The Highlights and Lessons of 2018
I thought about sharing all the amazing parts of 2018 for this post. However, my life, just like everyone else’s, is not perfect. So I thought I’d share both sides to 2018. The highlights and the lessons I learned along the way….
Paris in April was an incredible trip and reminded me how much I love to travel. See all of my photos and travel suggestions here.
Italy for 2 weeks this past September was a definite highlight of the year. The best part… Elizabeth’s wedding in this incredible garden. More photos of what I wore here.
My trip to Aspen was incredible and the perfect way to end 2018. You can read about my trip and Aspen travel guide right here.
A trip to San Luis Obispo to visit the Madonna Inn and their famous pink tennis courts. I also took up tennis + polo lessons this year. Two things I’ve been wanting to do for years.
Attending my first awards show, the AMA’s. Getting to walk the red carpet and watch the performance are memories I’ll never forget.
Girls Trip to Rancho Mirage for a much-needed getaway early this year.
Visiting my best friend from high school and getting to experience all that Nashville has to offer. Check out my Nashville travel guide here.
My first trip to Joshua Tree Acres. Definitely hoping to visit again next year and stay longer than one night. See my Joshua Tree Acres Travel Guide here.
Last, but certainly not least. My trip to Aspen last week was absolutely incredible. I am currently working on a travel guide to share all the photos and travel suggestions for Aspen. I would love to go back again next year.
The Lessons Learned….
This year was the year I said goodbye to my baby of 15 years, Zcinny, as he went to a new home. Although I know he’s well loved and cared for, it’s still hard that he’s no longer mine. Especially with 15 years of memories between us. You can read more about him here.
I shared my experience with the IUD this year. It was deeply personal and a bit uncomfortable to share. However, it was from this story that I decided to share more personal experience with you all in the hopes that what I’ve learned can help other women.
Heart Break. I learned a lot about myself this year after my year-long relationship ended. We have to believe what we are truly worth and will no longer stand for. As much as I love being in a relationship, I know that being on my own is better than being in a relationship that just isn’t a good fit. Here is my post on how to get over a breakup.
Invest in your business. I spent a lot of 2018 feeling overwhelmed by a massive to-do list. It was this year that I learned to reach out for help, hire help and not try and tackle everything by myself. Hire a professional who knows what they are doing so that you can rest assured that the work has been done correctly. This can include an accountant, a graphic designer, a photographer, a handyman. All these people can help you succeed and take some of the stress off your plate.
Everything is going to be okay. There were moments earlier this year when I would have an emotional breakdown from the stress of a bad relationship, running my own business, and self-doubt. Honestly, this really happened on more than one occasion. But you know what? I survived. In fact, I learned what causes me to get to that point and how to avoid it in the future. I learned to believe in myself, the power of hard work and to surround yourself with people who support you.
I hope you all enjoyed these highlights and lessons learned in 2018. Thank you for being a part of my journey and supporting me in all of this. I wish you the world and a Happy New Year!
xoxo,
Laura
