Exactly one year to this day, I took a leap and decided to start a journey, a personal one, that would put myself out there and share one of my passions with the world. When I first thought about what I wanted to write in this post, I had planned to go in the reflective/mushy/why this blog has made such an impact on my life direction, but decided to save that for another day and time. So instead, I’ve created a countdown list that best summarizes the past year — an amazing year — thanks to everyone who has supported and followed my blog.
If I had never started Style with Benefits, I never would have…
10. Started writing ’xo’ on a regular basis
9. Been called ‘Becs’. My real name is Rebecca and no one has ever called me Becs before March 2009. I started using that as my signature and it just stuck.
8. Learned my ‘strengths and weaknesses’ when it comes to posing for photos. Mental note: I look silly when attempting serious facial expressions, and thus, stick to smiling, the closed mouth grin or looking down in my pics.

7. Learned how to use Photoshop, Picasa and other random photo editing programs
6. Attempted to take my own photos with a tripod. Major fail.
5. Become a shoe whore. I was never into shoes all that much and now I probably look at shoes the most when I’m online shopping.
4. Experimented more with my personal style. Hello, floral harem pants.
3. Started questioning whether I should bring my camera to places on a regular basis just in case there is something blog-worthy to capture.
2. Received some of the sweetest emails and comments that make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside
1. Been inspired by an amazingly supportive community of individuals who just get it.
I suppose what I’m trying to say is thank you for getting me. This blog is an extension of who I am, and my opportunity to escape reality, so to speak, and dwell in a place where I can be myself. It’s a place where I can explore my style and you all just get it, without questioning why or asking what the hell I was thinking.
And that means more to me than you’ll ever know.
Here’s to new beginnings…

* I hope you all like the new blog layout! It’s quite a departure from the old one, but I hope you find this easier to navigate and read. Please don’t forget to update your links and bookmarks with my new URL. Thanks so much!