THE BEST OF 2017

A BIG ONE! 

This year has been so rewarding, and it has left me more grateful than ever. It has been challenging in ways I never expected, however, it has changed me for the better. 

Looking back on 2017 was so much fun as everything has been documented here on the blog! It's amazing how much you can accomplish in just one year. So without further ado, here are my top five moments throughout my entire year, along with the top posts of everything throughout the blog below!! 

I GOT ACCEPTED TO... |  BEING A BRIDESMAID | 

TURNING TWENTY |  VANGUARD UNIVERSITY |  DYED MY HAIR BROWN

         

          

                                                 
                                                                             
As always this is my favorite type of post to write up. This year I really explored some new topics, and I loved the response from you all!!


Here were the top three...

COMPLIMENTS 

ROMANTICIZE BEING BUSY 

SORRY NOT SORRY 

            

Photo styling will forever be my favorite part of blogging, and this year under the beauty category of the blog I can see this area shine the most.

Surprisingly I have a round up of around 6 posts for the year including hair, tutorials, and even makeup! So happy about this improvement you guys.

5 DAYS OF SELF CARE 

MY HAIR STORY 

WHY I THREW AWAY MY MAKEUP

TOP BEAUTY ESSENTIALS

I am obsessed with traveling and this year I have explored some amazing places in California!! Every year since sophomore year in high school I have had the privilege of venturing to different places in the U.S. and this year I flew back to Virginia for the second time ever.

Back in the summer and during Thanksgiving weekend my family drove up to the Central Valley! Now I just simply wish we lived there, haha. The beaches there are crystal clear and beautiful with all it's cliffs and rocks.

Okay, here were the top posts everyone loved from my adventures this year...

AVILA BEACH

THE DUTCH VILLAGE 

SHELL BEACH

DISNEYLAND FOR CHRISTMAS  

  

       

Again I rocked at blogging in this category, haha. Can you tell my theme for 2017? I enjoyed blogging!! 

I had the opportunity to explore so many new coffee shops, share more about who I am, home decor tips, start a Sunday reading series, keep up with the book club, & post constant life lately's. 

ADVICE TO MY TEENAGE SELF 

DITIGAL DETOX 

STEPS TO THE PERFECT BOOKSHELF

GET TO KNOW LILY ROSE 

So many outfits to chose from this year too! Yay! I put a lot of my outfits under the lifestyle category, but they count as both, haha! 

Here are my top 5...

MILK & HONEY 

GRAND TRADITIONS 

MOONSTONE BEACH 

CHRISTMAS TREE HUNT 

AN OCTOBER SUNSET 

WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR

isneyland has simply been the best way to start off my December! My sister is absolutely obsessed with Disney, so I promised her a trip just the two of us before her annual pass expired. It turns out that Sunday's are the best day to go because we were able to hit 7 rides within only two hours!! Oh and my number one tip is to use fast passes. They were a life saver and allowed us to cut the line completely! 

The whole park was beautiful at night when all the lights came up! I have to say it was so hard taking photos around the park and I'm just lucky I have these to share let alone ones at night! So perhaps I next time I will start earlier in the day, haha. 

I've been to Disney many times yet for the first time I went on Space Mountain, Thunder Mountain Railroad (which is now my favorite), and Winnie the Pooh. It was so much fun. The only ride I wish we could have seen for Christmas is the Haunted Mansion, however, It's A Small World was a two hour wait ,which kept us behind schedule. I can't wait to go back because my sister is the best person to go with!! 

DECEMBER SMALL GOALS | 2017

h my gosh you guys!! This will be the last small goals post of the year. Absolutely crazy how fast this year is flying by. I am officially done with college for my fall semester and it feels freeing. Over the weekend I have loved scrolling through my favorite blogs to catch up on everything I seemed to miss during my finals week, and it is making me so excited to write my own content now.

I am going to be brainstorming some new content for the beginning of the year, so if you can think of anything in particular you'd like to see comment below! I'd love some suggestions.

November goals...

1. Blog more | Ugh. My blog has been lacking content but I hope this will change come January!

2. Christmas shopping | I still have two more people to shop for.

3. Drink more water | Yes, I've done this so much more and its helping me.

4. Find podcasts to listen to | Nope. This one is soo hard for me. Any suggestions?

5. Get a pedicure | I didn't have time with finals. I need to do this though.

December goals...

1. Preschedule blog posts | I can't wait to tackle this.

2. Read a book | I have a book I've been meaning to finish and I know I'll be able to considering its a beautiful coffee table type of book.

3. Make a Christmas recipe | I would love to make some desert for the holiday.

4. Catch up on journaling | I haven't been journaling since I left for the semester and I need to stay updating on all different ones I have.

5. Watch Holiday Movies | Netflix has so many good Christmas movies I have been saving for this month like White Christmas and Grinch.

CHRISTMAS TREE HUNT

logging for six years has produced a lot of content and constant brainstorming. I still have so much to tackle when it comes to my dream photo shoot spots, and today's post was one of them. This green coat worked so perfectly for this gorgeous backdrop!! We visited our favorite spot at Avila Farm, which is full of local produce, candy, and bakery goods, along with animals to feed. It is truly so much fun to buy a few snacks and walk around especially this fall with the colored trees. 

When I drove in and saw their fresh Christmas trees lined up all over the property, I fell in love. It smelt like fresh pine all day. My family has stuck with a fake tree for years now so any chance of being around a real one that smells good is my favorite! 

This sums up the last scheduled posts from our Thanksgiving weekend trip up North! It was so much fun and nice to getaway from everything. I'm back at Vanguard now, but I only have two weeks left until my winter break. I'm officially on countdown now, haha!  

PLANT LADY

he Garden Shed is the cutest little center in Cambria. It's full of boutiques, home goods, and garden stores. Cambria is s tiny beach town with about a 2 mile strip of restaurants, shops, coffee, and even community needs such as a church and post office. So for me, the Garden Shed has the most unique shops, and prettiest courtyard. 

This one shop called 'Grow' is full of succulents! It was so gorgeous with the sunlight I had to do a mini shoot. Made me wish I actually had a succulent or plant lady graphic tee to wear for the occasion, haha. So if you are in Cambria enjoying the beach side and feel like hoping into town check out the Garden Shed!! 

MOONSTONE BEACH

ambria is such a beautiful and little beach town. The central coast is seriously my favorite place in the whole world. My family and I spent our Thanksgiving weekend in San Luis like we did this past summer!! This time around we visited some more local favorites that I haven't been to since I was about nine years old. 

The beaches here are incredible. The water is crystal blue, and these photos almost don't even give it any justice. The ocean here is absolutely scenic because of the rolling hills and large rocks the waves crash on. It reminds me so much Hawaii! One day I would love to live up here.