Best of 2016

As I am writing this post, I wonder: is this not a little bit overdue? But then it comes to my mind that it is never too late to be grateful for something. Right?

So if you don’t know by now, 2016 is over and we are in 2017! At the beginning of 2016, I shared a couple things that you and I could add to our bucket list and I went over it recently to check off the things that I was able to do in the last 12 months. Have you done that?

As I was checking things off the list, I realized how much of a good year last year was to me. Twenty Sixteen was, with no doubt a year of growth and lots of cool experiences. By the way, before you continue reading this, I want you to promise me that you’ll share at least one thing 2016 taught you. Promise? Okay, thanks!

The first thing I wanted to be able to do in 2016 was to read at least one book. And I sure did. In fact, I read two books. Are you proud of me? YES! One of them was The Five Love Languages by G. Chapman and I absolutely loved it. I had planned to be more consistent in what I do and to pray more throughout the year of 2016 and honestly, I wasn’t very successful at that, but hey…that’s what 2017 is here for (insert wink eye emoji)!

There is a lot of things I am grateful I was able to do in 2016:

Travel

I had the chance to go to Ivory Coast, Belgium, France, Sweden in the summer. T’was AMAZING! You can see more photos here

Milestones 

We helped our parents blow candles for their 25th wedding anniversary. Isn’t that GREAT? P.S: This is a drawing that my sister did of them as a gift. She has more drawings on her IG .

Education

I started and finished my last-but-one semester of Undergrad! Plus, it was the last year I took summer classes. JOY!

Bridesmaid-ing

I was for the first time EVER a bridesmaid at one of my best friend’s traditional wedding. That thing is DOPE!

Lessons

I drove a car for the first time and got my license. Sort of overdue by that’s okay!

Distance

For the first time in 5 years, I visited my boyfriend and this has got to be my highlight of the year. I am currently debating on whether I should share with you, our tearful reunion at the airport. Let me know what you think! 

Dance

I, with the help of my siblings, taught my mom how to DAB.

Discovery

I met the most hilarious and the craziest human beings on the planet while in Sweden. These girls made me doubt my level of craziness.

Connecting

I technologically met (by this I mean online) two of the people that inspire me to do what I do today a.k.a photography and blogging. Plus, I got to interview them. I am low-key hoping they’ll recognize themselves! Feel free to read one of my work with them!

Vision

I was told that I have the potential of being an entertainer. Like Whaaaat? Inshallah, I’ll be one one day!!

Growth

fine close up image of bottle of champagne background

This last one was achieved, thanks to you! The blog hit 14k views y’all! Can you believe it? I still can’t! It is almost 3 times what it was my first year in the blogging world and I am by far astonished by the idea that some people enjoy reading me! You are the BOMB and I couldn’t be more humbled that you take some of your precious time to read me, so thank you!

All this to say, I am grateful and truly humbled by the experiences that were brought to me by 2016! I can only be excited to see what 2017 has in store for me. It better be a great one.Not just good.

 Stay tuned for more post this year, friends!

Lots Of Love

-Dee-

champagne photo credit: eventtribe.com