We all feel like we’re missed out on this year. But this year also brought a lot of opportunities. Maybe 2020 altered your perspective for the better, or helped you find gratitude. Maybe this year helped you grow, or gave you the chance find a creative outlet.
2020 was all of those things for me. And as I sat down to write my monthly post, I thought about how strange time has passed this year. So I decided to reflect not just on what I loved in December, but what I loved in 2020.
xx,
Mercedes
What I did: relocate to Europe
2020 was an important year for me, because it was the year I became an expat. My husband and I relocated from California to Amsterdam in January. Like most people, we had a vision for what the year would look like; full of travel, putting down roots, and having friends & family visit us. We were lucky enough to travel a lot this year – to France, Italy, and Greece, which at the time were all safe destinations with low COVID cases.
Unfortunately we haven’t been able to travel back to the US, and so we haven’t seen our friends and family in almost a year. And while we’ve made some amazing friends in Amsterdam during the last few months, the beginning of the year was a lonely and depressing time. Despite that though, I wouldn’t change anything – moving abroad to Amsterdam in 2020 was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
What I used: beauty products to de-stress
Stress does weird stuff to your body. During quarantine, my hair got thinner, my skin was a sh*tshow, and even my eyelashes started falling out. So in addition to meditating, doing yoga, and spending time away from screens (finally following my own advice), I did a lot of research on beauty products. These are my favorites to de-stress your skin.
The Ordinary Caffeine eye gel
This eye gel (US link // EU link) has caffeine in it, so it’s perfect for depuffing. All of the products from The Ordinary are also budget friendly.
Aurelia skincare
This cream cleanser (US link // EU link) is a gentle option for cleansing, and their overnight recovery mask (US link // EU link) has a relaxing lavender/rosemary scent that is perfect at bedtime.
Farmacy Honey Potion
This has become one of my favorite face masks (US link // EU link). It’s deep cleaning but also hydrating – great for stressed out skin, and I love how it heats up when you apply it.
Clarins V-Facial Intensive Wrap
This mask was recommended by one of my favorite bloggers. It specifically targets swelling caused by stress (or drinking), and always give my skin such a pretty glow. This Clarins mask can be difficult to find, but you can get it here in the US, here in the UK, and here in the Netherlands.
Origins Gin-Zing eye cream
I’ve been using this eye cream (US link // EU link) for something like 8 years now. It’s great for depuffing, but has the added benefit of reflective pigments that cover dark circles. It’s moisturizing but absorbs well, and is perfect under makeup.
US product links (see above for EU)
What I learned: it’s okay to be vulnerable
Although I’m outgoing & opinionated, I’ve never been one to share my feelings. My childhood was spent working full time as an actress, which gave me a great work ethic. But it also meant a lot of rejection and struggling to make ends meet, which is tough for a child. I was homeschooled and didn’t interact with kids my own age, so I was very introspective.
This year I decided to try something new, and I started my blog. I’m very lucky to have a full-time (sometimes more than full-time) corporate job, which I love. But starting this blog gave me a creative outlet that I had missed, and putting my thoughts out into the world helped me overcome a fear of judgment. I still get uncomfortable talking about my blog with friends or family, but I’m getting better at being vulnerable.
What I ate: healthy breakfasts
I used to be a lot more cautious about what I ate. Although I’ve always eaten whatever I wanted on vacation and the weekends, I always countered that by alternating it with periods of “detoxing”. But I’ve learned that balance is key to pretty much everything in life, including your diet.
I have a terrible sweet tooth, but I’ve found that a breakfast with carbs & sugar keeps me from craving sweets later in the day. During 2020 I started baking my favorite apple spice breakfast muffins. If you sign up for blog updates from me at the bottom of this post, you’ll be taken to a page to download the recipe.
What I wore: loungewear
2020 was truly the year of loungewear. I’ve worn holes in all of my favorite leggings, and most of my purchases this year have focused on comfort. So I was really happy to see loungewear become a huge trend this year. Below are some of my favorite items, including these gorgeous slippers, and my favorite sleepwear set (nightgown, robe).
US Links
EU Links
What I celebrated: a decade with my partner
This year, I celebrated 10 years together with my husband, Jimmy (!!!). It feels insane to say that, but we met a DECADE ago during our senior year of college. He is, without a doubt, what I am most grateful for – in 2020, and always. He still has the ability to make me laugh and cheer me up when I’m sad, and I wouldn’t have been able to make it through this year without him. We got married in 2018 in Santorini, and so in addition to celebrating 10 years in December, we also celebrated 2 years of marriage!
What I found: gratitude
I’m very goal-oriented, and I’m always focused on the next item on my to-do list. But lately I’ve been trying to enjoy each moment, rather than just moving on to the next thing. It sounds cheesy, but 2020 gave me a new perspective and gratitude for things I used to take for granted. Things like my family’s health, memories I’ve shared with old friends, and a feeling of safety.
Because of that, I was inspired by a fellow blogger friend to ask for a gratitude journal for my birthday. I’ve been taking a few minutes every morning & evening to fill it out, and it’s really been helping me shift my moods. This one I use is available in the EU, but I also love this one that is available in the US.
Whether you’ve been with me since July or just started reading this blog – THANK YOU. I hope you found what I’ve shared this year to be helpful, funny, or inspiring.
And most of all, I hope 2020 brought you some clarity, gratitude, and perspective that you can take with you into 2021.
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