Happy New Year!
Today marks the beginning of Lunar New Year festivities for many cultures, and I thought it an appropriate day to write a blog post with a wee bit of an update. I have a real love for the cultures of Asia and their various regional quirks from anime, to art, to history, and fashion, so usually join in and mark the Lunar new year in some way. This year I’ve been a little restricted due to my health, but I will try to get to the Auckland Lantern Festival if I am up to it. If not, I hear they are going to do an online version this year!!
I’ve had a relatively prosperous beginning to 2023 securing collaborations with a number of brands I love, including most excitingly some giveaways! I adore doing giveaways as it gives me the opportunity to share some great products that I love with you and give you the opportunity to try things you may not have originally gone out and purchased for yourself. Its a small way to give back. Keep your eyes peeled on my Instagram page for those giveaways!!
On that note, I’ve been very intentional about the brands I am accepting/seeking collaborations with. Firstly, I don’t want to come across like I’m trying to sell you anything and everything that anyone who has come along has asked me to promote. Sales is not my jam, it’s not what I’m about, and I’d never recommend a product I don’t think is personally right for you, I have not had success with myself in the past, or I wouldn’t use personally. It just doesn’t sit right with me. It’s not who I am. I do however love collaborating with brands I have identified as quality, value for money, provide a good service, or a solution that actually works. I wouldn’t say yes unless they provide real value. If they are small business, NZ owned, and operated by females/POC, that’s a real bonus for me as it’s the kind of businesses I really want to support. Thats who I am. There’s no better feeling than women supporting women in business.
If a product doesn’t sit right with me or I get bad vibes off the marketing team/owner, I will usually flat refuse to collab. I don’t like being taken advantage of, or pressured into something I’m not comfortable with, no matter the exposure opportunity, especially as I can be a little vulnerable at times due to my health. I also don’t want to overcommit myself and then have my health fail me. Makes sense, right?
I also don’t want to flood the feed with product after product as I want to keep my work genuine, true to myself, and have the freedom to create what I like and can achieve at that point in time… otherwise it’s just an unpaid job. It detracts from the healing nature of why I do what I do and being able to help and provide value to you.
I am also working on some resources in the background that I hope will provide guidance with getting started on the Low FODMAP diet, Getting growing, and meal planning. As well as lists of pantry and garden staples… anything and everything I can think of to share my knowledge and help you!
But I digress.
The New Year brings a few new angles to get my health back on track. I’ve been in touch with a local Gym and they are putting together a PT rehab program for me in conjunction with my physio team. My medical team have told me that I’m not allowed at the gym unsupervised so I don’t overdo it on accident/unintentionally (a-type personality) and that I’m sticking to the exact targeted rehab program. This makes sense as I don’t want to take a leap forward only to travel 9 steps back immediately. I’m quite nervous about it, but a little excited also. I desperately hope I’m able to make some ground and gain a little confidence, even if I have to start slow.
There are many exciting things in the works that I have high hopes for and simply cannot wait to share with you, and support has been coming in abundance from all angles. I am just so grateful - words really cannot express that enough. The journey so far has been amazing, and I still find it completely wild that I’ve had as much success in such a short time as I have.
Last night I met a follower in person and got introduced to a little girl as “the famous lady from Instagram”. The imposter syndrome was strong!! However, it has not been an overnight success, but something I have quietly been building up at my own pace, chipping away at, and it’s a success to me. That despite everything I have been through since March 2022, I have something that I have contributed to the world whilst being out of the workforce.
I also have big plans for the garden this year - I am just saving up $$ (and looking into sponsors!) to help me get those projects up and running. Watch this space!
To close, let me wish you all the best for a prosperous and healthy year ahead, whether that be by the lunar calendar, gregorian calendar, or whatever you hold near and dear as a tradition in your whanau.
I am always here to chat, just flick me a message on Instagram and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.
Ellen Xx