My 2023 Fall Life Update

Another year has gone by, and it’s time for my 2023 fall life update. I can’t believe how fast time flies! Let’s catch up on what’s been happening in both my professional and personal world.

As well if you missed my 2022 life update, you can read it here.

Professional Update

• First and foremost, I am thrilled to announce that it was my 5 year blog anniversary on September 12th! It feels like just yesterday that I took the leap of faith and quit my day job, leaving behind the security of a regular paycheque to pursue my passion at StuffwithSvet.com. The journey isn’t always easy, but it has definitely been worth it.

• To celebrate this milestone, I have something special planned for all my amazing followers – a giveaway! Starting Friday, September 22nd, one lucky winner will have the chance to win gift cards from some of my favourite local businesses. These are places you’ll likely recognize if you’ve been following along with me over the years as I’ve mentioned them countless times in my blog posts. Stay tuned on my Instagram to enter on Friday!

• October 1st marks another significant milestone in my career, as it will officially be one whole year since I made the leap into full-time digital marketing. It feels surreal thinking back on that decision and how far I’ve come since then. I’m pleased to say I couldn’t be happier!

• My business model has also shifted this last year, and I’m delighted to share the exciting changes with you. When I first embarked on this entrepreneurial journey, my focus was primarily centered around influencer marketing. It was amazing to collaborate with all sorts of companies and brands. However, as time went on, I recognized that the digital landscape was evolving rapidly and influencing became more secondary for me.

• Social media and digital marketing have become more-full throttle, and let me tell you, it’s been quite a ride! The ever-changing landscape of this industry has truly challenged me and keeps me on my toes – and I absolutely love it. And the best part? It’s not just about the work itself; it’s also about the amazing people I get to collaborate with. I feel like a cheerleader in this field. My adoration for every single client on my roster who continues to place their trust in me and makes each project a rewarding experience is truly why I love to do what I do.

• Influencer marketing will always be a service that I’m passionate about and committed to offering. However, as my experience in this field has grown, I have become more discerning about the brands and businesses that I choose to promote and collaborate with. Don’t get me wrong; there’s absolutely nothing wrong with supporting large corporations or big box companies. But personally, my heart lies with local businesses—the heartbeat of our communities. So when you follow along my adventures, expect nothing less than heartfelt enthusiasm for sharing the best-kept secrets of our beloved local gems!

Personal Update

• October 1^st will mark one year of Mason and I living together in our beautiful rental property! Our cozy abode has truly become our sanctuary, a place where we find both comfort and joy. The highlight of our summer was undoubtedly spending so much time on our patio and being steps away from the beach. Basking in the warm sunshine and relishing in those gentle lake breezes felt like paradise every single day. Living on the outskirts of town has been surprisingly rewarding; it brought us closer to nature and allowed us to appreciate simpler pleasures in life. One unexpected benefit has been that it has encouraged us to cook more homemade meals.  Of course, dining out will always hold a special place in our hearts, but there’s something magical about cooking together. If you follow me on stories, you would’ve seen different recipes we’ve cooked up!

• I also grew my first garden this year! It was a patio garden but hey, it’s something. I was very proud sharing it on stories all summer. Made a lot of mistakes, but can’t wait to try again next year! We also made a conscious effort to support local farmers by purchasing as many fruits and veggies from our nearby farm as possible. This not only ensured that we were getting fresh, organic produce straight from the source but also allowed us to support our community directly.

• With our beautiful place came a tragedy this summer – The McDougall Creek Wildfire that devastated Kelowna. The fire, fuelled by dry conditions and strong winds, blew up on Thursday, August 17th, engulfing everything in its path and showing no mercy as it jumped to the Kelowna side, directly affecting the area where we lived. Panic swept through our hearts as we received the evacuation order, unsure if we would ever see our home intact again. It was one of the scariest times of our lives. We were very fortunate that our neighbourhood and home survived. The fire to this day is still burning leaving behind charred landscapes and will definitely leave a scar on our community. I wrote a blog post sharing resources and ways to help here.

• On a positive note, we started travelling internationally again this year! I went to Mexico in the Spring, which you can check out in my reel here. Mason and I are about to embark on a Disney and Universal Adventure in a couple days! We might also have one more trip planned this year – we will see! And let’s not forget about local getaways too! Exploring places like Nelson, Harrison Hot Springs, Smithers, Naramata, Vancouver, and more have added so much joy and variety into our lives. It’s been wonderful having the opportunity once again to broaden our horizons through travel both near and far. You can head to my reels tab for all the travel and food inspo!

• I also have been working on my health this year! I’ve always been health conscious, but I’ve made it a priority to focus on self-care in all areas of my life. One aspect that has really made a difference is partnering with Organic Glow Medical Aesthetics at the beginning of the year. Let me tell you, they have been amazing! They introduced me to a personalized skin care regime that has truly transformed my skin. With their expertise and high-quality products, my complexion has never felt better or looked more radiant.

• Another exciting partnership I had this year was with Optimiiize Fitness – a boutique fitness studio in Downtown Kelowna. The owner and trainers were so supportive and inspiring, always pushing me to challenge myself further. It’s unfortunate news that they are closing down this month – such sad news indeed! But I will forever cherish the memories created there. It was the longest I had ever been committed to a gym!

Thank you all for being part of this adventure with me at StuffwithSvet.com! Your unwavering support means the world.  To ensure you never miss out on any updates or new content, make sure to subscribe to my newsletter and stay in the loop. Here’s to another 5 years!

-Jenna xoxo