New Years is reminiscing about your favorite moments of the year, turning a new leaf, and starting fresh. Everyone deserves a fresh start! I especially love how it inspires people to set resolutions- it’s important to yearn for something, to want to strive to be a better person. But why can’t we seize everyday? 

I am such a believer in striving and then striving for even more. I’ve always been a bit of a ‘goal-setter’ but after overcoming a pretty major health scare in 2012, I realized that existing wasn’t enough. For most of 2011, I was dealing with mystery symptoms and seeking a diagnosis- which concluded with long-term undiagnosed Lyme disease. Although I got what I needed in the end, I felt like that year was just time wasted. I didn’t have the energy to work towards much of anything! I decided to take 2013 into my own hands and made it the most productive year in a long time. 

My Top 20 Moments of 2013:

Winter

1- Overcame Lyme disease

2- Transferred work locations- better commute!

3- Started a Fashion Blog- ah, The Closet by Christie was born 

(see my first ever post: Colored Blazers for the Office)

4- Celebrated my 25th year of life

5- Paisley turned ONE year old!

Spring

6- Got my first airbrush tan (YES I’m from NJ!)

7- Worked the NY Emmy Award Gala for the fourth consecutive year (2013 Emmy Awards Style)

8- Discovered the wonders of the number 111 (also, 11 and 1111) and how prominent it is 

in my world as of this year

9- Worked on a major sponsored editorial piece that I’m proud of to this day 

(MIKOUX Statement Scarf Styled 5 Ways)

Summer

10- Rocked out at the Taylor Swift Red Tour

11- Created my very first jeweled collar chambray top (100th Post Exclusive: DIY Jewel-Collared Top)

12- Celebrated my one-year anniversary as a proud Fiat 500 owner

13- Wore my first maxi skirt (LC Lauren Conrad Style)

14- Made a DIY dog closet and bow organizer for Paisley

15- Took Paisley for her first swim in the pool

Fall

16- Went to my first networking event, Lucky Magazine & Movado’s ESQ One NYFW Event

17- Attended LuckyFABB, Lucky Magazine’s prestigious Fashion & Beauty Blogger Conference

18- Shook hands and picked the brain of Jess Lee, the Founder & CEO of Polyvore 

(Founders’ Series with Jess Lee)

19- Improved my blog statistics

20- Connected with other fabulous bloggers at a Blogger Brunch and online 

(Tri-State Blogger Meet-Up)

I haven’t decided what 2014 has in store for me yet, but I’m sure I’ll continue to strive! I may start out by chipping away at this awesome IFB (Independent Fashion Bloggers) list- Go Big! 52 Blogging “To-Dos” in 2014. It has a ton of best practices and great ideas!

What is your greatest hope or expectation for 2014? Any fun resolutions? I wish for all of the best things for you in the new year!