2018 Reflection: My Year in Review
Pop some champagne, 2018 is coming to an end.
I know everyone says this, but I can’t believe the year is already over! As I’ve gotten older, it feels like time goes faster. But I want to slow down and reflect on this past year.
I totally get it if you aren’t interested in my year-end recap. If you are just here for travel or food posts, I won’t be upset. Go ahead, check these out instead:
5 Cheap Places to Eat in Madrid
But, if you are sticking around, thank you! It really means a lot that you want to read my ramblings about 2018.
2018 was filled with highs and lows. I moved across the country, started on a different career path and explored new parts of the world. I want to decompress and take some time to look back at the year.
Alright, if you are ready, lets do this. I now present my Year End 2018 Reflection.
January
I celebrated New Years in my home town with some of my closest friends. We watched the Ball Drop from the warmth of our favorite local bier hall. We played games, drank
In January, I still lived in Seattle. My husband’s company had mentioned opening an NYC office, but we didn’t know all of the details yet. I spent my time working at an
I finally checked out the Boeing Factory Tour in mid-January. If you are in the Seattle area, take some time to get out of town and tour this factory. It is really impressive and as a traveler, it is so neat to learn about the process of building airplanes.
At the end of January, I took a weekend trip to Vancouver. During this trip, I hit a few of my Vancouver favorites (like Stanley Park) but also explored a few new places. I followed the Dumpling Trail in Richmond and walked across the suspension bridge in Capilano.
Honestly, it blows my mind that I still lived in Seattle this time last year. Woah. January was a pretty calm month. I was a little anxious waiting for the news about NYC. But overall I enjoyed being in the PNW and exploring a few of the region’s highlights during this month.
February
In early February my husband and I finalized our plans and decided to move to NYC. I spent the beginning of the month exploring a few more places in Seattle. One of my favorite sports I visited this month was the Theo Chocolate Factory in Fremont.
Around Valentine’s Day, my husband and I flew to the East Coast to start the apartment hunt. Finding an apartment in NYC was a new challenge. I was overwhelmed with the process. Do you need a broker? How do you know if places are legit? And WOW, these apartments are small.
But after a few days, we found the perfect place. We flew back to Seattle, packed up, and on February 24 we officially moved from Seattle to NYC.
The last few days of February were a frenzy of cleaning and unpacking. My mom came to help set up my apartment which was really kind! But since I was so busy with the task of moving, I didn’t have time to focus on the next steps. I needed to find a job, start getting settled, meet some friends in the city, etc. Basically, I still felt the high of moving and the post-move blues hadn’t set in just yet.
March
Snow in March? That was my wake-up call that I’d really moved to the North East.
Yes, shortly after moving to NYC, I experienced my first nor’easter. And then another. And another. There were 5 snowy days between my move date and spring. But I learned that NYC is beautiful in the snow. I loved walking through Central Park and seeing everyone sledding and building snowmen.
In March I spent some time exploring new sites in the city. I visited the Morgan Library for the first time and also tried boozy ice cream at Tipsy Scoop. And I finally experienced Smorgasburg. This weekly food festival was everything I hoped it would be and so much more.
I also stood in the cold to secure r
In March I also took a weekend trip to Vermont to visit my aunt. She took me Nordic Skiing for the first time. This was a fun new experience and I hope to make this a yearly tradition. It is so nice to live close to family again!
The moving blues started to set in this month. But I was determined to face them head-on this time. I wasn’t as blindsided by these emotions as I was in Seattle. I started volunteering and attending Meetup groups right away. But I was still trying to figure out what I wanted to do for work in the city. And not having a steady job was making me feel anxious and isolated.
April
A few of my close friends visited me in NYC in April. They came for a Spring Break trip so I hoped that the weather would be nice. Unfortunately, we still had a few snow days while they were in town. Oh, and the heat and hot water in our apartment went out. Living in NYC really isn’t always that glamorous. Sure, I’d settled into my new lifestyle. But that also meant I learned how to run errands without a car. My apartment doesn’t have an on-site laundry room, so I have to take my laundry out every week. And I was still adjusting to the intense cost of living.
But while my friends were in town, we had a great time exploring the city. We saw the view from the Top of the Rock, checked out the Bronx Zoo, and took a tour of Alexander Hamilton’s house. (And we saw the desk where Lin Manuel Miranda sat during the PBS documentary!)
We also waited for rush tickets to see the broadway show Waitress. The songs from this fun show were stuck in my head for days. We also participated in the annual NYC Easter Parade. We decorated our hats and joined the crowds on 5th Ave for the colorful tradition.
Later in the month, I took a weekend trip to Boston for my 26th birthday. I hadn’t been to Boston since I was a child, so it was fun to explore this city again as an adult. There are so many delightful cafes and historic sites to see. I also watched the Red Soxs play in the famous Fenway Park.
No, I still hadn’t figured out my career path yet. At this point, I was taking a few online classes to learn more about coding, website development, and graphic design.
May
Finally, the weather in NYC started to get nice. (Hello sunshine!) I spent this month exploring NYC’s outdoor activities. I discovered Bryant Park’s Yoga in the Park series and visited Governor’s Island for the first time.
Also, I took the train to New Jersey to cheer on the NY Red Bulls. I attended the Red Bulls vs NYC FC match which was lively and entertaining.
In May I also saw my absolute favorite B
At the end of the month, I flew back to my hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee for a friend’s wedding in early June. Around this time I also had the idea to explore freelance writing. Finally, something started to click in my career search.
June
I spent a few days at the beginning of June in my hometown. I attended one of my high school friend’s wedding, which was lovely. Before heading back to NYC, I spent some time in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park with some friends. We specifically visited the park to see the synchronized fireflies. I was lucky to be in town during this season. The fireflies are only seen for a couple weeks each year.
Back in NYC, I leaned into the summer. I spent plenty of time relaxing and picnicking in Sheep’s Meadow. I also attended one of Good Morning America’s Summer Concerts. Finally, I fulfilled a dream of seeing Pitbull perform. Yes, I’m a fan of Mr. 305. What can I say?
In June my family came for a visit, so I got to play NYC tour guide for a week. We visited Smorgasburg and a few museums. We also took a few Free Tours by Foot, including a Ghost Tour of Times Square and a Williamsburg Food Tour.
I also saw Frozen on Broadway while my family was in town. As we were waiting in the concession line Kim Kardashian, Kanye West, and their daughter North rushed through the lobby. So I guess technically I saw Frozen with my family and the Kardashian-Wests.
At the end of the month my husband and I celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary. He surprised me with a rowboat ride in Central Park and a delicious dinner at Tavern on the Green. I highly recommend this is you are looking for a summer NYC date night.
In June I started to explore freelance writing. But I was still struggling. Where should I begin? This wasn’t what I went to school for. Woah. But I did land my first freelance writing gig at the end of the month. It wasn’t an impressive job, but I was excited to get paid to write for the first time!
July
After living in NYC for a few months, I rediscovered my love-hate relationship with Megabus. Without a car, there are limited options for affordable weekend getaways. So, I started taking the bus a lot during July.
At the beginning of the month, I took the Megabus to Washington DC to celebrate the 4th of July. Despite the current political climate, this was a fun place to celebrate Independence D
Later in the month, a few of my close friends drove up to the city for a visit. We checked out the Comedy Cellar and visited the One World Observatory. We also secured rush tickets for the School of Rock on B
At the end of their visit, we took a short trip to Philadelphia. We visited most of the city’s highlights including Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. They continued home after the trip and I took a Megabus back to NYC.
A few days later I took another Megabus trip to Pittsburg for a family reunion. I spent some time in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Maryland with some extended family.
I still didn’t feel settled in my new career path yet. But then again, I was starting to realize that I didn’t want to feel settled. After all, wasn’t that the reason I wanted to move to NYC in the first place? So I slowly started to embrace the feeling of
August
I spent most of August exploring the city. I went to a Yankees game in the Bronx and finally checked out Prospect Park in Brooklyn
Also, I enjoyed a meal at Morimoto during Restaurant Week. I tried octopus for this first time at this meal. And it was actually pretty tasty.
My parents spent a weekend in the city at the end of the month. I went to the US Open with them, which was interesting. I’m not a tennis person, but I learned a lot about the sport during the tournament. It was fun to soak up the atmosphere and try the signature Honey Deuce cocktail.
In August I started to secure more freelance clients. I had also started meeting more people in the city, so I slowly started to make NYC feel even more like home. Yes, I moved to the city in February. But anyone who has moved to a new city will known, the process of settling in takes much longer than you initially anticipate.
September
September started with a whirlwind trip to Europe. I took just over a week to visit Reykjavik, London, Barcelona, and Madrid. During this trip, I added two new cities and one new country to my list. I had so much fun on this adventure. My trip to Reykjavik was an extended layover before spending a few days in London. I made the most of my 24 hours in Iceland. But I would love to return and spend more time in the beautiful country.
This was the first time I’d visited London since my study abroad experience in 2013. It was incredible to be back in the city that opened my eyes to travel. I also visited Madrid for the first time on this trip. I didn’t expect to, but I fell in love with this gorgeous city. (The churros and chocolate didn’t hurt).
Once I was back in NYC, I soaked up the last of the summer. I spent a day at Coney Island where I faced my fears and rode the Cyclone. I also ran my first NYC 5K (The Doughnut Run on Roosevelt Island. Views and doughnuts-what more do you need?)
I ended the month with a quick day trip to Philadelphia. This is quickly becoming my favorite easy getaway from NYC.
By September, I had landed a few more writing gigs. I also started writing regrurarly for The Only Social. Through this job I met some lovely travel writers who were also based in NYC. I started writing with this women in person on a weekly basis. If you are a remote worker, you know that this is a game changer.
October
In October I discovered the brief but beautiful NYC fall. I explored Fort Tyron and the Cloisters for the first time. I also stumbled upon an open house day at the Jefferson Market Library.
I also ran my second NYC race this month, the Brooklyn Half Marathon. This was a great race that took runners through Prospect Park and the streets of Brooklyn.
On the day after the race, I visited the New-York Historical Society to see the Harry Potter a History of Magic Exhibit. I loved this exhibit. It was filled with artifacts that related to the series and original Harry Potter manuscripts.
On Halloween I flew to Orlando to spend a few days in Disney World. More on that next month!
In October I continued to write. The ladies of TOS introduced me to the Citizen M hotel which proved to be a perfect place for remote workers. But, I also decided I wanted to find additional work in the food world. Although I don’t share this that often on my blog, I am a major foodie. I studied nutrition in school with the goal of becoming a Nutrition Educator. So, I started applying for related-jobs at the end of October.
November
November kicks off my favorite time of year. Yes, I’m one of those people who starts celebrating Christmas on November 1.
And what better place to do that than Disney World? After the parks close on Halloween, the cast members work hard to transform the Magic Kingdom into a Winter Wonderland.
During my trip to Disney I experienced Toy Story Land for the first time. I also spent a few days at EPCOT’s Food and Wine Festival (my favorite Disney festival!).
After a long weekend in Disney, I headed back to NYC. My Christmas celebrations kicked into high gear. At the beginning of the month I checked out the Bryant Park Winter Village. This Urbanspace Pop-up was filled with local eateries and boutiques.
As the month continued, more and more decorations filled the city. By Thanksgiving, trees were everywhere and shop windowed were lined with lights.
My parents spent the Thanksgiving weekend with me in the city. On the day before they arrived, I attended the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade balloon inflation. I’ve always been obsessed with this parade so it was incredible to see this balloons inflate in person.
The next day, I lined up on the parade route with my family. It was one of the coldest Thanksgivings on record. But we stuck it out and had a great viewing spot. This was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I’ve been dreaming of having for so long.
While my parents were in town, I also saw the famous Rockettes Christmas Spectacular. So festive! We also grabbed tickets from TKTS for The Prom.
I started a part-time job as a Nutrition Educator this month and I continued to grow my freelance writing jobs. Overall, November was a month of continued career change and growth. But I’ve realized this is more of the norm than the expectation for this point in my life.
December
Although I shouldn’t be surprised, I LOVE Christmas time in NYC. The decorations and festivities exceeded my expectations. And no one prepared me for how much I would adore the pop-up Christmas tree shops that lined the streets.
Yes, I spent the month doing as many Christmas events as possible. I attended the Central Park and Bryant Park tree lightings. I checked out the store windows on 5th Ave and I took a Vintage Subway car ride. And I watched Elf while eating Ray’s Pizza.
A highlight of the month (and my life) was seeing Daniel Radcliffe in a Lifespan of a Fact. This 3-person play was wonderful. And I waited outside the stage door to see if he would come out. To my surprise, he did come out and spent a lot of time signing autographs and taking pictures. I made a fool of myself but I couldn’t stop smiling and thanking him for his time.
At the end of December, I flew back to my hometown for Christmas. I am currently writing this post in a Knoxville Starbucks shop. I’ve had a lovely time seeing friends and family. In a few days I will ring in the New Year with my friends in a cabin in Asheville, North Carolina.
I’ve continued to work as a Nutrition Educator and a freelance writer this month. I don’t feel completely settled in either role and I’m still working to embrace the feeling to uncertantity.
Looking Ahead to 2019
This time last year, there is NO WAY I could have predicted how 2018 would go. I mean, I still lived in Seattle at this point. The move to New York wasn’t on my radar. I worked at an after-school program and hadn’t considered the idea of becoming a freelance writer.
But that realization makes me incredibly excited for 2019. I’m ready to embrace the adventure and see where the year takes me. I am happy with the way my life is going right now. Living in NYC is great but I also really like being
Specifically in 2019 I am looking forward to:
- my trip to Australia
- learning how to use my new camera
- celebrating at the weddings I am a part of
- incorporating more of my food obsession into my blog
- continuing to grow and change and embrace the path I’m on
I truly appreciate you taking the time to read my 2018 reflection. If nothing else, it was very helpful for me to reflect back on my year. I often get stuck in my head and start to think that my life is off track. Or I compare myself to others and start to panic about my choices. But sitting down to reflect helps me remember that we are all on our own journeys. There is not one right path. So I am trying to embrace that mindset and feel content and excited about my current path.
I will be back to food and travel guides very soon. But it means a lot that you were interested in this post. And I am interested in your 2018 reflections too. Feel free to share some highs and lows from your year in the comments below. Or, share your goals for 2019. I’d love to read them!
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