Major Life Update: New Job, Her Grruv Magazine Feature & Why I Took a 2-Month Break

After over two months away, I'm back with a huge life update! In this episode, I’m opening up about the incredible changes in my career, how my journey as a content creator and influencer has taken off in the most empowering way, and the exciting reason I was featured in Her Grruv — a women-focused magazine based in California. I’ll also share what’s been going on behind the scenes, how I've been managing growth, and why this break was necessary. Tune in for real talk, gratitude, and all the tea on what’s next!

Wanderlust Website: https://wanderlustandco.com/

P.S. Discount code gets you 12% off not 20. 

Check me out in Her Grruv magazine volume 6 page 24!

Click 👉https://www.hergrruvmag.com/issues

Transcript

00:04
Hey everyone, my name is Brooke, your fellow podcaster from the East Coast,  content creator, creative artist, and entrepreneur,  and welcome to my podcast, Blogger with a Twist. So basically on my podcast, I'll mainly be doing topics about lifestyle. I may do a couple of rants or story times about my life  or whatever comes to mind.

00:29
That is the gist of this podcast. So if any of you guys find that interesting, definitely share the podcast, subscribe,  also tell your friends or family.  And last but not least,  get your favorite snacks, your popcorn, whatever you like to eat, sit back and relax. And let's get this episode popping.

00:55
Hey you guys and welcome back to a brand new podcast episode and if you are new then welcome and if you are a returning listener then welcome back you guys.  I have been kind of absent from my podcast for the past couple of weeks.  I believe my last episode

01:17
either uploaded at the very end of March of this year or sometime in April.  So it's been probably about like two and a half months.

01:28
And I am so sorry to my new listeners and to my old listeners.  I just have a very bad habit of taking  sporadic hiatuses and I don't mention it to nobody. I just kind of ghost you guys. So for this week's episode, I thought that I would do another chit chat  and just  update you guys on my life and what's been going on because I feel like

01:55
In these past couple of weeks, my life has taken a 360 in a positive direction and I'm so blessed with so many opportunities that have been coming my way. So that being said, if you guys want to hear more, then grab your snacks or whatever you like to eat. And let's get this episode poppin. So I believe in my last episode.

02:22
I talked to you guys about my job situation. So for people that are new or just to refresh your memory,  if you are an old listener,  I basically got fired from my job at the gas station back in March of this year.  And so I have been working and so I have been working at the gas station for about like six months.

02:46
And during my time at a gas station, I really wasn't that happy.  Like, I remember telling myself that I did not want to be here any longer than a year. And so  when I got fired in six months, it kind of made me realize maybe the universe knows what it's doing and is doing me a favor. Like, besides the coworkers that I got along with and the customers  that I was cool with,  that's the only thing I really liked about the job.

03:17
But the hours I didn't like because when I first started I remember telling my manager  Even before he hired me that I did not feel comfortable working overnight He still put me on overnight and I really feel like that kind of messed up my sleeping schedule for a little while because My body was not used to being up  all night. I'm used to sleeping during the night getting adjusted to that  shift in my sleeping schedule was

03:45
It was crazy. Um, and then I think I told you guys in one episode I had this guy call me to b word I had to get him together. So it's just overall I was just kind of done with the gas station So for me when I got fired, it wasn't that I was super upset about losing a job I was just more so I guess Anxious because now I have to find another job. But luckily I did find another job. I want to say about

04:15
three to four weeks after I got fired from the gas station, which was a blessing.  And it's a job that I currently work at right now, which is a barista job.  And it does pay more than the gas station. I get to work more hours, which is great.  But I will say that this barista job, it took me  it took a time for me to start working. And maybe I'll save that for another episode. But it was definitely  drama.

04:44
But, um, yeah, you guys, I'm just grateful that I am working because if you guys don't know,  I've said this before, I am one of those people, I don't like asking for help. I don't like asking for money. So it's just nice  that I get to have my own stuff, and I can buy what I want.  But besides the whole job situation, I want to say that the biggest thing that has happened in my life,

05:10
that I did not expect to happen  is how my journey as a content creator / influencer has given me so many new opportunities that I did not  expect.  Because honestly, you guys, when I started this journey as a content creator/ influencer, I didn't really expect much,  much because for me,

05:38
Creativity has always been one of my passions and I do it because I enjoy the process and so  knowing that my work is finally getting a recognition that it deserves, it just makes me feel so humbled inside  and it just confirms that I'm on the right path because I think for...

06:01
A lot of content creators or influencers.  Sometimes it's easy for us to doubt the content that we put out there because we think about is it going to go viral?  Is it good enough? Is it this that and the third? And what I realized is that sometimes you have to  get out of your head and just post the content.

06:22
Like I've seen some videos that go viral and I just think to myself, where's the creativity? So  really, if you want to post content, I would say just post something. Yeah, definitely. My journey  like this this year so far has just taken off. A lot of it started back in May.  So back in May, I got invited to a grand opening for a jewelry store inside of King of Prussia Mall called Wanderlust.

06:50
And I was super excited because their jewelry is so freaking cute. I believe their jewelry is also hopefully I'm not butchering up the word hypoallergenic.  Which is good for people that are allergic to certain type of metals that are in jewelry

07:07
And what's also really cool about their jewelry pieces is that they have different pieces that resemble food  and also things that are kind of nostalgic. So as far as the food stuff, they have like a pizza necklace, french fries necklace, a pretzel necklace,  strawberries necklace,  ice cream necklace.

07:32
And as far as the nostalgic stuff, they have a flip phone necklace, which I really want to get because I remember I had a flip phone. I think another one is a cassette tape. But um when I did go to the grand opening, I did get a free piece of jewelry. I end up getting the pizza necklace because

07:53
I felt like it had more bling bling to it and it also had pink in it. And overall you guys, I really had a good time and the staff was super friendly and stuff like that. So if you guys want to check out the website, I'll link it in the description. If you guys want my discount code to get 20 % off of your purchase, um definitely

08:20
Send me an email which is brooke.brunson at gmail.com  If you guys don't know how to spell that it is in  the description of this episode and every episode and make sure you put in the subject line of the email discount code,  but yeah you guys um definitely

08:42
Make sure you guys are following me on Instagram because I feel like when I'm not uploading content on my podcast  You can most likely find me on Instagram.  If you guys Don't know my Instagram name. It is at bloginphilly

09:00
which is all lowercase  and if you guys don't know how to spell that, I believe the link to my Instagram  is within my Linktree link. So if you click it or copy and paste it in your browser,  you will  see the little social media icon. You can just click on my Instagram and just  go ahead and follow me if you guys have not already. But that was really, I feel like the start to...

09:28
how all my doors kind of opened up for me. So that was in May. And then in June, I got invited to  a networking event for Juneteenth.

09:38
which was really fun.  I got to meet different people. The music was popping. I do have a reel on my Instagram from my experience at the Juneteenth event. I feel like some more stuff happened. I'm probably forgetting. Oh, also in June, I did get invited to the Chinese Lantern Festival here in Philly. I got invited twice as a social media influencer, which was really cool because the last time I

10:08
went I just went as like a regular person but the fact that I got to go as a social media influencer was like really cool.  So the first time I went was for the opening night  and it was so beautiful seeing all the lanterns lit up and all the performances and stuff like that and the food was good.  And then the second time I went was for the food influencer night  and I actually took my boyfriend because

10:38
even though I got free food when I went the first time this time it was a lot more food  so I knew I could not eat everything and so I had to bring somebody with me  I had burger, fried ice cream,  Korean meatballs, funnel cake,  cheese steak egg roll, oh dumplings I had like buffalo chicken dumplings and street corn dumplings

11:06
Yeah, I had a lot of food.  OK, it was a lot of food. If you guys also want to see my experience from that, that reel is also on Instagram. I have like two reels up.   Ihave the first reel, which is from the opening night and then the second reel, which is from my food influencer night. But yeah, overall, guys, I had a good time. So if you live in Philadelphia, I would highly recommend  to check out the Chinese Lantern Festival, which I believe is

11:36
going  on up until August the  31st. So definitely get your friends together,  do a family night  or if you're doing a date night with your significant other or if this is a first date, I think is a really fun and cool event to take somebody to. I know this week I'm actually going to the Golden Corral. If you guys don't know what that is, it's basically a restaurant / buffet.

12:05
And so I haven't been to the Golden Corral in like forever. And so I was really excited when they reached out to me on Instagram and wanted me to come in for a visit. And so I'm also taking one of my other best friends because I feel like I want to share this experience with all of my friends. I want them all to get a chance to experience what I experience. So this will be his first time. And I'm super excited to get some free food. I'm not gonna lie to you guys. I feel like that is  probably one of the best parts about

12:35
being a food and lifestyle influencer.  So I have that coming up  this week and what else I have another food collaboration coming up in which I will be partnering with another restaurant  and I will be giving away a $25 gift card to one of my followers.  And then what else  I will be doing an interview  sometime this week as well.  I'll probably talk to you guys about that next week.  And then  the biggest

13:05
thing that happened so far is that your girl is in the magazine I'm not going to say the name of the magazine because I don't want to butcher up the name but I'll put in the description but the magazine is based in California that's mainly focused about

13:22
highlighting different women that are in creative spaces, whether they are designers, photographers, entrepreneurs. And so  when I got featured in magazine, I was super excited. I was hyped. So if you guys want to check me out in the magazine, I'll leave the link.

13:41
You can also see the magazine digitally on their website, but you can also order a physical copy. So I am waiting  for my physical copy to come in the mail, but I am just so excited you guys like your girl  is in a magazine.  And you know, for me,  that's another opportunity that could lead to so many more because now people are going to know more about me in California. You just never know what doors may open up. So I'm just truly blessed. And then what else?

14:11
besides your girl being in a magazine. I did actually go to New York this month. I went with one of my best friends  because she did not want to go by herself and also she was going up there for a  K-pop concert. I think the name of the group is called Ateez  A-T-E-E-Z. It was fun because I haven't been to New York in a while so for people that don't know before COVID-19

14:40
I would go up to New York City a lot. Like I would take the Megabus.

14:45
And I will probably leave Philly at like 10 o'clock in the morning. I'll get to New York around like 12 o'clock in the afternoon. And I would just spend the  whole day in New York City, whether I'm just walking around Times Square or just browsing Manhattan, taking a train to Brooklyn or Queens, whatever. So when COVID happened, I kind of stopped going to New York for a while. And so just being back in New York

15:15
city for those couple of days which is really fun. Also the hotel that my friend and I stayed at was in Queens and even though it wasn't like a four-star hotel it was still a nice hotel they have free breakfast which was good so they had like pancakes bacon sausage tater tots french toast  um oatmeal

15:38
apple juice, orange juice, you know, just a basic continental breakfast. The location was also good because we were not that far. were we were not that far from the train,  like the number seven to get back into like Times Square or something like that. And also around the corner from the hotel, they had like this little area that had restaurants. And so I went into this one Mexican restaurant and I got me some tacos. The type of taco,

16:08
think it's called Brie air,  B I R something, Brie tacos. Oh my gosh, that was so good. And people in there were so nice.

16:18
If you guys want to see my recap trip of New York City, definitely check out my Instagram. But yeah, I will definitely be back to New York City because I do want to explore more of Koreatown.  And um  in my reel, I did show you guys a small glimpse of Koreatown, but we did not get to stay there too long because we had to take the bus back to Philly. And what else you guys? Um..

16:47
I think that's pretty much what your girl has been up to. It's just been a lot you guys. And honestly, I feel like it's gotten to the point where I don't really make a lot of plans because I don't know what's going to happen. Like I could say that I'm not doing anything.

17:07
that month but then out of nowhere I'll get emails or people asking me to come out and check out their restaurant or do this, that, and the third.  And so my life right now is very interesting and I'm still trying to, I guess, understand that this is  my life and granted this is something that I've always wanted but I guess I didn't expect it to happen this year but I did tell myself that

17:34
I wanted to make 2025 my year because I will be 35 in November and I just feel like I'm getting older and I really need to get all this stuff together. I don't think it's nothing else, but like I told you guys, that was the biggest thing that has really shifted my life in these past couple weeks.

17:53
It's been a beautiful journey so far and I cannot wait to continue the journey and just update you guys with more and more exciting things. So like I told you guys, make sure you guys email me for the jewelry. If you guys want my discount code and make sure you put in the subject of the email discount code. My email is in the description. And other than that, you guys, thank you again for tuning into this episode. So hopefully you guys enjoyed this episode.

18:23
and sorry again for just ghosting you guys but hopefully I can get back to a more consistent schedule and so thank you guys again for listening and see you guys for my next episode.