I don’t consider myself to be very artistic or creative. In fact, I was a very late to use Instagram because I didn’t feel creative enough to use it, but sometimes I surprise myself and take photos that turn out kind of nice. These are the best/my favorite Instagram photos that I took last year. Not only are these somewhat artistic, but most of them just give you a little glimpse into my life. Some of them I may have already posted so I apologize if you’re seeing them again but I do hope you enjoy!

Snow falling outside of my kitchen window.

Snow in the back yard.

The perfect Valentine’s date night includes ice cream.

Wild onions in the spring time.

Coffee!

Enjoying a sunny day in the hammock.

A beautiful night out.

Flowers on the beach.

My furbabies.

I really enjoy exploring old, beautiful, and peaceful cemeteries.

My gifts reflect my lifestyle: cooking, clothes, reading, and coffee!

Nick made me a sign for my birthday!

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Happy 30th Birthday to me! I can’t believe I’ve finally hit the big 3-0, but here it is. I don’t really feel that much older, and I just asked Nick the other night what he thought it meant to “feel like an adult.” We still haven’t figured it out yet 😉 On the agenda today is fun birthday activities like manicures/pedicures, some shopping, and a fancy dinner tonight. I can’t wait!

I’ve been blogging long enough now that I can participate in a year in review so I decided to do it on my birthday, which just happens to be the last day of the year. So, most people would choose their favorite outfit from each month, but I decided to choose my favorites based on either how much I liked it or how often I wore it (which are often positively correlated). Looking back, I see that I wore rolled denim and scarves a lot, which tells me that I’ve learned how to do casual pretty well. In May, I will graduate from grad school, rejoin the workforce (*fingers crossed* that it won’t take too long), and can show my very-neglected pencil skirts some love! Until then, here are my 15 favorite outfits from this year.

Original Post 1: It was one of the coldest days we experienced in NC.

Original post 2: The secret to wearing maxis in the winter is ankle boots!

Original post 3: Figuring out how to dress casually as a graduate student.

Original post 4: What I wore on the first day of my summer internship.

Original post 5: The perfect backyard barbeque outfit.

Original post 6: Wearing sweaters in the summer because of office air conditioning.

Original post 7: I’m hoping utility vests never go out of style.

Original post 8: Sunday Brunch after my best friend’s wedding.

Original post 9: A short girl wears a midi skirt and it actually looks good!

Original post 10: Loving the plum/turquoise combo in my new favorite outfit.

Original post 11: I love wearing Halloween colors together, and I got a TON of compliments on this blazer.

Original post 12 : This outfit has all of my autumn favorites: the colors, the stripes, and leopard print.

Original post 13: Date night outfit that got the most wear while watching a movie on my couch!

Original Post 14: The outfit that made me look like I stepped straight off of a Pinterest board.

Original post 15: Holiday sequins that are perfect for any holiday or New Year’s Eve party.

I’m looking forward to 2015. I hope everyone has a happy New Year full of love and fun and whatever else you desire!

Linking up with The Pleated Poppy

Nick’s coworkers had a holiday party earlier this month, and this is what I wore. With the sequins and the coated denim (that kind of look like leather pants) this outfit would be perfect for New Year’s Eve, or as I like to call it, MY BIRTHDAY! 🙂 For the past few years, I’ve hosted a birthday party for NYE/my birthday. I haven’t decided what I’m going to wear for this year’s party but this outfit is definitely on the list.

Here’s the almost-blooper: I don’t know that I really consider it a blooper because I smile like this all the time! It’s just my face 😉

Blazer: Banana Republic | Sequin Tank: Old Navy | Coated Denim Jeans: Banana Republic | Shoes: Christian Siriano for Payless | Earrings: Old Navy | Clutch: really old, I have no idea where I got it!

Linking up with Walking in Memphis in High Heels | InDUFFinitely Me

I originally bought this skirt  with the intention of  wearing it with my white tie-neck blouse to a health conference in September but when I got it home, it felt way too short to wear to a professional event. Looking at it now, I probably would’ve been fine but I’m really loving how good it looks with the tights and booties, especially with the tapered front. And my chunky, slightly oversized sweater makes it feel perfect for winter.

I wore this outfit to date night. We had dinner, with the nicest server ever (seriously, she was so nice and smiled so much and I just loved her), and then came home to watch a movie in the comfort of our own living room. This is what happens as you get older; you prefer watching movies on your couch so you can take snack and potty breaks on your terms. Oh my, I just realized I’m turninng into my parents! 🙂

I think the texture from the sweater and skirt, along with the geometric pattern on the skirt takes this outfit from potentially dull to really interesting.

Sweater: Banana Republic | Tank: C. Luce via Stitch Fix | Skirt: Target | Tights: Banana Republic | Booties: Target | Clutch: really old! | Necklace: Kohls (old)

Linking up with More Pieces of Me

I hope everyone is having a wonderful winter holiday. Speaking of winter, isn’t this the perfect winter outfit? A fuzzy sweater, boots, and a knit hat to keep me warm and cozy. And let’s not forget, super cute! I’ve been spending this week with my family in the mountains and it’s been cold and sometimes wet, so this outfit has come in handy. I’ve also been eating a ton of great food and lounging around, so I might have to go up a size at the beginning of the year… I guess I’ve found my New Year’s Resolution! 😉

Here’s the blooper!

Cropped Sweater & Blouse: Banana Republic | Jeans: Old Navy | Boots: Steve Madden | Hat: Target | Necklace: Banana Republic | Handbag: Franco Sarto via Ross