Reflecting on 2017

Leigha Gardner, of The Lilac Press, reflecting on the past year of 2017.

 

2017 was a solid year! It can be easy for me to wish I had accomplished more, but I am trying to practice gratitude for what I already have accomplished. I am thankful for what I was able to do this past year, and I am ready to take on the next year with all I’ve got.

 

Some highlights of 2017…

 

Professional:

I got into Northeastern’s D’Amore-McKim School of Business with a significant scholarship and started a full-time MBA program. Plus, I made it through the first semester successfully

I left my full-time job at PayPal to pursue my MBA.

 

The Lilac Press:

I went to New York Fashion Week for the first time.

I collaborated with some amazing brands this year! Some of my favorites include this fruity post with Hawaiian Tropic, and these customizable accessories with oBag, this shopping spree at Assembly Row, and lots of hair tutorials with Hair Cuttery.

I started to create more video content (like these braids and this air-dried hair tutorial) and started my own YouTube channel (don’t forget to subscribe)!

I worked with local Boston organizations to support breast cancer research.

I posted my all-time favorite photoshoot last winter for Valentine’s Day.

 

Personal:

I moved into a brand new apartment this summer in Boston near Northeastern.

I got back into skiing and and even spent a weekend skiing in Vermont with friends.

I posted my all-time most liked Instagram, which came from this snowy post.

 

Travel:

I visited one of my favorite places, St. Thomas for a family vacation as well as Jost Van Dyke (I still can’t believe the Soggy Dollar is gone!)

I spent a getaway weekend in Miami collaborating with the Palms Hotel.

I made the most of all the beautiful destinations New England has to offer, visiting Cape Cod, Martha’s VineyardNewport and the Berkshires.

I spent a post-semester/pre-holiday week in Charleston – even getting back into horseback riding!

 

 

What didn’t go so well…

I didn’t stick to my blogging schedule. I was overambitious and first started out the year with a goal of blogging 5 days a week. I then scaled it back to a more realistic goal of 3 days a week, but unfortunately between my full-time job and then becoming a full-time student, sometimes I let life get the best of me! This year I hope to set a realistic schedule and then stick to it!

I also didn’t stick to my fitness goals. It’s not that I feel unhappy with my body, but I just don’t feel strong. I hardly have any muscle definition and that was one of the things I wanted to work on this year. I started doing BBG in the spring and summer and LOVED it; however, once school started I hardly worked out all. Just yesterday I renewed my subscription to the app, and I’m starting with the BBG Beginner Weeks in preparation to start BBG 1.0 Week 1 with Kayla on January 15th! I’m so excited to do it as a part of a community. You should sign up and do it too!

 

How did you reflect on 2017? Do you have your goals set for 2018? I’m still working on mine, but plan to share them soon!

xo

Leigha Ali
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