Social distancing, face masks, toilet paper shortages, Australia on fire, jobs lost, racial injustice, murder hornets, and the election season that seemed to never end are just a few of the things that come to mind when I think about this year. There is no way around the truth of how difficult this year has been for so many. I’m grateful that even in these difficult times I still have my health, a home, a few close relationships I can truly count on, and this space. Thank you so much for continuing to share with me and allow me to share with you during this wild ride of a year!
Keep reading for this year’s top posts, the products you loved and shopped most, personal highlights, and more.
LIFE HIGHLIGHTS
- I *really* celebrated my birthday this year. I normally obsess over my birthday for months leading up to it then panic and do nothing. I decided to do things differently this year and I’m so glad I did. I had a nice dinner, threw a girls night slumber party, and ventured to Phoenix to celebrate just weeks before COVID-19 shut everything down.
- I feel like myself again. Earlier this year, I made a resolution to take what I needed. Wow, did I have the opportunity to stick by that. So much of the last few years has involved running from work to events to trips and repeat. I was able to spend this year getting back to who I am without the noise, the social obligations, and the scheduled down to the second life. I feel like me again and I am excited to share more of my personality with you next year!
BLOG HIGHLIGHTS
- Finding out THE ELLE AESTHETIC was nominated for Memphis Most Best Local Blog. I was delighted and honored to be listed with some big names in the city. We ended up in the top 3 which is a huge deal. Thank you!
- Hitting 10k followers on Instagram. I listed hitting this number as a goal in last year’s recap and you all truly delivered. Follower count doesn’t mean everything but it does allow me to create higher quality content and share the stories of some dream brands with you. Next stop: 20k. Yes, that’s a huge jump and a scary number but I’m excited to work towards it.
- Partnering with brands like L’Oreal/Hair.com, ClassPass, Cleen Beauty, Dunkin, Memphis Tourism, and The Lip Bar. The majority of the content I share is organic and paid for with my own coins. It’s always such a rewarding feeling when that work is noticed and I have the opportunity to collaborate with brands to share their stories in an authentic way.
FAVORITE TRAVEL EXPERIENCES
- Phoenix. While this was my one and only trip this year, it was to a place that’s been on my list for a while. I decided to eat and shop my way through Phoenix for my birthday. It couldn’t have come at a better time. COVID-19 hit the States and Stay at Home orders went out just a week or so later. Read more about some of my favorite Phoenix stops here.
- Virtual U.S. Road Trip. Since my travel plans were cancelled this year, I found myself reading old blog posts just to feel like I went somewhere. Ready to take a trip from your couch too? I rounded up some throwback travel posts here to cure the wanderlust feels.
MOST BOUGHT + LOVED BY YOU! TOP PRODUCTS OF 2020
- Hand cream. If you’re following me on Instagram then you probably saw me mention my favorite hand creams more than once on Stories. My hands dried out a lot from obsessively washing them so I grew a little collection during quarantine. It seems that many of you were right there with me and picked this one up for yourself.
- Matcha turmeric latte. You can usually catch me with a matcha in hand and this year was no exception. I ventured out to try a few options at home. I tried everything from ceremonial grade to Trader Joe’s almond milk matcha to this powder blend. My obsession wore off on you with this being a top view and purchase.
- Sunnies. I don’t consider myself a fashion blogger but I am happy to share round up posts of my most asked for links. You all loved this post on affordable sunglasses. Make sure you tag me or DM me if you buy something I posted! I love resharing your looks.
- Face oil. Didn’t we all double down on our self-care and skin-care routines this year? I’ve been a fan of Biossance products for a while but this face oil reigned supreme for me and quite a few of you.
//CLICK TO SHOP//
TOP POSTS OF 2020
STYLE: 5 Small Luxuries Worth the Investment
FOOD: Where to Get Coffee in Memphis
TRAVEL: 48 Hours in Phoenix: Where to Eat, Caffeinate, and Shop
BEAUTY: Beauty Crush: Fenty Skin First Impressions
WELLNESS: Don’t Wait Until The New Year to Make Changes
MEMPHIS: Memphis Most Best Local Blog Nomination
2021 GOALS
- Stay consistent with my Peloton workouts. Yes, I became one of *those* people during the pandemic after missing my cycling classes like crazy. Joining the community has been so positive and I can’t wait to see my progress. Add me on the app: deniiiiiise!
- Create more video content. Thanks for your support on my first Reels here and here. I was nervous to start speaking more on Stories and branch out to Reels but your positive response has been just the push I needed to keep them coming!
- Grow our Instagram community to 20k. The algorithm seemed to change daily, hashtags stopped working for months, and some of my posts disappeared into the abyss but we still managed to grow from 3,500 last year to 10,000+ this year. I’m excited to keep creating and keep growing.
- Keep going!
Thanks for reading this incredibly long post! Your support—likes, saves, shares, comments, and even the criticism—keeps me inspired to continue creating and sharing with you.
YAY such an uplifting post girl! Happy new year 2021!
Lisa | lisaautumn.com