First Post Jitters & Finding My Footing

Okay, wow. Hi. I’m Mandy. I’m sitting in a too-small coffee shop in LA, nursing an iced oat milk latte that costs way more than it should (thanks, inflation), and I’m typing my first-ever blog post. And honestly? I’m nervous. Not just because putting yourself out there is terrifying, but because… where do I even start?

I’m 22, a fashion design student with more Pinterest boards than sense, and I’m constantly oscillating between “I’ve got this” and “What am I even doing with my life?” Classic early-20s crisis, right? But here’s the thing—I’m trying to embrace the mess. The awkward phases, the bad dates, the sewing projects that somehow turn into abstract art instead of wearable garments. It’s all part of the ~journey~ or whatever.

Right now, my brain is a Pinterest board of its own: scraps of fabric from my latest project (a dress that looked better in my head), snippets of conversations with my best friend about whether we’ll ever really feel like adults, and the nagging question of whether I should delete Hinge (again). But I’m learning that growth isn’t linear. Some days I feel like I’m killing it—styled a killer outfit, aced a project, flirted with the cute barista without stumbling over my words. Other days, I wear sweatpants to class and eat cereal for dinner.

So, here’s to beginnings. To documenting the chaos, the cringe, and the little victories. I don’t have it all figured out, but maybe that’s the point. Thanks for being here—whoever you are—while I try to find my footing.

(And yes, I did just spill coffee on my notebook. Off to a great start.)

xx Mandy