2017 is just a week away!! I was all ready to say buh-bye to 2016 when at a team lunch, my co-worker suggested we share the highlights of our years. I took a moment to pause and think back on the year. There were certainly some lows but there were quite a few highs.
This year I:
- Saw two of my best friends get married (Bawled like a baby at both weddings)
- Reconnected with old friends
- Knocked 2 more states off my list (Utah and Illinois)
- Strengthened current friendships
- Rediscovered my love for barre and how those 55 minutes ground me
- Gained new skills and took professional development courses
- Completely redesigned the look of DC Girl in Pearls (Thanks to the incredibly talented Katie Williamsen!)
- Spent 4th of July weekend on a fireboat tour of DC with my family
- Flew to Arizona with my family to start the search for our new home
I’m sure there are a billion other things that I’m forgetting right now as I type this at the airport waiting for my flight. As much as I wanted this year to hurry up and be done, now that I’m on my way home I’m praying the next week goes as slowly as possible. I haven’t mentioned it here on the blog yet but my parents are planning to put our home in Buffalo on the market in the spring and move to Arizona in early summer. So this is our last Christmas in my childhood home. Oh dear god, the tears are starting already. I have my Buffalo bucket list ready (spoiler alert: Lots of wings are involved) and want to soak up every last Christmas memory from our home as possible. I’ll write more about the move in a later post but right now I’m in tears and in public so we need to move on before my tears blur the computer screen.
Wearing: Lately, I’ve been all about the plaid! To me, there’s nothing more holiday-perfect than a festive, colorful plaid. Double points if the plaid is a flannel shirt, especially since it’s chilly in Buffalo. I love my plaid flannel shirt from L.L. Bean, the relaxed fit looks great with jeans or leggings for casual days but also can be tucked into a shirt for a more pulled-together look. If you need a last-minute outfit for Christmas Eve, Old navy has a plaid mini for under $20! Just add patterned tights and black patent flats.
Eating: While I’m home, I’m all about the pizza and wings. Which means a lot of barre when I get back to DC. But I’m on vacation so shh, calories don’t count. If you’re looking to get your Buffalo fix without the guilt, my Buffalo roasted chickpeas wrap does the trick! While I’ve got my go-to must-haves in Buffalo, there are also a ton of cool places I want to check out. I’ve still never had Lloyd tacos, which is apparently shameful and something I’m told needs to be corrected ASAP. Follow my IG stories (@DCGirlinPearls) for food adventure updates.
Watching: I’m six episodes into The Crown and I gotta say, John Lithgow as Winston Churchill is everything. This isn’t your typical binge-watch though, the episodes are slow-moving but pack a ton of information into each one. But if you want a good ol’ binge-watch with the family, Gilmore Girls Revival was amazing!! That ending though…
Loving: Sequins! I’ve always loved NYE. Between the idea of a fresh slate and the abundance of sparkly drinks, there’s such a romantic side to the evening and I love it. Plus, who doesn’t love a built-in excuse to wear sequins all day?! This sequin pencil skirt from Ann Taylor is so much fun and it’s 50% off right now.
Reading: I fell out of the habit of reading this year big time. So much so that it’s going at the top of my New Year’s resolutions list. I’m trying to get ahead of this resolution though so right now I’m reading Grace Not Perfection by Emily Ley. If you have any recommendations, let me know!
What do you think about more posts like these? I’m thinking of making this a monthly thing where I roundup my favorites and give a more personal life update. I’m brainstorming content for 2017 (!!!) so if there’s anything you’d like to see on DC Girl in Pearls, please comment below or email me at lauren(at)dcgirlinpearls(dot)com!
Merry Christmas, safe travels and I’ll see you on Monday!
Photo by Rosa
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You’re seriously being rocking the plaid. Honestly, your outfits have been above and beyond my faves recently. Merry Christmas!
x0x0 Caroline http://thecarolove.com/
Thanks, lady!! Merry Christmas to you too!