We Aim To Slay

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas! This week I’m on vacation, and I thought it would be fun to recap all of the amazing opportunities and experiences I’ve had this year – and I want to start by thanking all of you! 

When I started We Aim To Slay in 2016, I could never have imagined that I would be able to share my thoughts with so many people; so thank you for coming back week after week! Now, let’s get into it!

January

At the start of 2024, I knew that I needed to change my approach to We Aim To Slay – rather than considering this the hobby I come back to when I have the time, I decided it was time to begin the transition into a brand, and ultimately, a business!

This process began by creating a content posting schedule, and an ever evolving list of ideas! 

One of these early ideas stems from a viral trend from last winter – an eastern european disco song that became super popular, giving birth to the “slavic sugar baby” trend! 

As soon as the first snow storm came through the area I straightened my hair, created my interpretation of “cold girl makeup,” and channeled two versions of the look! Which look do you prefer?! 

Look One!

Look Two!

And, you can watch my version of this trend, here!

February

When my sister, Shelby, said she was looking to get some professional headshots done I suggested we head to our local park to shoot a whole bunch of photos together! This post ended up being one of the most popular of the entire year, and here are some of my favorites!

March

In March one of my dreams came true when one of my favorite brands – Le Mini Macaron – asked me to be one of the five LMM Cheries selected to be gifted a manicure kit in exchange for product reviews!

I selected the Coconut Yogurt kit – isn’t it adorable?! This is the drying lamp I brought with me on my trip to NYC because it’s so portable! 

You can read my review here, and you can watch my LMM DIY Manicure Video, here!

April

My sister Molly joined me for the first ever Vintage Market Days of Connecticut event held in our hometown! I ended up going twice that weekend, and came home with some incredible pieces – let me show you how I’ve styled them throughout the year! 

May

This might just be my favorite photoshoot of the year, and maybe ever? Not only am I a HUGE Bridgerton fan, but it was so much fun collecting the trinkets and staging this shoot! And this location is beyond amazing! Topsmead is an estate that became a state park that features a picturesque manor house, expansive gardens, and a schedule of events taking place all summer!

June

In honor of it being an Olympic summer, I created some makeup looks to channel the Olympic Games! Out of the three looks I created specifically for this shoot, I think the blue look is my favorite! Not only did this pool-inspired makeup come out way better than I had hoped but the photos ended up looking incredible! 

On a more personal note, my dog, Dante, and I did a lot of hiking and exploring this summer! He’s really loved swimming and climbing all over boulder formations! 

July

This month I took part in the American Red Cross #Swim15Miles Challenge and let me tell you – it was certainly a challenge! Even though I didn’t reach my fundraising goal, I was able to complete the challenge with a few days to spare!

And speaking of a water-filled summer, this was also the first time that I volunteered with AmpSurf, a part of the Para Surf League! This nonprofit teaches our differently abled population (and veterans!) how to surf, and it was so gratifying to spend the day doing two of my favorite things! I ended up volunteering with them again in September and I can’t wait for the season to start again in the Spring!

August

My mom, Stacey, and I journeyed to the Poconos to judge the Miss American Nation and Miss Culture Galaxy pageants – reuniting with our long standing pageant family – and stopped by Zack’s Taco Shack twice during the weekend!

This was also the month when I did my bi-annual hair straightening! As a practice, I rarely use heat styling tools on my hair. I don’t even use my diffuser unless I need my hair to be dry in less than an hour! But, as much as I love my curls, sometimes I get bored with my hair looking the same each day.

If you’re curious about the products and tools I use to straighten my hair while protecting my curls, check out this post – From Curls to Straight and Back Again!

September

I celebrated my 29th birthday, and traveled to New York City to walk in New York Fashion Week – thank you ArtLoveLifestyle Attire for including me in your show!

This was also the first month of the #SelfCareSeries – a monthly live stream series I created to discuss the importance of taking care of yourself. In these fast paced times, we often find ourselves caring for and helping others – which is important work – but it’s equally important to take the time to care for yourself! 

You can watch the previous installments on the We Aim To Slay YouTube Channel!

October

I went camping for the first time – and filmed my first vlog video! I’m excited to take more camping trips throughout this next year, and to share my adventures with you all by creating more vlog content! You can watch this adventure now on the We Aim To Slay YouTube Channel!

It’s a rare chance when all of my siblings can get together at the same time, but in October we reunited to take a family trip to our local fair! We ate at least one of each food being sold, rode all of the rides at least once, and seriously had to convince one of our sisters that no, she should not buy a cow!

November

This year I was honored to be featured in two magazines highlighting women in the fashion, entertainment, and pageant industries – the Nigeria-based LMA Awards International Magazine, and Beauty It’s Everywhere’s Iconique Magazine!

Iconique Magazine

Below, I’ve included a few of my favorite questions from my Iconique feature!

Iconique: What is on your bookshelf?

T.A.: Too many titles to count! But, some of my favorites include Kushiel’s Legacy by Jacqueline Carey, Lolita and Pale Fire by Vladimir Nabokov, Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell, April and Oliver by Tess Callahan, and Percy Jackson and The Olympians by Rick Riordan!

Iconique: Do you believe that social media shows a positive or negative outlook on the women of younger generations?

T.A.: I think social media has a great many uses in today’s world – sharing information quickly, reaching the maximum number of people, and a way to connect with like minded people. I think the true danger in social media lies with the viewer. I myself fall victim to this; we forget that what we’re seeing is only the smallest fraction of someone’s life. When we’re seeing our idols and our contemporaries jetting around the world or going to a new restaurant or a music festival, it’s easy to feel jealous of that experience. But those moments are just that, moments. I think it’s easy to want to blame social media for the unrealistic lifestyle and beauty standards of our time. But I think it’s much more productive to support young women from an early age, to teach them that their worth lies is so much more than just their looks or their social media following. It lies in how she treats others, in her efforts to better herself and those around her, in how she carries herself. 

Although I am deeply honored to have been featured in these publications, I did resign my title of International Women of Service Mrs 2024, effective Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. While I am no longer a reigning titleholder, I look forward to my next opportunity to represent my hometown, state, and the organizations close to my heart! 

December

And I finished out the year with two very laid back yet exciting events with my bestie (and my I.R.L mom!) Stacey! 

Seeing the Wicked movie was an event in and of itself! Not only did Stacey and I see the Wicked Musical on Broadway when I was in high school, we’ve long been fans of The Wizard Of Oz – like, we’ve seen The Wizard Of Oz on ice.

We had to dress up for the movie showing, showcasing the aesthetic that best matched our own – even if our personalities are totally flipped! 

And just two weeks ago, we ventured up to Hopkins Vineyard – owned by longtime family friends – to enjoy a wine tasting and meet-and-greet with local, Connecticut-based authors! As life-long book lovers, we so enjoyed an afternoon of delicious food, live music, and stimulating conversation – it was an afternoon out of a story!

And now, Stacey, our dogs, and I are taking a wee break from our fast paced lifestyles to spend this week in our family’s vacation home – don’t worry, I’ll be recapping our trip in an upcoming post!

What Do You Think?

Thank you all for continuing to join me on this journey – none of this would be possible without your love and support! Share some of your best memories in the comments, I’d love to celebrate your wins as well!

I’ll be back next week as we ring in the New Year with new resolutions and goals!

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and as always – Have a great rest of your 2024, and remember to SLAY!