There’s no need for me to talk about 2020 and how much of a dumpster fire it was. We all experienced it and hopefully came out relatively unscathed on the other side. But for all of the things that went wrong and sucked, there were oh so many that went right. For me, I enjoyed getting to spend some extra time in our old house before we sold it, as well as spending the extra time with Nick and Sebastian as we worked and learned from home, and creating our new traditions while making the best of crappy situations.

In November, I started a daily practice of gratitude that I’ve worked to continue into this new year.  Then a colleague & friend of mine on Facebook gave me the wonderful idea for this blog post: She posted one photo from each month of 2020 that captured joy and I wanted to do this same.

And honestly, the best part of this little project was realizing how hard it was to pick just ONE photo!

I’m so grateful that I had so many happy moments that I can cherish and remember when I look back on one the worst years ever.

So, here are my best parts of 2020.

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Happy birthday to me! I’m 32 years old today and I think I’m looking & feeling pretty good. Also, I hope everyone has a very happy new year!

For the past few years I’ve written a review post featuring my favorite outfits from that year. Since I took a six-month break this year and haven’t posted many outfits in 2016, I decided to instead share my favorite outfits since I started documenting my outfits. I technically started blogging in 2010 but it was just an ‘every now and then, when I felt like it’ sort of thing. I started blogging my outfits in 2013 when I started graduate school. So the outfits outlined above and detailed below are from the past three years. The majority of my favorites are from 2014, when I was finally hitting my stride in blogging. And the outfits I chose are the ones I’ve worn the most in real life and would totally (read: will most likely) wear again in the coming year.

Original post 1: Plum is one of my favorite colors. Even in 2013 when this was taken.

Original post 2:  I was figuring out how to dress like a graduate student and succeeding.

Original post 3: Weekend layers are perfect for any backyard bbq.

Original post 4: Wearing sweaters in the summer because of office air conditioning.

Original post 5: When a short girl is able to successfully pull off a midi skirt — it’s not too long!

Original post 6: I have a lot of little green dresses but this is one of my favorites. Perfect for holiday parties.

Original post 7: Sequins are perfect for any party, but especially a holiday party.

Original post 8: A fuzzy sweater, boots, and a knit hat to keep me warm and cozy in the winter.

Original post 9: Warm breezes in the middle of February make you dream of warm sunshine.

Original post 10: I’m drawn to neutral colors, especially white, with maybe a splash of color in the form of an accessory or blazer/jacket.

Original post 11: My favorite little black dress that can be worn for day and night.

Original post 12: I finally found a job after grad school and got to wear cute outfits like this again.

Original post 13: That one piece of clothing that I love more than anything but I’m afraid to wear, even though it has shown up twice in this list.

Original post 14: Adding some color to my collection of jeans/bottoms with these purple pants. And rocking a cute baby bump.

Original post 15: When a short girl is able to successfully pull off a blanket scarf and it doesn’t swallow her whole.

I’m hoping that 2017 is a much better year than 2017. Also, one last time:

photo source

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Happy Birthday to me tomorrow! I can’t believe another year has gone by and that it’s time for me to share with you a few of my favorite outfits from this past year. Nick and I are spending my birthday at our nation’s capitol, visiting an old friend. Not a bad way to welcome 31.

Looking back, I see that I wore more skirts, dresses, and non-blue denim, which tells me that I’m doing a good job not automatically reaching for my jeans. In May, I graduated from my master’s program and after 6 long months I rejoined the workforce. This coming year, I plan to show my many neglected pencil skirts some much-needed love. And according to my favorite outfits, I seem to be well on my way to creating more office-worthy looks.  I feel like I’m trying to get a good grasp on what my style really is while still trying out new looks and trends. Since things are going to calm down a lot in 2016 – meaning I’ll be finding and maintaining a better routine – I believe this will be the year I really find myself.  So, without further ado, here are my 15 favorite outfits from this year.

Original Post 1: One of the best Pinterest-inspired outfits I’ve created

Original Post 2: A warm breeze in February had me dreaming of warm sunshine.

Original Post 3: For Valentine’s, Nick surprised me with dinner and a show… and I had to decide which look to go with.

Original Post 4: Sunshine and 80 degrees give you shorts weather.

Original Post 5: A gorgeous beaded tank that also *slightly* feels like a suit of armor!

Original Post 6: On Saturday, May 9, 2015, I graduated with my Master of Public Health degree from the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University!

Original Post 7: I loved everything about this fun, spring-y outfit.

Original Post 8: In an attempt to reassess my closet, I found that I’m drawn more and more to neutral colors.

Original Post 9: I found a floral tank that mataches almost every cardigan and balzer in my closet.

Original Post 10: Here, I found a way to use inspiration photos to make the outfit my own.

Original Post 11: This is what I wear for a double date that includes lots of wine and cocktails.

Original Post 12: LBD look for day (and for night!)

Original Post 13: The Grecian-inspired dress that I wore to my friend’s Muslim wedding.

Original Post 14:  A new part-time job allowed me to dress in my office attire.

Original Post 15: I love this shirt, as evidenced by it showing up twice in my list!

I believe that 2016 is going to be the best yearyet for me, and I hope everyone has a happy New Year full of love and fun and whatever else you desire!

<3,
NCsquared

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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!

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