Happy New Year! In the words of Staind – It’s Been Awhile. I had a whirlwind of a 2016. In case you were wondering, I did stick to my 2016 “New Year” resolution to be more interested. I started to ask questions when people talked about things I’d never heard of. I took classes and watched DIY videos and strived to be the best version of myself every day. Here are some of my highlights from last year:

• Took a house flipping class
• Started yoga
• Cooked more
• (Almost) perfected my Grandmom’s Apple Pie
• Wrote more songs
• Started coloring to relax… and it worked
• Fought really hard for love
• Won that fight
• Became my best friend’s maid of honor
• Became my best friend’s bridesmaid
• Watched a lot of beautiful people go through some pretty hard things and come out stronger
• Spent my parents 25 Year anniversary with them
• Had my little brother tell me he loved me and that I was the best while he was on play station live with other 14 year-old boys (preparing myself for the moment that won’t happen anymore, but staying grateful that it still is)
• Saw the Goo Goo Dolls live at my favorite concert venue
• Tried to volunteer at a local school, they didn’t have a program for it, so I tried to make one (still working on that)
• Voted for the first female president and watching her take the outcome with grace and dignity
• Wrote more songs
• Read more books
• Went to Denver for Kick-off weekend and watching the first Bronco’s game of the season in a Bronco’s bar as a Packers fan
• Started a new job
• Forgot about the bad things, because they did exist and focused on all of the above 

You might have noticed during all of those things, you heard less from me on here. That’s because I realized I was putting a lot of pressure on myself to meet imaginary deadlines and quotas as if on top of my job, I was also a columnist on here. I wanted to fall in love with blogging all over again and I think that’s what’s happening right now.

During 2016 I had a lot of different moods and a lot of moments that needed soundtracks. A snow day in Nashville because of two inches, a hip hop dance class with my best friend, a road trip with my other best friend, a time of desperation, a one tree hill phase, a moment I missed Ireland as if it was home – it’s all in the playlist on my Spotify profile. 9 playlists that I kept private until I decided I wanted to start 2017 doing something I love – sharing music that makes me feel a certain way to hopefully make you feel that way too. Click the artwork below to head on over to my profile and find your favorite soundtrack for tonight.

What was the highlight of your 2016?