HOLY. FREAKIN. HECK.
Guyssssss!! Can you believe TODAY is the start of a COMPLETELY NEW DECADE?!?
Welcome back to the "Roaring Twenties" babyyyyyyy!!
Last night I celebrated and rang in the new year in Santa Barbara with my best friend {shoutout Meggypoo} and it was so dang fun getting to see her again since she moved back to the Bay Area. Here are a couple of photos from last night {before we hit downtown} just to prove to y'all that I have a life other than sitting at home watching YouTube videos {lately addicted to apartment tours}, working out, playing with my pups, applying to jobs, etc.
I am in absolute awe of the past decade, let alone the past year {2019} and it was definitely full of a bunch of highs, lows, and everything in between... It is absolutely crazy how much things have changed and I'm not going to get too too into it {and sentimental} on y'all right now because I've already spent a lot of my personal time reflecting, but thinking about the "big picture" I want to share some things with you that have changed within the past ten years.
2010-2019 {woah I feel old when I type those dates}:
✩ Phones: HELLOOOO!! A lot of y'all are probably looking at my blog post on one right now; however, the first iPhone wasn't released until 2007 {more than a decade, I know} but it took a while for people to give up their Blackberries. Also, home phones are no longer a thing anymore {although my family has one for some reason BUT nobody ever answers it and the mailbox is full}.
✩ Dating: Now a bunch of singles rely on dating apps to find "the one" {sad but true} and because of that a whole different "dating culture" has begun. Personally, I want to meet somebody in a more organic way though and not rely on technology SOOOO if you're a successful man {who is 32 or younger}, you should learn some of my favorite places to wander around // visit so we can maybe bump into each other {lol}.
✩ GPS: Holy freakin heck, what the heck would we do without Maps on our phone {or Google Maps}?! Honestly, I remember when I first learned how to drive my dad would print out the MapQuest paper and make me keep my phone in my trunk so I "knew how to read a map and follow directions," but I truthfully would not be able to go the places I do without GPS.
✩ Movie streaming: In 2010, Blockbuster filed for bankruptcy BUT thank goodness for Netflix and OnDemand!!
✩ Cars: Some now freakin drive themselves!! Is that not utterly shocking to anybody else?!
✩ Shopping: I hate to admit it because I am a shopaholic; however, shopping has been made A LOT easier and accessible to everybody. So many companies are going out of business or starting to solely rely on online retail websites because people would rather have items delivered straight to their door rather than hopping in a car and experiencing the in-store rummaging, trying on, and checking out... This has also put a dent in my debit.
✩ Connectivity: Two words... Social media. To put it into perspective, Instagram {which is one of the largest social media apps} was developed in October of 2010.
NOW -- If you want more personal, the past two days I posted to my insta stories allowing any followers {or people who stumbled across my account} to ask WHATEVER they wanted... I'm not kidding you when some are very interesting and I won't be answering sexual questions {sorry not sorry}; HOWEVERRRRR I also received some good questions and I'm going to film and edit a Q&A tomorrow to post to my YouTube channel so make sure you subscribe and have your notifications on. I'm talking about some ups and downs of 2019, my love life, plans for 2020, my fitness journey, and so much more.
Let's talk about some new year's resolutions though, because I feel like that's something that people ALWAYS ask about, and again I have put a lot of thought into some. I typically have never made resolutions and when I have thought about them there is NO way I would have stuck to them because I feel like I my "resolutions" were just the typical "don't eat carbs so you lose weight" and things like that.
New Year's Resolutions:
✩ Be healthier: I am allergic to both gluten and dairy; however, I have remained eating // drinking them and sometimes suffering the consequences {and my friends and family have suffered with me lol}. I hope to knock out eating those because I not only get rashes, feel extremely bloated, have stomach issues, and breakout from those things BUT I want to do what's best for my body. In addition {and along with being "healthier"} I want to maintain my workout regimen and continue focusing on my body to help boost my confidence.
✩ Be present: I think that technology {example A if you're on my blog haha} has consumed us and I know there are many times that I am focusing on what's on the screen of my phone rather than what's in front of me and around me. I want to focus more on enjoying life without the complications of technology and to start, I am going to start doing one screen free day every week {most likely on Sundays}.
✩ Learn more: It is SOOOO dang important to know about what is going on in life {personally, politically, financially, economically, etc.} and too do so I have made a resolution to read more {for myself} and to travel often. When it comes to reading more, I link that to technology because before I go to bed I have either been scrolling through Insta OR binge watching YouTube videos, so from now on I want to put my phone down and pick up a book before going to sleep. As for traveling, I know it costs money SOOOO that leads me to my next resolution...
✩ Gain financial stability: If y'all know me {and // or have been following along with me on social media}, you'd know that I have been "funemployed," and no matter how great social media makes my life seem, I WANT a job and I WANT to be able to take care of my self financially. I am extremely fortunate to have parents who take care of me; however, I ultimately want to be able to take care of them. I want to get a job, move out of their house {and pay them back for all the nail appointments, waxing appointments, lashes, and fun}, I want to be able to afford a cute apartment in a good neighborhood, and I want to be able to afford the lifestyle I want to live.
Y'all I am so excited for what this year has in store for me {and everybody else of course}!! 2020 is the year of clear vision {think about the best visibility a doctor can tell you that you have}, new beginnings, and clarity.
This morning when I was showering, I literally could NOT stop smiling thinking about the potential of this year {and no, I was not hungover thank goodness} and when I got out of the shower I was literally bouncing off the walls... You can even ask Megan!!
ANYWAYS -- Now that I've talked about the new year, I want to apologize for not completing my Holiday Gift Guides. I had so many that I wanted to share with y'all BUT the holiday season just got WAYYYY too busy and I was running around like a crazy person trying to help my mama out around the house and in the kitchen {honestly, I don't know how moms do it}. I appreciate each and every one of your love and support though relating to my blogging, vlogging, and all things social media.
I hope everybody has had an INCREDIBLE first day of January and I'll be releasing some destination packing lists soon, as I too am in the midst of booking and planning a trip to New York City next month {WAHOOO} and I want to make traveling in 2020 as simple as possible!!
xoxo V
