My 2023 Year in Review

Last year, I had the idea to create a full year in review and I loved the way it turned out. So, I decided to do it again! It’s basically a digital scrapbook of how my year went, all compiled into one long post. From what movies and shows I watched, to where I traveled to, to some major life changes (like moving out of NYC!). Here’s a look at everything that happened in 2023…

2023 FAVORITES

Movies I Enjoyed

TV Shows I Binged

Songs On Repeat

Books I Read

1. Unashamed: Musings of a Fat, Black Muslim by Leah Vernon (I read this when it first came out, but decided to revisit it. One of my besties wrote it ♡)
2. My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
3. The Dinner List by Rebecca Serle

2023 HIGHLIGHTS & MILESTONES

My 29th Birthday Party

I hosted an “Old Hollywood” themed birthday party at The Williamsburg Hotel in NYC and it was so fabulous. I had a gorgeous suite and my best friends and I had a fancy dinner beforehand. My look was inspired by Marilyn Monroe and everything was so opulent and beautiful.

Living alone

I spent the year living alone in a luxury one-bedroom apartment in Queens. I decorated it exactly how I wanted, I grew a lot as a person, and I really enjoyed my time in that apartment.

Hosting parties, BBQs, movie nights, etc.

And while I was living alone, I started hosting more. I have so much fun planning events! We had a Galentine’s Day party, movie nights, a rooftop BBQ, a going away party for my friend, and more.

My 4th year at BuzzFeed

I celebrated my fourth year working at BuzzFeed. Although I work remote, I did go into the NYC office a few times. I’m lucky to be able to say that I love my job and my coworkers!

Growing as a creator

This year, I had more brand deals than ever. I really dove into UGC (user-generated content) and made consistent extra income from that. I had first-time deals with Adidas (!!!), Rainbow, and Love Your Melon, I worked consistently with Snag, and had a few other one-off partnerships. I shot as much content as possible around my apartment and neighborhood. And I had a studio shoot at a cute place in Brooklyn I’ve had saved for the longest time. I also hit my first 1,000 subscribers on my YouTube channel!

Leaving NYC & Moving Back To Michigan

In November, my lease ended and my rent increased. So I made the tough decision to move back to my home state. In Michigan, I am living in a walkout basement apartment connected to my aunt’s house and I’m so grateful! Now I’m able to slow down a bit and think about where I want to go next. After almost seven years, I will always love New York SO MUCH and I plan to visit as much as I can. But on the other hand, I am very ready to get my finances together and figure out what is next. I had an amazing going away party with my best friends and of course we cried… a lot.

2023 TRAVEL RECAP

Mexico (Playa del Carmen, Tulum, & Cancún)

Every year I try to take at least one international trip and in 2023 it was Mexico! It was my first time there and it was (mostly) amazing! We did have one traumatizing night of getting extorted by the police, which was horrible. But, we were able to make the most of the rest of the trip. I went snorkeling for the first time, swam in a cave, went to beach clubs, and got a new tattoo!

Poconos, Pennsylvania

For our friend Maryam’s birthday, we drove to the Poconos Mountains area in Pennsylvania and spent the night in a really nice cabin. We had spaghetti and cake and watched movies. It was super cute.

Michigan

Before I moved back, I was already visiting Michigan every year to see my family. My first visit of the year was in March. I went to a Pistons game, ate at Townhouse in Detroit, got drinks at The Candy Bar, and went to my little cousin’s birthday party. Then, around Thanksgiving, I moved back. I spent Thanksgiving with a bunch of my family and me and my aunt went to Mariah Carey’s Christmas concert in Detroit.

Mystic, Connecticut

In the spring, my friend Rachel and I took a train from NYC to Mystic, CT. It was a really cute town. We went on a sailboat ride, went to the aquarium, and did some shopping.

Boston, Massachusetts

In the spring, I had to go to Salem (below) to go to my cousin’s baby shower. So I decided to stop in Boston for a night and stay at the Verb Hotel. I really enjoyed it and my aunt ended up joining me.

Salem, Massachusetts (twice)

My cousin’s baby shower was soooo nice! We had a great time. And later, in October, I went back to Salem for my friend Julia’s birthday trip. I’ve been to Salem quite a few times, but this was my first time during October. It was a fun experience.

Maryland

My friends and I attended the CosGala Monster Ball in the Baltimore area. I wore a steampunk vampire look.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

During the trip to Maryland, my friend Leah and I also stayed in Philly. It was basically just a foodie weekend because we ate so much great food!

Atlantic City, New Jersey

For Leah’s birthday in August, we drove to Atlantic City for a night. This was my second time in AC. We stayed at Ocean Casino Resort and had a blast lounging by the pool, dressing up, and hanging out in the casino.

Spartanburg, South Carolina (twice)

My mom, step-dad, and sisters live in South Carolina, so of course I had to go visit them. They got a pool over the summer, so I definitely enjoyed that! And we all spent an evening together exploring downtown Greenville. Then, I went back again for Christmas.

Atlanta, Georgia

During my summer trip to South Carolina, I decided to drive over to Atlanta for a weekend. It was basically my first solo trip and I really enjoyed it! I got to see my friend Rachel who lives there. I stayed at The Starling Hotel and did a bunch of touristy stuff by myself. I went to the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coke, the Trap Museum, and I went on the SkyView ferris wheel.

Panama City Beach, Florida

In December, I went to Panama City Beach with my dad and his girlfriend. We had a good time and it was nice to have a break from the freezing cold. I got to pet a dolphin (and get a kiss, as you can see below), which was on my bucket list. This was my second time in PCB, but my first time was back in 2014.

NYC ADVENTURES

New Years 2023

Had so much fun celebrating the New Year in NYC with my girls! We all got glammed up and hopped around different spots in the city.

NYC Week!

Since I knew it was my last summer living in NYC, as well as my friend Rachel’s, we took a week off work to do everything we haven’t done on our NYC bucket lists! We went to sooo many places, so you can check out the full itinerary if you’re interested.

Broadway Shows

I love a good Broadway Show! This year, I added some new playbills to my collection: Sweeney Todd, & Juliet, and Funny Girl.

Spa Days

I went to QC Spa on Governors Island for the second time, which I would highly recommend! I checked out Bathhouse in Brooklyn, which was nice but small. And I went to Spa Castle in Queens, which was cheap and honestly not very clean, so I wouldn’t recommend that one. I did get a pretty decent massage while I was there though.

Granny’s Night Out

During my friend Leah’s birthday weekend, she had us go out in the city dressed like grandmas! It was hilarious!! We went to dinner, a club, and did karaoke. It was a blast! My alter ego for the night was Old Spice haha.

Bridgerton Experience

Rachel and I got all dressed up and went to the Bridgerton Experience. It was kind of an interactive show and we really enjoyed it. We watched performances, had drinks, and danced.

Museums

Checking out new exhibits has become one of my favorite hobbies. This year, I went to The Met and Brooklyn Museum multiple times. I also saw some interactive exhibits, like Wonderland Dreams, Rise NY, and Harry Potter: The Exhibition. Kusama, one of my favorite artists of all time, had a limited exhibit I was able to catch. I had some fun at the Museum of Ice Cream and Madame Tussauds wax museum for the second time. And for the first time, I went to the Museum of Broadway, The MoMA, and The Met Cloisters.

Fairy Picnic

My friend Anuli hosted a beautiful fairy picnic for Black Fae Day at Central Park. I loved dressing up for that one.

Afropunk

This was my second year attending Afropunk. I went with a space cowgirl theme, inspired by Beyoncé’s Renaissance tour. I only went for one of the days, but I did get to see Teyana Taylor perform.

AND A LOT MORE CUTE RESTAURANTS, SHOPS, AND HIDDEN GEMS!

Of course I can’t list every single place I went to in NYC in a year, but trust me, the food, events, and people of NYC are unmatched! I will never get tired of exploring this city.

Thank You ♡

As always, I have to thank my incredible community of friends and family. Without them, my life wouldn’t be complete. I am beyond grateful for the moments we share and the memories we make.

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Now let’s see what 2024 has in store!