It took me a while to begin writing this post because, truthfully, I didn’t quite know where to start! So much has changed in the last six years— I have changed. I’ve grown, I’ve learned, I’ve experienced some life changing milestones. And now… I’m going back to my roots.
I started MissMaven.com in 2011 as platform to review and share the best beauty products I’d tested. It was a simple vision, and I’m lucky to be able to say I gained a lot of loyal readers in the roughly four years I was focused on my blog. Fast forward to 2017: My focus has shifted to my YouTube channel and juggling all the supplemental social media platforms. Almost two years ago I noticed I wasn’t enjoying blogging as much anymore, and for the longest time I had no idea why. I’d always loved to write, (it was the whole reason I’d started a blog in the first place) and that passion never went away, but something was keeping me from creating blog content.
After much reflecting, about six months ago, I finally figured out what it was that deterred me from committing myself to blogging: The name. I’d outgrown MissMaven.com! Something about it started to feel juvenile and not me anymore. It made sense: Since I first came up with the name, I’ve grown quite a bit. And I don’t mean ‘grown’ in numbers; just grown as a person, both personally and professionally. There was just no part of me that was attached to the name anymore.
The minute I came to this realization I immediately felt liberated and re-motivated to go back to what it was that got me started in the digital space in the first place. I went back to square one: Pick a name and come up with a layout. This was the most excited I’d been in a very long time! I wanted the name to indicate a series of thoughts on various topics, and I wanted it to be simple.
“Remarques” struck me as just the right umbrella term for what I’m trying to do here; think of this as my digital diary, my “remarks” on different parts of my life.
The letter Q is more attractive to me for some reason, hence the spelling! The word ‘remarque’ itself has a meaning in art, and in this particular spelling it’s also a word in French. But I hope it develops its own significant meaning as I develop it into the blog that I’ve been dreaming of.
I knew I wanted this new blog to be more refined and have a grown up feel, something to reflect where I am in my life. I’m now in my 30’s, but more significant is how much more diverse my content is now than when I started MissMaven.com. Back then it was about beauty and beauty only. Now, I share all facets of my life from beauty and style to home and travel. And along this journey of living on social media, I’ve built a relationship with the people who watch my videos and like my photos. (That would be you, ha!) I’ve bonded with many of you over life’s joyful moments and painful trials, reminding me that we’re all people with our own challenges, fears, and triumphs. Sharing personal posts will be more common on Remarques… Something I never did with MissMaven.
You’ll also notice the old posts from MissMaven.com are still here. Just because I’m parting ways with MM doesn’t mean it’s not a wonderful part of my past that I’m proud of. I smile looking back on those posts and seeing how much I’ve grown! I wouldn’t think of erasing that from history, so if you had a favorite post it’s probably still here!!
I’m excited, I’m nervous, and I’m inspired. I’m also feeling very grateful that you’re here reading this, and I hope you’re as excited as I am to continue to grow with me here on Remarques. Thank you for being with me then, and thank you for being with me now.
with gratitude,
Love ❤️ love the new revamped look to the website … so many great things to arrive especially coming from such a creator and beautiful as yourself! 🙂
Congratulation on the new exciting style! 🙂
Simply beautiful revamped look for the blog … this is a restart of a fabulous path to come! Love ❤️ love the new look! 🙂
Congratulations Teni! The new blog looks amazing and I can’t wait to see you create even more beautiful content! I’ve been following you for some time now and I’m always impressed by your ability to branch out and expand in new ways!
Congratulations Teni ! I’ve been following you for at least 5 years and I used to read MissMaven so I’m so excited you’re back with new contents with Remarques ! I can’t wait to read your posts ! And I love the new look ?
Love, from Paris xx
You’re so inspiring in so many ways, Teni! Congratulations on your new chapter in life! Can’t wait to see where it gets you, and moreover, I’m so glad that you decided to share it with the world. ?
I have been following you since 2012 when most YT were into blogs! We don’t see that anymore as everything has gone digital! I love reading and trule enjoy the revamped look of this blog. I am a fan.
Congratulations Teni! I love the new look and new name ??
This is absolutely amazing! You inspire me more than I can ever say and I hope one day I can personally meet you and I can tell you how much of an inspiration you are to me! With much love -Anais Rodriguez
Love the revamped blog! It’s definitely your style & personality all wrapped up. Can’t wait to read all your new posts. Congrats on the new change. ?
Yes! This is so you now! I think all your longtime followers could tell you’d outgrown MM. Congratulations on the new blog and I am so excited to get to know YOU better. Not just the Instagram/YouTube you.
Amazing Story and Re-Birth. It takes allot of courage to let go of the old and develop something new! Love your story and look forward to all your new content!
Oh my word, what’s wrong with me?! This made me a little emotional! lol!!! Beautifully worded Teni, I’m excited for this chapter of your life and happy for you that you keep searching for what is good…
I haven’t never been more excited for a long re-launch ??? so excited to watch this new space xo
Love this new blog Teni! You are beautiful inside & out, with such a big heart & so much devotion to things that mean so much to you. Lots of love from the UK (please come to the UK!) Sarah xxxxxx
Congratulations love! The site is beautiful and I’m so excited to see you back doing what you truly love! Looking forward to this next chapter for you. Stay beautiful! ?
I love you teni ❤️ Ive watched your style grow through this journey! You’ve inspired me so much. I am so grateful to have found your channel back in 2013 ? I love you so much!
Xoxo
Teni!!! I am so in love with this new blog of yours! I definitely missed Miss Maven in your absence for the past few years. I have bookmarked this page now along with a handful of my other favorites. It’s so beautiful and I love that you have evolved this along with yourself. I know you’re a pretty private person even though you put yourself out on social media so I’m excited to get to know you a little more through this platform. You were the first blogger I ever followed and fell in love with. Your two videos on contouring and then how to do a smokey eye wayyyy back when I was in college were my favorites! You make me fall in love with makeup and showed me how I could do it for myself. I love you girl and follow you on all levels, snapchat, IG and YouTube…now here too!
Congrats Teni!!! Absolutely love the new blog and can’t wait to read your posts!! xoxo Candice
Hi Teni!!! I am so happy you started this new blog and this new chapter in life! I’ve following you for a long time now and I followed missmaven like it was the newspaper, but I noticed you weren’t posting as much as you used to… So I am really excited for the new one, it looks amazing already and I wish the best of luck with it, but I know you will rock it as always.
Big Kiss from Belgium ?❤️
I’m so glad that you are back to blogging again! Can’t wait to read your future posts! ❤️❤️❤️
Love the new design, simple and chic just like you!? So excited for you and this new chapter and I’m so glad you kept the posts from Miss Maven-you had some amazing content! Muaaah xxxxxxx❤️❤️❤️
STUNNING! Love you Teni ?
I would love to know, did you use wordpress for your blog? Love it x
I really do admire your style and you definitely inspire me!! ?
This blog is the new modern beautiful classy blog I’ve seen. Good Job Teni on working so hard on this love it so much. Your amazing I love you?❤️??
So proud of my sister!!! Can’t wait for all the home content (I need it. lol) LOVE YOU. XO – SAZ
Hello Teni 🙂 I really enjoyed you taking the time to properly introduce this new chapter in your life to us. I was never a reader of your precious blog because I didn’t know of it but I intend on following this one and I am really excited to see you grow even more.
You did a great job on this blog, the visual is beautiful
Love from France
Congrats Teni on this new adventure! I like you started a small blog (read by pretty much my mom and best friend… and that’s about it) because of my love for writing. It’s inspiring to see that you had fallen off the path of your blog and came back to your original love. I hope this will inspire me to get back to writing in mine as well! Excited to read about everything you have to say on here!
Loveeee it so!!! The time has come!!!
Love this Teni, you just can’t do anything wrong! Love everything you produce, from you-tube, vlogs and now this 🙂 Congrats beautiful!
Congratulations and best of luck on your new journey! I hope you enjoy every single moment and keep being inspired, so that you can, in turn, keep inspiring us 😉
love love love the new name and the pictures are stunning.
xo. SN | http://www.sahonynatasha.com
So happy for you and this new chapter. I love all your content and your personality and am excited to see you continue to reach your dreams and grow. I wish you all the best and look forward to reading your blog and looking at the stunning content.
Loved this new look of your blog.. I’m excited to see what’s coming up next. And you are truly an inspiration for me.. Love you so much ??
amazing, teni! thank you so much for continuing to share with us. we love love love you endlessly.
It’s so beautiful to see how you’ve grown. I’m a newcomer with reading your blog posts, but have been following you on social media for quite some time. You’re an inspiration, and a motivation to all your subscribers.
Congratulations! Excited and inspired by your choice to step out of what you’ve outgrown and be vulnerable enough to share. It’s going to be great!
I love this new transition that is reflecting your personality and passion. This is a beautiful blog and I can’t wait to see your future posts.
You are indeed inspiring?
I love you new blog. I am sure you will continue on the road of success. I love all your makeup tutorials, i have truly learn’t so much from you. Your tutorials appeal to me more than others cause most of your looks are very beautiful and classy alothough you have makeup on it is still looks very natural. I don’t like looking like I painted my face on. Thank you and may you be blessed in all your endeavours.?
I didn’t know you had a blog before! Miss Maven was a familiar name to me but I didn’t know it was yours. I’m so excited for this because I also love writing and also love watching YouTube. Best of luck, Teni!
Congratulations, Teni!!! I am truly so happy and excited for you ☺️ I’ve been following you for a very long time and it’s amazing to see how much you have grown. Your hard work and dedictation will always be an inspiration to me. May you be blessed with so much more success and happiness ❤️ Love you lots ❤️
Beautiful new website! Congrats xx
Teni, it looks so beautiful! So thrilled to follow along on your new blog and see how much you’ve grown.
xo Monet
Great post & love the new look! Makes so much sense! Good luck, looking forward of reading more!
You be you, Queen T and we will follow!
I am so excited for this! Such a beautiful new blog, the name really suits you. I totally get what you mean about feeling uninspired from blogging and wanting to get back into it. I do it on and off and it’s my dream to establish something beautiful and consistent like you have here!
Sarah // sarahtahami.com
Congratulations Teni on your new blog! I love looking at all of your new adventures and listening to your relatable rants #snapchatfam. As a 16 year old, I really admire your confidence, grace and humbleness and that strong feminine touch you bring to all your work. You made me feel confident In my own dark features and learn to love myself and my individuality. I have been watching your videos since I was 13 and love seeing you grow and giving my support as you are PERFECT?. I love seeing you use your large platforms to share and bring happiness and positivity, ilysm and I hope you get this message.
AHHHH!!!!!!!!! How inspiring!!!! Congratulations on this most wonderful accomplishment — a step into the future! I followed you pretty religiously on MissMaven.com. As a matter of fact, I’m pretty sure we were in the same Comm Management master’s program at USC (I remember you standing up in orientation saying you were from Glendale, thinking, “Hey! Another Glendale girl!” We even had a class together, I think! Anyway, it has been SO inspiring to watch your journey and watch you grow in your career. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve run to all your social media platforms thinking “Hmm. What would Teni recommend? Would Teni buy this product? What would Teni do?!” LOL! So thank you! Thank you for being an inspiration and a positive role model for female professionals everywhere. I’m a writer as well. I worked in newspapers for years before transitioning to corporate communications, and though I love what I do, I miss the creative outlet reporting used to give me. You have inspired me to get back into my craft! To go back to my first love — simply putting pen to paper and writing words. BEST OF LUCK on this new endeavor!! The site is FANTASTIC!!!! I have no doubt you will be 10 times more successful, and all your loyal readers are still here readin’!
Dear Teni, Congratulations!!! So excited to see the revamped website and even more excited for the beautiful contents to come in the days ahead. You have always been an inspiration for me..not just beauty related but just life in general..your personality, your sense of style and elegance, perseverance and compassion! I have always been a silent subscriber most of the time, but just want you to know that I adore you for the person you are and I wish nothing but the best for you! Much love and power to you sista! <3
LOVE!
I am so so happy right now!! So happy and proud of you Teni❤❤❤
Amazing post Teni, I follow you on snapchat, youtube, instagram etc… and I am in love with your professionalism, creativity and originality. I was waiting for a new blog post for a while, kept on coming back to Miss Maven month after month to see a new post. I honestly thought you have given up blogging- which was heart breaking because you have showed so much love for your blogs in the past. But glad to see this new website and new blogging format! Can’t wait to read more content from you!
http://www.artistkay.com