A NEW HKM + One Decade Later

Welcome to my new website! I am absolutely thrilled with how it turned out. Thanks to my friends at Smash Creative, I now have a stunning and functional site to use again! It’s hard to believe, but I embarked on my blogging and content creation journey in the late summer of 2014… and a year later, I launched HeyKailyMae.com. Everyone’s definition of success is a little different but when I look back on these past ten years of chasing something I had a true passion for, all I feel is gratitude. I feel proud of myself for pursuing something that I had to step out of my comfort zone to do. I’m proud that I stayed consistent and proud of the fact that I built something that gave me the opportunity to be a creative AND a hands on mom. To celebrate, I teamed up with my friend, and talented photographer, Sophia Monetti who helped me with these amazing photos for my launch.

Back in 2014, I was a licensed insurance agent in Austin, seeking a creative outlet. I remember my dad shared an article with me from Texas Monthly that highlighted some successful bloggers, and it inspired me to pursue something I was passionate about that could also provide some extra income. I vividly remember staying up until 2 or 3 in the morning learning how to build a website to dive right in!

Back then, no one really knew what a “blogger” was, and it was quite comical trying to explain it to people. From that experience, an entire industry emerged into what social media is today. After launching my website, Blake and I began creating content multiple times a week. I made it a point to publish a new blog post every week and share on Instagram daily. Friends and coworkers would ask if I ever felt burnt out from social media, but surprisingly, I never did. I had such a passion for creating. After having Aria, things became a bit more challenging, but I still had an incredible time putting together outfits, designing beautiful spaces in our home, and collaborating with brands I loved.

Some of my favorite brands I’ve worked with include:

Clinique
Sam’s Club
Coach
Walgreens
Simon Malls
Steve Madden
Famous Footwear
HEB
TULA
Kérastase
Victoria’s Secret
Panera Bread
It Cosmetics
DiGiorno Pizza

& so many more!

In 2021, I made the decision to transform my part-time hobby into a full-time career while still embracing my role as a stay-at-home mom. This change has granted me incredible flexibility to work, forge connections through partnerships that resonate with me, and be present for Blake and the kids. What a true blessing it has been!

One of the highlights of this journey has undoubtedly been the people I’ve met! Austin boasts a fantastic blogging community, and when I began in 2014, I connected with so many like-minded women who I remain friends with to this day! Those instant friendships were truly treasured, especially in my twenties when forming new connections was more challenging. Plus, we got to enjoy the best events together!

I’ve gained invaluable insights from this role, and I’ve realized that as I age, the pressure to “stay relevant” is not as strong as it once was, but I still find so much joy in being creative in this space! I’ve also learned that it takes a lot of confidence and resilience to share personal aspects of my life each day. Whenever I hopped on my Instagram stories, I knew someone would likely judge me for what I said, did, or how I looked, but I made a decision every day to push those thoughts out and focus on my goals instead.

Lastly I want to give a shout out to my husband, who has been my number one fan since DAY ONE & out of everyone in my life- he has been my biggest supporter. He learned how to take my photos without me having to “force” him to. He encouraged me when I was in my head or hated the photos we were getting. He never let me give up. When events would come around, instead of guilting me into staying home, he’d encourage me to go out and meet new people and brands in the industry. When I had to shoot paid collaborations, he always offered to help me. He has jumped in to help with the kids at night when I’m trying to get a new post up and is usually one of the first commenters on anything I share. What an absolute blessing he has been. These past ten years would not have been possible without him.

To wrap up this lengthy post, I also want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you who visit my site, shop through my links, and find value in what I’ve been doing for so long! I never could’ve come this far without your engagement with my posts on Instagram and TikTok. Your unwavering support means the world to me. And of course, none of this would’ve been possible without God, because he is the one who always makes a way.