Hey guys!! You guessed it, one of my new years resolutions is to get back into blogging, who's surprised there? So let's get into it! Kicking it off right with some new years resolutions! I know 2020 was crazy we totally learned to expect the unexpected, but that doesn't mean I don’t want to dream big! What do you think? Are you making resolutions this year?
1. Read more books and write more!
Hoping to expand my lexicon, imagination and just brain in general! I want to read more so I can write more! I really want to write a book one day which sounds CRAZY right now, but who knows! Maybe down the road i'll get there! The thing with reading is I never think I have enough time to read when in reality I REALLY do!! When I went without my phone for a week, I found I had way more time to read simply because my attention span wasn't being sucked up by my phone, I actually found the time! Let's have more of that in 2021
2. Exercise and eat better!
I know I say this every year, but it really dawned on me that I am kinda getting to that point in my life where the things I do now will affect me in the future which is so wild. But I want to live forever! I want to be healthy into old age and capable of traveling and to still have my brain being sharp at old age! That's the goal, gotta put in the work for the future.
3. Get on a normal sleep schedule!
The whole vibe for 2021 is to take care of my general health well being! I wonder why I'm so stressed out all of the time, so exhausted and anxious, I always forget that sleep is a huge factor in literally EVERYTHINGGGG I need to stop thinking its a badge of honor to pull all-nighters and actually get some dang sleep. Hot girls get enough sleep, thats a fact.
4. Go to therapy!
Just because things are good now, doesn't mean I shouldn't talk to someone! Another thing that hot girls do in addition to sleeping is going to therapy!! I feel like this I a necessary thing that everyone should do, its so healthy to talk things out and work through feelings and emotions, I think its time! And COVID may make it a littleeeee tough, but even if its on BetterHelp or something, I want to get started with this!
5. Become more financially savvy!
So I can pay for therapy. Lol. I've already started on this and it's already been so helpful! I need to budget and plannnn money is for SURE not grown on trees and maybe if I get better at this "how to make money fast" wont be such a popular google search of mine, and then I can save up to:
6. Move out!
Yes! I want to move out. It's been almost a year since moving home due to COVID, and obviously thats something that you can really work around so I've just been staying put. I'm feeling stuck, wishing to spread my wings and connect with my soulll!! I am incredibly grateful to be here at home with my family, but I am also ready to start my life in a way I haven't been able to since being here. It's going to be a lot of work, but I'm ready for it!
7. Manifest more!
I only dabbled in this in 2020, but I am really looking forward to learning more about manifestation and the power of setting positive intentions and asking for what you want. I would LOVE to manifest positive mental health, more blog readers, youtube subscribers, all of that! I'd love to manifest my move, my dream apartment, my dream wardrobe, all of that!
8. Grow out my hair!
I know this isn't anything crazy, but 2020 really taught me the dangers of damaging my hair and just how BADLY I miss having healthy hair! My hair has never been an insecurity of mine until now. After insane breakage and many meltdowns chopping it off, its so thin and short and I'm really hoping with the power of biotin pills and thickening shampoo, i'll get there! I officially stopped bleaching my hair a month or so ago and it's already felt so much better! Baby steps...
9. Document my life more!
I already do this a lot, but through journaling, taking film photos, scrapbooking, anything and everything, I really want to have memories for when I'm older! That's one of the main reasons why I make content at it's core is so I can remember it when I'm older. I feel like it also helps strengthen your memory? Who knows! After doing my 1 second a day video this year, that really solidified that I want to continue to document everything forever!!
And that's that!!! What do you think? Are you making any goals for 2021?
Hello!! Happy New Year!! Somehow someone decided that it was already time for a new decade, I don't know if I'm not ready or really just have never been more ready in my LIFE! Indecisiveness is what we are feeling lately haha... And yeah, I say decade because the new decade technically starts this year. SO I guess since we all thought that 2020 was the new decade, that was basically just like our test run right? A year to make all our mistakes, learn and grow and all that jazz so we are prepared for the ACTUAL new decade?! Or is that way more intimidating?! I don’t even know...
Anyway, so yeah, this year has been insane. I don’t really have the words at this point for some super sappy sentimental post. I want to post more on here, I say that every time but I WANT TO DOCUMENT MY LIFE IN ALL WAYS POSSIBLE, so hey, let's make paying for this domain slightly worth it HA! I have a new podcast episode coming out on Monday about all my new years resolutions and what not, so you can hear about all of those there then.
I also just posted my one second video from 2020, which you can watch right here right now...
It's weird because so much happened this year, I celebrated SO many milestones but really just let them pass by. For example, my blog turned ten. TENNNNNNN I'm now officially on the tenth year of blogging and what did I do to celebrate? Nothing... Oops? I'm insanely proud of myself. I haven't taken it full time or really taken it that seriously this ninth year, but still, it's been ten years. I'm proud of myself for this little decade of run on sentences and mix matched outfits. Cheers to ten more. Ten more years of exploring the world, myself, others, everything. Cheers to everything!!
IT'S ALMOST 2020 WHAT ON EARTH! SO much is about to happen, BUT before that, let's take a look back on the fantastic year that 2019 has been! A year of travel and adventure, 2019 was one of my best yet. Let's see shall we?
JANUARY
Started the year off strong going back to school pretty early on, the first week on January or something like that, quarter system probs... As always the weather was beautiful in Savannah, surprisingly warm, we enjoyed some beach days, park days, and plenty of bike rides. In addition to having a car in Savannah for the first time, I proceeded to get PLENTY of parking tickets... definitely not a highlight of the year...
As I do every year, I celebrated my BIRTHDAY! I turned 21 this year and had an ABSOLUTE BLAST! Winter quarter wound up being a party-full few months. So being 21 definitely had it's advantages.
FEBRUARY
February kicked off with midterms and me being busier than ever. Regardless of all the fun I was having, this quarter was a TOUGH one, lots of work, many long nights, and just doing my best to get the job done while...
Still not knowing how to say, "no" and doing MANY photoshoots and fun collaborations with friends. Which although I do love, man oh man was I BUSY! I did get a lot of good blog content out of it though hhaha... that's always a perk.
MARCH
The first bit of March we spent counting down the days until Kate and I flew abroad to ITALY for our spring break before we went to live in the south of France for spring quarter.
We went to Rome, Florence, and Venice!! We ate our weight in gnocchi and gelato and walked more than we ever expected, Rome tired us out for sure as did getting lost on literally every train we ever tried to take to get to our next destination. I loved every second.
Shortly after our Italy trip was LACOSTE!! We got settled, and fell in LOVE with our little medieval village in Provence. Taking drawing, fibers, and art history classes, I've never found more inspiration than when creating art in Lacoste.
APRIL
Still in France, we had our school trip to Paris! However I went a weekend early to stay with Saunders for a little bit! He had been living in Paris since September, and I wanted to be able to spend time with him as well as getting a sense of the local vibe.
Paris was BEAUTIFUL! I've never been anywhere like it. Every street, every alley, and every building was so stunning. I could spend some serious time in Paris. That trip flew by WAY too fast.
Our parents met us in Paris towards the end of my school trip and then we went to NICE! Although I'm not much of a tennis fan myself, seeing the French Open in Monte Carlo was one of the cooler things we've all done I think we can agree. After spending a few days in Nice/Monte Carlo with the fam, we rented a car and drove along the coast back to Lacoste where I got to show the whole family (minus my sister, emma, rip she broke her leg) my special home away from home, Lacoste.
MAY
In May, some friends and I went back to Nice to celebrate Sophie's 21st birthday! We had a GREAT time! Ate some incredible food (more gnocchi and gelato of course...) did lots of window shopping, and went to some crazy bars and clubs. Europeans really know how to party!
I continued to really soak up every moment I had left in Lacoste as it was coming to a close. My favorite part of my time spent in Lacoste was my travel portfolio class, we went to new villages almost every class. Fontaine de Vaucluse was easily my favorite place, it was incredibly magical.
This is one of my favorite film photos from my whole collection of Lacoste film, Liam took it right before I got on the bus to leave Lacoste for the last time. The view of the valley behind me was soooo beautiful and looking at it one last time I was trying to hold back tears, yet still so full of joy with my love for Lacoste. It was hard to leave, but I'm so grateful for my time spent there.
JUNE
After coming home from France I almost immediately got gum surgery, ew... but then I moved to Brooklyn! Where I'd be working an internship in New York all summer at Flagpole! I loved Brooklyn, I lived with my two friends Rachele and Gui, we had the best time together. I miss them so much!!
JULY
Still working hard at my internship, July was FULL of fun! I experienced Fourth of July in Brooklyn, we watched the fireworks from the perfect spot on top of a hill in DUMBO! Which was SO much fun.
I also went to my first Pride parade! Which was crazy because it was actually WORLD PRIDE! We had SO much fun, the parade was amazing and the whole day was so full of love and joy!
But in true Olivia form, I had a minor meltdown and had to escape New York for a little bit. Surprising my family, I came home for the weekend to get back to nature and slow things down for a bit. It was so nice to be able to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city, I really needed that refresher.
AUGUST
In August I wrapped up my internship and said goodbye to New York. I wanted to stay longer, but there was this whole thing with our apartment and we couldn't stay... That sounds sus but I promise it was just the Airbnb lease ending. I will really miss New York. I'm not sure what my plans are after school, but I'm sure I'll wind up there at some point and I cannot wait.
SEPTEMBER
Time to head back to school! Ready to start my senior year! But wait... what's this?? Another HURRICANE?! For the citywide evacuation some friends and I fled to my roommate Ana's grandparents house in Highlands, North Carolina for almost a week! We had so much fun, did some hiking, did some swimming under waterfalls, and even visited Asheville and my old camp, Camp Merrie-Woode! It was the perfect prequarter vacation!
But then of course, school had to start at some point! So a week or so later, we were back in Savannah ready to start our SENIOR YEAR! And boy oh boy has it been a lot... Only one quarter in and so far fall quarter was the hardest, yet most fun yet! I'm looking forward to continuing it in a matter of DAYS! But NOT ready for it to finish! Yikes!!
OCTOBER
Not much to say for October besides Halloween, which of course was fun, but WOW this month was just stacked with so much endless work and also the month from hell for my skin. Finally getting fully allergy tested, and to find out what? Not much honestly... This year has been very tough on my super sensitive skin. Hopefully soon I'll have answers!!
NOVEMBER
In November I headed home after the tough quarter and got to experience fall for a split second before going to New Orleans with our family for Thanksgiving! New Orleans was so so much fun, part of my dad's side of the family lives there. We had an absolute blast! We stayed in the Bywater neighborhood, it was colorful and full of so much life! We were only there for a week which simply was NOT enough! Hoping to make it a tradition for future Thanksgivings!
DECEMBER
Again, for more quarter system probs, once I'm home for Thanksgiving I basically just stay home until the new year. So what a better way to fill my time than to get a job! I started work at Paper Source in the beginning of December for their holiday season and just finished up as I'm heading back to Savannah for the new year! It was fun! Despite the sore feet and back... it was fun!!
Besides work, I spent lots of time with family for the holidays which obviously was great as always! We did plenty of festive things from parties to seeing holidays lights! One of the best years with the family for sure...
Overall this year was spectacular! I'm SO looking forward to next year! I don't want to look too forward to next year in this post because I WILL be coming back in a few days with a post all about resolutions and looking forward and such. So thanks for looking back with me, com back soon to look forward!! Thank you all for a great year, see you next year ;-) xo, O <3
OH MY GOSH! THIS YEAR! This year has been by FAR my favorite, and I know I say that every year, but that's the best part! That just means that my years keep getting better and better, which of course only means you already KNOW how excited I'm getting for 2019! BUT today instead of looking ahead to the new year, we are going to take a little trip down memory lane on how fabulous this past year has been!! Let's go!
In January I started the year off right, with celebration! My birthday is obviously the same day every year... soooo... this will never change, but it is ALWAYS a good time! This year I turned 20, which made me, a REAL adult, and let me tell you, adulting? HARD! Check out my birthday vlog below!
At this point I'm in the thick of things at SCAD in Savannah, working hard and hardly working at the same time. Who ever said multitasking wasn't a talent?! The highlight of this month though for SURE was my trip to Atlanta to see Lana Del Rey (+murals)! This trip was both a disaster and an amazing time, Lana and good avocado toast making it amazing, and literally everything else making it a disaster... That's what happens when you book the sketchiest hotel in the world, get a HORRIBLE speeding ticket, and get claustrophobic and have a little stress attack at the concert. Disasters make memories though, right? Right!
March started out with my first ever trip to DISNEY! It was absolutely AMAZING! We went to celebrate John's birthday. I ate lots of Mickey shaped things, cried at the most incredible fireworks, and had the BEST time! I went when I was really little, but remember NOTHING, so I really treated this as my first time and loved every since second. Check out my vlog!
But March doesn't stop there, towards the end of the month I packed my just barely under 50 pound bags (which ended up getting lost for the first WEEK) and headed to HONG KONG! Where I studied abroad for my spring quarter at SCAD. It was a dream. It honestly doesn't even seem real. I made a second home there and want to go back everyday. Hong Kong, wow, no words for your wonders, no words. BUT! Lots of video ;)
In April, Michele (my bff from Hong Kong) and I took our first trip from Hong Kong to Taiwan!! It was a BLAST! Let me tell you, the food!?!? SO GOOD! Best food I've ever had honestly. We stayed in the weirdest all Hello Kitty themed Airbnb, had one very regrettable meal, and fought off unexpected tourist crowds, but had the best time ever. Wouldn't change it for the world, we had so much fun.
Here I am standing at the top of Taipei 101, one of the worlds tallest buildings with the worlds fastest elevator! Very nice views, however fast elevators up to 100+ floors just means insanely painful ear popping, you can't win them all I guess haha!!
MAY! Another FANTASTIC trip! We packed our bags in the city and Michele, Hannah, Tori and I headed to the beaches of none other than THAILAND! Phuket, Thailand to be exact! We ate heaps of pad thai, swam with not only the most beautiful tropical fish while snorkeling, but also with ELEPHANTS! What could be better than that?! Not much tbh... not much
Although my time in Hong Kong came to an end in the beginning of June, lots more was yet to come! The biggest thing in my opinion was my mega rebrand!! All Those Little Things became Olive Barrett after a brief shut down when my domain host said, "hey ya know what, we don't host blogs in Hong Kong, sorry!" *deletes blog* it was really tough! But luckily, in June, once I was back stateside, I brought her back and was better than ever!! Hello Olive Barrett :-)
In addition to that, I spent the week on Hilton Head Island with my best friends! We don't ever get to see each other during the year anymore, and hardly even during the summer, so this was an opportunity that couldn't be missed! We had so much fun!!
(literally everything in this post is me having so much fun, but of course it is, these are the highlights baby, go with it!!!)
Also I had pink hair for like... one HOT second.
That week I got stung by a jellyfish and wanted to die, here I am pouring vinegar on it, because supposedly that helps? I pretended like it did.
In July I headed up north where I shot my first ever wedding!!!
It was SO beautiful, everyone had such a great time, and in my opinion... the photos turned out great, but maybe I'm just biased...
While up there, Matt and I snuck in a trip to New York where we went to Coney Island and ate LOTS of gooooood pasta. A fun weekend with good company :-)
Every August my family heads down to Nags Head, North Carolina for our annual beach trip. This year Ally came which was TOTALLY fun. The week consisted of messing around with the drone, ABBA dance parties, tipsy card games, breaking vegetarianism for crab cakes, and hunting for shooting stars, oh, and the.best.water.park.ever.
Sadly we found out that the owners of the house we rent every year sold the house, which means next year will probably be a little bit different. Here to hoping the best!
September rolled around marking the end of summer, and the start of my junior year. It's mind boggling to me that I'm a junior in college already. What's even weirder? Next year when I'm writing this I'll be a SENIOR! Time flies like no other!
This was my busiest quarter yet. I took on a larger corse load than allowed, and pulled many an all nighter. I briefly had and internship, and did lots of photoshoots. To say I spread myself too thin would be an understatemennnnttttt hahahahaha :'-)
I finally moved off campus into an apartment!! And these are my roommates! From right to left, there I am (obviously), Kate, who studies fibers, Ana, who studies industrial design and accessory design, and Annie, who studies illustration. So John, the same guy from Disney, he is our real roommate, but he was studying in Lacoste this quarter so Annie was the subletter. She was the ideal subletter, a literal dream. Thank you Annie for being the actual best!!!
Randomly, for about a week and a half in October, we got a dog! Her name was Bassy, she was a pitbull mix one year old puppy and was WILD! We loved her with all our hearts, but it was just wayyy too much to handle. Like I said earlier, busiest quarter ever... It was a foster program so she just went back to the previous fosters (who was more than happy to take her) but hopefully she gets her forever home soon :-)
We also threw our first party!!! It was a Halloween party and totally fun! Everyone dressed up and the turn out was actually GREAT! And everyone left for the bars around 1am so there was nooooo commitment. It was perfect.
I didn't have any time really to make any YouTube videos this quarter, so here's the one I made that basically summed everything up.
The quarter ended in early-mid November and I headed home for winter break. The first thing on my list was my good blogger friend, Stephanie's wedding!! This was my first ever solo wedding. One where I'm neither related nor working, just there as a regular guest! Stephanie was an absolutely beautiful bride, and so was everything else to match! Congrats to the new couple <3
Since I had been home for a while, I was ready to shake things up, so natually, I headed to New York!! A group of my friends from SCAD went and we had heeeaaaaps of fun! Christmas in New York is not only cold... but SO lovely.
You can see my NYC montage in this video below :-)
And since I couldn't stay away..... Just this weekend for New Years Eve, Ally and I are in NEW YORK CITY!! AGAIN! So far we are having the best time. I can't wait to celebrate tonight with some shuffleboard and fireworks. We are staying with Ally's sister in Brooklyn and are remaining as far away from Manhattan today as possible. The crowds have already been so crazy, don't even want to imagine what it's like today on New Years Eve!!
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Overall, this year has been incredible, truly incredible. I am grateful, satisfied and full to the brim with joy for what has happened and what is yet to come. Thank you to everyone who made this year as wonderful as it was. I owe it to you!
Here's to memories, and cheers to making new ones... startiiinnnngggggggggg, now.
xo, O
These are some random stats from my year... Don't know how I'm beige, but I thought I'd leave it in there bc it's pretty funny...
