She was worth the move home

I get asked all the time if I miss living in New York City and if it was worth it to move back home. New York City was magical and amazing. And I miss working with the caliber of people I had encountered at Parsons and in the fashion industry. But life isn't about being stationery, and my time there was coming to a close. If Blake Emery had not made her debut on June 29, 2009 I may have stuck it out for a few more years, but my heart belongs in the desert of Arizona. And now that I am home I am completely and utterly happy with my decision. To miss one moment of this little tyke growing up would be heart breaking. I adore my niece, my sister and the friends I have here. Both my parents are gone, so it is important for me to be near the people who are left in my life.

There will be moments of wishing I could run to a certain vendor in the fabric district, eat at a certain cafe or visit with certain NYC friends. But overall it isn't enough to be miles away from the life that I had built here before I headed off to Parsons.

So to New York City, you are incredible, you gave me the confidence to realize I can accomplish anything I have set my heart on -- because I checked off several huge goals just by living there, graduating from Parsons and getting into Henri Bendel. And to Blake Emery I would do just about anything for you. You are loved, adored and I am honored to be able to watch this incredible process of watching a little baby grow up into what she will grow up into....

PS. That is Mia Jordan in the picture. Erika's precious baby and one of Blake's BEST friends :-)

Baby Posh Prepsters

100% Sure

People are constantly asking me if I miss New York City, and if I am happy with my decision to move back home to Arizona. I can say with 100% certainty that I made the right decision to move home. I am soo happy right now, I feel like I am in my element and things are falling into place like I would have never imagined.

I have grappled with the issue of East Coast/West Coast since the day I arrived in New York 4 years ago. New York was an adventure that I always wanted to experience, but it was never home. I am a south-west girl through and through and that never changed while living in Manhattan.

Parsons, working in the fashion industry, the thrill of living in the West Village, my fabulous roomates and celebrity friends was all an absolutely incredible ride. However, deep down inside I knew it would someday need to wrap up because I missed the calm and wholesomeness of Arizona and my old life too much. The four years of living in New York, I never lost touch with my Arizona friends and of course family -- and I constantly felt like I had put my life on "Pause" to experience New York and I was aching to hit "Resume" on my old life.

Earlier this year, as well as a year ago, I wanted to move home, but than I changed my mind and decided to stay in New York because I felt I still had things to accomplish in the big apple, but this time things are different. This time I am no longer on the fence and I have no qualms about leaving the vibrant, sparkling city for something slower paced and not quite as frantic.

Yes, Blake Emery, my adorable niece is a huge factor as to why I moved home. Spending time with her and my wonderful sister is priceless and all the success and splendor of New York could never make up for that. But Arizona also affords a lifestyle that New York could never give me.

I had a lot of email exchanges with my friend Ryan Hyland, as the issue of moving back west started to weigh heavily on my heart. Ryan said something about just having the Faith to follow my heart and to see what unfolded if I just made the leap. And then one of my now fashion mentors, Tracey Martin (Baby Butter Clothing) told me "The Business Is You! Not where you reside!"

Those two ideas stuck in my head. And I am seeing how absolutely true they both are! My business is taking off in ways I could never have imagined and it does not matter where I am, because I am the business, not the city I reside in. And God is faithful when you are faithful to Him. I am surrounded by super creative people and artistic projects ( in the past I was leary of moving home because I was afraid of living a "Vanilla-White-Rice" life as compared to what I had in NYC). And now that is anything but true....God has laced my life with creativity and fantastic people who I couldn't be more happy to collaborate and surround myself with.

I am so happy, so certain and so excited to be back home :-) I'll always remember New York, but the sun has set on that chapter...and of course the sun is still shining in Arizona...as is Blake Emery...