Today marks exactly 10 years that I took my very first outfit photos for Selective Potential. Ah! I cannot believe it’s been 10 years… but on the other hand, it feels like I’ve had this blog almost all of my adult life (which I have really!) I started Selective Potential when I was 23 years old, now I’m 33 years old! I started this blog back then because I had just lost a lot of weight and fell in love with fashion and personal style. I came across an article on Who What Wear about four fashion bloggers, felt so inspired, and immediately started my own. I first joined Chictopia, which was a huuuuuuge reason why my blog was so successful from the start. I was named a “style icon” within the first month I could qualify (which was a big deal back then!) and I started Selective Potential right in the middle of that whirlwind time. It’s been one of the best adventures of my entire life. I’m so grateful for the opportunities, friends and memories this blog has brought me over the years! It’s been a ride, that’s for sure.

So if you’re an old-timer (you’ve been around for at least 8 years or so!), you’ll remember these railroad tracks! This is where I took my very first outfit photos, and several photos throughout the first few years of my blog! (Thanks to Brett for the help back then!) These railroad tracks were right outside our apartment when we lived in Grand Haven. When we moved to Grand Rapids, I did a little roundup post of all of my railroad track photos, and it’s so fun to see so many different memories and outfits in this one meaningful spot. It looks so different now — they paved over the railroad tracks that crossed the street, so that was a little sad to see! But this spot still just means so much to me, and I try to drive by whenever I’m in Grand Haven.

I’m not going to go into a history here about the blog — but I am planning to do a little recap on my Instagram stories, so be sure to keep an eye out over there! I’m also going to be doing a BIG giveaway, as a thanks to all of you for following along as an old (or new!) reader, so check my Instagram. But yeah, it’s been an adventure. Thanks to this blog — I received a major award at my college, landed my dream career as a graphic designer (they loved my blog), have made several amazing friends (Chelsea, Veronika, Jen, Jasmine, Julie all come to top of mind!), have had opportunities to travel to NYC, Austin, Boston, Ohio, Houston, St. Louis, Florida, San Francisco, and all over Michigan, was featured on a billboard in the middle of Times Square, modeled for Francesca’s Collections, was an ambassador for Adobe, had a dress named after my blog with ModCloth, I mean, the list feels endless. I wouldn’t have had any of this in my life if I didn’t start something crazy back on this day in 2009. So thank you so much for following along and thanks to everyone who has made this blog such a success (looking at you, Eric!) And see below for old photos throughout the years!