It started off as a flight of fancy. I was filled with wide-eyed wonder and bubbling excitement over living in a place like NYC. The “city” was where I got introduced to the awesomeness of food truck chowing and the fanciness of Michelin star dining. Before New York, I was a Broadway virgin, a subway snob, a kati roll non-believer, a driver instead of a street walker. It was in New York where I tried and got addicted to aerial yoga, Cross Fit, and U.S. Marine-style bootcamps. New York was the culprit behind me trading my Texan cowboy boots and laidback grad student attire for a more uptown look. There was just so much to see and do that I desperately wanted a way to capture all these experiences. A platform where I could pen down my thoughts and share them. And that’s how Urban Mantra was born.

It’s been 5 years of blogging going strong. Along the way, Urban Mantra has evolved as I found my voice and discovered topics on which I felt I had something worthwhile to say. Moving countries and motherhood also played a big role in steering the blog to where it is today. The blog now is a lot about me sharing my evolving style journey, a dash of fitness and travel stories, and heavy doses of motherhood moments.

So despite the busy work and family life and limited time, the mental writer’s block I often face, and the cumbersome need to take photos that grab people’s digital attention… what are the reasons I continue to blog ardently, 5 years later? Well, in case you’re wondering, it’s not about the followers and the number of likes and comments I get on my blog post and instagram, although that’s always a bonus! No, the real reasons I continue to blog are this:

Dress by Urban Revolve | Shoes from Charles & Keith | Purse by Fendi | Sunglasses by Armani