Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Wood.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
“Green Acres Meets Paris” was born out of my love for all things Paris and fashion designer Coco Chanel. I received a vintage dress form for Christmas several years ago and so I decided to feature my outfits on that dress form as part of a series entitled “Dress Form Outfit”.
I graduated with a B.A. in English and worked as a newspaper reporter, and then transitioned into public relations. However, when my husband and I moved back to his hometown of Clinton, Tenn., I made a career change and took a job in a medical office. I eventually became a Registered Medical Assistant for a busy surgical group in Knoxville, working mainly with two doctors (one is our Breast Cancer surgeon and the other is our On-Call surgeon). I started my blog as a hobby, but I have enjoyed researching new topics and writing about things I’m passionate about, such as style, fashion, beauty, travel, celebrities.
Unfortunately, I’ve taken some time off of working on my blog lately because of the pandemic and COVID. Both my husband and I got COVID at the beginning of July 2021. I recovered, however, my husband was hospitalized on July 14, 2021, and sadly, he passed away on July 24, 2021. I plan to get back to blogging soon, but right now I am just going through the grieving process at my own pace and trying to come to terms that my husband – the love of my life, my rock, and my world – is gone.
Where will my life as a widow take me and my blog? I am not sure, but I’m looking forward to finding out.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s not been an easy journey. I’ve had FOMO and I have struggled with comparing myself to other style/lifestyle bloggers. I’ve had to realize that I’m not a “big-time blogger” like some of my favorite bloggers. I was jealous of the financial opportunities that they getting, the “freebies” they showcased on their Instagram and wrote about on their blogs, and the trips that they have whisked away on to fabulous locations around the world.
I have had to learn that I cannot compare myself (as a 48, almost 49-year-old woman) to the 20- and 30-something bloggers. I don’t have the financial freedom to blog full-time, nor do I really have the time, especially now that my husband passed away in July. I now have more responsibilities when it comes to our household and that includes taking care of our three dogs, three cats, a miniature horse, and a special needs goat.
Consistency was also a struggle for me, and until I can find my way back to a path where I can find happiness amidst my grief, that may still be an issue for me when I finally do get back to working on my blog.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I have had a couple of jobs where I thought I could make a career of them. When I graduated from college, I wanted to be a journalist and eventually become the next Barbara Walters. Then almost two years later, I transitioned into Public Relations for a private Christian University.
Then when my husband and I moved back to his hometown in 2002, I took a job in a medical office and now work for a busy surgical group in Knoxville as a Registered Medical Assistant. As for my blog, I am known in my circle of family and friends for posting my “dress form outfit” blog posts. I enjoy styling my dress form. I also write several series posts — “Steal her Style”, “Woman of Style”, “Man of Style”, “Links I Love”, just to name a few. I’ve tried to be as broad in my range of topics so I could reach a wide array of people.
I think that I’m most proud of the fact that I have done so much, written so much, with little to no financial sponsors or brand partnerships. I may be writing just for myself but some people are bound to find my blog, “Green Acres Meets Paris”, and find it interesting enough to want to follow along in my journey as I navigate this new world as a COVID widow while I try to stay as authentic and true to my original path.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I use WordPress, and my Google Pixel phone to take photos for my blog. I have found that reading other bloggers’ tips and tricks have been very useful for me in my blogging journey. I have also found that attending blogging conferences or just getting together without bloggers has been extremely helpful.
It’s easy to read other blog posts and to listen to podcasts about how they (the other bloggers) grew their blog ten-fold in three months, but it’s not always that easy for every blogger. I also like reading self-help and inspirational books, like “Pretty Happy” by Kate Hudson, and “Find Your Path” by Carrie Underwood.
Some of my favorite blogs are Damsel in Dior, Song of Style, Atlantic-Pacific, Grace Atwood’s The Strip, and Carrie Bradshaw Lied.
Contact Info:
- Email: vannadee37@yahoo.com
- Website: www.vanessahwood.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/vanessa_h_wood
Image Credits
Jessie (Jessie On A Journey)
