2017: A Year in Review

Happy Friday Everyone!

It’s December 29th (as if you need me to tell you the date) and just like that, 2017 is wrapping itself up. But honestly, I’m not quite ready to see it go. 2017 has for sure had both its ups and downs and I wanted to take a hot second and look back on some of the best, and worst, moments this year has had to offer (well, for at least me anyways)!

So because I feel like this post could definitely get real long, REAL quick, let’s jump head first into our first category..

School

I’m starting off with this one because at this point, I want to be done thinking about school in 2017.

For those of you who might not know, I am a Biotechnology major at a small private college in Pennsylvania. To say the least, it’s alright.

I know I’m always giving my college experience kind of a hard time (mostly because that’s what it is to me.. a hard time), but really it’s not all bad. I was actually, dare I say, a little sad to be leaving this semester *insert shocking gasps here* (:

But anyways let’s recap and get the negatives out of the way first:

1. You don’t know what hell is until you’re dealing with live cell cultures and every single day that you come to check on them they are either A. moldy or B. contaminated with bacteria/yeast/etc.

Seriously.

I started having DREAMS about this that’s how bad it was. But to end this one on a positive, the crazy cell conundrum was under control for the last month and a half of my fall semester. Thank G.

2. You also don’t know hatred until you are only given multiple choice exams.. literally my Kryptonite.

To say the least, my GPA suffered something fierce the first semester of 2017 because I just could not pass multiple choice exams. And trust me, your girl tried EVERYTHING.

So you can imagine the relief I felt in the fall when literally NONE of my exams (with the exception of a final, and yes, I did not do well on said final) had no multiple choice. Sign me up for hand cramps over ‘Pick the most right answer’ any. freaking. day.

3. The week my computer broke. Yes, you read this 100% right. My computer decided, on the week of multiple assignments being due, that it wanted to take a vacation.

I rushed it to the Apple store as soon as I could, braved the three hour wait, and was broken the news (both good and bad). The problem was fixable AND free. But the computer would be MIA for 5-7 days. And in the life of a college student, that is literally forever.

I’m not the kind of girl who likes asking for extensions or pulling the pity card so after they pried the lifeless computer from my hands and I sadly watched them carry it away, I called my mom (Stephanie to the rescue) and she drove me my desktop from home.

Now, that doesn’t help the fact that all of my work was on the other computer and now I’m starting 100% from scratch, but needless to say, my papers and assignments got done. And every day to class I carried my little iPad.

That was quite the week to be alive.. but I’m so proud of myself for not letting it defeat me, because at one point it really did seem like the end of the world!

But now, let’s focus on the positives (:

1. I both made it completely through my Sophomore year and half way through my Junior year in 2017! Nonetheless as a BIOTECHNOLOGY major. Sorry, it was necessary to put that in shouty capitals.

It hit me on my way home that I’m really going to do it. I’m going to graduate with an absolutely amazing degree, and for some reason I must have never thought it possible that it would really happen. But it is. And that’s crazy. And despite all of the challenges that the Biology department has thrown at me, I’ve still come out on top, which is more than what some people can say. And I’m trying not to gush so I’m going to leave it at that (:

2. There are so many other positives but in the effort to keep this section a little bit shorter, I’m just going to list a few: getting an apartment with great roommates (+ an adorable puppy), remaining in both E-motion and Dance Team all year, keeping my job as an event planner for the Office of Student Activities, and being offered a tutoring position (even if it’s in a class that has nothing to do with my major, ha!).

And onto the next!

Beauty/Skincare

To be honest, I don’t really have any ‘worsts’ or complaints when it comes to this category. I’m just going to keep it short and sweet and compile a list of my favorite face masks that 2017 has blessed me with. Oh, and of course I do need to mention Jeffree Star in this section as well.. Ever since trying his liquid lip and skin frost formula, I’m a new girl. And that’s all there is to it (:

1. GlamGlow Glitter Mask!! — I eat, sleep, and breathe for this
2. Boscia Charcoal Pore Pudding Intensive Wash Off Treatment
3. Peter Thomas Roth Rose Stem Cell Bio-Repair Gel Mask
4. Sephora Collection Face Mask – Algae
5. Tony Moly Pokemon Buried Digda Peel Off Pack

And on that note, let’s move right on into..

Fashion

Okay, so if I’m being totally honest, I definitely think my fashion sense has suffered something great in 2017. I just wasn’t motivated to put outfits together and I think jeans became mortal enemy #1. But nevertheless, I’m going to talk about some of my favorite fashion moments, whether that had to do with me or s’not.

1. SomethingNavy x Treasure & Bond

I was seriously so. excited. when this collection came out. You might remember if you read my post about it that I missed the launch and was calling stores across the country to try and get my hands on some of the pieces.

Arielle has been my favorite fashion blogger since I’ve been in 11th grade and she came out with such a wearable, yet fashion forward line that anyone could find something they liked in. Plus, some of the profits go to charity which is really awesome (:

Lucky for all of us, if we weren’t able to snag something the first time, she recently re-released some of the pieces again all on Nordstrom’s website. If you want to check out exactly what I bought and my complete thoughts, check out my blog post reviewing it all here

2. Pom Poms

If you know me, then you won’t be surprised to see this in my favorites of 2017. I. freaking. love. pom poms.

Pom poms on hats, on sweaters, on pants, on jewelry, on book bags, you name it and I’m probably into it.

I’m going to link some of my favorite pom pom pieces from this year below (:

Pom Pom Sweater – Zara

Faux Fur Pom Pom Beanie – Topshop

Pom Pom Earrings – Etsy

3. Mom Jeans

I’m normally a strictly high-waisted black skinny jeans kind of girl, but there is something about a blue jean style in combination with a chunky black leather belt that has managed to win me over. It’s very Kendall Jenner. And let’s be honest, she might not be my favorite Kardashian, but she definitely knows what’s up in the world of style.

I find that ASOS sells some really cute, straight leg, mom jeans style denim in a range of colors and lengths (shout out to all my short ladies) that is really affordable. And of course you can get a black belt pretty much anywhere, but I really like the styles offered by Urban Outfitters.

I think this look is really minimal, but looks super chic and street style. You can pair it with literally anything on top and either sneakers or booties on the bottom. You really can’t go wrong (:

Music

Okay, let’s talk about music. Actually, probably not a good idea because I could literally talk forever about it, but I’ll try to reign myself in for this.

I think 2017 was another great year for music. So many new releases and all of them pretty much amazing. I’m not going to go individually into each one because again, I think this blog post is going to be long enough, but you’ll have to take my word and have a listen for yourself (if you haven’t already) when you get a chance (:

So let’s first compile my favorite albums of the year..

1. Melodrama – Lorde
2. Lust for Life – Lana Del Rey
3. Harry Styles – Harry Styles
4. Dear Evan Hansen (Original Broadway Cast)
5. Fifty Shades Darker (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
6. About U – MUNA

And now a list of 2017’s best songs..

1. KIWI (again, shouty capitals necessary) – Mr. Harry Styles himself
2. Waving Through a Window – Ben Platt
3. Feel it Still – Portugal. The Man
4. The Cure – Lady Gaga
5. Heaven In Hiding – Halsey
6. Slow Hands – Niall Horan
7. Love – Lana Del Rey
8. Sober II (Melodrama) – Lorde
9. Sorry – Halsey
10. What Do I Know? – Ed Sheeran
11. There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back – Shawn Mendes
12. Sign of the Times – H (:

And as for the worst in music of 2017? Taylor. Swift.

This shouldn’t be surprising for anyone who knows me either. There is something about this girl that I just do not like. Did I listen to the album? Heck no. But I know that it made my blood boil just thinking about it and music shouldn’t do that hence, here it is.

And in the effort NOT to offend millions of Swifties out there, I’m going to leave it at that.

And finally..

Life

There are so many things that happened in 2017 that are all time favorite moments for me, most of them happening towards the last half of the year but I just want to take some time to reflect, be thankful, and talk about each one.

1. Concerts

Attending concerts (and Broadway shows) are some of my favorite things to do, and I was fortunate enough to be able to do both this year. But one of the most memorable concerts of my life thus far was when I got to go see Harry.

Again, I did an entire post on this back in October when it happened, but seriously words cannot describe how fun that day was. And something I don’t forsee ever happening again.. I mean come on, when are you ever going to be in a small, intimate venue with H ever again? Probably never.

And so the image of Harry’s custom made suit and black chiffon button down is burned in my memory until the day I die. I wouldn’t have missed that day for anything in the world.

If you’re interested to hear more about the concert, you can read my previous post here

2. New York City Trips

Most of you are probably very aware that I take trips to the city pretty regularly and this year is no exception. So here are some of my favorite times in 2017 that I got to go New York

-When my cousin and I went to NYC DragCon and met Jeffree
-When Sethy and I went up for my birthday (I’ve gotta plug the Bocce Ball from Chuck and Blade, seriously delish)
-When my mom and I visited what I like to call the ‘Hamilton House’ uptown, went to BookCon, and saw Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on Broadway (:
-When I ate ALL the Pickle Me Pete fried pickles I could get

3. Celebrating one year together with my favorite person

Sethy and I celebrated both our 6 month and one year anniversary in 2017 and they were both such special days.

Spending time together is one of my favorite things to do and those days revolve around that.

He is nothing but patient and supportive of me and I am thankful for that every day. I look forward to including celebrating two years together in 2018 (:

And that pretty much sums up my 2017 Wrap Up! It was a year that at times seemed long, but upon reflection really flew by. And I can’t wait to see what 2018 will bring.

What were some of your favorite moments of 2017? Least favorite moments? Let me know!

I hope you all had a great year and until 2018..

xx.Britani Skye