If You Recognize These 8 Experiences, You’ve Probably Outgrown the Influencer Trap and Are Craving a More Authentic Life

There’s a quiet rebellion brewing—and maybe you’ve felt it too.

It starts with the faintest nudge: the disinterest in a flashy link-in-bio or the fatigue that washes over you during yet another “must-have” morning routine video. One day, you realize the constant consumption, the polished perfection, the endless ads masquerading as advice… it just doesn’t hold your heart anymore. You crave something real. Something rooted. Something slower and far less filtered.

If you’re nodding along, chances are—you’ve outgrown the influencer trap. And what you’re finding instead is peace, joy, and clarity that no “glow-up” could ever give.

Here are 8 beautiful, soul-deep signs you’ve stepped into a more authentic life—and why you’re never going back.

1. You still carry the same purse you found at a garage sale—and you treasure it more with each passing year.

There’s a story stitched into every thread of my old Tory Burch bag. I found it years ago at a little Saturday morning garage sale—not some trendy resale app, not from a boutique. Just a table on someone’s driveway with a handwritten sign that said "Purses $5." I remember the moment I saw it. The gold emblem, slightly scuffed. The worn-in leather that had softened perfectly with time. It had lived a life already, and I knew instantly it had more to give.

I’ve carried that purse to tea parties, homeschool meetups, garden centers, and grocery store runs. Strangers compliment it constantly. “They don’t make that style anymore,” they say. “Where did you find it?”
And when I say “a garage sale,” they blink in disbelief.

But that’s the magic of it. I’m not chasing the newest release—I’m cherishing something rare. Something with character. Something found, not flaunted. And I’ve realized that when you stop needing new, you start noticing value.

2. Your favorite outfits are thrifted, and no one knows the difference—because style isn’t about spending, it’s about soul.

There’s a soft blue floral dress hanging in my closet that cost me $4 at a thrift store in a tiny Texas town. I remember the day I found it—dusty sunbeams pouring through the windows, my toddler tugging on my arm, and this delicate little dress hidden between racks of fast fashion. The print reminded me of vintage sheets from my grandmother’s linen closet. I slipped it on at home, and it fit like it had waited years just for me.

Every time I wear it, someone stops me. “That dress is gorgeous—where is it from?”
And I always smile. Not because I’m proud of the deal, but because I love that it proves something deeper: beauty doesn’t need to be new to be noticed.

When you’re dressing for yourself—not the feed—you stop asking what’s trending and start asking what feels true. That kind of confidence can’t be bought. And that, darling, is real style.

3. Most days, you skip makeup—not out of laziness, but out of liberation.

Let’s be honest—motherhood doesn’t exactly offer a surplus of time for contouring. But that’s not why I rarely wear makeup. It’s because somewhere along the way, I stopped wanting to cover myself up. I used to chase the perfect complexion, the sculpted cheeks, the shimmer that made me look “refreshed.” But now? I want my face to tell the truth.

I want to see my freckles after a day in the garden. I want my kids to know what their mama really looks like. I want to smile at my crow’s feet because they came from years of joy and late-night baby giggles.

And if I do wear a touch of lipstick or mascara, it’s because I feel like it—not because an influencer told me it’s the new essential. My skin doesn’t need ten layers of creams and concealers. What it needs is sunlight, water, laughter, and grace. And the more I give myself permission to be seen as I am, the more radiant I become.

4. You’ve traded endless scrolling for sacred, simple moments.

There was a season when I’d scroll late into the night. I told myself it was relaxing, but it left me empty. A parade of curated lives made me feel like I was missing something—like my life wasn’t enough without new throw pillows, better lighting, or that one dreamy skincare fridge.

Now, when the house gets quiet and the babies are asleep, I light a candle and journal instead. Or I step outside and listen to the crickets sing beneath the moonlight. Or I pull out my embroidery and let my hands create something lasting.

I no longer need someone else’s life on a screen to validate my own. Real life is happening here. And I refuse to miss it because someone else’s highlight reel made me feel behind.

5. You no longer hustle for “rest.” You just rest.

Remember when rest was something we had to earn? Like if we folded enough laundry or posted enough content, then we were allowed to breathe?

Not anymore.

Now, I rest when I’m tired. I sit when my body aches. I pause not to produce more, but because I’m allowed to be human. I nap with my children. I sip tea on the porch without thinking of productivity. And I’ve learned that the quieter I become, the more clearly I can hear what matters.

We’re not machines. We don’t have to be “on” all the time. We don’t have to perform peace—we can simply live it.

6. You’ve stopped being influenced. You’ve started living with intention.

It’s a strange moment when you look around your home or closet and realize—almost everything you own was purchased because someone told you it was “essential.”

I remember a time when I had every LoveShackFancy collaboration that was released. I bought them because they were pretty, because they were limited-edition, and because I was told I “needed” them. Everyone was scrambling to get the pieces before they sold out, and I didn’t want to miss out. I justified the purchases with thoughts like, “I’ll wear it forever” or “It’ll sell fast, and I can resell it for a profit,” but in the end, it was all driven by the fear of missing out, not by my true needs or values.

But over time, I got tired of chasing someone else’s idea of “enough.” The rush of grabbing the latest “must-have” faded, and I started to ask myself better questions:

• Do I really need this?

• Will this bring peace to my home, or will it just add more clutter to my heart?

• Does this align with the life I’m creating, or is it distracting me from it?

When you start living with intention, you stop outsourcing your values. You stop being moved by trends, sales pitches, and the pressure to keep up with others. You start coming home to yourself, trusting that you know what truly adds value to your life.

7. You’ve reclaimed your identity beyond your appearance, your home, and your feed.

You are not the brand of stroller you push or the polish on your nails. You are not the matching outfits or the Instagram-worthy pantry. You are the warmth in your voice when you sing lullabies. You are the quiet strength in your bones when your kids need comfort. You are the laughter that echoes through your kitchen at dinnertime.

There’s a sacred power in rejecting the lie that you need to “present well” to be loved. You are not an aesthetic. You are a living, breathing, deeply valuable soul. Your identity is not for sale.

8. You’ve found the quiet joy of enoughness.

I used to think that contentment was just laziness with a prettier name. That people who stopped striving had given up. But now, I know: enoughness is courage.
It’s saying, “This is enough. I am enough. My life, in its mess and its beauty, is enough.”

The chipped teacups. The reused baby clothes. The porch that needs painting. The love that fills the cracks. That’s abundance.

No influencer, no matter how polished or persuasive, can offer you the richness of a life truly lived.

And friend, you’re already living it.

So if these stories sound like yours… if you’ve stopped trying to “keep up” and started settling into your own pace… welcome.

You’re not behind.
You’re not less than.
You’re free.

And that’s more beautiful than anything money can buy.

Come Join the Cottagecore Community

If you’ve found yourself nodding along, whispering “yes” as you read, then you’re not alone—and you don’t have to do this slow, intentional life by yourself.

I’ve created a cozy little corner of the internet just for women like you—homemakers, dreamers, thrift queens, tea drinkers, garden tenders, and mamas who are done chasing and ready to savor.

When you sign up for the Cottagecore Community Newsletter, you’ll get:

• 🫖 Simple, seasonal recipes that bring charm to your table without the stress

• 🌿 Sustainable living tips and thrifted inspiration for your home and wardrobe

• 🪡 DIY projects and handmade ideas for the creative heart

• 🌸 First access to my latest vintage and cottagecore clothing drops

• 💌 Exclusive letters from me—the kind that feel like a chat over tea with a good friend

• 👗 Style inspiration and outfit guides for a timeless, feminine wardrobe (without chasing trends)

Most of all, you’ll be part of a like-minded sisterhood—a gathering of women who value tradition, simplicity, faithfulness, and that beautiful blend of French country elegance and homespun charm.

Because here, we don’t sell perfection.

We celebrate the perfectly imperfect life we’re building—one slow morning, one garden bloom, one thrifted treasure at a time.

Brooke

Hello Gorgeous Threads

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Welcome to my cozy corner of the internet! I’m Brooke, and I’m so thrilled you’re here. As a homeschool mom and a lover of all things Cottagecore, I’ve built a life that’s all about creating warmth, charm, and simplicity—and I can’t wait to share it with you!

Cottagecore, for me, is about slowing down and embracing the beauty of intentional living—finding joy in baking fresh bread, tending a garden, or savoring a quiet moment with a cup of tea by a sunny window. It’s about blending the rustic charm of Cottagecore with the refined elegance of French Country style to create a life that feels both beautiful and attainable.

One of my greatest passions is curating unique, timeless treasures that reflect this way of life. Whether it’s a vintage find, a sustainable piece, or a handmade item with a story to tell, I love sharing these special discoveries with you. And now, you can shop these carefully chosen pieces right here! Each item is selected with love, bringing charm, sustainability, and elegance into your home and wardrobe.

This little community of like-minded women makes everything even sweeter. I’m so excited to connect, inspire, and celebrate the magic of Cottagecore together. Thank you for stopping by—it means the world to me. Let’s embrace a simpler, more beautiful life, one lovely find at a time!