2017 Highlights – My Year In Review

Hey Guys,

This is my first post of 2018 and I wanted to start off with a look back at last year. Mainly, because I was inspired by an article that read “we can’t address, what we don’t assess”. This had me reflecting on 2017 and all the good and bad things that happened. I started to think about the things I want to change, the experiences I want to have, and the dreams I want to chase. It is during this process that I thought I would share my 2017 highlights with you guys.

So follow me on this journey as I look back on 2017.

I started out 2017 attending my Dad’s 70th birthday party, which was awesome. I couldn’t think of a better way to start out the year than being surrounded by family and friends and celebrating the person that has played a large part of making me the person I am today.

Daddy and his girls

Once I returned to Florida, Kelly and I started working on opening our etsy sticker shop: Sticky Pretty Co. This brought me so much joy this past year. The shop is currently closed while we work on redesigning our kits and becoming ready to ship.

In late February, I got invited by a fellow blogger to take part in a photo shoot for black history month. To date, it is still one of the most fun shoots I have done.

In the summer, I took my dream vacation cruising the Mediterranean with family and friends. It is an experience that I am extremely grateful that I had the opportunity to have. We also spent a week exploring Barcelona and Paris, if that wasn’t enough :).

First day in Barcelona

First day on cruise

Marseille

Monte Carlo

Rome

Paris

Shortly after that, I was lucky enough to take another cruise to the Bahamas. This cruise was a birthday gift to myself, as traveling has become the thing that feeds my soul.

I went to Texas for the first time …….

Jason and I celebrated our 7-year anniversary. To be honest, I can’t believe it’s been seven years. I feel like I got married yesterday and the time has literally disappeared. Just like with any marriage, there are ups/downs and challenges/opportunities but I am very grateful and blessed to have him in my life.

I ended the year the way I started it, with family. Christmas was definitely magical to say the least. Over the years, I have come to realize that I am always the happiest when surrounded by the people that know me the best. So, I wouldn’t have it any other way. My Christmas will always be spent with loved ones.

Mi Familia

Christmas Dinner Tablescape

As social media influencers/Bloggers/Content Creators (whichever title you prefer), we tend to only share the stuff that paints our lives to be perfect. I don’t want to play a part in that, so, here are a few of the “bad” moments of my 2017. 

1. On my return trip from Texas, I went into a Sickle Cell Crisis mid-flight from Texas to Atlanta. Luckily, there was a doctor on board who suggested the airline get me some oxygen as I waited for my pain meds to kick in. Jason and I could not get on our connecting flight to Orlando, as that would have made things a lot worse for me. After being checked by the EMT, and refusing to go to the hospital, Jason got us a rental car and drove us home 7 hours while I slept.

2. I have had a cough since the start of October that just won’t seem to go away. I have seen endless doctors and have tried endless medications but nothing seems to help. I have had sleepless nights as I cough all night long and, to be honest, it’s probably the stress of this ordeal that caused the crisis I had on my flight from Texas. I am writing this on January 18th and I still have this cough and sleepless nights, but I pray to God it will be over soon.

We all have 365 days to make the year everything we want it to be. I implore you to take a chance on something you have always wanted to do because once you start, you might wonder why it took you so long to start in the first place. Enjoy your 2018!!!!!!!!!! I will talk to you in the next post, where I will share a little about my favorite products of last year.

Until next time guys, thanks for reading
xoxo TianShanae