Y’all. Can you believe that 2018 is coming to an end? Can you stomach the fact that we say this every damn year around this time? No seriously, the last week or two of December is always filled with statements like:

• I can’t believe the year is almost over
• Can you believe it’s almost [fill in year]
• This year went by really quickly

Yep. We say all of these cliché things and sometimes we actually mean it. For me, the summer seems to just fly by so quickly and it makes me sad. I think it’s because summer is my favorite season and I hate to see it leave. I would be less sad if we lived in a part of the country where I didn’t have to experience winter. Honestly, I don’t need all four seasons. That’s not what this post is about, though. Today, I’m having one of those cliché moments by doing what most bloggers do: recap our year! I say this with a bit of sarcasm and also enjoyment. I sort of like taking a walk down memory lane. It helps me remain thankful for what we have and what we’ve experienced over the year. So here we go.

2018: a year in review

For me, 2018 was fun and much better than last year. If you remember,  John ruptured his Achilles in 2017 (yikes), which was not fun for either one of us. What I loved most about this year was seeing John’s DJ side gig really take off – it’s been fun to watch.

FINDING MY VOICE. I feel like I found some comfort in realizing I didn’t have to bite my tongue when it came to issues I feel strongly about. Not just here on the blog but also in my real life. It’s OK to stand up to your racist/homophobic/[fill in the blank] friend or family member. From a business perspective, I’ve been blessed to be able to partner with a variety of brands and businesses because of this blog. Even though I love it, I also realize there’s a huge lack of diversity and inclusion in ‘influencer marketing’. This is both on a national and local level. I’m finding comfort in holding businesses and my followers accountable and doing more work on this in 2019.

BRAND COLLABS. Speaking of sponsored content – I worked on some really cool campaigns this year like vitaminwater, Home Chef and Mazola corn oil. I’m hoping in 2019, I’ll have the opportunity to collaborate with more brands.

PODCASTS. I love podcasts but I never thought I would be a guest on one. In 2018 I was honored to be a guests on three podcasts. Take a listen:

NoogaBelle (A podcast all about stories of the South, straight from the sources)
Episodes 8 and Chattanooga Restaurant Week bonus episode

Made in Chattanooga (A podcast by VaynerMedia featuring innovators in the Southeast)
Episode 11 (with my biz partner, Jennifer)

Being Boss (A podcast for creative entrepreneurs, freelancers, and side-hustlers)
Episode 202 (subject: non-profit & for-purpose business model)

TRAVEL. John and I didn’t take any big trips this year but the ones we did take were so much fun! We recently escaped the cold temps and went to Miami (an updated guide is coming soon), took another trip to New Orleans and surprisingly had a TON OF FUN in Birmingham. Of course no year is complete without a return to Charleston, which I did this year with my girlfriends.

LIFE. My BFF had a sweet baby (he’s so adorable) and I got to witness Jennifer walk down the aisle (and sign their marriage license). Our license was signed by a random employee who worked at our wedding venue – thank you, sir. I excitedly participated in another round of a Black History Month virtual potluck and got some pretty cool coverage (Like: Brit & Co., Blavity and Food52).

While in Miami, Jennifer and I attended Create & Cultivate and got a chance to hear Venus Williams speak (total badass!). And 2018 is not complete without mentioning John and I saw Jay Z and Beyonce in concert. It was a total decision made on a whim and I have zero regrets.

Looking forward to 2019

I’m excited to for the new year – though I don’t make resolutions (unless they’re food resolutions), I’m fully aware that the start of a new year is a wonderful opportunity to embark on new things. Anyway, here are my most popular posts of 2018, if you fancy that type of info. You’ll be happy to know the most popular post overall, is still my balsamic glazed Brussels sprouts. Still going strong.

POPULAR POSTS: Lunch at Alimentari, Chattanooga travel guide, soy sauce scrambled eggs, diversity in influencer marketing, romantic restaurants in Chattanooga, Nashville weekend guide, French press chai latte, my word for 2018.

Thanks for vibing with me in 2018 – now let’s get ready for 2019!