One of my goals for 2024 is to finish at least one room in my house, and I think my home office is the most realistic contender. I have a clear vision for the space: feminine with a lot of personality. As you’ll see in the home office moodboard I put together, we’re going pink!
It’s hard to believe February marks six months of living in South Carolina. Despite moving states, starting a new job, and buying a house all at the same time, it’s been a relatively smooth transition. In this post, I’m catching you up and sharing my musings on home ownership, decorating the new place, and building community in SC.
Candidly, I don’t love the consumerism often associated with blogging. The constant pushing of Amazon products. The pressure to purchase the latest beauty trend. The emphasis on more, more, more. I try to be mindful of this in the content I share. Upon reflection, I think it is worthwhile to spotlight my favorite items of the year — those that stand out long after their initial purchase. Now that the dust has settled on last year, I can conclusively say these are my top ten best purchases of 2023 (in no particular order).
It’s time for another outfit roundup. I’m liking this little series and perhaps will expand it to be monthly at some point, should I more often remember to snap a picture before stepping out the door. For now, this is a compilation of what I wore in December and January.
The year 2023 began for me with recurring dreams about giving birth — symbolic of a new beginning.
And create a new beginning I did. Ready for change, I set big goals: Decide where to live. Get a higher-paying job. Buy a house. Travel to a new country.
I accomplished every one of those goals. Further, I had several breakthroughs in therapy and established my most consistent fitness regimen in years. As December wound down, I felt damn proud of how far I’d come in 365 days.
Then, on December 30, anxiety about the new year crept in. It taunted, What’s next?
Visiting Biltmore Estate is my favorite holiday tradition. I was four years old the first time I laid eyes on Vanderbilt’s 250-room castle, and it’s been a love affair ever since. Biltmore, which holds the title of America’s Largest Home, is always beautiful but especially shines when decorated for Christmas. Since that first trip in 2000, my mom and I have toured the mansion many times. This year, I wanted to surprise her with something we’d never done before: a Christmas carriage ride at Biltmore.
“There are years that ask questions and years that answer.”— Zora Neale Hurston
This quote resonates deeply. 2023 answered many questions for me. And many prayers.
October was another busy travel month with trips spanning six states. November was quieter. After a 27th birthday celebration in Highlands, NC, I was home for the rest of the month and finally began settling into my new life in South Carolina. In both months, fall fashion was a highlight. As you peruse what I wore in October and November, you’ll see houndstooth and monochrome spoke to me this season.
Packing for my 12-day trip to Turkey was no easy feat. The temperature would range from 40°F to 95°F, and I needed everything from conservative clothing for the mosques of Istanbul to swimwear suited for the Bodrum yacht scene. The kicker in deciding what to wear in Turkey was that it all had to weigh less than 15 kilograms to avoid surcharges on the eight flights I’d take.
After many try-on sessions and mirror selfies saved for future reference, I successfully zipped my suitcase and headed to the airport. Now back home, I’m proud to report that I wore every item I packed – sans on rain jacket, thanks to perfect weather for the entirety of the trip. For outfit inspiration for Istanbul, Cappadocia, Bodrum and beyond, look no further.
Once the dust settles on the new year — I think we’re officially at that point now in mid-February — I like to reflect on my best purchases from the previous year. I find it fun to take note of the products that stood out and made a difference in my daily life, and even more fun to share them with you! From an electric bed heater to a unique dining table to the coolest faux leather pants, these are my best purchases of 2022 in no particular order:
