The Pros and Cons of Moving My Brand Overseas

Outfit Details

Red Denim Dress   /  Ribbed Top

Sunnies /  Red Mules

Rainbow Bag

Now that I'm a fully-fledged Swedish resident, I figure it's probably time for a life update. I moved here almost 4 months ago, and I can finally say that I am used to the weather, the people and the lifestyle. But I'm still struggling to figure out how my brand fits in and it's something I'm trying to figure out all the time. For those who have been following along with me for many years, you know that I live a very colorful lifestyle. I've always been inspired by colorful clothing, colorful food, colorful buildings, etc etc which show in my work. But Sweden is a whole different world, especially the small town that I have moved to. Life moves a lot slower here, and though there are many-a pastel building, things are truly different. You won't find a new craze of desserts here such as charcoal ice cream or rainbow crepe cakes. I no longer have the luxury of getting into my car and driving to places like Palm Springs, San Diego, or Vegas, which often served as backdrops for many of my photos. My new backdrops are boats, barns and dark cafes. The next biggest city is over an hour away, but the only way I can get there is if my boyfriend drives me, and, well, he's a busy guy. Craft stores here are very limited for supplies if I want to do a flat lay. Brand events are a thing of the past (pretty sure I'm the only blogger in this town so blogger events simply don't exist here). Collaborations are harder to come by (I feel like I get excluded from many collaborations now because I'm in Europe and many of the companies I used to work with are US-based only). It's been hard, not going to lie. I've had moments of being sad about what I've lost, business-wise, by moving here, and have been up at night worrying about how my brand will ever grow at this rate, and if anyone even cares anymore.

Ever since returning from Paris, though, I've sorta kinda turned a new leaf. Traveling is so therapeutic for me as it is for many people, and it really helped put things into perspective. I recently watched a travel vlog from one of my favorite bloggers, ADashofFash, who is a blogger from Amsterdam. In the short but informative video, she showed the best places to see in the city centre of Amsterdam, and it really inspired me. The reality is: I no longer live in LA, but I do live in Sweden, and Sweden is a beautiful country. The town I moved to is adorable, and will only get more fun as the weather gets warmer (and the flowers start to bloom), so why not show it off? There are so many adorable street corners, cafes, walking paths, castles.. I could go on and on. 

So that brings me to the question: How can I keep my content fresh, in a small town that doesn't have a lot "going on"? The answer is: I don't know! I'm always trying to think of new ideas. I've been toying with the idea of starting a youtube channel, but the thought of it totally overwhelms me every time I get closer to it, and I haven't yet gotten to a point of feeling "ready", so for now it's off the table again. I think the best thing I can do for myself, at this point, is to not be so hard on myself if I can't produce a new blog post every week, and f I don't have the money to travel somewhere exciting for a while. I have to just enjoy what's right in front of me, and share this amazing place even if it's in a very simple way: by photographing it, writing about it, and by continuing to be my crazy colorful self. One of my favorite quotes is by Maya Angelou and it goes, "Be a rainbow in someone else's cloud". That quote right there is the perfect example of why I do what I do. I love nothing more than to bring my love for color and fun into people's lives, and I hope that I can continue the same even though my lifestyle has changed so drastically.

And here is where I need your help: What would you love to see more of from me on the blog and on instagram? Does a YouTube channel interest you or would you rather just watch an Instagram story? Do you want to learn more about the Swedish culture? If so, in what way(s)? Let me know in the comments below!