How Successful is DaniTheDreamgirl?!

I have big dreams, but I realize that I need to start small and work my way up! I’ve been a blogger for over a year now and I touched on everything I had accomplished back in August, for my 1 year anniversary. Going into 2013 is bittersweet because I haven’t accomplished everything that I wanted to, but as I look back on 2012 I have accomplished SO MUCH. So, what has changed since my anniversary post back in August?

–I’ve conducted 7 more celebrity interviews (including Jay-Z’s nephew, Mel Carter and How to Be a Player star, Mari Morrow).

-I became an official blogger for Yahoo Voices!

-My site traffic has DOUBLED!

-I now have a mentor who is a successful blogger in the D.C. area!

-This is probably the BIGGEST announcement of all…I have made the decision to phase out my WordPress.com blog site and build a brand new site that I have 100% control over. This will take some time, but in 2013 it will officially happen (fingers crossed).

It’s been a busy year for me, but I’m so blessed to have as much success as I do. I’m nowhere near where I want to be, but I have built a very strong foundation and am looking forward to the new year! I pray that everyone who is dreaming BIG is seeing success! For those who are still stuck and don’t know what they want to do in life…that’s OK. Keep pushing and trying new things and begin to turn even the smallest of dreams into a reality! Thanks for the support and the love this year; it means the world to me! 2013, here I come!

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Is it a Dream or is it Jockin’? – B.B.M.

Well helloooooooooo, world! No, I haven’t totally gotten rid of my Become a Blogger Mondays series, but you all know that I won’t write if I’m not feeling it. With that said, we can all assume that there must be SOMEthing that I’m feeling! I’ve sat back and watched and observed and pondered and…OK you get the point! I’ve just been taking note of all the brains going a million miles a minute. I’ve paid attention to those around me who are pursuing their dreams and it’s so great to see the creative wheels turning…it’s a source of inspiration for everyone when this happens.

However, I think for some it’s just a fad. Like, do you get the impression that everyone has a blog? Or a clothing line? Or they make jewelry? Or they rap? Or they sing? That kind of annoys me. It makes me wonder, are you doing this for you? Or are you doing this just because you want to be like everybody else? Or because you THINK this is how you can get rich? If it’s coming from the heart and it’s something that you genuinely love to do or you take seriously, I 100% support it, but if I get the feeling that you’re just doing it “just because” then I may give you that “look”. Follow your dreams and passions, but make them your own…add your own spin to it…be original and even when it gets hard, KEEP going…that’s how I can tell if you’re really about business or just herding with the masses.

Let others inspire you, but don’t become them! BE YOU!

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It’s Time to Get Real! F What You Think!

I’d just like to start by saying that I’m not sorry for what you are about to read. This is my blog, this is my mind and it’s every bit of my prerogative to share what I want with the world. Call it a last straw, call it the straw that broke the camel’s back, call it what you want, but that moment of clarity has arrived. When you get to the point when all you want is total and complete happiness, you are willing to do any and everything to get it, including being selfish! YUP, selfish! It’s all about me, me and me…me.

I’m at the point where I just don’t give a hoot about certain things such as:

-People who walk out of my life

-Judgmental people

-Misplaced blame

-Ungratefulness

-Being taken for granted

-DISrespect

-Immaturity

-Stupidity

I learned a very valuable lesson this past week and that is to not allow myself to be treated anything less than what I am worth, by anyone…family included. If you choose to not support me, that’s fine…different strokes for different folks, but please step aside and let’s do away with the fake smiles. If you can’t be genuinely happy for me, pack your bags, your belongings, your space, your breath and exit the building. Sometimes people put up with more than they should and they keep negativity around and they fight for something that hmmm…wouldn’t fight for them. I’m taking back control of my life, my circle, my bubble! I’m so focused, I can taste the success. I will not allow myself to be derailed. My dreams are being protected!

Thanks for reading luvs!

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Teamwork Makes the DREAM work!

Nowadays, it’s a surprise when I decide to do a personal post for my lovely readers, but I think it’s a great time to provide an update on my life! For starters, I’m taking each day as it comes and whether it’s a good or bad experience, I can take lessons from it all. My birthday came and went in a flash and although I didn’t celebrate it as I had originally planned, my family and friends managed to come together and share in my special day. For those that are not aware, I had a VERY traumatic thing happen to me and without focusing on every single, saddening detail I will just say this: A complete stranger found a way to change my outlook on life by physically harming me in a way that I had never experienced. What lessons came of it? I will never underestimate the intentions of others and I will not ASSume that all men know not to hit a woman. Another lesson? That I have some of the BEST friends and family in the world who have been helping me process everything. Constantly checking on me, being a shoulder to cry on and a set of ears to listen. My TEAM is amazing!

Despite this life-changing event, I have managed to still push forward and take small strides in the right direction. It hasn’t been easy, but what about life IS easy? With that said, I reached out to the creator of Shipwrecked on Fabulous Island and wanted to have my pictures taken (she does amazing work, check her out)…WHY? Because I’m building my portfolio for another major move that I am making, but can’t really disclose at the moment! Aside from the process of having my photos done, it was a chance for me to FEEL pretty inside and out. My CONFIDENCE was on point and it was just what I needed (FYI, the remaining photos will be published in a separate post)! As if the past few months haven’t been busy enough, I’m working on my life plan. I’ve written business plans in the past, but never a LIFE plan to map out where I am, where I want to go and where I want to end up. I will keep all of you updated on how that goes!

My goal isn’t to bore you so this is it for now, BUT it is extremely important for me to provide updates on where my journey is taking me…afterall, that is the whole premise of Danithedreamgirl.com! I’m determined to turn my DREAMS into a reality, while helping others along the way. Keeping this motto in mind, I will continue to share stories of strangers and friends alike, in order to inspire and foster a change among our generation! If you want your journey, testimony, or even career highlighted in the Dreamworld, reach out and I’d be more than happy to make it happen! Remember: TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK!

***If you are interested in having your very own photo session, please send all inquiries to danithedreamgirl@gmail.com and I will send you my photographer’s contact information. Serious inquiries only!!!***

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Let’s Help Support Someone’s Dream…Cultures Clothing

Built on a positive foundation and a goal to merge cultures together through the expression of art and design, Cultures Clothing can very well be a fashion industry change that we need. Founded by Alloyius McIlwaine, Cultures Clothing began with a dream and enough ambition to start a movement. He’s taking his talent to the next level and beginning the process of mass production. However, in order to successfully catapult his company to the next stage, WE need to step up and help! Want to know more about Cultures Clothing and their current campaign to get kickstarted? Well, here you go:

What is Cultures Clothing?

Cultures Clothing is a line that uses art and fashion to show that all cultures have something beautiful or interesting about them. The line is representative of high fashion, urban wear, and everything in-between for Men, Women, and Children. Cultures Clothing also features aspects of society’s sub-cultures in its products…because your environment has just as much to do with who you are as your ethnicity. So for example, along with influences from different ethnic cultures, you’ll see influences from everything from fine art & high fashion to hip-hop in the clothing as well. The line also promotes positive and up-lifting messages…encouraging people to think outside the box and to reach for their dreams.

What is the Cultures Clothing Kickstarter Campaign?

The goal of my KICKSTARTER campaign is to raise funds for the Mass Production of Cultures Clothing. According to GSEA Fashion Group (a manufacturing company in NYC that I will be working with), Cultures Clothing will need approximately $5,000 for sample & pattern development, tech pack development, screen printing, pattern grading, tags and labels, shipping, etc. We hope to raise this money so that we can produce large quantities of t-shirts, dresses, polos, etc. to sell on our website & in stores/boutiques.

Whatever you can afford, please help to support this initiative. No amount is too small, just like no dream is too big. Click here to donate to the Cultures Clothing Kickstarter Campaign: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/200018760/the-mass-production-of-cultures-clothing

Take a sneak peak at some hot new looks from Cultures Clothing!