An Open Letter to 2016

Hi friends,

It’s that time of year again. Well, really, it’s past that time of year. It’s time for my annual letter to the past year. Every year I write a post to look back at the past year and take note of some of the memories that took place, whether good or bad. While last year’s post included both the memories and the top 10 posts, I decided to split them up this year. Don’t forget to check out the Top 10 Posts from 2016 and see if your faves made the list!

Alrighty, here we go…

Dear 2016,

Like every year, you flew right by me and left a blaze of memories in your wake. Amazing memories. Life-changing memories. But we’ll get to that in a bit.

Also like every year, you started off a little slow in January. I had come out of 2015 so incredibly inspired, wanting to better my blog, and I wanted to get input from the most important people; my viewers. I created a Reader’s Survey and that was such an eye-opener for what my audience wanted to see and give me an idea on what to create. So much so that I was able to plan out my blog posts for the whole year! Being more organized blog-wise was a resolution / goal so that definitely helped me stick to it!

January was also the month that something truly amazing started to take form. Something that I had to keep secret from my family and friends for many months to come. But oh, 2016, was it going to be worth it.

February was a little dull, except for Leo finally winning his Oscar. We all know it was about darn time. ;)

In March I started to take blogging a bit more seriously than I had been. I realized that I needed to make some investments if I wanted to possibly turn this into a side business. I bought some courses, read some e-books, joined blog related Facebook groups, and made an intentional effort towards growing my social media.

In April, something super exciting and life changing happened in my life… Are you ready for it?… I got a new phone. I know, I know, 2016. What’s the big deal, right? Well, I had been stuck in a ridiculous contract from my carrier that would not let me upgrade my phone. Like, ever. So I changed carriers, got a new phone (in freaking rose gold!), and started living my happiest life!

I also made a trip up to Erie to try and sell a ton of my stuff at a giant indoor yardsale. In addition to my resolution / goal of being more organized blog-wise, I also wanted to do a major declutter of my house. So did  my mom. And wow 2016, did we get rid of a bunch of stuff.

While I was up in Erie for said yardsale, I had a top secret meeting for something that would change my life, and the lives of others, forever. Don’t worry, 2016. Keep reading and you’ll find out what it is.

May was a quiet month, and then June came rolling around. June was the month that I was finally able to tell friends and family what was going on in my life. I had been really unhappy in my workplace and wasn’t feeling fulfilled. I wasn’t using my creative spirit, or my college degree, and I felt like I was wasting away. At my first job out of college I loved the work I was doing, but didn’t love my employer. At my second job out of college, I loved my employer but I couldn’t stand the work I was doing (or not doing, really). I needed to find something where I would love what I was doing and my employer. And wow, 2016, did I hit the jackpot.

Believe it or not 2016, the idea to work as an art teacher was place on my heart more than 2 years ago. The Lord worked it out perfectly to happen in just the right time and involve just the right people. And seriously, it’s been the best decision I could’ve made.

With the decision made to move back to my hometown of Erie, I knew the summer was going to be insane. Not only did I have to finish out my weeks of employment at my old job, I had to move my entire house, attend some weddings, and make an amazing trip down to Atlanta. So let’s get into it…

My mom and I took a quick (like, super quick) trip down to North Carolina to see my cousin Josh get married. Josh and I have always been super close (we even share a birthday!) so it was just amazing to see him marry the love of his life, Jena. Then, a couple weeks later, I attended my friends’ wedding who were high school sweethearts and their wedding was just incredible.

In July, I worked on getting my butt in gear and move my entire house up to Erie. I downsized like crazy. I was going from a 3 bedroom house to a small studio-sized loft. Downsizing wasn’t a bad thing though. And I still have way too much stuff that I need. I might need to downsize again. ;)

After I had moved everything up in August, it was time for something I had been waiting forever for. Ever since I had heard of the blogging conference Haven, I had wanted to go. Well, when I was making bog related investments in March, I made the decision that I was absolutely going this year. And I did!

Attending Haven was the absolute best blogging decision I could’ve made. I got to hang out with some of my blogging besties and finally meet them in person (like Lindsay from Crazy Organized and Emily from Two Purple Couches!), met some new amazing friends / mentors (like Jess from Bright Green Door and Yvonne from Stone Gable!), and connected with future sponsors! Yes, 2016, Haven was a fantastic experience and I can’t wait to go back!

After I returned from Haven I immediately went on another trip with my mom. We took a short but relaxing vacation to Lancaster to see the Sight and Sound show Samson. Sight and Sound is one of my most favorite places and I had been a couple times, my mom had been a couple times, but we had never been there together. It was a great way to end the summer.

And then it was time for school! Changing careers and becoming an art teacher was the best possibly choice I could’ve made. I get to see little ones expressing their creativity and am always inspired by them. Plus, I get to do fun things like eat cookies in the shape of my boss’ head and celebrate twin day.

2016, you ended like any other year by celebrating the holidays with my favorites. This year was a little better though, because I didn’t have to rush out of anything to travel back to Pittsburgh. I got to enjoy the days and I appreciate them so much more now.

And 2017, I can’t wait to see what you bring!