And after reading my friend Carrie's review of 2016, I'm adding my thoughts on each month so that I can always look back and find memories of this year.
January: Winter Parties
The year began calmly and quietly for me. I honestly don't remember too much that happened in January...but considering how the rest of the year would turn-out, that is fine by me! I do know that I celebrated the baby shower of my dear friend since second grade, Lisa, because that was the occasion for this outfit.
February: Create28: Faire Isle Sweater
In February I co-hosted the Create28 Challenge with my friend Carrie. We invited other blogging friends to join us this time and had a blast! Personally, February proved to be a really difficult month. My vibrant, generous and loving Aunt Ninie suffered a ruptured aneurysm. My family and I spent many hours with her at the hospital only to find that she wouldn't really recover. She is still alive but now spends her days laying in a bed at a nursing home. We still visit and pray that there is some sort of recovery in her future.
March: Little Changes
With March came the end of (cheer) coaching season and a little bit more free time! I took advantage and flew to North Carolina for a weekend with my above-mentioned friend Lisa, her husband Ryan and their brand new baby girl, Charlotte! I expected a weekend in snuggling with the little one, but my travel-loving friends took me to Asheville to visit the Biltmore and to eat delicious southern food. A little perk of heading south was that I got to meet my long-time blogging buddy, Selah, and her adorable kiddos!
April: Style Perspectives: Plaid
In April, I was invited to join an amazing group of women as a contributor for The Blended Blog. Joining these ladies has been the biggest blogging blessing (say that three times fast). They are so very loving and supportive during all of life's ups and downs. They each have a unique blogging voice so I definitely recommend getting to know them!
May: Style Perspectives: A Graduation Style for Teachers
Oh man was May a great month! I celebrated my 30th birthday in the company of some of my closest friends and family in Orlando! We spent my actual birthday at the Magic Kingdom but also got to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and drink around the world at Epcot. I'm still blown away by how many of my loved ones made the effort to be there with me. I am a lucky lucky girl! On a sad note, we lost my beloved Grandpa Emery in May after a long and happy life. I have one heck of a guardian angel up there!
June: Take Me Out to the Ballgame
June was a month of healing for me. I said goodbye to a man that I cared for deeply and began to rebuild myself. Lots of yoga and iced coffee had me feeling a bit better by the end of the month.
July: Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed and Something Red, White and Blue
In July my family and I traveled to the Pittsburgh area to celebrate the wedding of my cousin Eric to the hilarious and amazing Mandy! They were married during Fourth of July weekend so I got to wear this fun red, white and blue outfit to the event. After Pennsylvania, my mom and I headed to Nashville to spend time with my niece! I got lots of Eloise snuggles and my mom and I had a fun night out in the city. At the end of the month, I got to spend more time with my favorite people. I took a trip to the Washington D.C. area (where I used to live) to be with my friends and eat at my favorite restaurants.
August: Styled by Someone Else
In August I had one last summer hurrah at the beach with some lovely friends before heading back to my classroom to prepare for the school year. I also started another season coaching cheerleading with some wonderful girls!
With school and cheerleading in full swing, I don't think much else happened during the month of September. Oh yeah, there was Michigan State Football. But let's not talk about the Spartans this year. At least the tailgating was fun!
October was full of fun! At the beginning of the month I traveled to San Antonio to be in the wedding of my friend since middle school, Michelle! I loved spending time with her and her family and enjoyed the warm Texas weather. I also got to meet Carrie! Talk about hitting it off! I feel like I've known her my whole life and I'm so blessed to be her friend. At the end of the month, two of my closest friends from D.C. came to visit! We had tons of fun going to the MSU vs. UofM game (even though we lost) and celebrating Halloween together. Wow, I'm just so lucky to have such wonderful people in my life!
Along with getting into the holiday season, in November I went to CHINA! It still seems so surreal! I mean, I got to walk along the Great Wall of China, reflect at the Summer Palace and eat a scorpion. Truly a once in a lifetime experience! I realize that I still haven't written a post about my trip. You can expect that in the next couple of weeks.
And December has been filled with holiday sparkle, friends and family! I've loved spending time in my cozy little apartment, all decked out for Christmas! For the actual holiday, I traveled to Missouri to spend time with my loved ones. And when I got back, I finally did something that I've been planning for years! I got my first tattoo and I absolutely love it!
And with that, I'm off to figure-out what to wear for NYE tonight! What have your highlights of the year been?
Also I would love to know, which of these looks is your favorite? And what were some things that you loved to wear this year?
And friends, thank you for being a part of my 2016 and happy new year!
