Best of 2015

 

If you've been on instagram the last few days, you can't help but notice the #2015bestnine photos in everyone's feeds.

I kind of love this.

Best nine is a great and easy tool to remember the highlights of my year, or at least my photos that trended throughout 2015.

And how genius are the app developers who are collecting all of this data from people (like myself) giving them access to their insta profiles? #nerdalert

Anyways, my #2015bestnine did a pretty good job of summing up some of the highlights of my year. Here's a little more into what my 2015 looked like.

(L to R, top to bottom)

1. Rose gold iphone! I remember the day I squealed with delight when my rose gold iphone arrived in the office. Of course my case was already purchased (Rose all day!) but the real hero of this photo is my co-worker Maggie, who let me take this pic on her phone and then texted it to me. (For the record, I'm still in love with my phone).
2. Pan-Am Games Opening Ceremony. It's no secret I wear the love of my hometown on my sleeve, so when I saw this photo from the opening ceremony of the Pan Am Games in Toronto, I had to regram it. My annual weeklong visit to TO came about a week or so later, which prompted my excitement to post the photo.
3. Goal Digger. Chalk this photo up to a cold winter, a new fashion app, and my love for witty and wordy sweaters and tees. It's a hashtag trifecta and a warm sweatshirt too.
4. Home. You might think from the picture directly below this one that Christmas is my favorite holiday, but if I had to choose, I think Valentine's Day might be #1 in my <3. (See what I did there?) This find from Target sat outside our front door for the first few months of the year and grabbed a few more likes than normal with some help from #targetstyle.
5. Morning breakfast. Confession: I love a good #viewfromthetop photo, especially if it has something to do with food. But there's little more meaning to this pic - it's one of the first photos I took from our new office, after it was set up from moving a few weeks earlier. I'm not a fan of moving, but I am a fan of great morning light in an insta snap.
6. NHL All-Star Weekend. A rare glimpse into my work life hit my feed, thanks to some last-minute unreal seats to the NHL All-Star game. This pic to me reminds me of an amazing last weekend in January, a weekend that combined professional success with a love for showing off and experiencing the best Columbus has to offer.
7. Holiday decor. I love decorating my home for the holidays and am quite proud of the aesthetic i've created over the last couple years. Here's a peek into that aesthetic, hints of silver and gold and soft lighting mixed with our mostly neutral decor and my favorite #Toronto poster.
8. Macaroons and Petit Choux at Nadege. One of the many instas from my trip to Toronto, this one came from the cutest french patisserie on West Queen West, just before Trinity Bellwoods. We had traipsed around much of downtown earlier that day and this was the perfect (and cutest) pitstop for a mid-afternoon break. Fun fact, I found this place via instagram too!
9. First trip to Roosevelt Coffee. I hold 90% of my meetings outside the office at coffee shops and had been hearing about Roosevelt for weeks leading up to this pic. The space doesn't dissapoint - open and airy with big tables for collaboration, located in a great part of town, and of course, fabulous coffee, i've been back many times since first snapping this pic.

The A List: 11.6.15

A break in the craziness of opening a sports season = a new A list!  Here's a collection of things I'm loving this week.

Spectre

I was fortunate enough to see a sneak peek of the new bond movie last night (thanks Brad!) and for those who know me, trust me when I say it kept my attention THE WHOLE TIME. The movie is sexy, opulent, expensive, gritty and cool - and boy can Daniel Craig rock a suit. But the thing I like the most about Bond movies? In a cinema full of CGI created superheroes, James Bond's action scenes and character seem real, which to me is a true action movie.

Carpool Karaoke

I’m not even ashamed to admit that a new Carpool Karaoke can make my day. James Corden’s show airs WAY after my bedtime, but his quirky, cute english humor is so delightful. His unabashed car singing is hands-down my all-time favorite bit of his. Once again, James makes the bit, he knows ALL the words, but Derulo brings it and is just as funny, fully admitting to his late-night habits and teaching James how to dance. This one might move to my second/third favorite Carpool Karaoke, after Bieber and Mariah of course.

Motor City Brewing Hard Cider

Whereas rose and white wine are my cocktails for summer, come fall I want something crisp but just a little heavier. Enter cider. I have no clue if cider has less calories than beer, but I love that it’s a nice, seemingly lighter, alternative to the hoppy stuff. My favorite cider so far? This one from Motor City Brewing.  It’s dry, not too sweet, and made with local Michigan apples. Every time I’m in Detroit I pick it up (it’s only in Michigan =( ), along with one of their delicious pizzas. My supply has been drained recently, so I think it’s time for another trip up north to restock. Dear Columbus breweries, do you make something similar?

Henri Bendel White Pepper Candle

When it’s seventy degrees in the first week of November, I have a hard time justifying fall and winter scents. Don’t get me wrong, I can’t wait until the chill is permanently in the air, and the smell of firewood, spice and cedar are SUPPOSED to be normal. In the meantime, I’m looking for something a little sophisticated and masculine to burn, while waiting for the temps to lower. This white pepper candle fits the bill perfectly

JT and Chris Stapleton at the CMAs

This week’s list is heavy on the pop-culture moments, but when there’s a moment as AMAZING as this one, you can’t not include it. JT played the CMA Awards with Chris Stapleton and in turn helped turn the country onto Chris, an amazing artist on his own. Sure Justin’s faces are classic, but his talent is UNREAL. There might not be a more talented artist out there right now - and yes, I’m VERY biased. *image via instyle.com

The A List: 8.28.15

A vacation and a week of catch-up and I'm back and ready to enjoy the last couple weeks of summer. Here's a round-up of what I've been loving this week.

1. Matte Lipstick: I forgot how much a full matte lip can finish a look. All summer I've been playing with neutrals and bronzers to complete my look and this week I decided to try a matte lipstick with my (fake) summer glow. I'm loving how it brightens my face and takes a casual summer look to next level.
2. Incanto Rose Frizzante: initially I was a skeptical rose convert, it's hard to trust a drink that looks like a white zinfandel (shudder). But I should know that Trader Joes would never steer me wrong. This Incanto rose is not sweet at all and has just the right amount of bubbly to finish it off. It's the perfect sip to savor these last few weeks of summer heat.
3. Ban. Do Florabunda Agenda: confession, I have tried every productivity app there is, some with modest success (evernote) but most without. There's something about putting pen to paper that cements thoughts and to-dos for me. And this agenda couldn't be more fun, it has places for lists and reminders for daily needs, and irreverent holidays (National Thrift Shop Day) to keeps things fun. I'm in love.
4. The library: the Columbus Metropolitan Library is truly a gem in the Columbus community. In the past month I've visited my local branch to pick up the latest novel (review of Everybody Rise to come), watched a DVD, and rented e-books for kindle app to take on vacation. AND, the library texts me when materials are in/due. Honestly? I don't know what I'd do without the library in my life.
5. Arrow: oh Netflix, you've struck again. The best thing about summer tv basically sucking is that Netflix is always waiting to serve up your next binge. And that binge happens to be Arrow. I'm loving how Arrow's characters are all badass, the girls seriously kick some butt, and the story moves fast enough for my short attention span. (It doesn't hurt that Stephen Amell provides some aesthetically pleasing scenes too). I'm officially hooked.

The A List: 8.7.15

1. The Stowe Katie Bag: once the September Issues start hitting the newsstand, I can't help but want to plan my fall & winter wardrobe. Part of that wardrobe always contains a new leather bag, and this one might be the perfect fit. Minimalist but still luxe, it will fit all of my work essentials and look great doing so.
2. Jet Set Candy YYZ Necklace: I leave for Toronto for a week on Monday and I couldn't be more excited. Upon my return I might to grab this simple luggage tag necklace so I can keep TO close to me long after my trip is over. Like the bag above, it's simple yet luxe - just like my fall style.
3. UnReal on Lifetime: when I saw the reviews on social media of this show, I couldn't believe that a Lifetime show was garnering such critical acclaim. Cue watching the first show on demand, and then realizing a few hours later that I'd blown through 5 episodes. The show is scandalous, it's hilarious, and most of all, it looks like it could be closer to The Bachelor than we think?
4. ASOS Mascot Leather loafers: until I started working in sports, amazing pairs heels were a daily part of my wardrobe. Nowadays, especially on game days, heels are just not practical to surviving an 18 hour day. Loafers and oxfords are now a large part of my shoe collection because of their amazing versatility. From skinny pants to floral dresses, jeans to a-line skirts, these loafers are perfect for the days I spend the whole time on my feet.
5. Toronto Blue Jays: I'm a little worried that as I write this I'm going to jinx the Jays, but it's definitely a fun time to watch my hometown baseball team. If they keep up on the run that their on, maybe this is the year the sports gods reward the city of Toronto? *fingers crossed*

August

How is it already August?

Time to put my feet on the ground and enjoy these last few weeks of summer.