This year has been collectively known as one of the worst years in U.S. history, thanks to COVID-19. I tried to make the most of it by continuing to evolve, learn, and be my best self. I graduated from college and got my Bachelor’s degree in May, which was the highlight of my year. As far as creating new memories, I didn’t have the opportunity to make as many as I would have liked to due to the related isolation. For me, this year was a time for personal growth and self-care. I ate healthier, did yoga daily, and adopted a more positive mindset. Before 2020 ends, I’m revisiting it by filling out a questionnaire that covers my high, lows, and favorite moments. With a not so heavy heart, let’s say goodbye to 2020 and hope that 2021 is one for the books!
Fashion
Trend of 2020: Tie-dye prints, corset tops, cropped sweaters, printed headscarves, sweatsuits, 90s revival, and high-waisted extra baggy mom jeans.
Worst trend of 2020: No offense to anyone, but the dreadful comeback of Crocs.
Trend revamped: Oversized and puffy sleeves, chunky platform boots, patchwork details, and the internet famous revamped cottage core.
The item in your closet you wore the most: Definitely my Current Mood platform boots that I wear pretty much every day.
The most ridiculous thing you bought: I bought this Oh Polly vinyl two-piece set from Buffalo Exchange that is beautiful, but I had nowhere to wear this all year. It’s just been collecting dust in my closet, awaiting the world to open again.
Best gift: My mom bought me this comfy, cute Free People Movement ribbed crop top and these Old Navy high-waisted yoga pants to do yoga in. For my birthday, my best friend got me the Rihanna x Puma velvet Creepers that I’ve wanted for so long. Obsessed!
Favorite overall purchase: I bought my dream shoes, these Pull & Bear platform knee-high boots from Asos.
Favorite pieces of jewelry: This local spiritual shop in Long Beach called Z Fabrique has these power mini crystal bracelets that I adore. Each one has a purpose and I wear my healing amethyst bracelet daily. My other favorite is a pair of quirky, fluorescent green alien head earrings (here’s a similar pair).
Celebrity style: Rihanna, Dua Lipa, Emily Ratajkowski, Miley Cyrus, and Saweetie.
Designer/label: Area, Luisa Via Roma, Daizy Shely, and Moschino.
Shopping website: Asos and The RealReal.
My beloved Pull & Bear boots and one of my favorite outfits!
A 70s-inspired outfit I loved wearing (lots of suede!).
One of my favorite fashion purchases this year were these velvet bell bottoms.
I dressed up as Strawberry Shortcake for Halloween.
Beauty
Beauty buy: Revolution’s Birds of Paradise eyeshadow palette. The colors are crazy and vibrant. There’s matte, shimmer, and full-on glitter shades.
Makeup brand: Revolution, Fenty Beauty, Violet Voss, and NYX.
Beauty brand: Biossance, Innisfree, Dermalogica, and Ole Henriksen.
Hair care products: Not Your Mother’s sea salt spray, anything by Amika, Pravana leave-in spray, and Kristen Ess’s purple shampoo and conditioner.
Beauty trend you became obsessed with: Clean beauty, fun hair dye colors (I just dyed my hair purple!), the revival of padded headbands, K-beauty, and cannabis infused beauty products.
My favorite makeup look involved using Revolution and Colourpop palettes!
Biossance, my favorite clean beauty skincare brand.
Two of my favorite beauty trends this year: dying my hair purple and wearing padded headbands!
Pop Culture, Books, Music, and Movies
TV shows: Guy’s Grocery Games (don’t make fun of me, Guy Fieri is king!), The Eric Andre Show, Love Island (UK), Shameless, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine. (Check out Kristie and I’s list of TV shows to stream from earlier this year!)
Movie: Palm Springs. This was the only movie I saw that came out this year, but it’s a fun watch! (We also created a list of movies you can stream.)
Documentary: A Wilderness of Error, 69: The Saga of Danny Hernandez, and The Three Deaths of Marisela Escobedo.
Online Magazine: Nylon and Sicky Mag.
Music Artist: Denzel Curry, Lil Uzi Vert, Tame Impala, and Travis Scott.
Album: The Slow Rush by Tame Impala, UNLOCKED by Denzel Curry and Kenny Beats, and Dark Lane Demo Tapes by Drake.
Band: The Strokes.
Youtube video: Tame Impala – Say It Right (Nelly Furtado Cover).
Top 5 songs you listened to on Spotify: So.Incredible.pkg, Track07, Lay_Up.m4a all three by Denzel Curry and Kenny Beats, Workin Out by JID, and Willow Tree by Spillage Village.
Book: Where the Crawdads Sing.
Game: Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Super Mario Odyssey, and LA Noire.
Pop culture moment: Kobe Bryant’s death, Joe Biden winning the election, and the BLM movement in full force.
Most influential voice: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Saddest moment: All the POC who died this year because of racism and police brutality; COVID-19.
Instagram account: @axdmagazine, @v.ri0t, @fauhxxyy, @90s_runway, @90sanxiety, and @conde.nasty are my favorite accounts for fashion and beauty inspo. Some of my other favorite Instagram accounts are @amberasaly, @beautyspock, @vlonevogue, @kihmberlie (she’s amazing, check her out, please!), and @wearenotreallystrangers.
News website: Vice News and The LA Times.
How do you feel about the direction the country is headed in?: I’m thrilled with Biden becoming president and I hope that there will be a positive change. Also, I pray we see less hatred, racism, inequality, and corruption in the future.
Career
Biggest career challenge you overcame: I lost two jobs this year because of Covid, which was emotionally and financially challenging. Thankfully, I had A Girl in NYC by my side, which allowed me to focus on my creative side.
New skills you learned: I recently started doing more freelance fashion styling, which has given me the opportunity to work on my styling skills. I also learned how to make earrings!
Favorite blog post you wrote: 10 Helpful Tips For Dealing With A Breakup—It was rewarding to write this, hoping it might have helped anyone dealing with something as emotionally draining as a breakup is. Similarly, my 10 Practical Tips For Dealing With Anxiety was another one of my favorites. I deal with anxiety daily, so writing about how I cope was therapeutic and I hope my tips have helped others.
Favorite brand you worked with this year: Beachbody On Demand. (I collaborated with them, which you can read here).
Your most time-consuming project: The Best of San Diego in Three Days or Less. I put a lot of time into making sure I was highlighting some impressive aspects of San Diego so people could use my post as a helpful tour guide.
Styling for Cherokee the Chief’s music video.
When I collaborated with Beachbody on Demand I learned how to make a ton of healthy recipes; this one was one of my favorites.
Sketching designs.
Fitness, Health, and Self-Care
Recipe that you mastered: Carne asada quesadillas with black beans or my carnitas tacos. Mexican food is my favorite to cook and I can’t wait to learn more recipes next year.
Meal delivery service: Uber Eats is my go-to, especially this year when going out to eat became impossible.
Biggest fitness accomplishment: Doing yoga every day. I actually wrote about my favorite YouTube yoga workouts, which inspired me to continue focusing on my goals. I’ve never been a fitness junkie, but I wanted to focus on my health, especially in a year like this. The results have been rewarding, not just with how my body has changed, but yoga daily has helped with my mental health too.
What did you do to stay sane during lockdown?:By working out daily, eating healthy, keeping up with my skincare routine, and having a positive mindset. I grew tremendously, and practicing self-care was a huge factor. This year I can say that I truly learned to love myself.
I Practiced self-care this year by going on daily hikes.
Hanging out with my fur baby, Pepper!
Doing Yoga with Adriene which was my favorite virtual workout. It helped me grow as a person and get healthy!
Life Lessons
Biggest challenge you faced: Finding a job in the middle of a pandemic. It was also a challenge to graduate this year since I couldn’t find work in the fashion industry, which was my original plan.
The most important goal you achieved: Gaining more self-confidence and love for myself, which are two things I’ve been working on for years. I feel like I’m finally confident with who I am as a person. Also graduating college!
How did you grow or change this year? Becoming more sure of myself, and focusing on my physical and mental health.
The most important lesson you learned: Sometimes you have to be “selfish” and put yourself first.
Your biggest regret: I can happily say I don’t have any regrets and that I made the most out of a quite negative year.
What do you miss most about life pre-Covid?: I miss eating out at restaurants, going out at night with my friends, and being around my loved ones whenever I want.
Did you make any big decisions this year?: I decided on moving to Los Angeles from Long Beach in early 2021 so I can continue pursuing my career in fashion.
Ten years from now when you look back on 2020, how will you remember it?: As the most insane year that I’ve lived through. While I can look at it negatively in some ways, I will also look back at it as a pivotal year for myself. I grew and accomplished so much!
One of my best friends who made this year so much better.
Graduating from California State University, Long Beach.
New Years Eve going into 2020. I miss life pre-Covid.
Moving Forward
How do you plan to end 2020: Celebrating with my family. I can’t wait for this year to end and I’m hoping 2021 is amazing with tons of positive energy.
What do you hope is different about 2021?: There are a few things…1) I hope the pandemic is better handled so we can all go back to living normally again. 2) I would like to see more changes when it comes to social issues. 3) I’m praying that the fashion industry becomes open for work again so I can do what I love to do.
What goals will you set for yourself next year?: I want to keep up with the healthy lifestyle that I’ve lived this past year. Also, I’d like to stop smoking nicotine and continue working hard towards my dreams.
I plan on continuing to do yoga everyday in 2021.
Favorite Places
All the places I’ve listed are located in Los Angeles County unless they have a * next to them.
Store: Buffalo Exchange, Z Fabrique, Goodwill Last Chance Auction House, and Wasteland.
Vintage store: Wasteland, Captain’s Helm*, Melrose Trading Post, and Flashbacks*.
Bookstore: The Last Bookstore.
Flea market: Melrose Trading Post, The Santee Alley, and Long Beach Antique Market.
Food truck: Tacos El Roto.
Farmers’ market: Long Beach Marina Farmers Market, Cherry Park Farmers Market, and The Original Farmers Market.
Neighborhood: 4th Street in Long Beach, Melrose and Fairfax, Leucadia*, and Little Italy*.
Place with a view: Signal Hill in Long Beach, Swami’s lookout in Encinitas*, or Junipero Cherry Beach in Long Beach.
Beach: Swami’s*, Grandview*, or Beacon’s*.
Brunch spot: Breakfast Republic*, The Crooked Duck, The Breakfast Bar, or The Potholder Cafe.
Date night spot: Tequila Jack’s, Lola’s, The Social List, Ellie’s, Barleymash*, or Terroni.
Go-to dish: Shrimp tacos, California burrito, and gnocchi with vodka sauce.
Go-to drink: Any red blend wine, cherry Coke, and Revel Berry Yerba Mate.
Place to get a quick bite to eat: Taqueria La Mexicana, Canter’s Deli, Modica’s Deli, MVP’s, or Roscoe’s.
Dessert: Frostbites.
Restaurant that delivers: La Guanaquita, I Luv Sushi, Roscoe’s, Acapulco Restaurant and Cantina, or El Sauz.
Virtual workout: Yoga with Adriene.
Outside workout space: Yoga on the Bluff or skating on the Shoreline Bike Path.
Out of the office work spot: Hot Java or Portfolio Coffeehouse.
This Surf and Turf burger from Barleymash in San Diego is to die for!
Little Italy in San Diego.
Pure relaxation: Swami’s Beach in Encinitas.
Breakfast tostadas from Breakfast Republic in San Diego: my go-to brunch spot!
Vino e Cucina, which is a romantic date night spot that has the best authentic Italian food!
This questionnaire is an end of the year tradition at A Girl in NYC. It’s a fun way to measure our personal growth and see how much we’ve changed from one year to the next. You can take part by copying the text, erasing our answers, and filling in your own. Xx.Kristie
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