Hi, lovelies!
This is it! It’s officially New Year’s Eve, and at the stroke of midnight, 2019 is over. I can’t help being in an introspective mood as I think of all the things that happened in 2019 that defined the year for me, and what I want my 2019 to look like.
What better way to close out this year with a highlight reel for you, my amazing readers?
Read some of my top moments and check out my year in pictures below. Then, comment and share your top moment or moments of 2019! I read every comment, and can’t wait to share in the good memories with you! 💖
Looking Back On 2019, A Year of Surprises
Of the past few years, 2019 may be one of my very favorites. It was a year full of surprises, and a lot of surprisingly deep, emotional moments. I’ve also done the most work on myself this year – realizing new things, gaining new perspectives on life.
I’ve really made this past year an ongoing project to dive deep into myself, learn about myself, find my weaknesses and flaws and work on strengthening myself as a person. I reached out and connected with close friends, saw relatives I haven’t seen in so long and explored new places that added to my self-work along the way.
Here are some of those top moments!
1. Visiting Galina in Los Angeles
In May, I made a trip cross-country to visit Los Angeles (my favorite city!) and catch up with my friend Galina. I love styling clothing for trips to LA – I feel like I can play with those quintessential West Coast motifs that are a little harder to get away with in Atlanta!
Red lips, heart-shaped sunglasses, and loose beachy waves were all on the look menu for my California trip!
Galina and I have known each other for over 10 years since she used to live so close to me in Atlanta!
The days with her were so fun and refreshing as we hit up some of her favorite spots around town. We ate at Nobu in Malibu, and couldn’t resist some of those world-famous treats from Laduree in Beverly Hills!
Visiting with Galina reconnected me to my roots, and to a friendship that has lasted over a decade. It was the perfect refresher before I took the most important trip of 2019 – returning to Ukraine to visit my grandmother.
2. Visiting My Grandmother in Ukraine
Whew! I feel like I had been back from LA for two seconds before I was off on a flight to Ukraine! I barely had time to unpack and repack for this next trip, but I was so happy to do it.
This is my grandmother. 💖
My grandmother is one of the most important people in my life, and it’s honestly been heartbreaking not being able to see her as often as I’d like to.
You see, my grandmother practically raised me! I’m her only granddaughter, and both my parents worked a lot when I was younger, so I spent so much time with her. She is practically my mom, and I haven’t seen her in over 6 years. It’s been really hard.
For a few years, there was an ongoing war in the Eastern part of Ukraine which made it unsafe to go there. On top of that, the major airport was completely destroyed, which made traveling extremely difficult. This year, it was safe enough to go back to Ukraine, but there’s still no airport.
That meant my parents and I had to take two flights and spend 17 hours on a train to get to my grandmother, but it was totally worth it and I’d do it again in a heartbeat. My grandmother was so happy to see me, and I had the best time.
3. 4th of July in the Dominican Republic
As you guys know, I spent some time in the Dominican Republic over the 4th of July. I was initially nervous about going after a rash of tourist deaths in the area, but I was totally safe and had an amazing time.
The white sand, bright sun and beach time was exactly what I needed to rest, reflect and get clear on my goals for the rest of the year.
I always try to take a relaxing tropical vacation in the middle of the year. This really helps me avoid burnout and maintain focus. In fact, I highly recommend it. It may seem extravagant, but taking this time to rest, and invest in yourself can change your perspective SO MUCH.
4. My Mom’s 50th Birthday Celebration
August brought an important day for the family, my mom’s 50th birthday. We had so much fun celebrating her life and this major milestone, and we really went all out for her. Doesn’t she look like a princess in the shot above?
I love her so much. 💖
6. Wedding Season in Vancouver, B.C.
Another fun highlight of 2019 was traveling to Vancouver for my boyfriend’s family. In his family, August is usually a heavy wedding season, so we attend multiple celebrations.
I always love visiting Vancouver, because there’s so much to see and do. It’s a completely different world than Atlanta – with moody ocean views, complex eateries with unusual menus and honestly breathtaking views.
7. New York Fashion Week
New York Fashion Week seemed to rush up right after that, and it was a hectic time of planning. Planning which shows to see, where to stay, and most importantly, what to wear! For a play by play of NYFW, you can read my blog about it here!
NYFW was everything I dreamed it would be. Very glamorous, exhausting, interesting, and emotionally rewarding. There was so much to see and do, and I really felt as though I had ARRIVED!
Plus, I sat in the front row for some immensely popular shows, which was a life experience I will never forget. 💖
8. Launching the NotBasicBlonde Podcast
October was very busy and full of work and events, and so many new brand partnerships.
One of the big things that I was so excited about was finally launching the NotBasicBlonde celebrity Podcast.
That project has been in the works for a while now, and October was the month I took a deep breath and pressed Play! You can find the podcast on iTunes and follow along on the @nbbpodcast on Instagram if you haven’t already!
Plus, I celebrated my birthday with friends and family, and definitely got the best gifts! 💝
9. My Dad’s Birthday/ Trip to the Bahamas
I’m going to combine this one into one highlight, since both happened in November. In fact, maybe the entire month of November should be my highlight!
First came my dads birthday – my stepsister came to visit from New York to celebrate! In case you haven’t guessed, we really love celebrating birthdays in this family.
Right after my dad’s birthday, my boyfriend and I took a trip to the Bahamas. It was my first time going, and I couldn’t have been more thrilled to escape the dreary Atlanta weather and head for the sunshine.
My boyfriend and I usually travel for the holidays. That’s the only time he really gets off, so we try to pack as much travel as we can into the last part of the year.
10. Back to Vancouver!
To finish up the year, we headed back to Vancouver to celebrate with my boyfriend’s family. Fun fact: my family and I are Christian Orthodox, so we celebrate Christmas on January 7th – not the 25th. However, I spent lots of time with my family before I left, so they didn’t get too upset that I was away.
Looking back on this year, it was full of fun, travel, family, and friends. What more can you ask for? Let me know your yearly highlights in the comments below… and cheers to a great year! 🥂
