Best of 2020

It goes without saying that this was an interesting year and certainly one I will never forget. The challenges of 2020 shed light on what's important, and I am infinitely more appreciative of my family, friends, and other privileges.

I thought I would wrap up the 2020 blog posts with a very random collection of my top ten favorite musings, discoveries, and items that in some way made 2020 a little better.

Happy New Year, and here's to a healthier and happier 2021!

~Leah

1. Launching the Classically Leah blog

This one seems obvious, but nevertheless it had to be included. Not only has this blog given me a creative outlet, but the support I've received has been very heartwarming. It's always slightly terrifying putting yourself out there, but it was worth it. I'm a firm believer in the importance of passion projects. Looking back at the past couple of years, I'm most proud of my passion projects, and this blog is no different. Classically Leah feels very authentic, and it's given my style and love for fashion a new voice.

2. Friday Movie Nights

At the beginning of the semester, two of my amazing friends/roommates, and I started having Friday night movie nights to spend time together and celebrate the end of a very stressful week. The Friday routine was something I looked forward to and was a definite highlight of my week. As someone notorious for rewatching the same three movies over and over again, movie nights forced me to branch out. Over twelve weeks, we watched many movies, ate many M&M's, and had some great conversations.

3. Little Women

After seeing Greta Gerwig's version of Little Women at the beginning of the year, I was inspired to read the book. Both the book and the movie are at the top of my favorite book/movie lists and have been reread/rewatched numerous times throughout this year. I read, almost exclusively, books set in World War II, so Little Women is my go-to for a feel-good read.

4. Call Me By Your Name

I read Call Me By Your Name for the first time in July, cried for a good ten minutes when I finished reading it, and then immediately started re-reading (I also cried when I finished reading it the second time). This book is by far the most emotionally raw and vulnerable piece of fiction I have ever read, and I found it captivating from start to finish. Reading this book is like reading the personal diary of a modern-day Romeo, and it captures the emotional complexity of love and infatuation.

5. Iced Americanos

As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, this is a very random selection. I first tried iced americanos earlier this year, and they are now my go-to drink. During this past semester, my morning iced americano was quite literally the thing that got me out of bed.

6. Straight Leg Jeans

This year did not provide many opportunities for dressing up, so my fashion favorite for 2020 is relatively mundane. In terms of fashion trends, less form-fitting pant styles were popular this year, which meant I got to retire my skinny jeans collection. I wear jeans almost everyday and found straight leg and boyfriend style jeans to be the most comfortable and flattering for my petite, athletic build. The Levi's cropped jeans and the J.Crew petite jeans are my favorites for "cropped legs" like mine.

7. Podcasts and Long Walks

This past semester I got into the routine of taking long walks while listening to a podcast. The time spent walking around campus was an opportunity for me to get my mind off school and spend some time outside. Most of the podcasts I listen to are about society, various ideologies, or travel-related. With all my classes being asynchronous, I lacked social interaction. So this was my way of experiencing thought-provoking conversations.

8. Fitness YouTubers

2020 was the first year that I've consistently worked out. Besides the physical benefits of exercise, I have experienced significant improvements in my overall mental health and wellbeing. For the most part, I'm confined to small workout spaces, so the plethora of YouTubers showcasing at-home workouts has been a blessing. Some of my favorites include Lilly Sabri, Chloe Ting, Pamela Reif, and Sami Clarke.

9. Folklore and Evermore

I have been a big Taylor Swift fan for a while now, and her new albums are some of my all-time favorites. When Folklore first came out, I listened to it on repeat for two weeks straight, which in hindsight might not have been the best idea considering the sad nature of the songs. Evermore was another surprise from Taylor Swift and a much happier album. Going off of this topic, one of my best friends recently became a Taylor Swift fan, which has enhanced our friendship.

10. Paris

On some level, I've always been in love with the idea of Paris, simply because it's the high fashion capital of the world. Provoked by my canceled vacation due to the pandemic, I spent time virtually exploring the architecture, style, and culture of Paris. After watching many videos, scrolling through Pinterest, and listening to podcasts, I've gained a new level of appreciation and interest in Paris.