To those that have followed Cherishburg from the early days, to those that found and followed Cherishburg along its journey, and to those just joining in on the conversation – thank you.
What Cherishburg started out as, and what it’s become, are two completely different paths woven together for the absolute benefit of our Harrisburg community.
When I started this Harrisburg-based blog, I had no real intentions of showing much of myself, let alone being the face behind it. If you look through some of the first blog posts and Instagram pictures, you’ll quickly see what I mean. In a hopeful attempt to show Harrisburg through my eyes, I left half the puzzle unfinished by remaining anonymous.
As time went on, it became hard to create conversations with you – the followers & community members – without providing you the opportunity to connect my words with who I am.
I realized my initial vision for the blog was so small and maybe selfish – not in a bad way, but I had unintentionally limited its potential. The blog started as a self-documentation of my Harrisburg story. What it’s turned into though is far more our story than just mine.
So in light of the growth Cherishburg has seen, and the amazing community & followers who help push it forward, I wanted to take the time to answer some of your most asked questions. Hopefully these pieces of my puzzle help you better understand who I am, my love for this community, and the Cherishburg blog as a whole.
- Who am I/What’s my name?
I guess it was a matter of time before I fessed up that Cherishburg isn’t my real name 😉 And since so many of you asked – I go by Bree in real life! Although it’s safe to say many of my friends have started referring to me as Cherishburg.
2. Where am I from originally/When & Why did I move to Harrisburg?
I grew up in a suburb of Phildadelphia – so I’m 100% a Wawa girl and it’s not up for discussion. Although I’ll give Sheetz credit for their mozzarella sticks.
I want to say my first time ever visiting Harrisburg was during my college years. I attended college nearby – Messiah College for those familiar – but hardly ever ventured this way. The most we ever asked one another to go to Harrisburg involved a night out at the clubs – even the Broad Street Market wasn’t nearly what it is today.
I made the move to Harrisburg two years ago for a too-good-to-pass-up job opportunity, like many Messiah students seem to do post-graduation, but I’m so happy to have stayed. (If that wasn’t already apparent).
3. What’s my day job/Do I blog full-time?
Cherishburg is not my full-time job, it’s more of a passion project! I work full-time as a Copy Project Manager at an Internet Marketing firm in Harrisburg. Without getting into the details, I don’t write at all in my current role, but I get to foster those that do. It’s the perfect ‘day job’ for me as I get to fully invest creatively into Cherishburg after hours.
I particularly look forward to my walks home from work when I get to begin brainstorming and setting plans for what I can bring to Cherishburg next!
4. Where do I live in the city?
I live in Midtown!
5. Where did your love for Harrisburg come from?
The simplest answer – mindset. I firmly believe mindset can help shift your perception of any place, person, event, job, you name it. Moving to Harrisburg meant saying to myself, “this is home now, how do I make it feel like that?”
I had to make the decision to truly invest in and be a part of the city I lived in. Harrisburg holds more than meets the eye, but that means you might have to dig a little. I attribute a lot of the love I’ve unraveled to my blog and the push it’s given me to never stop digging.
6. What inspired the Cherishburg blog/Why did I start blogging?
I have a natural love for writing – always have! I swore I’d one day publish a book, although I guess that’s still an option, but for now blogging feels more manageable and creative.
I majored in Public Relations during college because I loved how the career connected my passions for writing and creativity. However, my current job is not PR driven and it pulls on different skills of mine, so I needed an outlet. Blogging gives me the option to write about whatever I’m dreaming up, and writing about Harrisburg specifically helps me narrow down what to actually write about!
I chose to title the blog Cherishburg because I love how that word plays on exactly what I wanted the blog to do – show the inner-workings of our little city and all the good here. I am first to admit I didn’t necessarily have the best impression of Harrisburg before moving here, so I wanted to blog about and document my changed perception after making the move.
Cherishburg turns two this coming June, and I love looking back on how much has changed but how the initial vision is still so present.
7. Where do I shop?
Honestly I’m flattered at the number of questions about my clothes and shoes! I’m a huge supporter of small clothing boutiques, and always pop into them when I’m traveling, which helps curate a unique wardrobe in my opinion. But on the regular, anyone who knows me knows I am quite possibly TJ Maxx’s biggest advocate.
I’m also a big shoe-lover, and find a good chunk of my shoes at the Lancaster Nordstrom Rack. I would advise not walking in the store unless you plan to leave with at least two pairs of shoes though – it’s dangerous but worth it.
What’s In Store for Cherishburg’s Future
If I’ve learned one thing, it’s to never underestimate the power of community and the good that can come from investing in it. While I have a ton of ideas rattling off in my head at any given moment, I’m excited for the unexpected and limitless potential Cherishburg has in store.
Stay tuned.
Cherishburg 
love this and you xo
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