Can you believe it's almost the new year?! 2018 has been so crazy and has went by so fast!
I wanted to thank you for following me along my journey this year and watching me grow in real life and in social media life. I've learned so much this past year about business and about myself. Thank you to the people that have been put in my path that've helped me grow. Thank you to all my friends that had to listen to my bit**ing when I needed it! (lol)
I encourage you to make a list of all of your achievements this year. Instead of a "new years resolution" make a reflection list. See how many things you've learned and how you've grown. See all of the fun memories you've had and the sad/hard moments you've overcome.
I thought it would be fun to share my list with you!
Here are some of my favorite moments from 2018!
First and foremost, my blog is over a year old now! It's grown so much from the quality and style of the photos to the amount of followers I have. I've learned how to take proper photos and flay lays. I've learned the best places to take photos, the best arrangement of products and the best ways to pose. I remember at the beginning of the year when I had first started my blog and everything was just at it's beginning stages. I wanted to partner with brands and do giveaways but didn't know where to start. I was frustrated and confused when I saw other bloggers doing what I wanted to do. But, I didn't take no for an answer and I sure as hell didn't give up. I wanted something and I went for it.
I started by setting a small goal to start posting blog posts once a week, then my goal was to hit 5K and then 10K! I've achieved all of these goals within the year AND have been lucky enough to partner with some great brands! (one of them being VS PINK!!!) I've been so fortunate to have friends and family that support me and do anything they can to help me succeed. I've really narrowed down my style as a blogger and learned who I want to be and what I want to stand for. I've learned that everything doesn't happen all at once. (as much as I wanted it to) It takes time and effort. Lot's of rejection and lots of reaching out. Saying yes to brands that aren't super popular in the beginning and partnering with bloggers that are starting out like you. The more clout and brands you have under your belt, the bigger the brands will be that reach out. (maybe I'll write a course on everything bloggy) I just had my first ever WEEK of giveaways! It was so magical. I didn't even think brands would agree to help me out. But, once I just decided to write them and see, everything fell together perfectly! I'm so so excited for everything I've accomplished this year blog wise and I can't wait to see where it goes from here!
My next accomplishment has got to be my fitness. I started out the year working out at home. I loved it, but wanted a change and more of a challenge. I started going to a local strength training gym called Basecamp Fitness. It completely changed me and challenged me. I had never been so fit in my life. I set goals and CRUSHED them. I remember starting out and really having to push myself to go. All of a sudden, it was a part of my life. My everyday. I was going there every morning or night, eating better, really focusing on my fitness and body. I transformed my body and my mind. (that sounded so cheesy) I started out at such light weights and felt so great when I was able to do heavier ones. I was feeling so good every day and so energetic. I need to get back to working out every day because after my birthday (August) I started to go less and less. (especially as money got tighter) But, it really changed my life for the better.
I wrote an e-book this year! (did you forget? me too.) That was this year!! I wrote an e-book called "Do What You Want" which was available for free download with subscription to my blog. Why did I write an e-book? Honestly, I'm not sure. Maybe I just needed a reason to write. Or a place to vent. I just felt so inspired after ending a toxic friendship and I needed to shed some toxicity. Either way, I set a goal to write an e-book and I did it! I loved writing it and reading it back. It was something I needed to do for myself at the time and I thought other people might need to hear too. It was about shedding yourself of excuses and all things toxic and really going after your goals.
I have made some of the best friends this year. I met new people on a new job and got super close to them. This year was definitely a year of strengthening relationships and letting go of ones that were bringing me down. One of my best friends and I got so much closer this year and she's become the sister I never had. (or wife if you follow my insta stories) She's one of the closest friends I've had and has helped me so freaking much this year it's crazy. I'm lucky to have her and cherish our friendship so so much. She's a gem. (she knows who she is)
This has been a crazy year for me emotionally. It's like turning 24 changed me in some way. I never thought I would wake up on a birthday and realize so much. I went through a tiny quarter life crisis this year, after turning 24. There were so many things I had wanted to achieve by this age that I didn't and I felt so sad about it. I let it get to me for a little bit. I didn't know how I was going to get out of the rut I was in. But, friends and family helped a lot and just picking myself up by the bootstraps and carrying on. I wrote on my blog and Instagram a lot when I felt down and found that the best way to lift myself up was by lifting other people up as well.
It makes me feel so great to see all that I've accomplished in only a years time! I don't think of these things when I'm just living day by day, so it's great to acknowledge my achievements and give myself a pat on the back for them. I still can't believe how much my blog and Instagram have changed. One of my goals for next year is definitely going to be to make a course of some sort on blogging. I've learned so much this year!
I hope you enjoyed going through the memories of this year as much as I did. 2018 was a little bit of a crazy year. (I've heard for a few people) It's like mercury was in retrograde for the entirety of it...
I encourage you to write a recap of your 2018 and see how far you've come! You might be surprised how much you've accomplished. I hope you had an amazing year (and if you didn't, at least it's over) and I hope this coming year is even better. I wish you all the happiness and blessings and also wish that you achieve everything you want to achieve. As my mom would say, (and probably everyone's mom) you can do anything you set your mind to. Go out there and have your greatest year yet! xoxo
Love you!
