musings

{2016 january playlist & 2015 in review}

{Photo credit: Harley Quinn & Co.}

{Photo credit: Harley Quinn & Co.}

So much has happened in 2015 that I don't even know where to begin. As each year goes by, I seriously wonder where all the time went because the days seem to fly by quicker than they used to. 

Some of the highlights of 2015:

....And so many more amazing moments.

As far as "resolutions" for 2016 go, I'm just going to focus on myself and my growth, both personally and professionally. This year has been a whirlwind of emotions with my trying to please others while putting my own priorities on the backburner. It's okay to be a little selfish when it comes to yourself. Also remember, just because you're progressing more slowly than others doesn't mean you've failed. Go at your own pace, and success will meet you on the other side. This really goes for anything you're going through. There's no use in stewing and grumbling about the accomplishments of others when you can be exerting that energy on your own growth.

As amazing 2015 was, there was just so much negativity oozing from the crevices of the good days. This isn't much of a resolution as it is a mental note throughout all aspects of life, but a positive mindset is key. Follow me to the path of posi vibes. LIIIOOOON! (Channeling DJ Khaled... but ok, I'll stop.) Piggybacking off my 2015 resolution post, I'm continuing the same idea of purging and such.

And I'm going to post more often. I'm going to try to incoporate more writing in this blog as opposed to just photos, completely the opposite of what I said in my first refresh post. Oops. Whatever—things change (new year, new outlook), so prepare for more musings.

I hope you all have an amazing 2016. Thankful for all the new friendships I've made this year and for the old friendships that I was able to rekindle for the good. Definitely had a rough end of 2015 (and beginning of 2016), but there's no use dwelling on the bad days because it can only go up from here. Looking forward to the opportunities ahead and all the wisdom 2016 has to give.

And of course, this month's playlist. Getting back into the work place means more tunes. I hope!

{on food reviews & food authorities}

{Disclaimer: This post is in no way intended to offend anyone in the food industry. Opinions are entirely my own. Please read to the bottom of the post. Thank you!}

How do you decide where you're going to eat next? Google search "romantic evening date restaurants" or "where to go for the best french fries"? When I meet with friends, they ask me where I find places to eat. And of course, the first thing they ask is if I use Yelp to find these hidden gems and sweet spots to eat (spoiler: hell no). 

This post has been a long time coming for me because I have some strong opinions (all my own) about food reviews and ratings. I'll go through some of the sites or apps that I like to use and the sites with reviews that I take with a grain of salt and the sites that are the reasons I have #trustissues, all complete with real life experiences that have brought me to my conclusions.

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