Shhh. I've Been Keeping a Secret. . .

Shhh. I've Been Keeping a Secret . . .

A lot has happened in my world over the past year. I mean a lot. More than I have said or actually written about and it all has been good. There were many blessings from my surgery last year including feeling better, being thankful for health, and much more. One of the main items from that time was deciding what I really wanted to write about. My mother was helping me out and she noticed a pattern. Once I was able to finally drink wine, she commented and asked.

"Why aren't you working and writing about more wine and food?" I didn't really have an answer. I shrugged my shoulders and we proceeded to watch every episode of Uncorked, SOMM twice, and so many other wine shows and documentaries until one day she finally said:

"Girl, are you not listening to me. I know more about wine now and I don't even drink." 

Black mothers. You gotta love them. The next few weeks passed much the same way and by the time she got her plane to fly back to Louisiana we had come up with a plan. It took little convincing the husband who has been telling me for years to figure out the wine work. "You like talking, you like people, and you love wine. It's a no-brainer." Needless to say, wine books started being delivered, classes were being taken, and certification goals were being written down. 

On a wall in my office, I wrote down tangible and finite goals. It felt really good. I reached out to my wine and food network in D.C. and everyone was helpful it was actually quite surprising. Things moves so quickly I was questioning myself. I had to admit to myself everything happening was good. And it was. I met some cool wine bloggers who encouraged me to attend a Wine Bloggers Conference in California. I attended and now here I am. During this time I also started working with a luxury travel company and that has taken me to Paris, Colombia, and the British Virgin Islands with a few more places this year.  

What about beauty? The world of beauty blogging is so different than it was 10 years ago. I no longer feel the need to buy every piece of every collection. I don't get the beauty space anymore. I just don't. My beauty palette is more discerning. Skincare and fragrance are still my first beauty loves. I will NEVER stop writing about those and go back to what I really love in beauty; the story on how the product makes me feel. Beauty is like wine. It's emotional.

I'm not an expert, but this arena of wine feels like a natural fit for me in my life and where I want to be. Beauty is a lifestyle and so is wine. Studying is fun, talking to winemakers and hearing their stories brings joy to my life. I'm trusting God and myself. The secret is out of the wine bottle and it feels good. My first exam certification exam is December 1.

Wish me luck.