You guys, I did it! I am finished with my undergrad education in the Science of merchandising apparels and textiles at UK. I graduated cum laude, and somehow I ended this semester with all As!  The past three and a half years at this university were the absolute best. I made so many amazing memories, created lifelong friendships, and most importantly grew academically, professionally, and mentally. I didn’t expect to be emotional, but I am. I found my true self while at the University of Kentucky. Obviously college is about receiving an outstanding education. However, throughout these past few years I realized that it's so much more than that. I grew up in every way possible and I’m proud of the woman I am today. While at UK I was able to explore, research, and learn about every facet of the merchandising and fashion industry. This is especially because we were required to partake in an internship to graduate, which led me to Kleinfeld Bridal in New York City. It was the time of my life and I'm thankful the program pushed us to get real world experience. I never had any issues with my professors,  and my advisor welcomed me into her office with open arms whenever I needed her. The faculty of the merchandising program are personable, and truly cared about my education and experience at UK.

I want to thank my parents, and my two sisters for being the BEST support system in the world. Not every parent would be excited about their daughter wanting to pursue a career in the fashion industry, but my parents believed in me and my passion, and for that I will forever be grateful. To my sisters: thank you for supporting me even when I didn’t feel confident in my own abilities. You all are a huge reason as to why I keep pushing for success. I can’t name everyone individually, but every family member and close friend was a vital component in me graduating. So thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Now moving on to an even more exciting topic. So even though I’m finished at the University of Kentucky, I’m not quite done yet... In January I will be moving to Milan, Italy to study at Nuova Accaedemia di Belle Artie, an art and design school. Studying at a school solely for art, design, and fashion is something I’ve always talked and dreamed about, but never thought I’d actually be able to do. I will be taking courses like fashion styling and design, and I am over the moon that I get to focus on my passion and take classes I truly enjoy. I’ve been getting a tad bit anxious recently because my departure is sneaking up on me. But after graduating and feeling so much love and support from family and friends, I am ecstatic.

Again, thank you to everyone who took part in my collegiate journey and who attended my graduation ceremony and party. I have never felt so loved! Last but certainly not least, thank you to all of you guys: my readers. You all have been a huge part of my college career as well. This blog has been a creative outlet for me since high school and the fact that you all are still reading and supporting, makes me happier than you’ll ever know. I am going to try my hardest to keep up with this site throughout my journey in Italy. Until then, enjoy these moments from my graduation day!

Happy December! I'm FINALLY back and I am so excited. I sincerely apologize for being MIA for so long. When I tell you life has been hectic, it's a major understatement. But as the semester is winding down, I was able to set some time aside to update you all as best as I can!

As many of you know, I lived in New York City this past summer for an internship at Kleinfeld Bridal. I wanted to blog my whole experience while I was there, however, working 40 hours a week at the salon, and running around the city with my girls kept me pretty busy. Regardless of how exhausted I was 24/7, it was the most amazing and beneficial experience of my life and I wish I could relive it every summer. I gained so much knowledge and experience, met so many beautiful people, made life-long friendships along the way, and had the honor of asking brides the famous question, "Are you saying yes to the dress?!" on a daily basis. Not to mention all of the gorgeous gowns I got to try on! (I may or may not know what designer I will be getting my future wedding dress from)! It truly was a life-changing experience and I'm blessed to be able to say I was one of the few chosen to participate in this internship. Not only did I get to work alongside world renown wedding gown designers and amazingly talented bridal consultants, I was able to fulfill a life-long dream: live in New York City. Working and living in the fast-paced atmosphere of NYC helped me understand what it's like to be apart of the fashion industry. I am more passionate and dedicated than ever before, and I cannot wait to dive into my career after I graduate. If you'd like to see pictures from my summer in the city, head to my Instagram, @emma_kayyy.  It was truly a once in a lifetime experience, and I will forever cherish my time at Kleinfeld.

Fast forward to present day. I am now a senior at the University of Kentucky and am so close to the finish line! Soon I will be graduating with a degree in fashion merchandising! The past 4 years at UK have been incredible. I'm sad to be leaving and closing this chapter of my life, but I'm thrilled to get my career started and begin the next chapter. I still am working at Evereve, and was promoted to lead stylist and merchandiser. With that being said, I'm working a lot more than I used to. Therefore, taking 18 hours this semester, working almost every day, my social calendar, and traveling, there left me absolutely no time to set aside for my blog. I can't promise weekly posts, or even every other week. I still have a lot going on, and my schedule stresses me out just thinking about it!  However, I'm going to try my hardest to get this up and running again.

This blog has been a creative outlet for me since I was a senior in high school and I miss it. I'm eager to begin this journey again and take you all with me on all of my adventures. I have some really big things planned for 2019 and my goal is to document it. Sharing my experiences with my readers is so rewarding, so thank you for following along. I hope you all missed me as much as I missed you. Cheers loves!