5 years ago...

What were you doing five years ago today?
You might have been in college, like me, studying for finals.
Or, instead of studying, starting a blog.

Yep. I've been blogging for five, whole, crazy, entire years. For better or worse, every embarrassing memory, style of writing, emo fashion post, and a little random poetry, are documented in this site. Much of it is buried, thank God, but you can still find it. It's a matter of searching the right terms in my search bar. (Lucky for you, I linked some of my most embarrassing ones at the end of this post 🙈.) 

So let's see, where was I five years ago? Well, I was 20 years old. I was at the end of my third year of undergrad. & I thought certainly, life was as complicated as it would ever get.

HA.

That's one really neat thing about blogging. Every year, I get to look back at my old posts, use a time warp (that I will hopefully find by next year) to smack myself in the face for thinking homemade filters were a good photo edit, and revel in the fact that I've grown up.

I barely recognize the girl I was when I started this blog five years ago. 
So, I guess that's the lesson I want to share: everything changes.

Including this blog!  Feast your heart out on the embarrassing posts of my youth. & from the bottom of my heart, thank you for taking the time to visit me here for these past five years. It's been a true honor to travel this journey with you.

• When I was into rhyming, and I guess, really loved the beach. Here. 
• Then, for a little while, haikus. Here.
• My second ever fashion post, also around the time I stopped using capitalization. Here.
• Then I started to draw. Here.
• & omg my first power tool. Here.
• When I thought I was finally an adult.... because I did my laundry at the laundromat. Here.
• I pretended to care about sports: here, here, here and here.
• I confessed a crush on ee cummings (what?! ya big weirdo) here.
• Then I decided to write and illustrate my own children's novel. Here & here.
• I got all emo about graduating here.
• & then I actually graduated here.
• I kept on drawing here.
• I went back to Miami University as an alum, here.
• I took ridiculous photos in front of construction sign here.
• I posed in front of the side of a house here....
• & in a parking lot behind my office here.
• I used wrapping paper for a background (and it looked horrible) here.
• & then told you guys all about my embarrassing posts... HERE!

I love you so much. Thanks for five tremendous years. xox

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Photography: Jake Heath, Nikond3200 35mm and Kit Zoom Lens / Edits: Adbobe Lightroom and Photoshop

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What Happened in 2015?

I remember New Years Eve last year so well. I was sitting on my little love seat at Ida Street, getting ready to launch a new blog name, looking for 2015 sunglasses on my way home from the gym and finishing this blog post.

My how things have changed.

I don't think I ever stepped foot in a gym... so, there's that. Note to self: change that in 2016 😳. But, as you can tell from my top 9 instagrams of the year (above), there were some pretty magnificent moments, as well:

• I left my hometown and moved to San Francisco.
• My little apartment was featured on my favorite blog.
• I turned 25. 
• I cut and donated most of my hair.
• I started building things! Like a kitchen table, and side tables... and even a desk (coming soon!)
• My bestie came to visit. 
• I learned about Smitten Ice Cream.
• And started listening to podcasts. 
• I collaborated with one of my favorite brands.
• & I got a new photographer ;D

It was a momentous year for sure. There were some ups, and a lot of downs, but I know each moment brought me to this one. The moment where I can sit on my arm chair, wonder if there is such a thing as 2016 glasses, remind myself that I need to make healthier resolutions, and say alas, all is well. 

Be safe tonight, dear ones! I'll be back with you in the new year! xox

ANNIE'S SIX FAVORITE POSTS OF 2014

Wow. I'm heading to the Dollar Store to look for glasses that say 2015. What on earth?! (& side note: don't you miss the days of the two double zero thousands? They made for such great glasses!) But before we all dawn our sparkles & cheers our way into the New Year, I wanted to share my top six favorite posts out of the almost 100(!) that made 2014.

In Fashion...

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1.) The Rolling Stones Tee: I got more & more comfortable with every fashion post posted in 2014. From the first one way back in May (here) to the Rolling Stones Tee just last week, each one was more & more fun. This was one of my most recents, & a particular favorite :)

2.) The Beanie! One thing I love about blogging is that it challenges me to try new trends. The beanie/pom hat was one of those. I just love the way it looks! & this post also got featured on Midwest Dressed, another reason it makes my favorites list.

In Cincinnati...

Now, I truly, truly loved every single place I visited in Cincinnati this year. Every small business & Cincinnati original. You can read about each & every one of them HERE. But, for the sake of keeping my list....

3.)[Greater] Cincinnati's Carabello Coffee & their coffee for a cause is just such a Cincinnati gem. I can't wait to see how they grow & prosper in the new year!

In collaboration...

4.)Styling with Cincinnati's Curate Boutique: The cutest little boutique asked me to collaborate in 2014. I modeled some of Curate Boutique's winter line for the Holiday Look Book & had ablast running around town with a professional photographer & these stunning clothes!

In life...

5.) The Importance of Treating Yourself:  I love this post for two reasons: the sentiment, of course. It is very important to treat yourself & acknowledge your own accomplishments. (If you don't believe in yourself, who will, right?) The second reason I love it are these awesome pictures! This was the first time that Natalie & I played around with the settings on our new DSLR cameras & it was such a fun shoot :D

In DIY...

6.) Small Space Living: Building a Corner Coffee Bar. Last but not least, in DIY, the corner-coffee bar. Five months later, I still use this coffee bar every single day. It's the perfect place to set up for a morning of work & occasional people watching from the window.

& that is that! Thanks to each & every one of you for one truly amazing year. xoxo & stay tuned for 2015, we're kicking it off with a bang ;)

A year in lists

A few days ago I started a list. A list of the things that 2011 brought to my life. Some of the list was sad- with broken hearts and the loss of a beloved uncle. Much of it was happy- finding love, internships, two beach vacations, new friends, and old friends, lots of novels, and most importantly for this setting- the start of Magical Simplicity.

This year I began a new outlook on life: finding little moments of magic every single day. So I thought I might just thank you, for being a big part of my list. On the side of my blog there has always been a list of your favorite posts (determined by the number of views) but I thought you may like a list of mine. Happy new year loves, I have a feeling this is going to be the most magical year yet.