Lalonde - Bloom: navigating life and style

HELLO ! BEFORE WE START I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR HOLDING THIS BOOK IN YOUR HANDS. JUST THE FACT THAT YOU VE CHOSEN TO PICK UP THIS ONE FROM THE VAST SEA OF OTHER WONDERFUL BOOKS MAKES MY HEART GO PITTER-PATTER, SO THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING TO READ WHAT I HAVE TO SAY .

While writing this book I spent an afternoon reliving a lifetime of memories by going through my baby boxes. I never understood why my mom wanted to keep all of my childhood paraphernalia homework, little shreds of paper with lists and thoughts of mine, and artwork from over the years but she would always say with confidence that I would want it all one day. And she was right; that day did come. Among the old photographs and school test results I found a list of things I wanted to do when I grew up and one of those things was write a book that sells. I was an ambitious little seven-year-old. Ive always considered myself a determined person, but to see this ambition written down from a time I dont remember was fascinating.

When the opportunity arose for me to write this book my first reaction was, Absolutely not! My underlying feeling was that I was too scared to do something so momentous. Im scared of everything even filling up my car with petrol scares me. What if I cant get the gas tank open? What if my card gets declined? What if I dont park my car close enough to the pump? That being said, I like to challenge myself. I feel empowered by the motto feel the fear and do it anyway. So thats why I decided to write this book. I also wanted to make my seven-year-old self proud, and I want to inspire others to take a chance on those things that scare them.

If I let fear dictate what I could and couldnt do, I would be in a very different place to the one I am in now. For one thing, I definitely wouldnt have moved across the world to be with the person I love at the age of 19, and I definitely wouldnt have made my first YouTube video for the world to see.

For my friends and supporters, I want Bloom to give some insight into the parts of my life that I dont necessarily talk about all of the time, and I want to do it because I owe it to you. I consider this book to be one big thank you letter I hope it comes across that way.

ESTE

Introduction

WHEN I WAS TRYING TO THINK OF A TITLE FOR THIS BOOK I WENT BACK AND FOURTH FOR WEEKS SEARCHING FOR THE PERFECT ONE . THEN ONE SPRING AFTERNOON I WAS WALKING MY DOG WHEN I NOTICED THE FIRST SIGNS OF LIFE SPROUTING FROM THE GRASS AND I INSTANTLY THOUGHT , BLOOM ! THAT S IT ! THAT HAS TO BE THE TITLE ! IT INSTANTLY FELT RIGHT .

I have always looked forward to the flowers blooming in the spring because it creates an energy in the atmosphere, as if to say, The cold months are over now its time for some fun! Ive worked very hard to be able to silence the static and tune in to the voice inside my head that is always right when it comes to things like this.

Bloom is the idea that anything is possible when you put your mind to it. Ive done a lot of growing up and a lot of changing in a relatively short amount of time, which has been a very interesting journey. I used to look in the mirror and see an unsure, nervous and self-conscious girl staring back at me, but now I see a confident and passionate businesswoman. This book is exploring my bloom journey: the journey I went on to blossom into who Ive become today, including some of the high and low points that inevitably pop up along the way.

Ill be talking about the things that make me excited to be alive, such as travel, friends and family, as well as beauty and fashion that, to me, are more than meets the eye. I want to express why these things are so meaningful and hopefully my experiences will help others on their own paths. Everyone has their own lane and their own track, and Im interested in making that journey as fulfilling as possible.

I wanted to write a book that was honest and that people of all ages could relate to. Bloom is for teens who are working through their own bloom story now; I know I would have found a book like this helpful when I was younger and I hope that sharing some personal stories will encourage a younger audience to keep doing their best at whatever their passions are. But