Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Happy 2020

Happy New Year's Eve! hope your day is full of reminiscing on the best memories of the past year and decade and a lot of delicious champagne — xoxo darling, Hayden.

Monday, December 30, 2019

Resolutions in Review

I'm the type of person that makes New Years resolutions but then kind of forgets about them. That's why I like doing this post — it makes me really think on what I've accomplished in the last year. 
I started this post in early November, because I was working on my editorial calendar and thought why not? And I realized how proud of myself I was. Like, I think I pretty much killed it on all of my goals (as you'll see below) and this might be the first time ever that I've done so. I think there's one goal I could have worked on more and I might carry it into 2020 — you'll have to stay tuned for January 1st, 2020 to see what my new goals are — but as a whole it's looking good. Do y'all look over your resolutions? How do you think you did? 
Take Better Care of Myself
Mainly this was about #selfcare, because I suck at it. Like, I am truly the worst about washing my face, moisturizing, taking time for myself, etc. But you know what?! I DID IT. I actually have a day and night moisturizer, plus, I've started using a facial cleanser. And I'm super good about using it. Like I am so effing proud of the leaps and bounds I've made with this goal. I want to continue it into 2020 and maybe start using another skincare item, keep gradually adding until I'm so used to it I don't even forget or question it anymore. In regards to taking more time for myself, I think I did a fairly good job. I struggle to say no to things or not book myself out a lot but I try to give myself at least one day a week where I don't have evening plans and I go to bed early — I certainly go to bed way earlier than I did in college and I think that's an accomplishment. 
Be More Vulnerable
Okay, full disclosure: totally a work in progress. In fact, one of my big goals for the first week of 2020 is to find a therapist and book an appointment. I always preach therapy to people — because I truly do believe in its healing properties, but I haven't been to a therapist since I was a kid. And I think talking to a professional about why I suppress my emotions/struggle with vulnerability is a good idea. But I do think I've improved. While the best friend still hasn't seen me cry in person, I finally let myself show her my true emotions about some situations I've been in. And I feel more comfortable crying in front of people and telling them how I truly feel. Plus, I'm back in a kind of thing with someone and I'm really trying to work on sharing how I feel with them. It's so hard, but we'll keep trying.
Be a Better Feminist
Yes, check this off the list. I had already joined AAUW in 2018, but now I'm the Communications Director (and super involved with public policy). I joined the League of Women Voters, which I love! And I'm on the committee for SafeHouse's (the domestic violence shelter in Denver) Sampling for Hope event. Plus, I've been active in my friend groups, on social media and elsewhere to get people to understand how women — especially women of color — struggle for equality. I'm super excited to participate in my second Denver Womxn's March in 2020! 
Read + Watch More
I would say this one is also a checked box. I certainly made myself read more non-fiction, watched more documentaries/foreign films and just tried to read more in general. Obviously I want to continue these habits in 2020 because you can never read or watch too much in my opinion! 
Explore. 
I've definitely explored Denver a ton more — both in restaurants and in attractions. I've pretty much crossed the Denver attractions I wanted to see off my list (only a few more left). The Colorado stuff, not so much. But my family is planning an epic Colorado road trip in May 2020 so we'll be seeing pretty much everything there is to see. Also, I've come up with a Instagram/book idea that will lead me to explore some parts of Denver that people never really experience, so I'm really interested to see how all of that goes. 

2019 has been a really interesting year for me. It has had a lot of ups and downs, some weird middle bits and a lot of what feels like a holding pattern. But at the same time, I wouldn't change it for anything. I've grown so much in the last year in the adulting aspect, in the relationships aspect and in my career aspect. But I am excited for 2020, it's a new decade after all — xoxo darling, Hayden.

Friday, December 27, 2019

Year in Review // 2019

We bounced in the world's largest bounce house.
We had the best chocolate chip cookie in Denver.
We made new friends and got closer to old ones.
We spent New Years Eve in the French Quarter.
We helped put on a successful charity event.
We visited a bunch of Denver coffee shops.
We launched the Austin Restaurant Guide.
We went to the Denver Womxn's March.
We celebrated a four year friendiversary.
We went to Lakeside Amusement Park.
We went to a Wyoming football game.
We visited to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
We became a restaurant instagramer.
We got more involved with AAUW.
We started baking again on the blog.
We celebrated one year in Denver.
We witnessed Texas host GameDay.
We started a summer drink week.
We started a holiday drink week.
We hosted an epic cheese party.
We saw cool Colorado sites.
We went after my love life.
We met Elizabeth Warren.
We joined Junior League.
We went apple picking.
We visited Iowa State.
We did a lot of hiking.
We went to Germany.
We dealt with snow.
We went to Croatia.
We turned seven.
We turned 23. 
2019 has been an interesting one. I knew going in I was cautiously optimistic and boy was a I right to be. The positives — I got more comfortable in my role at my office, made new friends & got closer to old ones, traveled to amazing places and really expanded my side hustles. On the negative side — dating is hard, work is boring (ha!) and life really gets in a holding pattern when you aren't changing classes all the time. It has been a bit of a learning curve this whole adulting thing but I wouldn't want to change the last year for anything. And let me just say I'm incredibly excited for 2020 — I'll be ringing in the new year in El Paso, Texas and then the best friend is coming to visit in a few weeks. I'm trying not to set too many expectations for the new decade but I think it's gonna be a really good one — xoxo darling, Hayden.
P.S. 2020 is a huge election year, yes, for the president but also for many local elections. Please make sure you are registered to vote.

Thursday, December 26, 2019

Week Re-Cap + Vlogmas Catch Up

Catch up on everything that happened this week, plus the final episodes of vlogmas!

Vlogmas Day 20
Vlogmas Day 21
Vlogmas Day 22
Vlogmas Day 23 & 24

 Made gingerbread cookies.
 Lovin' how Union Station looks this year.
 Junior League holiday party at Howl at the Moon.
Miracle on Larimer Square 
 Had a lil tropical drink.
 Larimer Square looks even more festive during the holiday season.
 My company's holiday party feast.
 Drove through Christmas in Color in Morrison.
 Tried Grande Station in Downtown Littleton.
 Littleton lookin' real cute.
 Julia and I went to Hudson Holiday.
 Saucy Buns BBQ in Littleton
Liz and I went to the Denver Christkindl Market on Saturday. 
 Look at those latkes!
 Their mugs are so cute and the mulled wine was delightful.
We got a tin of German cookies and instead of a gingerbread santa we got a gingerbread krampus.
 Brunch at Sassafras in the Highlands.
 A Sunday morning walk in Wash Park.
 Trip to the Kirkland Museum.
 Westbound & Down in Iowa Springs.
 Downtown Iowa Springs was all decorated for the holiday.
 Tommyknocker Brewery has a great logo.
 A cute sign in Edgewater.
 Went to Blossoms of Light at Denver Botanic Gardens.
 One of the best breweries in Colorado.
 A walk around the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley.
 Zwei in Fort Collins.
 An adorable Christmas display.
 My favorite restaurant in Fort Collins.
 Look at that breakfast! 
 Lunch at Breckenridge Brewing.
 A Christmas charcuterie plate.
And finally, the Pigotts wish you a happy holiday season!

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Tuesday, December 24, 2019

2020 with Paperless Post

 I'm working with Paperless Post again to bring y'all my favorite New Year's cards. I'm so excited for 2020 (a new decade, new feelings, new relationships, new everything). Each of their designs are unique and different — plus, they work with some amazing brands to create them too! Which is your favorite? — xoxo darling, Hayden