Year in Review

Leather Jacket: Palaleather | Shoes: ShoeMint | Earrings: Baublebar (previously posted)

Happy last Monday (and last blog post) of 2014! It’s definitely been a roller coaster of a year. I’ve graduated from college, took part in my sister’s wedding and rent out a beautiful wedding venue High Point, met my brother and sister-in-law’s new baby boy, won an amazing contest, and traveled to some cool places (NYC, Philadelphia, and Canada). It’s also been a crucial year for my fashion and beauty habits. I just wanted to take the time to share with you some of the most important lessons I’ve learned this year, as well as some resolutions for 2015!

Lessons Learned in 2014

1. 1. Fit is everything. If it doesn’t fit, don’t buy it! If it’s a little too big, spend the extra money to have it tailored – unless it’s just not worth the alteration costs.

1. 1. As long as you love it, it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. It’s always good to get a second opinion, but if you honestly love the way you look in something and the second opinion doesn’t fall in line with yours, rock it anyway! Confidence and comfort are key.

1. 1. When in doubt blend it out. Afraid of looking caked out after putting on your foundation? Blend. Messed up your eyeshadow? Keep blending. Can’t get your eyeliner just right? Blend it out into a smokey eye. Blending is how I’ve avoided so many beauty mistakes this year! My favorite blending tools are the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush ($8.99 at ULTA) and the Beauty Blender ($19.95 at Sephora).

1. 1. Quality > Quantity. Trendy pieces were fun for different college events, but I’m ready to build a lasting wardrobe. Invest in well-made basics, and take good care of them. Find a good dry cleaner near your house. Read the care instructions on all of your favorite clothes.

1. Keep learning. In all areas of life…strive to keep learning. Learn about what interests you, what will help you further your career, and definitely learn little tips and tricks that will make your life easier! I have a folder in my phone’s photo album dedicated to screenshots of different Pinterest pins, make-up tutorials, etc. for reference. You don’t have to be in school to learn 😉

What To Work On In 2015

1. 1. Plan ahead. I’ll be 22 in April, and I need to start working on the rest of my life. I would really like to get my health back on track by exercising more regularly (I stopped over the summer when I herniated a disc in my back) and by regulating my eating habits. I also want to have a decent sleep schedule and beauty routine. It’s all over the place right now due to school! It’s very easy for me to get caught up in the moment when making decisions, but I’m going to try to leave that in 2014.

1. 1. Organize & Simplify. One of my big projects for the beginning of this year is to find a way to store all of my jewelry, makeup, and clothes in a simple way that’s still me. I have an idea of what I want to do, it’s just a matter of putting aside half an hour each day to work on it, and figuring out what to keep and what to toss/sell/donate. I ultimately want to have the storage I’ve always dreamed of, since I was a little girl.

1. 1. Get back to basics. I really want to purge my closet (see #2) and start with a foundation of well-made basics. I already have some key pieces such as a beige trench coat, leopard pea coat, black ankle boots, beige ankle boots, a chambray button-down shirt, and a white button-down shirt. I want to keep building with pieces that will last me at least five years and that will go with at least six other pieces in my closet.

1. 1. Stop impulse buying. I’m usually careful about shopping, and I research the items that I’m planning to purchase on Instagram and on different blogs before I make a decision. Sometimes it’s just so hard when nobody posts pictures or reviews of how an article of clothing fits and the store isn’t anywhere near my house (or in the state of Florida, for that matter). Other times, I get a rush from making a very quick decision to buy a beauty item that I don’t need. Whatever the case, I just need to stop. #2 and #3 should help with this, but everybody has those days…

1. Passion. Post-grad life has been tough to get used to (to say the least), since I only had the summer off and went straight back to school. Somewhere along the way, I feel like I lost my passion. I don’t really talk about this with anyone, but I definitely want to get back to where I used to be with my volunteer work and my passion for helping people.

What important lessons have you learned? What are your New Year’s resolutions? Let me know in the comments section! Happy 2015, lovelies!