an Announcement March 21, 2014I know it’s been a little silent around here this week. I’m so sorry for that you guys! I had planned to post this on Tuesday and have been working around the clock (very literally) preparing to submit my first project for Creating with the Stars. I know this contest is taking me away from you guys a bit right now, but trust me, it’s temporary. I still have some big exciting posts planned that will go up during this time, but I will be around a little less. But as soon as it’s behind me (thought I’m really trying to have fun and enjoy it), you know I’ll be back up and running like normal. It actually fits in perfectly with what I’m talking about today! I’m going to get to the survey results, but first, I have a big announcement that I’ve been anticipating for a while. And it completely goes along with all of these lovely results. As of June, I will be a… I’m almost shaking as I type that because it’s so exciting. Before I even started White Buffalo was still at my little personal turned DIY blog, I dreamed of this. And I never knew if I’d be able to type those words! First and foremost, I have to say a huge, heartfelt, weepy thank you to you guys. You who come here each day and read and engage. You’ve made this possible for me and I am so grateful. There are so many factors behind this decision, but it basically sums up to one thing. The blog requires full-time hours now. Full-time hours and I’m still not able to tackle what I’d like! But I can no longer balance blogging and teaching. I had to choose one or the other. While I’ve loved teaching high school students and will miss them so much, we really feel this is where God is leading us. This blog has become my passion. Y’all know I’m a self-proclaimed dreamer. When I was in high school, I would take these long walks with my mom and dad talking about life and what my dream career was that week. I wish I had a complete list of all of the things I dreamed of being. Here’s a little range for you. For a while, I wanted to either be a cardiologist or a pediatrician. Then I wanted to be an editor of a fashion magazine. Then I was going to be a lawyer. Then I was going to move to California and try acting. It was a long list. But I’ll never forget to what my dad said to me on one of those walks. Great advice, right? Well, that’s what I set out to do. There were many days in my adult life when I wasn’t sure I would ever find that. Sure, I’ve liked many of my jobs. But something I would do for free? That’s a little different. And I feel so blessed that after a lot of soul searching and a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, I found it. If you’ve been around here for a little bit, you know that White Buffalo started with a prayer, “Bless it or take it away.” And I’m grateful that God keeps blessing it. While it makes for a crazy spring, it’s pretty cool that God provided some huge opportunities leading up to me doing this full-time. We prayed so much about this decision and right after we prayed one time, I got the e-mail about Home Depot Style Challenge. We finally realized we had to trust and just do it. I put in my resignation last week and found out a few days later that I was a contestant on Creating with the Stars. It’s just pretty cool confirmation for us and I had to share. So. Me blogging full-time leads right into the survey results because I will actually be able to tackle some of these things now! First of all, thank you to all of you who took the survey! I can’t tell you how much your participation and words meant to me. Seriously, y’all know how to make a girl feel good! Reading these survey results was so much fun. I cried at your sweet, heartfelt words. I laughed out loud. At several points, I literally yelled, “What an awesome idea!” You guys inspired me. So, I decided the best way to sum up what I learned from the survey and what that means for us here is to make some promises to you guys. So many of you talked about one of the main reasons you come here and read is my personal voice. And that touches my heart. Several of you voiced kind concerns about me switching to a more professional styling blog format. You were afraid that it would lose my personal touch and voice. Do not worry, friends. I will never let that happen. While there are some changes to make and I want to be more professional in many areas, that doesn’t include becoming a professional site with a faceless author. Nothing wrong with sites like that, but one of my favorite parts of this is getting to have a conversation with you through the blog. One of my favorite parts of this survey was realizing that y’all had the same vision for White Buffalo as I do. I mentioned in my survey post that I would be altering the content some. My plan for that (pre-survey) was to focus strongly on two things: 1.) Home Styling – I want to bring a lot more content in the form of home styling. I’ll be talking about how to find your style, how to style certain areas, the list goes on and on. 2.) DIY – I want to do a lot more simple home DIY tutorials. And y’all overwhelmingly agreed! Almost 95% of you said that home styling and home DIY were your favorite posts and that you wanted more. That will remain my focus. Don’t misunderstand me. I can’t please everyone. But I noticed something really interesting in the survey results. Nearly all of you wanted more home styling and more DIYy. But the other categories, were all about the same. Somewhere between 30-50% of you want more party, more fashion, more soul ponderings, more family, more trend spotting, literally everything on the list. There wasn’t one area that you guys overwhelmingly don’t want. So what that confirms is that while my focus is home styling and DIY, I will continue to mix in these areas. They won’t be the focus, but I love them and many of you do too. So, they will continue. It blew me away that the majority of you asked for MORE! Y’all want more posts, more often, more content. I am so touched/flattered/excited that you guys love what we’re doing so much that you say “GIVE US MORE!” I’m not making crazy promises like I will post three times a day, but when I’m doing this full-time, I will be able to provide more content. This will be great for the types of content I mentioned above. I will bring in other sub-categories and if that isn’t your thing, check back because some home styling and DIY will be close behind! And with the new layout, it’ll be really easy for you to go to the categories you specifically love and see that type of content. I know there will be busy times like with this contest, but you will be able to count on more content usually being on the site. I just ask for flexibility and grace during those few busy times that may come π Hopefully, they’re just bettering the White Buffalo! Several of you gave me some good advice in the survey. You said your opinion, but then said, “It’s your blog, so ultimately do what you want!” And I love that. That’s exactly how I feel. The survey wasn’t intended to find out what you guys want and then do it at all costs. Do I want to please you guys and have you stay around? Of course!!! Do I hope to meet your needs and wants? Yes! But ultimately, I promise to never post anything that isn’t me. I promise to never share one single thing that I’m not totally in love with. I promise that I will work hard to share my heart and home with you guys every day in an honest way. And I promise that if I feel strongly about posting something, I will post it regardless because that’s being true to myself and I believe we are given convictions and ideas for a reason. I will be me. *** I’m still sorting through some of the other results and am not ready to make any promises on them yet. But one thing that blew me away was y’all’s overwhelming response to a shop! Y’all seriously want a White Buffalo shop! That idea is second to my content here, but I am definitely open to that and will start to explore it. If anything happens on that front, y’all will be the first to know! And our World Market gift card winner is Liz. Congratulations! An e-giftcard is coming your way! *** Happy weekend, y’all!
Jessica Hightower says March 21, 2014 at 1:58 pm Lindsay– I am soooooooo unbelievable happy for you! While reading this blog post, I didn’t know whether to jump up and down while clapping like an excited 5-year-old, or shed a few happy tears–so I did both! <3 Like many others, I have been following your blog for quite some time now; you could say I'm addicted to The White Buffalo! Just the other day, I told Jason I wish you could be one of those people who blogged full-time! π May God to continue to bless you and lead you to your calling! Forever A Groupie, Jessica Reply
Lindsay says March 21, 2014 at 2:26 pm Jessica, on my goodness, you are so sweet! Thank you for your sweet words and support!!! Reply
Kimm at REINVENTED says March 21, 2014 at 2:11 pm A huge CONGRATS and a big virtual hug to you! You are living my dream too so I wish you all the success in the world while I keep working on mine! :). Love the prayer, “bless it or take it away.” Can’t wait to follow along on this journey with you. Reply
Lindsay says March 21, 2014 at 2:26 pm Thank you Kimm! White Buffalo is definitely still a work in progress and this isn’t the finish line, but the beginning! It’s a risk to give up my full-time income for it, but we really are trusting and feel led that this is the right move π Reply
Kayla @ KR Dixon Designs says March 21, 2014 at 2:24 pm So excited for you!!! What an awesome testament to your prayer “bless it or take it away”. God has really blessed it and showed you along the way!! Reply
Lindsay says March 21, 2014 at 2:25 pm Thank you Kayla!!! It amazes me to look back at the last six months and just see His huge fingerprint on it all! Reply
Jenn @ HomeStyleReport says March 21, 2014 at 2:25 pm I’m so happy for your Lindsay! You’ve done such an amazing job with White Buffalo, you deserve all the greatness that is coming your way! I can’t wait to see what the future holds for you! Reply
Gabbi @ Retro Ranch Reno says March 21, 2014 at 2:31 pm Oh my goodness…what FANTASTIC news!!! I’m so very happy for you and wish you all the success in the world. You were made to do this! π Reply
Jenn @ My Fabuless Life says March 21, 2014 at 2:44 pm Congratulations!! How exciting and well-deserved! Your style is AMAZING. Can’t wait to see what happens when it becomes full time! Reply
Rachel Knowlton says March 21, 2014 at 3:02 pm Congrats, Lindsay!!!! So exciting that it’s official!!! Love your dad’s quote too π Reply
Brandyn | Southern Distinctions says March 21, 2014 at 3:53 pm Congratulations! I wish you the best during this transition and look forward to seeing all the great things to come in the future! Reply
Beth says March 21, 2014 at 4:12 pm Congrats on a huge decision!! I know you have found your calling! Reply
Julia@Cuckoo4Design says March 21, 2014 at 7:22 pm Oprah said the same thing! You know you are in the right profession if you would do it for free! Congrats Reply
Jennifer @ Brave New Home says March 21, 2014 at 7:39 pm Wow, congrats, Lindsay! That’s wonderful news. I’m so excited for you and the new direction of your blog. If you’re able to accomplish all this while working full time I can’t wait to see what happens when you have more time to dedicate to your blog. Reply
Summer Hogan says March 21, 2014 at 7:49 pm I am so so happy for you Lindsay and I am so proud of you! I know this was your hope and dream and I am glad it is coming true. I hope I can do this along side of you one day π You truly deserve it and I know you have worked so hard in such a short about of time. I often pray that same prayer and the fire always seems to be fueled more towards this so I am sure that is how you feel. I admire your faith to take the leap and I know it will payoff for you tremendously! Can’t wait to wait to see all the things you are going to do! Reply
Jennifer@The Chronicles of Home says March 22, 2014 at 6:38 am You’re such a sweetheart, Lindsay. I’m so happy for you that you’re able to do this! Reply
caroline [the diy nurse] says March 22, 2014 at 7:45 am So happy that you are following your dreams! What an amazing feeling that must be π Reply
Carole @ Rustic Artistry says March 22, 2014 at 10:41 am Doesn’t it feel liberating to get to the top of the mountain of uncertainty and see what’s on the other side? I could see you smiling as you wrote this post. Congrats and all the best as you take this blog to the next level. Reply
sharon says March 22, 2014 at 10:56 am Wow. What a moving essay. Congratulations on your decision and bestest wishes for success beyond your dreams π Reply
Steph | glitter & goat cheese says March 22, 2014 at 11:39 am Congratulations! Can’t wait to see where your amazing blog goes. π Reply
Lauren @ The Thinking Closet says March 22, 2014 at 2:26 pm Congrats again on CWTS and also on this mega huge decision to leave your teaching gig and blog full time. I have a similar story, although it was less of a choice and more of a happy accident. We moved to Florida the summer of 2012 and I could not find full time theatre teaching work, so part-time it was, which then opened up a slew of time that I devoted to starting a blog. And nearly 2 years later, it has grown into a full time job I love love love. And now I cannot imagine life without out. Which sounds a lot like where you’re at. So, go after those dreams, girl! And I know God will bless you above and beyond what you could ask for or imagine. Cheers! Reply
Charlotte@Ciburbanity says March 22, 2014 at 9:50 pm SO exciting!! Heard about your blog a little late in the game, but you’ve quickly become my ‘go to reference’ for all things blogging! Would love to grow as you have, but know what you meanβ¦ I love what I doβ¦ don’t get paid a nickel and that’s all good. π Congrats, girl!! (Now try to get some sleepβ¦) Reply
Jennifer @ Dimples and Tangles says March 23, 2014 at 10:06 pm So happy for you Lindsay that you are able to make such a huge shift! Looking forward to seeing what you have coming up. Reply
Sarah {Lacquer & Linen} says March 23, 2014 at 11:55 pm Congratulations on everything Lindsay!! You have so many exciting things on the horizon! I can’t wait to see what you create for CWTS. I know it’s gonna be fab! Reply
Anneke at This, That and Life says March 24, 2014 at 3:29 am I just love you girl! I’m so happy we were able to connect at Haven last year and to see where God has led you these past months. xoxo Reply
Shavonda@AHomeFullOfColor says March 25, 2014 at 11:09 pm woohooo! Im so happy for you Lindsay! There’s nothing better than the feeling of happiness and fulfillment. Here’s to success and joy!!! Reply
Sonya~At Home with The Barkers says March 26, 2014 at 7:52 am So excited for you Lindsay!! I can’t wait to watch all of your success! Good Luck on CWTS! Have a great week ~Sonya Reply