Looking Back on 2020

Happy New Year! I’m actually shocked at how fast this year ended up going by. April felt like an eternity and then once summer hit, it was all a blur. I think last year I heard this on the radio, but all of the important holidays fell on good days this year. 4th of July was on a Saturday, Halloween on a Saturday, even Christmas fell on a Friday so everything was in perfect timing. I remember thinking, wow this year is going to be perfect. Well, was that any further from the truth?

While, this was not the year that we had planned out, it ended up being quite the learning year. I was so excited at the beginning of last year because we had so many wedding’s to attend this past year. And I was really looking forward to traveling for them and also getting to spend quality time with all of my friends. Well, we all know how that went and they all ended up getting postponed until 2021.

While I’m not sure I would have chosen this year to play out the way it did, I really do think it taught me a lot of life lessons that were needed. One of them being that it is ok to slow down. The weekends can be relaxing and re-energizing.

I am so thankful for the time I got to spend with my little family and Kurt every day. Kurt and I have luckily both been able to work from home since March and we have somehow survived haha. It was a little hard at first, always feeling trapped in the house. But once I got a routine down, I have really enjoyed working from home. Which is something I never thought I would say. I like a routine. I like to get up, get dressed and have somewhere to go every day. So working from home was an adjustment for me. But one I now gladly accept!

Not having a commute has changed my life! I know that sounds like a bold statement, but it has. I’m less tired from sitting in traffic for two hours out of my day every day. I have more energy at the end of the day to clean and pick up the house. And it’s so nice to just be home already when I close my laptop at the end of the day. I have the whole evening to enjoy with my family. And I know this isn’t a permanent situation for me, so I am just going to enjoy it while I can for now.

I was also able to hone in on cooking more (these chocolate chip cookies might be my new speciality!) and I even developed a green thumb! We always decorate our balcony with flowers during the summer and fall months and they always end up dead haha. This year, they somehow survived. I really have not tips, other than I think I just remembered to water them every day. What a concept!

I also cut back drastically my beauty maintenance. I think I ended up getting my hair done only a total of three times last year, which is nuts!! In the past, I was going every six weeks. Think about how much money I saved! And I learned how to do my own nails, which I think I’ve gotten pretty good at. I have a post in the works to share all of my tips I’ve learned along the way too. When I post about doing my nails on Instagram, I get a lot of DM’s asking for tips so I plan on sharing soon 🙂

IVF Update

I know I don’t always talk about it a ton, but Kurt and I still continued our IVF journey in 2020. And I know that if this would have been a ‘regular’ year, there was no way we would have been able to get done what we did.

Over the summer, we decided to switch to a new doctor at a new clinic. We needed a fresh start and new a perspective. Our new doctor likes to move fast, which I can very much appreciate. We were able to do four egg retrievals in a span of four months, which is just nuts. If you have been thru the process or are familiar with IVF, an egg retrieval is by far the most grueling part of the process. Lots of shots and doctors appointments. Most cycles I was taking up to five shots a day and going to the doctor’s office every other day.

Those four months felt like a blur. But at the same time, I was so thankful for my time at home and for a slower lifestyle. It allowed me to concentrate on my body, relax and take it slow when I needed to. And it was a huge perk that I was able to wear leggings on the days I felt so bloated and sore! We have been able to get 5 healthy embryos (PGS tested) that we are hoping will turn into our baby in 2021. Fingers (and toes) crossed!

Best of 2020

I do also think it’s a lot of fun to look back and think about my favorite purchases and to also look at my top blog posts and top selling items.

Favorite Clothing Purchase

By far, my favorite purchase this year were these joggers. I think I have worn them every day since the day I bought them. I own the navy, but I really need to get them in black.

Favorite Beauty Purchase

My top beauty purchase has to be the Tula sunscreen. It has changed my skin, I swear. I love it so much I wrote an entire blog post about it here.

Favorite Shoe Purchase

You guys know I am a huge shoe lover and these APL sneakers were probably my most worn shoes of 2020! Probably because all the walks we went on haha. I do have so say, white was probably not a very good choice in terms of color. They tend to get dirty pretty quickly. I actually take them home and my dad cleans them for me haha. Thanks Dad!

A close second has to be these boots that I got for my birthday. Probably not the most practical pair of shoes for 2020, but they have been on my list for years and I finally pulled the plug. They are gorgeous in real life and a lot more comfortable than I was expecting. I know I will have these for years and years to come.

Top 5 Selling Items

Last year, I had set goals that I wanted to achieve. But I don’t think I am going to do that again this year. Honestly, not much has changed in a year, so I am planning on continuing with those. One thing I do want to do more of in 2021 is eat more veggie and fruits on the weekends. I have a pretty good diet during the week. But for whatever reason, once the weekend hits its carb central. And I want to learn to balance that out a little better.

Overall, 2020 was never the year I had planned and hoped for. But I will always remember the many, many walks we took with Addie and the quality time I’ve been able to spend with Kurt and my fur family. And for that I will be grateful for. Cheers to 2021!

xoxox Amanda