2014 Recap

2014 Recap

• Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Well, I've caved to the trend. Time to review the past year!
Also, this is a great filler post till I can take some new outfit photos, so, ya know, win-win.

Now! To commence with what is perhaps my longest post to date!

To start things off, I have to reminisce on the amazing surprise party my dear friend Corina threw for me. I've never had anyone do that for me (not even my parents!), and it was such a wonderful feeling to have close friends there to help celebrate my 20th birthday. Oh, and those are all Mike's Hard Lemonade bottles filled with candy, in case you were wondering.

Day and Night // Tribal Spring // Layering Leopard

 At the start of the year, I dyed my whole head of hair for the first time. It was a brassy red that dulled to a more subdued tone, and I'm still trying to decide if I should touch up my hair that same color or try something new...would you laugh if I told you I wanted to dye it black? I've always had dark hair, but it's a distinctly dark shade of brown. I'm curious to try a jet black hair color.

I also started one of my absolute favorite jobs to date - a barista position at Moxie Java! I learned an incredible skill set, worked with awesome people, and my confidence grew in leaps and bounds thanks to the experience.

Taken // Girl On Fire // When Love Arrives

A definite highlight from the start of the year would have to be the Imagine Dragons concert I went to in February! What a fantastic show - and it must have set off a domino effect, because it was not the last concert I went to that year.

I also went to my college's Masquerade Ball, which was certainly fun. However, a defining moment was perhaps when I realized just how much I relished my independent streak, and rejected the advances of a particularly pushy suitor. It was in that moment that I finally felt comfortable with being on my own, and proved it to myself. 

Crop Tops & High Waists // Bohemian Bride // Old School Charm

 Summertime and I was wearing some zaps of happy colors here and there. Perhaps it was due to the unexpected attention from a certain male acquaintance. We ended up being friends, though that soured due to some bitterness from the opposing side..ah well. You live and you learn! Some people do not appreciate a female who's "too independent"...

Coachella Shorts // Denim Daze  // Pattern Play

The highlights of the summer would have to be:

•  the amazing, layout revamp Jessica helped give my blog! It was a much needed face lift, and I'm still in love with the adorable little dragonfruit in the header. 
• I also got to travel to Seattle and Canada on a trip with my best friend, Corina. We had way too much fun getting lost, figuring out the bus system in Seattle, and grabbing drinks and dancing with strangers in the beautiful British Columbia.
• My adventurous side was awakened this summer. I found myself getting involved in numerous hikes (see here and here) and paddleboarding adventures. I even dragged my friends out on a camping/hiking trip on the coldest days possible. They're such good sports to entertain me...

• I got to see Ellie Goulding live! She's phenomenal live, as were her opening acts. I spent the night happily swaying and dancing along to her beautiful voice and catchy beats.

Open Toes & Open Eyes // Not My Type // ChiChi Love

Right before the fall semester went into full swing, I had the opportunity to take a backpacking class! It was one of the most physically taxing things I've done to date, but I'm so glad I did it. For the weekend, we hiked up to the beautiful White Cloud Mountains, and I'll never forget the thrill of mounting the crest that never seemed to end to see that beautiful sight before me. I'd earned that gorgeous snippet of nature, and the water had never felt so good on my tired and aching feet. 

The Little Stinger

 Fall set in, and my barista wardrobe of black and white was overtaking my life. I suddenly became aware of the sophistication and chicness of a plain outfit with interesting textures.

I'm My Only Enemy // On the Edge // Over Time Too

So as I was browsing through past posts, I just realized that I never fully devoted a post to one of the most epic concerts I saw this year - Monumentour! Paramore and Fall Out Boy in one show? It was spectacular, and I'll never forget what it felt like to dance in the confetti that rained down on us. Oh, and Pete Wentz threw his pick at me, so there's that! 

Autumn Smiles // Deadly Eyes // Alley Cats

One of my favorite shoots this year was the Deadly Eyes post, featuring those creeptastic white contact lenses from Spooky Eyes! Getting that creative spark inspired me to step up my photography game once again and aim to bring higher quality outfit photos to the blog.

Of course, that's more difficult with my current living situation. I'll be keeping an eye out for possible locations to get photos at, but for now, I'm keeping plenty busy just trying to find my way back to my new home.

The last concert I went to that year, was none other than Bastille.
Can I just say that they created a devoted fangirl thanks to that show? Every time I hear Dan's voice on the radio, I instantly turn it up and bob my head, a smile creeping on my face because I still think of that concert fondly. THEY'RE SIMPLY PHENOMENAL LIVE, OKAY?

(my absolute favorite photo from the night)

Finally, to wrap up the year, I threw my first ever party, and it was for New Year's Eve! I rounded up close friends, set up a glittery "selfie station", popped in a few movies, played some fun games, and spent close to 24 hours with most of them just talking, laughing, and cementing bonds. At the end of the day (because yes, we stayed up that late), everyone was saying "Same time next year at Linda's, yeah?"

Hopefully soon I can do a basic update and let you know what's going on though! For now, hope you enjoyed the flashback to 2014. It was a good year, and I'm grateful to have done another year of blogging.

Going back through the previous year has made me realize just how much I've done and accomplished without even being conscious of it. It's been a year of experiences that helped build my newly founded confidence - which is now catapulting me into a whole new round of experiences!

Thank you to everyone who's tagged along. Whether you've been there since my Trendy Teal days or have only recently discovered The Dragonfruit Diaries, I'm thankful for such a loving community I've discovered through blogging!

Here's to 2015 being an even bigger and brighter year for us all!
(ps: since this post was so insanely long, I'll be AWOL until next week's Music Monday post - gotta recharge and get ready for the upcoming school semester. Wish me luck!)

DON'T FORGET!
You can still enter to win a pair of free Polette glasses at the giveaway I'm hosting HERE. Take a chance and enter! Because who couldn't use some chic, French eyewear to kick off a new year?

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

2 Corinthians 5:17