Hello friends! Happy holidays! Christmas is finally upon us and I hope that you are joyful and merry. Of course that’s not the script for all of us but I wish you and all your loved ones an amazing and peace filled Christmas season.

I’m spending my holidays with family as usual. We will be watching Christmas movies and playing Clue with my nieces and nephew all day long. Be sure to keep up with me on social media because that’s where all the fun is. Lol.

And on that note, what a year 2018 has been huh? In my little world there were so many ups and downs. Lots of big ones and loads of really tiny ones. Here are a few things that stood out to me this year and will probably (definitely) follow me into 2019:

We bought our very first house this year and it has quickly become our very own cozy, well lived in, home. You’d never think we moved in here only four months ago! We feel like we’ve been here forever and there are lots of pinch me moments.

I’ve had a real struggle with anxiety this year as so many changes happened at the same time. Luckily I’ve found a couple ways to deal with it and it’s my hope that 2019 comes with only fleeting moments of anxiousness and nothing more than that.

Since we bought our home, we were a bit grounded this year and traveled to South Beach, Miami for our annual getaway. Travel is the one thing I’ve not given up or sacrificed for anything because it brings me SO much joy. This year we gave up much of our travels to focus on other things and we have no regrets. This one trip gave me the break from stress and reality I needed and surprisingly, I was contented and didn’t get the itch to just throw money to the wind and travel anyway. We loved breakfast at The Big Pink, and Wynwood Walls were the highlight of our trip.

We hope to have at least one big trip next year and a couple mini ones. I’m thinking Colombia or Japan. So full of natural beauty! Where would you go?

Talking about natural beauty, if you’re following me on Instagram, you’d know by now that I’ve been a full fledged plant lady for the past few months. It started with two plants I bought for my bathrooms, then it went on to another one for the coffee table, then another for the porch and OMG it has not stopped!

I grew up around plants and trees, both in and outdoor, and it just felt like part of daily life. When I moved out on my own, which was 10 years ago (can’t believe I have not lived with my parents for 10 years), I never had plants. Didn’t want ’em, didn’t care for them. But now there has been a total 180 and I am in LOVE! They’re everywhere and there are more to come. My favorites are Sansevierias and Areca palms. I’m in the soil phase as we speak. Lol. Where can I go to learn more about soil?

Although I love plants and continue to fill my home with them, we continue to practice minimalism. We try our very best to waste as little as possible and purchase things that genuinely brings us joy. I’ve even made sure to remember that when buying gifts this year. I asked my gift would be loved? Would it be used for a long time? Is it safe and healthy for the environment? Let’s just say most people got food. Lol.

Other than these fun stuff, I’ve made so many new friends and have fallen back in love with people again!

I can go on and on but I’d rather you (and me) be out having a fun time with friends and family rather than be stuck gazing at a computer.

I hope 2018 was a good ride for you as it was for me (even with all the bumps in between) and I look forward to you joining me again in 2019, as we embark on this wonderful journey called life.

Enjoy the rest of your year and Happy Holidays!

…and as usual, thanks for stopping by!

See you in 2019.