Best of 2019: A Crazy Year.
Every year I sit down to write this end of year review, and I usually end up writing something along the lines of “this was the best year yet”. While 2019 was certainly an incredible year full of adventure, love, and personal growth, it was also a very, very difficult year. Consider it the yin and the yang of life.
On paper, 2019 was wildly successful. It’s the strongest I’ve ever felt financially, and it still blows my mind that this lil blog I started back in 2013 turned into my full-time career. I only ever set out to share, connect, and empower other women, so it feels really good to see all of the hard work + hustle over the past six years take off, flourish, and sustain itself. This year has allowed me to continue creating with purpose + bringing value to your screens, while also being able to hit my own personal milestones…. something that I hadn’t prioritized in the past. So, that felt really GOOD.
But, it has also been one of the most emotionally draining years.
I lost both of my sweet grandparents… my halmoni and harabeoji within 39 hours of each other. There was a lot of driving back and forth to Houston, witnessing their decline, and grieving the end of their beautiful life together. It got me thinking a lot about legacy and what truly matters in the end.
On the other side of loss, there’s love. And this year was filled with it. However, I wouldn’t recommend buying and furnishing a house, while also planning a multi-day destination wedding all in the same time span (oh, and continuing to ya know… work full-time). While I recognize these are each individual blessings and privileges, it did take an emotional toll on me. Less is more, my friends.
So, 2019… you were quite a wildcard. You pushed me to my breaking point not one, but several times. You challenged my limits, you made me question my worth, and you made me PROVE my resiliency.
Here I am… almost on the other side of this crazy year. I am walking into 2020 very damn excited to live and experience the ultimate culmination of all 2019 pushed us to do in preparation for this upcoming year.
Without further adieu, here’s my 2019 in review:
Best Moments of 2019
1. Buying & furnishing our first house
This was a HUGE personal milestone for us by far. It took up most of our time this year from house hunting and researching lenders to being under contract and finally moving in. You certainly overcome a lot of limiting beliefs throughout this process! Looking to buy a house in 2020? Here’s our home-buying Q&A we put together for ya.
Besides actually buying #TheOmHome, furnishing it was another big undertaking. Through this, I learned that I really love home decor and design. I have so many fun projects on the brain for 2020 that I can’t wait to share. Andrew has also become quite the handyman. He built these hexagon shelves and our outdoor picnic table!
Here are all of our home reveals:
My Calm & Creative Home Office (This one is my personal favorite!)
We still have ONE more room to reveal, but that will be shared in 2020.
2. Prioritizing my mental + physical health.
I scrolled less and lived more in 2019. I grew my team, delegated more tasks, and freed up more time to be able to take my weekends back. I spent an average of 1.5 hours a day on Instagram, and considering it’s a platform I use daily for work, I think that’s pretty darn good. It means I was purposeful about my time spent on there, which I was. I also spent a lot of time taking advantage of Austin’s beautiful weather, outdoor activities, and bike trails. I took dance classes, made new friends, and hosted some fun gatherings! Andrew and I even went to couples therapy - here are 5 Lessons I’ve Learned in Couples Therapy.
3. Finding our wedding venue in Costa Rica + partnering with The Knot.
This year, The Knot featured us on their list of ‘Most Influential Weddings’. This resulted in a yearlong partnership filled with exciting trips, new friendships, and cool opportunities. It was a true highlight of my year! As emotionally draining as planning our wedding has been, I’m very grateful. I also know choosing to have our celebration in Costa Rica at Kinkara was the absolute best decision for us. We were able to visit our venue twice this year, and it blew us away each time. I cannot wait for our family and friends to experience this with us in February! ICYMI, here’s our vlog touring our venue!
4. Creating and sustaining a more conscious lifestyle.
I’m proud to say that when I talk the talk, I then, walk the walk. I’ve been making ample strides year after to year to lessen our waste, simplify our life, and become more purposeful with our purchases. I work very hard to adapt small habits that I can actually integrate and SUSTAIN, rather than focusing on doing everything perfectly and 'failing'. Clean, conscious, simple, less toxic... these are always my front-of-mind values.
I bring my reusable mug + water bottle virtually everywhere. [Read: How NOT to Forget Your Resuable Products]
We compost all of our food waste + downsized our trash cart to the smallest size our city offers. [Read: Simple Fridge & Pantry Ideas to Reduce Food Waste]
We’ve eliminated most single-use materials in our household. We use dish towels instead of paper towels, stasher bags instead of plastic bags, and purchase glass, steel, or wood for storage over plastic. [Read: Easy Swaps for a Sustainable Kitchen]
I upleveled my financial wellness with a minimalist mindset.
I embraced my love of outfit repeating and shared my most worn outfits, which you loved!
5. Continuing to explore + expand Om & The City
I don’t really know where to start. This platform brings me so much joy, purpose, and fulfillment. I work very hard to bring real value to your screens, inspire you to simplify, help make holistic wellness attainable + sustainable, remind you that you’re the expert of your own life, and share tools that empower you to create your own reality. I value each and every one of you so much, and I hope you feel it. 2020 is going to be an expansive year for the Om Team, and I am ready to explore the curiosities that have been calling me for quite some time now. I can’t wait to share it with you.
This year, we launched the Mindful Entrepreneur Mentorship Program, I hosted matcha workshops, plant swaps, and lots of gatherings to help foster more in real life connection. Let’s do more of that in 2020, eh?! I partnered with only the best of the best brands that I love, support, and rally behind. I also traveled all over to places like Mexico and Maine to NYC (4 times!) and San Francisco.
Om Fun Facts!
We published 40 new blog posts & created 12 NEW VIDEOS this year! More video content to come in 2020, so make sure to subscribe on YouTube.com/omandthecity
Your favorite blog posts of the year were How I Maximize My Time as a Creative Entrepreneur, My 5 Morning Non-Negotiables, and 21 Motivating Journal Prompts to Find Clarity When You’re Feeling Stuck
Your TOP Om product pick of the year was the ReNew Fleece Sweatshirt by Everlane + funny enough, this was my top selling recommendation of 2018 too!
If you stuck around for this entire review, thank you!!! This took me 4 hours to write, and I still feel like there’s more I could say. Ultimately, I just want you to take away these three things:
I LOVE YOU.
Life ebbs and flows no matter who you are.
Without challenge, there’s no growth.
See you in 2020, you incredible humans!
Jules xo
