This blog post is a little different from most, and it is two fold (or maybe 3 or 4). I am writing this to all of you, but also as a reminder for myself. I want to be able to look back on this moment in time and never forget how I’m feeling.
I want to share a heartfelt thank you from me to you. Without you, there would be no me showing up every day and getting to do what I love!
This month I am celebrating 2 years of having this little blog of mine, and man what a journey it has been! 2018 took me to places in my business that I never truly dreamed and I’m so thankful!
A quick little background for you! I was a communications major in college and a writing minor. I have loved to write for as long as I can remember. I find it therapeutic and there’s nothing better than getting the thoughts and ideas from my head typed or written up! However, back in college I never had a dream of having a blog or being a decorator.
Yes, that’s correct. For those of you who may not know, I do NOT have a degree in design. All I have is an eye and a passion for it! This is why I always tell people, if I can learn and do it…so can you! 
I started this blog 2 years ago when things were shifting in my business and I was going from painting furniture for people to starting my local interior styling services. We were also starting to do a lot of projects around here, so I thought it would be a great way to start documenting both of those things.
I built my website/blog 100% on my own. It was BY FAR one of the hardest things I have ever done (because technology is NOT my gift). I would never do it alone again, but I’m so proud to say I did it once! Blogging is NOT an easy thing. It takes a lot of work, time and learning. There were times where I wanted to give up and I wondered if the time I spent on each post was worth it, but I kept on plugging along!
Here I am 2 years later and my blog is one of things that brings me the biggest joy in my business! I LOVE having a place to write, share, inspire and encourage all of you. Not only that, but it has grown so much that at the end of 2018 I hit 100K plus pageviews a month on my site (which is something I never dreamed I would hit).
It is because of all of you, taking the time to not only read my blog posts…but SHARING them with others that has caused this growth! So, thank you for loving me and my blog! (and my buffalo check obsession!)
As for my business in general, almost EVERYTHING about it changed in 2018. This is when I decided I wanted to be able to help ladies from ALL OVER with their homes and not just people from my own town. It started with a 6 week decorating course, which people loved and when it was over they didn’t want the community and learning to stop. That is when the Wilshire Collections Decorating Community was born!
My decorating community has been like my little baby. I’ve been loving on it, watching it grow and learning so much every step of the way. From the first 20 ladies who trusted in me from the very start, to now right around 250 ladies that I have in the group…I am thankful and blessed by each one!
I can’t wait to see how we grow this community even more in 2019. It truly has become a special little spot on the internet, and the community of ladies are AMAZING! If you are one of them and you are reading this, know that I appreciate each of you more than you will ever know! And that I’m SO proud of the progress you all are making in your homes! If you are not part of the group, maybe just maybe YOU WILL BE a part of it at some point this year! You know I would love to have you and help you.
I can’t not talk about the holidays for one quick second. The Fall is when I really started doing more of the DIY/Craft lives and I instantly loved them and so did you guys! Thank you for showing up, watching me, sharing me and loving me for exactly who I am!
That is also around the time when some of you “found me.” I will FOREVER be grateful for Brooke from Re-Fabbed for having me as a guest on her page to paint those Dollar Tree Pumpkins. She introduced me to so many new people and I really can’t thank her enough! Some of the people that came over from that live have become some of my biggest fans and supporters! Brooke and I both believe in COMMUNITY OVER COMPETITION and this is the perfect example of that.
We rocked it all fall with so many fun live craft projects and then my fall decorating group. Christmas rolled around and MAN did we have some fun then! From tons of lives, to the tree tutorial video to my Christmas group, it was so fun to see so many homes transformed so beautifully for the holidays! Seasonal stuff is my FAVORITE and I’m so glad you all love it too.
One of the other things that meant the most to me last year, was all of the kind comments and messages I got from so many of you about the way I have impacted you, changed your decorating, inspired you, given you an outlet for yourself, etc.
You guys THIS is my WHY! YOU ARE MY WHY!
It is my true passion and goal to inspire people to love their home and create beautiful spaces no matter what that looks like for each person! I hope that I’m doing just that for you.
I have so many fun things planned and in the works for 2019, and I can’t wait to continue to grow my relationship with all of you. Whether that’s on my social media pages, on my lives, here on the blog, in the decorating community, seasonal groups or ALL OF THE PLACES! I am here for you and I appreciate you being here for me!
Gosh, I could go on and on about last year. But the rest is more business related stuff that may not interest you anyways. Haha! So, I will leave it here.
And yes…I cried a little just writing this post and for those that know me well are probably not surprised. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! For 2 years of this blog, for a great 2018 and for an even BETTER 2019 ahead!
I. CAN’T. WAIT.
Much love to all of you!
Stacey
❤️
Congratulations Stacey!!!
Love your blog and you truly have a gift, thank you for sharing it with ?#ForeverFollower
#WilshireLoveAtFirstRead
Wow, that’s seriously so sweet! Thank YOU for being here!
Love everything you do Stacey! So glad I found you. Have learned so much from you. Love to craft with you and also love shopping with you. Your taste is so similar to my taste. Thank you for sharing your home with us, this is where I get a lot of my decorating ideas from to use in our home. As long as your here I will keep following you and Brooke. Best to you!
I appreciate that so much and I’m so glad you’ve been inspired! Thank you for being here!
I love watching you and Brooke looking at your home! I have always loved crafting and also love buffalo print which I taught my 9 year old granddaughter about! Tks for your live videos! There Great!
I’m so glad you love it all. Thank you!!
Stacey I am blessed to know you, and have you close not only on the map but in the heart. I wish all of your followers had the opportunity to know you and use your talent like I have. Love you… congrats on 2 great years and best wishes for strong years ahead! Your love of decorating flows tenfold!
That’s so sweet!! You are very special to me and have ALWAYS been a support and encouragement to me! Thank YOU for that sweet Linda!!
I so enjoy seeing everything you create. You are an amazing person. Thank you for helping us less creative ones.
Thank you SO much, Sue! I hope to continue to inspire you!
Stacey,
I enjoyed your blog last year so much. You are so talented and generous with all that you do. You help us so much to make our homes beautiful. I can’t wait to see what is in store for us in 2019. Wishing you much success in the coming year and I’ll be by your side all the way!!!!!!
jean
Woo-hoo! Glad to have you here for the ride! Thank you SO much!
Stacey, I discovered you when you were on re-fabbed. I love Brook too! I am a true fan of your decorating, and crafts, I could go on and on! I look forward to seeing what you have in store this Spring! I’m not rich by any means and I feel like I can change some of my decor in my house, and it’s because of you!
Yes, it doesn’t have to break the bank to make small changes! Thanks for the nice words and thanks for following along!
Sweet Stacy,
Congratulations!!!!!! Whooohooo?So so happy for you lady♥️⭐️??
I have my own business and you have been such an inspiration to me!
MaybGod continue to Bless you in 2019!
Designers from our hearts,
Susan
Oh, that’s awesome and so sweet of you! Thanks so much!
Your voice! Your style! Your kindness shining thru in everything you say and do! We all love you and need you in our lives and we are grateful you care so much about us! Thank u for being u! P.S. Whisper shopping is my favorite thing! ?
That is so nice of you! I do love whisper shopping too 🙂 Thank you so much!
I am so glad I am one of the ones that found you in the fall! I look everyday to see what you are doing! I have so enjoyed reading your posts and seeing your videos! You are a “real” person to me and I can relate with what you are spending and doing! May God continue to bless you In the years to come!
Thank you! That seriously means so much!!
Thank you so much for all you do. I’m so glad I found you through thru Brooke refabbed. I haven’t seen a video of yours I don’t like. They are all awesome and so helpful. The Christmas group was AWESOME. I learned a lot. Thank you so much for everything you do and everything you continue to do. I have an addiction and it’s decorating with you. Can’t wait to see what 2019 brings for us all
Aww, so kind!! Thanks so much and so glad you are enjoying everything!
Hi Stacey and a BIG congratulations to you on your wonderful blog, Im following along all the way from Australia. Its very clear that you love what you do and I love following you. All the best for 2019.
Jo
Wow! thank you so much for following along!
I’m so glad I found you through Brooke. I love both of you!! I love your style and LOVED how you did the Christmas group. I cannot wait to open Facebook every day to see what you have posted. You have inspired me to do so many things to my house and I’m loving it. Thank you for all you do and keep it up!! 🙂 Cannot wait to see what 2019 brings!!
This means so much!! Thank you!
Congrats Stacy on two years! I really enjoy all your posts and incredible tips on how to make anything and everything more beautiful. (And you share where and how to obtain, which is huge!) You truly do have a gift and passion for decorating and transforming our homes into beautiful places to live. Keep it up! I look forward to all you have to say and share!
Peg
You are too kind, Peggy! Thank you!