Welp... That was a wild year... I feel like the past few years have been a bit of a WTF moment.
I do think these yearly recaps are good to shed a light on all the positive that has happened throughout the year. I know sometimes we choose to focus on the negative events but it's important to remember that good things have happened in between.
I'm doing it a bit different this year and doing a monthly recap within this blog post. I feel like time has flown by. So it's good to know the positive things that have happened within each month. I feel like when time flies by you really don't think you've achieved much, or done much but when you look back at each month you realize holy crap I've actually accomplished so much, and have done so much.
JANUARY - chill month
January was a bit of a chill month. I didn't do too much. I released my tarnish free collection for my jewelry company sweet and spicy. I also added notebooks to the company. I feel like I took this month easy because we were coming down from the high of Christmas season but also reflecting on the past year. I lost a lot of people in 2022. One of them being my grandpa in October, I think we get so busy with life and funeral arrangements you don't properly get to grieve. So I took this month just to take it easy and enjoy family time.
I also bought my dream bag Chanel mini square flat !!!
FEBRUARY
I did a lot of window shopping this month, lol. I just explored Toronto stuck to very healthy routine of going to yoga and pilates three times a week. Hanging out with my girlfriend's. It was kind of another chill month. And of course for Valentine's Day we did something special.. I just wanted to stay in and order Indian food LOL.
MARCH my birthday
I hate my birthday lol.... I always have. But this birthday was super cute. My partner planned a dinner at a Greek restaurant, and we went to see the theater show of Harry potter. I was actually obsessed with the Harry Potter show and all the cool illusions. If you ever get the chance to see it highly recommend.
I also just was focusing on work. I feel like my work has taken up a lot more time because it's in your store and there's a lot of issues. And just trying to prove myself in the role has been an interesting experience.
I also started to receive some PR packages again. If you know me and my Instagram journey and my love and hate for it I've taken time off previously and I'm trying to get back on track.
APRIL - MEXICO!!! and a lot of outings ....
A must-needed trip to mexico. We went to Cancun for about a week. We stayed on a resort but also did some external trips. I have a few blog posts about our itinerary what we did, what I wore, how to pack that I will link below here:
Honestly it was such a nice break work has been busy and just figuring out the motions of losing your grandparent I know it has been some time it was the year prior in october. But I'm also someone that's not good with dealing with their emotions LOL so I feel like it takes a lot longer for me.
We also went to a few really good restaurants in Toronto. I feel like an April the weather struts getting better and Toronto so everyone starts going out getting super happy and explain the city again.
I also had to take Lola to see the cherry blossoms because we do it every year and I try to get a really awesome photo of her with the cherry blossoms even though she is reluctant to let me take the photo.
MAY - grandma passing
It was quite annoying because I feel like this was the first month that I finally let my guard down. I started living a lot more in the moment going out ,enjoying the weather, and just really being present and not worrying as much. I'm definitely someone who has a hard time living in the moment because I'm always waiting for the next shoe to drop.. and that was my grandma's passing at the end of May...
Early on in May I was doing really good on Instagram getting a lot of collabs with good food, Vivia shoes, and Uniqlo even sent me a PR package!!!
I feel like I'm mastered the balance of spending time alone, keeping up with my workout routine, spending time with family, spending time with friends, spending time with my partner, and keeping up with Instagram.
But at the end of May my grandma passed. It was a totally opposite experience as to how my grandpa passed. We knew she wasn't doing so well it was just a matter of time. I was pretty lucky that I was able to take time off to spend her last few days with her. And I was there for her last breath. It was nice that she was able to say her last wishes to me and we had that moment. It did kind of bring up the feelings of not being able to have that with my grandpa because his passing was more chaotic and he just out of nowhere stopped breathing the ambulance was called to resuscitate him and we weren't allowed in to see him. So I feel like it brought back that regret even though I tried to come to terms with it.
JUNE -Funeral , selling my grandparents home
So... June was kind of a continuation of may. Because my grandma passed late may we had the funeral early June a few days before what would have been my grandpa's birthday. It definitely hit a lot more this time around because now both my Grandpa and Grandma were gone and they were a big support for everyone in the family. Despite them being a lot older they were very wise, and understanding, and accepting, and they definitely learned from a lot of the things that they've been through in life and the things that their children have been through in life.
We had to clear out their home and sell the house. It was a bit of a rush just because of the market.
It definitely was a lot more final moving everything out of the house, going through their things, the photos that they kept, seeing their handwriting, and having to pack up their clothes.
JULY -wedding season and Lola's health issues
There were two main weddings in July. They were all my spouses friends weddings so it's kind of nice that I had no responsibilities and I just got to go and enjoy. Took a bunch of cute outfit photos.
However in the meantime Lola had to get her dental cleaning. She is known to get a lot of cavities no matter how much we brush. And then after that was done she started to have blood in her stool.. TMI but it was a main stressor of the month. Not only because we didn't know what it was but also because it cost a lot of money to figure it out. After 3 weeks of that we finally figured it out got her on the right medication.
It was also Lola's birthday in the month of July. She shares the same birthday as my grandma would of. .. so that was bitter sweet.
AUGUST my first market for sweet and spicy jewls
Finally got the chance to do my first market for my small business. And it was such a great community of small businesses, they were all so helpful and insightful. I made a lot of good sales. And got to meet a lot of great customers. I was super grateful I had the opportunity to finally do something like this.
Also because it's August I of course have to mention that I got to see the Barbie film how iconic!!!
SEPTEMBER - Nova Scotia
I think I forget how beautiful Canada can really be . Such an amazing, affordable trip. We got to see whales!! And seals !
It was such a chill, go with the flow trip .
Being in nature and of course going to Halifax. It's also nice to see how people around Canada live.
I have more about the trip here :
September in Toronto was honestly just me running around the city exploring shops. I lovvvve to see how other stores merchandise products, just walk around talk to random people.
Meeting up with an old friend.... We only hangout once a year but everytime we do it's like no time has passed very important to have those long term relationship!
OCTOBER - Grandpas passing anniversary
Ikea influencer event - I helped to implement the sets and got to attend as well.
Last dream bag on my list!! YSL canandra. Ohhhh I have been on the hunt for this bag and finally snagged it.
Girls day, making the home cute ... Just more chill vibes. You'll find I say that a lot especially the next few months nothing crazy has happened.
NOVEMBER - Market
Testing out markets ... Trying to learn more about my demographic. I also just chilled a lot
DECEMBER - .... Just flew by
Just a lot of family time ....