New year, new decade, new opportunities! It’s time to say goodbye to 2019 and enter into the new roaring ’20s! On this New Years Day I’m feeling especially excited, blessed, humbled, and motivated. I feel like I lacked some enthusiasm the last couple New Years, but this year I’m pretty pumped! Things are going awesome in my life right now, and that’s not to say that everything is perfect, nor will it ever be, but I am really happy about this time in my life. And it’s all because I put in a lot of work these last few years to get here.
Similar to my 2018 highlights, I once again have a new apartment and a new job lol, but with some upgrades! I have a higher title at an amazing company, a bigger apartment with way more sunlight, and I went on A TON of fun adventures this past year — including trips to Puerto Rico, Philly, and Boston.
Here are some of my favorite milestones and memories from 2019!
Turning 25 in NYC
For my 25th birthday, I had some friends accompany me to my very first burlesque show! We went to The Slipper Room in NYC and it was so much fun. I also had brunch and a photo shoot in Long Island City, which also turned out amazing.
Traveling to Puerto Rico and Philly
I really wanted to go on an international trip this year, and I would say that Puerto Rico counts! It was my first time in the Caribbean and Kailena and I had a greattt time! We also went on a short weekend trip to explore Philly and I spent a weekend in Boston to take my cousin’s engagement photos.
Getting My Dream Job as a Shopping Editor at BuzzFeed
During the summer I decided to leave my job at The TODAY Show for a new position as market editor (also called shopping editor or commerce editor) at BuzzFeed! BuzzFeed is truly one of the BEST media companies out there and it is an absolute dream come true to be working for them.
Attending More NYFW Shows Than Ever
This year I went to NYFW twice and I attended three shows the first season and a personal record of 8+ shows the second season! It’s always been my dream to hop from show to show during Fashion Week and I have finally reached that point in my career where I get multiple invites (without having to beg lol). I even got to see one of my favorite designers, Christian Siriano.
Finally Having Breakfast at Tiffany’s
I go to a lot of exhibits, museums, and festivals, but one thing in particular that was sitting on my bucket list was having a meal at the Blue Box Cafe inside the Tiffany & Co. store in Manhattan. I finally was able to get a reservation and go with my friend Rachel. We had a very lovely tea spread. If I ever get the chance to go back, I definitely will!
New Apartment in Astoria, Queens
Although Kailena and I were excited to move into our last apartment, we knew it was only a temporary situation. It was small, dark, outdated, and not located by much of anything. This year, with both of us making more money and being less desperate to find a place than we were before, we were able to find an amazing two bedroom in Astoria. We’re still in the process or getting it together, but it already feels 10x’s more like home than our last place did.
Seeing Lizzo, B2K, & more in Concert
I’m actually not big on concerts, but if it’s someone I can really sing and dance to then I’m game. This year I saw Lizzo perform at Radio City Music Hall and I went to the Millennium Tour at Madison Square Garden. Both concerts were so much fun and truly enjoyable experiences. (I even bought tickets to go to the Millennium Tour AGAIN in 2020 haha.)
SO MANY NYC Events, Festivals, & Pop-Ups
This was the year of pop-up exhibits! Lol. There are so many that I haven’t even posted about yet! I attended Color Factory, Rosé Mansion, Ocean Cube, Wonder World (for the second time), 29Rooms, The Museum of Ice Cream, and more! And the bigger events weren’t in short supply either. I also went to CurlFest, BeautyCon, The Essence Beauty Carnival, The Coney Island Mermaid Parade, CurvyCon, I saw the Camp exhibit at The MET, and even more! One thing is for sure: there is ALWAYS something to do in NYC.
Meeting More Cool Celebs
Whether I’m interviewing celebrities, walking by them at Fashion Week, or meeting them at brand events, this year definitely got me more comfortable with being around famous people. From designers to actors to reality TV stars, it’s always exciting when I get to snag a photo with someone super successful and inspiring.
Doubling My YouTube Subscribers & Growing Kayla’s Chaos
And of course, my blog and the rest of my content creation is always something I’m proud of. In 2019, I was able to take my YouTube subscribers from under 100 to over 200, my Instagram following is getting closer to 3k, and my blog content became much more consistent and improved in quality (if I do say so myself). Kayla’s Chaos turned five and I was able to really think about the direction I want my brand to go in. I can’t wait to bring you all so much more this year! As always, THANK YOU for the love and support.
Cheers to 2020!!!
What was one of your 2019 highlights?
