Never never never give up.

That's been my mantra since I moved to NYC 6 years ago.

I have always been a driven person, but it's so easy to let roadblocks get in the way of your dreams. People will turn you down, you'll hit walls, you won't get the promotion you want... and sometimes your dreams change.

I have been blogging for almost 3 years now (CRAZY right!?!), and went full-time six months ago! This is officially the first holiday in 10+ years I have been able to travel and see my family for Thanksgiving AND Christmas! I was a retail merchandising manager all those years and worked the day after Thanksgiving and Christmas, so traveling was a no-go.

But thanks to you guys for reading and supporting my blog, I'm now able to create my own schedule!

I can't tell you how amazing it is to be able to focus on my own creative work full time. It allows me to host holiday parties, decorate the apartment, FINISH my Christmas shopping early and spend time with my partner, Mike.

Those are true quality moments in my book! THANK YOU!

It just goes to show how important it is to fight. Never never never give up on your dreams.

For today's grooming #OtterReview, I'm trying out Alford & Hoff's No. 2 Fragrance! They're a brand whose foundation is grounded in quality moments, an aspirational attitude, and a drive for success. Alford & Hoff are former athletes and businessmen, so it makes complete sense why drive and perseverance are a core value for the brand.

They have three key fragrances and No. 2 definitely speaks to my tastes! The scent has notes of citrus, cardamon and wood. I don't like overly heavy, smoky or spicy colognes, so this one is perfect for me. It makes me feel fresh and great about the way I smell without being overly heavy. It's a keeper!

Their two other scents, Signature and No. 3, have completely different scent profiles, so check out the entire collection here and find the right one for you! For the holidays, they're offering a free dopp kit when you purchase a fragrance! They even have gift sets and travel sprays.

Overall, I'm embracing every moment of this holiday season! Hope you are too! Major bonus points for doing it while smelling great! ;)

Quality Moments