Damsel Diaries 8 years ago Best of 2016
I started the year out with the goal to travel less. But here I am, at the end of 2016 tallying up my total flights to just over 60, discovering that I took just as many trips as I did in 2015. However, unlike 2015, this year was not one of my best or hardest yet. This was a year that I would consider my “rollercoaster.” There were so many exceptional highs, like standing on top of a sky scraper in Hong Kong for Travel + Leisure, launching my own jewelry collection with Adina Reyter and kicking back with my family on a boat in Cabo. But there were also the lowest of lows, such as losing my baby William, discovering that running and managing your entire blog business “in house” is {very} challenging, and learning to manage the re-occuring anxieties that come with living in a world filled with socioeconomic pressure along with being a “childless” woman in her 30s.
When you look back at a rollercoaster do you ever regret ever taking the ride? Hardly ever. Because there is no greater feeling than reaching the highest peak, where your stomach drops in your soul and reminds you of what it feels like to be alive. The truth is, you can find life in the low moments too. When you are coming to grips with what it means to be alive. Where do we go after? What is the meaning of life.
We cannot take the highs without the lows, nor can we truly appreciate the still moments in between where life seems to happen and before we know it {blink} another year has passed by. I have never felt more thankful to have this creative space to share my life. It was in my darker moments this year that you all encouraged, nurtured and inspired me to keep going, to keep my chin up and to keep searching for that “high.” Thank you for giving me this safe place to always find solace and a community of people who support one another.
You are my high. Every one of you. Cheers to a wonderful year and to 2017.
Took a helicopter ride to chill out in Palm Springs with the Armani team and a few influencer friends.
I always feel so thankful for my trips to New York. There isn’t a single one where I miss out on paying Central Park a visit.
One of the greatest highlights of the year was tagging along with my bestie Catt as she rang the closing Nasdaq bell and our photo was blown up in Times Square. It was such as surreal moment that I never dreamed in a million years would become a reality.
Punta Cana with Catt
Catt invited me on a last minute trip to the Dominican. I love spontaneous girls weekends and trips with Catt always end up being filled with laughs.
I finally made it to the New York Veuve Clicquot Polo Match!
Central Park. Need I say more?
My Dad & I celebrated our birthday weekend in Cabo with the entire family {Josh flew in later in the day after this photo was taken!}.
{The Damsel x Adina Reyter Collection}
My partnership with Victoria’s Secret this year came as a total shock. I was truly flattered that they asked to team up on social media promotion. I’ll never forget the “high” I felt seeing my face on their Instagram account which is followed by 48.7 million people!
My entire Moms side of the family went to Vegas for a quick getaway. It is very rare that we all get to take a trip like this so it was really fun to be together.
My partnership with Cotton Inc. truly brought my story full circle. This was a brand I’d always dreamed of working with and this year those dreams finally became a reality.
My best friend, Gia, booked a flight to join me at Paris Fashion Week the day I left LA for Paris. I was shocked. Her spontaneous addition made the trip so much sweeter.
Me and my best friend Gia in Paris.
Even though the campaign was shot on the same day William passed away, I was beyond thrilled that Bloomingdale’s featured me in a campaign that went on their homepage and newsletters.
Meeting Thom Browne and his adorable pup at NYFW was a true highlight.
Special thanks to my incredible team: Alexandra Gibbs + James Nord + Felicia Lasala + Haleigh Rhea + Jessica Mirschak + Kate Krieger
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