2016 In Review | Hello 2017!

Good morning from 2017! 

I think I speak for everyone when I say 2017 is a much needed change. 2016 was all around a horrible year for the world and I am excited to put it behind us. However, on a personal level 2016 taught me a lot about myself. 2016 was a year of rediscovery, travel, and change. It's been awhile since I did a life update, so I thought I would go through and recap the major events of 2016!

I fell in love with places and out of love with people.

I wasted no time in jumping into travel in 2016. I visited New Orleans, Chicago, Nashville, Austin, Charleston, Seattle, Costa Rica, Ireland, England, and Wales. I fell in love with the places I visited, while simultaneously falling out of love in the relationship I was in. We ended our relationship almost half a year ago and I spent the second half of 2016 enjoying the beauty the world has to offer. Yes, I enter 2017 single and excited for a future of possibilities! 

I took a leap of faith in Houston.

When I moved back to Houston almost two years ago I was miserable. I hated the city I grew up in and was constantly looking for a way out in the form of a job. Well that job opportunity never came, and I as I progressed both professionally and socially in Houston I began to realize it really wasn't such a horrible place after all. I took a huge leap of faith and signed a lease on an apartment here in Houston. I officially move out of my parents house at the end of this month! I'm excited to be living on my own (no family, no roommates) for the FIRST time in my life!

I became healthier. 

Over the last year and a half I started going to a boutique spin studio based out of Sugar Land (the suburb I currently live in). I fell in LOVE with this routine and now find myself spinning 4-5 times a week. My energy has skyrocketed and I now find myself making healthier choices in my life in general.  I am the happiest I have ever been with my body, but I am still willing to try new things to make improvements!

I stopped treating this blog like a job.

Many of you have probably noticed the lack of routine Of Golden Roses has. I'm still traveling, and I still have so much to share, but my personal life has become increasingly busy making it difficult to sit down and write! I felt bad at first, abandoning the "3 posts a week" routine, but I soon came to realize that blogging isn't my job. It's my hobby. And I want to continue to enjoy it for as long as possible. 

I rediscovered the power of amazing friends. 

Being in a long distance relationship is isolating. I realized towards the end of my relationship that I had been isolating myself from my friends because I spent the majority of my time trying to coordinate Skype schedules and trips to visit each other. It wasn't until I realized how much my relationship was holding me back that I truly began opening myself back up to my friends. This year was centered around trips with some of my dearest friends, which is really what made 2016 so special. 

So here's to 2017! A year full of possibilities!

xoxo

New Years Eve | San Antonio, Texas

There's no place in the world like San Antonio, Texas.

I lived in San Antonio my freshman year of undergrad and absolutely loved it. Since I'm back in Texas for a couple of weeks, my family decided to make the short drive to SA for New Years Eve.

Mi Tierra Mexican Cafe, located in Market Square, has been my favorite restaurant for as long as I can remember. Its atmosphere is unique and its food is INCREDIBLE. It's always a must stop whenever we're in San Antonio. 

Happy New Year everyone!

xoxo

2013

2013 was an amazing year.

Not only did I graduate from university, but I moved across the world to start my masters!

In honor of this amazing year, I thought I would share 2013 in review.

January
Before beginning my last semester as an undergraduate, my roommates and I took a cruise to Mexico. It was the 'last trip' we needed before our chapter at Texas Tech closed.

February 

February consisted of school work and a few days of snow. 

March

I travelled with my parents to Boston, Salem, and Plymouth Rock. I fell in love with Boston and would love to visit again one day when it's warmer. 

April

At this point I was consumed with work to do before graduation. My roommate and I also made the 14 hour drive to Oxford, Mississippi to visit friends. 

May

I finally graduated with my degree in History and a minor in Education. I also hung out with the guys from The Wanted... again.

June

I was working as a full time car dealership receptionist most of the summer. I also had a minor accident with a gate after a big storm. Oops.

July

Between work and packing, I didn't have much time to visit my friends who had now moved away from Lubbock. Luckily, a small group of people were still in town for my going away dinner.  

August

I moved back into my parent's house in Sugar Land, Texas. After working full time for the entire summer, I was unsure to do with all my free time. I spent most of my days preparing for my big move to England. 

 September

After over a year of preparation, I finally moved to Bristol! I knew absolutely no one, but quickly made friends once my masters program started later in the month.

October

I travelled to a tiny town in Somerset to help the history department with oral histories. I had never seen true English country before that trip. I was also interviewed by BBC Radio Bristol about this tiny little blog I have. How crazy is that?

November

I got a volunteer position at a local museum in the education department. I also took a day trip to Hereford where I had the opportunity to transcribe a medieval manuscript signed by Elizabeth I. Around this time I started seeing a boy (my now boyfriend) and we took a weekend trip to London together. 

December

I made day trips to Stonehenge, Salisbury, Wells, and Oxford before heading back to Texas for Christmas. 

This year has been absolutely amazing. I can't wait to see what 2014 has in store for me! Now I'm off for a little trip to San Antonio!

Happy New Year!

xoxo