I’ve spent weeks in my neighborhood café working on my first blog post, tweaking my overuse of the em dash while tweaking off too much caffeine. I planned to kick things off with the most important milestone of my life thus far: my move from rural, central Pennsylvania to the city of Philadelphia—a tale that is admittedly overdone in the blogosphere, but formative, nonetheless. Like the straw that broke the camel’s back, I was met with the stroke of the backspace key that broke the writer’s spirit. I found myself dry-eyed and uninspired, and when you have the fervor to bring something to life, you must revive your will to write at all costs. For me, this meant following my intuitive flow and letting that piece breathe separately from me before I can reconnect and complete it. It’s a story I’ll undoubtedly release soon, but I’ve come to terms with the fact that it’s just not in me right now.
What is in me, though, is the pressing need to introduce my blog, 6th & Bainbridge.
Sometime between lattes and loops of SZA’s CTRL album, I read the quote, “if your fidelity to perfectionism is too high, you’ll never do anything.” Occasionally Twitter delivers more than Chrissy Teigen trapped on a plane. Right as my creative stagnation began festering, those were the exact words I needed to hear. I’ve been dragging my feet trying to get this thing off the ground. I’ve dumped exorbitant amounts of money I don’t have into a camera and equipment, only to fight back tears every time I’m faced with the learning curve of putting it all to use. (Side note: embarking on a photography journey alone in December is about as enjoyable as plucking each individual hair from your legs. Your move, masochists.) Nobody tells you how difficult this pursuit can be. You wage a war in your head over whether or not it’s going to be worth your time, the criticism you’ll potentially endure, rationalizing the investments, etc. Spoiler alert: if you feel drawn to doing it, YOLO out that bitch and pull every trigger.
I’ve toyed with the idea of starting a blog for years. My phone is usually glued to my hand and my social media accounts are rife with oversharing. Writing has always been my primary catharsis and the tick that keeps me up at night. I have immeasurable room for improvement that can only be filled by consistently doing. So, here I am, prematurely launching 6th & Bainbridge, because I just need to do. You dig?
Now, let’s divulge the nuts and bolts:
Who am I?
I invite you to read the “about” section on here. Be aware that it will change weekly because I’m a ~lowkey psychopath~. Kidding. I just love words, so I’m constantly searching for those with which I most closely identify because I think how we describe ourselves can be powerful. But since you’re reading this, I’m Dia. I’m a 26-year-old non-profit fundraising professional, amateur bartender, treadmill addict, foodie, espresso junkie, ignorant hip-hop head, follower of fashion, passionate hippie, and lover of love, authenticity, and being shamelessly extra. I’m obsessed with relationships (both romantic and otherwise) and maintain that they are the most important part of the human experience. I don’t know you, but I love you. You’ll learn the rest later, should you choose to stick around for the ride.
Why 6th & Bainbridge?
6th & Bainbridge are the cross streets of my favorite restaurant in Philadelphia, Bistrot La Minette. It’s a dreamy French spot where I lived out the scenes of a tumultuous love gone bad. More about all that later, but in the meantime, order the Lapin Rôti à la Moutarde and ask for Kristy.
What can readers expect to find here?
I am the proud owner of a turbocharged scatterbrain™, constantly bursting with colors, patterns, thoughts, feelings, opinions, memes, dreams, and schemes (wut?). But seriously, expect to find insight on life & love and an eclectic taste in style, food, music, travel, and more through a Philly-focused lens. My main financial rule for indulging is if it’s not a meal or experience, keep it cheap. I like budget-friendly outfits and bank-breaking restaurants. I also choose to invest in health and wellness. Life is full of highs and lows. That includes great dates and Tinder disasters. I’m here to spill ‘em both.
Apparently in the world of successful, monetized blogging, building a brand is the name of the game. I don’t know if “real shit only” qualifies as a brand, but it’s what you’ll find here. I’m not saying I won’t be calculated in what I share and how I approach this. Maybe I’ll even PAY to sponsor my Instagram posts. IDGAF, I want people to read my stuff! I’m just saying I might share career advice one day and what streetwear trend to rock at a Lil Uzi Vert show the next. My target audience is young, career-oriented, interested in sex/love/dating, multifaceted, a bit hedonistic, and fun as hell. I have zero chill and I write for people with zero chill.
I’ve come to find the longer I wait to do something, the less likely I am to do it. Time is our most precious commodity, and I resolve to use mine more thoughtfully. 6th & Bainbridge is a work in progress, but so am I. I decided to rock with it in its infancy and let people watch us both evolve together. My first blog post didn’t go as expected, but it’s here! And so are you, and I hope you’ll come back.