Well, this is it: the last day of 2013. Can you believe it?
This year was full of changes. For one thing, in February my husband and I moved from San Francisco to New York!
That was definitely the biggest change of the year. For anyone that has moved across country, I think you'll understand why I don't want to do that again anytime soon! It was really difficult getting rid of so many belongings, finding a new apartment in New York's crazy rental market (we definitely lucked out), and saying goodbye to close friends. Getting used to the weather was also challenging: the summer even more so than winter!
The best thing about New York has been reconnecting with our friends who live here! It's nice to have a built-in group of people to hang out with. We didn't have that in San Francisco.
I still feel like a New York newbie, but I do feel at home in my cozy apartment, and I'm fairly confident navigating the NYC's streets (my iPhone's GPS definitely helps). I'm looking forward to exploring the city even more in 2014.
One thing I wish my husband and I could have done more of in 2013 was travel.
Although it was a slow travel year, we did take a few fun trips. In March, we met a group of friends in Chacala, Mexico for an awesome getaway.
Chacala is a tiny village located on the Pacific coast of Mexico.
If you are looking for a relaxed vacation, then you need to visit. Chacala is quiet, beautiful, and not touristy at all. It's located just north of Puerto Vallarta, which is also a great city to visit, so it's easy to get to and from. I can't wait to go back one day!
We also took a short trip to Wisconsin in August for a family reunion. It was fun to see everyone in one place, especially these cuties!
We also took a couple day trips.
In June, we spent a day in Cold Spring, a really picturesque little town located north of New York City. I'm looking forward to going back one day!
And just a couple weeks ago, we spent the day in Philadelphia. It was such a fun trip.
Next time, I'm hoping to spend a couple of nights because one day was not enough time to explore the city properly!
One of my biggest accomplishments this year was starting (and keeping up with!) Hello Little Home. I've always enjoyed blogging, and I was looking for a place to share my interests in design, fashion, food, beauty, and travel. Hello Little Home was it, and my first posts appeared in April.
I love having a creative outlet, but most of all, it's super fun connecting with readers and other bloggers. Thank you so much for visiting and sharing this space with me!
Here's a small review of Hello Little Home in 2013. My most popular post was 5 Tips for Decorating a Small Space
Other popular posts were:
- DIY Soft, Silky Hand Treatment
- Peek into My Bedroom
- Everything but the Turkey: 40+ Thanksgiving Recipes
- Layered Pumpkin Mousse
My favorite post of the year was I'm Getting Organized: Starting with Jewelry! I've really tried to keep up with this system, and it's so much easier to find that perfect necklace when I need it.
Other favorites posts of mine were:
- DIY Shashi-Inspired Tassel Necklace: I wear this pretty necklace all the time!
- Step by Step: Get Flawless Summer Skin: these products are a lifesaver for my oily skin, and I use them in winter, too.
- From Flat to Fresh: Update a Boring Beige Living Room (Part 1): I love decorating and it was so much fun pulling these ideas together! Check out Part 2 and Part 3, too.
I have lots of great recipes, projects, and posts planned for Hello Little Home in 2014. I'm taking the rest of the week off from blogging, but come back next Monday for a new post!
Happy New Year!
What was your favorite part of the past year?
I am hoping your 2014 has more traveling because I want to see the amazing pictures you always take. Though exploring New York has been just as fun to watch as Paris! Can't wait to see what you come up with this year.
You are so sweet, Anne! I am definitely hoping to do more this year, even if it's just more day trips:)