This month’s topic for The Circle is the story behind your blog and blog name. Although I’ve mentioned a little bit about this before, I’ve never written a post about it. Here’s my story.
PAST
I started this blog (formerly titled Bon Chic Bon Gastronomique) in 2009 after I became completely obsessed with reading style blogs. I was also at a point in my life in which I felt lost when it came to finding a career; I was pursuing teaching but still felt like there was something missing from my life. I decided to start a blog that focused on both style and food, because those are two things I’ve always been passionate about. I’ve also always loved writing, so a blog seemed like the best way to combine these passions.
First outfit photo! (Yikes…red eyes.)
When I came up with the original name, Bon Chic Bon Gastronomique, I wanted to convey my love for style, food, and all things French. It was a play on the expression “bon chic bon genre,” or BCBG, which usually refers to preppy, “yuppie” style. I wanted my (made up and grammatically questionable) title to mean “good style, good appetite”. However, as you can imagine, typing “bon chic bon gastronomique” got quite old.
A favorite look from the archives.
PRESENT
September of last year I decided to rebrand my blog and change the name to Shea Lennon. I wanted a cleaner look with a simpler name that would always be a reflection of me. Since Shea is my first name and Lennon is my middle name (I come from a family of Beatles fans), I can’t imagine any title that would be more “me.” During my first few years of blogging, I focused mostly on style and a little on food, but as my life has evolved, so has this blog. While I still blog about both of those things, I also like to share other elements of my life, like motherhood, home projects, and books I’ve read. My blog name now allows me to continue this evolution.
FUTURE
I feel like I can’t talk about my blog’s past without thinking about where I want to go. I’ve spent some time lately thinking about the mission, vision, and goals for Shea Lennon.
VISION: to be an ambassador for the busy, budget-minded woman.
MISSION: I believe that the good life is attainable for all. I share my personal style, kitchen creations, and everyday life to inspire women to discover their own good life.
GOALS: My brain is buzzing constantly with all the things I want for this little space of mine. A few goals at the top of my list:
- Collaborate more. There are so many bloggers and brands that I’d love to work with. Put myself out there.
- Be (more) involved in my community. I’ve said it before, but Kansas City, and its blogging scene, ROCKS. While in-person networking isn’t my strong suit, again, I need to put myself (my live, real, homebody self) out there.
- Turn blog life into real life. By that, I mean that I’d like to use this space as a jumping off point to find a career that I love. Sure, I’d love to turn this into a full-time gig, but I’m not sure how I could (realistically) make that work. However, what I’ve discovered since getting back into blogging over the last couple of years is that I love to write. I need to write. Eventually, I want to turn writing from a hobby into something that pays the bills.
Linking to The Circle at In its Time.
From the archives:
- 5 years ago: making huge burritos and wearing a western-ish look.
- 4 years ago: adding a pink flower.