15 Things of 2015

15 Things of 2015

12.31.2015

15 things, in no particular order or category.

01. AN APPRECIATION OF TIME

Going to a year round school, I hardly have any breaks. Hardly two week winter breaks and a week of summer break could probably drive any student crazy, but I've learned to really appreciate the time I have off, filling the days in with me-time, family time, or Brandon time. 

02. WHO I WANT TO BE

In my freshman year of high school, it was to be a graphic designer. In my senior year of high school, it was to be a 3d character modeler. In my sophomore year of college, I finally decided to become a visual effects compositor. It makes me so happy to know exactly what I want to do. I would just love to be in a production that produces convincing entertainment for people. Here's my final for my CG Compositing class! 

03. MY FIRST YOUTUBE VIDEO

I never got to mention it on my blog, but Brandon and I filmed my first YouTube video! It took us a day for us to shoot in San Francisco, but it was so much fun for us, and I'm so proud that I actually did something off of my bucket list. As a fashion blogger for a year or two now, it's weird to say that I'm camera shy, but it was so weird interacting around a camera and actually moving.

04. FAMILY

I loved this year, honestly, the best year of my life, but damn, it's been hard. I don't know how many times I've annoyed my parents or got into fights with them, but I appreciate them so much. Every year I feel like I know a bit more, but every year I feel like I don't know as much as I do. But my family is here every moment, guiding me through everything and supporting me through each decision I make.

05. THE FOOD I'VE EATEN

Oh man, I've eaten so much food this year. I look through my phone every once in a while to clean it out of photos (because I don't like having too many photos), but I can never delete the food photos. 

06. THE PLACES I'VE TRAVELED

Honestly, I didn't travel out of states or out of the Bay Area, really, that much, but I've traveled to so many cities in the Bay that I've never been to. Brandon and I really strove to find places that we've never been to shoot all my outfit photos. Big Sur had to be my favorite place to visit this year. Anywhere with the ocean or nature is always so lovely.

07. HAPPINESS

Dealing with depression this year has been easier than the last, but I'm not saying that it has been nonexistent this year. I would call myself an opportunistic pessimist, honestly, but acknowledging it and not ignoring it really helped me to find happiness when I couldn't. I've learned that acknowledging depression will always help you find light instead of shoving it in the corner. It's better to do something about it instead of just shoving it in the corner.

08. THE BRANDS I WORKED WITH

I'm extremely grateful for all the people that I've connected with and worked with this year. It's been an amazing experience to be able to do what I do. It's really helped me find myself in the way I do my makeup or just my style in general. I'm so lucky to have readers and followers who are interested in what I have to write about and who support me. I hope the best for all of you.

09. MY FAVORITES

"The Edge" by Tonight Alive has been my favorite song this year.

HellzBellz is my favorite brand.

I'm in love with ColourPop (who isn't).

Reddit is my go-to site now.

VSCO's A6 and SE3 are my favorite filters.

My Aeropostale boyfriend jeans are my go-to's.

10. NOT SPENDING TOO MUCH

This is another big one for me. I always used to just buy what I wanted and spend so much money on different statement pieces only to have the season and style change so quickly. I've learned this year to only buy what I thought was absolutely necessary. I would hate to have to keep throwing things out every season just because it's not "fashionable" any more.

11. MY OLD AND NEW FRIENDS

Honestly, I didn't get to spend time with my friends as much as I should have. Life has been busy and the commute is always a hassle, considering everyone lives an hour away from me. But this year, I'm happy to still have the friends that I have. Even though we don't get to talk as much as we usually did, the times we do talk are as if nothing's changed.

12. MY FIRST CONCERT/MUSIC FESTIVAL

That was a train wreck, but I'm so proud of myself. I've had social anxiety and crowd phobia for as long as I could remember, so going to a concert is hell for me. Not even before the concert started, I started getting an anxiety attack and freaked out. At the last hour of it all, I started to get comfortable, but would I go to a concert again? Nope, most likely not. But I'm incredibly proud of myself for stepping outside of my comfort zone.

13. DIZINED

I had spontaneously met up with one of my former teachers one day and talked to him about branding because he was all about making a name for him and his two man group when he was a pop star. Dizined is special for me because it's me growing up and finding who I really want to be. This blog is more about just outfits and photography; it's about structure, organization, planning, writing, etc. This blog has helped me so much in ways that school cannot. My blog is my responsibility and my passion.

14. AN APPRECIATION OF WHO I AM

It's always hard to be confident in yourself because everyone else looks like they know what they're doing. This year, I've really learned to give everything I do my all because it just proves to me in the end that I've worked hard. By doing so, I'm proud of the person that I am, someone hard working that never wants to (or can willingly) half-ass a project. I've spent so much time on myself this year, and I've never appreciated myself as much as I have any other year.

15. BRANDON

It's a pretty obvious appreciation/favorite/moment/etc. I can't help but thank my boyfriend for being there for me during my transformation this year. We met and got together in January, but it feels like I've known him for an eternity. He's my confidant, my super hero, my best friend, my journal, my mentor, and everything in between. 2015 would have been an entirely different story without him.

Here's to 2016! I hope that all your years are better than the last :)