Hey guys,
DAMN WE MADE IT! 56 blog articles later, 2016 has finally come to an end. I hope you all had the best holidays and hopefully for some of you, you still have some time off left! I had a great time with friends and family and ate way too much food, but what else are the holidays for?! The new year is just around the corner and I wanted to reflect on 2016 with you. So much has happened and this year has gone by SO FAST so let's get started or we'll be here all day ;)
EXOTIC START
The first two weeks of 2016 were packed with last minute shopping and spending time with friends and family before I left the country. On January 17th I left for Spain, only to return on June 22nd. This you probably already know by now so I won't repeat all the details of my experience and travels (see the TRAVEL section for more). I had the amazing opportunity of studying in a foreign country, travelling and making new friends, learning about new cultures and trying new foods and so on. I have not one single regret from those 5 months. I had the time of my life and would do it again anytime. After visiting over 40 cities in 15 countries, I think it is safe to say that I had a pretty exotic start to the year! I made the most amazing friends, which I hope will stick around forever, and hopefully come visit soon!
SUMMER + SCHOOL
I came back to Canada after 5 months abroad and was quite glad to come back in summer. It would have been so depressing to come back to cold, short winter days.. But, as my program requires, I went back to school right away and have been studying since then. I had a great time, honestly because I was involved in academic life and volunteered to help exchange students integrate into the new environment.
I'M HAPPY BUT....
Honestly, I'm doing pretty good on that end. Obviously there are things that get to me at times, but that's just part of life. I would never expect my life to be perfect, nor is it realistic to expect life to be easy. I'm happy because I have had such an amazing year and have so much to be thankful for! In just a few days, STAINS ØF SUNSHINE turns 1! It is crazy that it has already been a year since I started sharing with you guys and I couldn't be happier! I hit 7000 followers on Instagram,"WOAH", and it has allowed me to collaborate with amazing brands. It has also allowed me to make so many new "Insta-friends" (if that is even a word) around the world. I have made the best-est of friends this year and have had plenty of time to hang with family. But most important of all, I am so excited to see what the future holds!! I have a feeling that 2017 is gonna knock it out of the park!! #getready
BEST MEMORIES
I thought I would also come up with a short list of some of my favourite 2016 moments. But honestly, it's practically impossible to narrow down with all that has happened this year. So here's my valiant effort:
(1) That one time the two Aussie gals and I rented a car in the Canary Islands and drove around all day singing #girlpower anthems.
(2) Meeting some of my relatives in England for the first time ever. I mean are you even half-british if you've never met that side of the family?
(3) ALL THE FOOD I HAD IN EUROPE. Can't really narrow it down to just one haha
(4) Being in Paris during Paris Fashion Week
(5) Starting my blog <3
COMING UP...
As mentioned above, STAINS ØF SUNSHINE turns one (it's time to celebrate)!! I have some new collaborations coming up and some blog posts I can't wait to share with you. I start a new internship in January and will start integrating more fashion into the blog because I think it's about time (#ootds?!).
So stick around folks if you are as curious as I am about what the new year holds for all of us!
XOXX
P.S Thank you to every single person who helped make this year unforgettable, from each of you reading my blog to my new friends to my favourite babies (see below), you truly mean the world to me <3
P.S COMMENT BELOW IF YOU MADE IT THIS FAR!! I WANNA KNOW WHO MY TRUE FANS ARE ;)