Welcome Back!

::Enters to a roaring round of applause::

Me: Thank you! Thank you! I'm so glad to be back!

So you're probably wondering why I've title this post "Welcome Back" when it's my very first blog post. I promise you, I'm not crazy. Well, not really anyway. You see, this isn't my debut blog post because this isn't my debut blog. Okay, I know. Technically this is my first blog post on this blog but it's all a matter of semantics. Pssh. Semantics. I fart in their general direction (five bonus points if you get the reference)!

I've been blogging for the last year as Cosita Bella. So why another blog? Well, to be quite frank, Cosita Bella wasn't me. I mean it was, but not completely. I was new to the whole blogging business and wasn't quite sure of my niche, my online persona. Inevitably, I fell into the trap of trying too hard to emulate those around me and completely lost myself in the process. It was too forced and completely unoriginal. What started as an inspiration blog, ironically, left me feeling uninspired. Talk about an existential crisis. Thanks, blogging! Eventually, I had to sit down and take a long, hard look at myself and why I started my blog in the first place. What was it that I hoped to achieve?

Cosita Bella started with good intentions. It was simple. I wanted a place where I could share the things that inspired me-- only I lacked the foresight to see that the subject matter I picked was a bit off-kilter. I asked myself "what do I love?" Sure, I get an immense kick out of fashion and food (oh-god-I-love-food) but that's not what really resonates with me. So what then? It took time (months) of self-assessment and reflection and the one thing I kept coming back to was my love of books and film. These things I find myself constantly thinking about, talking about and writing about. Yes! I was already writing about them. Over the years, as a writer, I had published numerous reviews about movies, books and all things entertainment. That was it! I'd found my calling and it was right under my nose the whole time!

Books and movies are my life, they always have been and in all likelihood, always will be. Make no mistake, I'm no fashion maven. I can't afford designer bags and shoes. Don't get me wrong, I've got style and if Coach or Miu Miu wants to send me some free swag, you better believe I'll wear/market the shit out of it! But realistically, that's not going to happen and that's not what feeds my soul. It's all about being honest with yourself, especially when you don't necessarily like what you see-- and really, I'm okay with that.

If you couldn't already tell, I'm not one for giving up. I really love the sense of community that the blogging world has to offer. Communicating as a fellow reader and as an aspiring writer is one of the greatest feelings in the world! There are some really stellar people in the online community and that's what keeps me coming back for more. I have an innate desire to share my passions, have deep conversation and cultivate meaningful relationships. That's who I am. That's what I love to do and that's why I'm back. Only this time with a little more direction and wisdom. As for my other blog, maybe we're not quite finished (only time will tell), but for now I'm focusing my energy on something that comes a bit more naturally.

As author of the newly formed, Foil the Plot, here's my pledge to you, dear Reader: I promise to be honest in all that I say/do/write on this blog. I'm not going to pretend to be someone I'm not or put something out there because I think it's what you want to hear. I promise to be engaged, enthusiastic and open. I crave the dialogue! I want to hear what you have to say! And lastly, I promise give this blog my all. I'm bringing the realness to you. If you've stuck with me throughout this long-winded post, then dammit, you deserve it (and so do I). No more copping out.

So, again, I'd like to say welcome back to those of you who knew me as Cosita Bella and greetings to those of you who are just tuning in! I'm back bitches!