Reflections on 2016!

Wow! I can hardly believe that 2016 is (almost) over, as of midnight tomorrow night.

I think it is true what they say, that as you get older, time seems to fly by faster and faster. 

If I close my eyes, it seems like literally yesterday when my (at the time) boyfriend (and now fiancé) and I were at a nice restaurant last December 31, 2015, having a romantic dinner and discussing our plans for our future...the most important plan being spending forever together. My heart swells with joy just thinking about all those talks we had before he proposed. 

So, this brings me to my first highlight and ultimate favorite memory of 2016: getting engaged to the love of my life! It was romantic and sweet. After a walk on the beach, he stopped...set up the Go Pro in the sand so we could "take some pictures together by the ocean" (the man knows how much I love to take pictures!), and then after he set it up, he held me for a few minutes, pulled the ring out of his pocket, and got down on one knee. It was the perfect proposal. It was so us.

With the excitement of the proposal came WEDDING PLANNING! I have truly enjoyed every step of this process so far. I know that people say it is very stressful, and I totally understand why. However, at the end of our wedding day, he will be my husband & I will be his wife, and that is all that truly matters! So when stress starts to rear its ugly head, I keep that in mind. 2016 has been a fun year of wedding planning and us enjoying being engaged!

The day we found our dream venue! 

Bridal shows are a must for a bride-to-be (and yes I still have the "I'm Getting Married" lanyard hanging from my mirror in my car!)

This day was SO MUCH fun: when my bridesmaids found their dresses!! We played dress-up and found the most beautiful dresses for them all to wear. 

 The day I found my dream wedding dress!! 😍

Enjoying that engaged life: registering at Bed, Bath, & Beyond! 

Annnd we took our engagement pictures this year. Which I personally thought was a blast 😉 😀

Looking back on 2016, I realize how blessed I am to have such an amazing support system in my life! Balancing school and work was not easy, but having my amazing parents & fiancé by my side every step of the way made it all possible. I firmly believe God places the people in your life who you need at the exact time you need them. That is what my family and my love provide to me. They have been there for me through every tear, stress, test, etc, and they have supported me literally no. matter. what. I can't get over how God blesses me through my loved ones!!! In 2016, I have completed 3 more semesters of school with only 2 semesters left until graduation! It is with God's placement of these amazing people in my life that this has been possible. I pray that God helps me to bless others through the healthcare profession. 

Despite the stress of every day life, I also firmly believe that God helped put it in my heart to start blogging again. I started this blog back in 2011 because I love fashion and nothing has changed since. My little 'ol corner of the Internet has been such a joy to me and a huge stress reliever. So, 2016, you have brought me back to blogging and I thank you for it!!! Life is so busy that sometimes I do not have the time I wish to post as often as I truly want. However, I decided that regardless, I still wanted to try to post as much as possible because I really do believe I am a more well-rounded person when I set aside time to pursue my passions....which, if it's not obvious by my blog title by now....is fashion! Not to mention that, once again, my love has been SO supportive of my fashion blogging, taking pictures for me and also surprising me with blogging photography equipment for Christmas! My mom too has ALWAYS supported my blogging as well. No matter what my goals, I know they will be there supporting me every step of the way.

So, I wanted to close this post by sharing some of the top things I've learned in 2016. This is not meant to be me giving advice, just some of the things I have learned this year that have been true for my life. Hence the photo below...me in my favorite sweatshirt, just being me. The next lessons are a reflection of me, just as this picture is! 

1. Cherish time with your family, friends, and loved ones. We are not guaranteed any time on this earth, so spend as much time as possible with the ones you love most. 

2. Know your limits and stay true to yourself. When I say know your limits, I don't mean your limits in dreaming (dream big sister! See #3). What I mean is that it's ok to say "no" sometimes when you already have too much on your plate. Only you know what these limits are but it's important to always keep them in mind. 

3. Follow your dreams and your heart, always staying true to yourself. Don't be afraid to take chances and to step out on a limb. You never know what doors God may open. 

4. Be thankful. Look around at your blessings and don't ever take them for granted.

5. Surround yourself with people who fully support and love you, and support and love them right back. These people help make dreams possible because they are dreaming the dreams of your heart right along with you (and help you keep the big picture in mind when you get too overwhelmed with the tiny details!). 

Thank you so much everyone for all your support as always. I can't wait to continue blogging into 2017! 

I wish you a blessed & Happy New Year!

2017, I'm ready for ya! 

XOXO
Ashley