Things I Loved In 2016

In true Thursday fashion, it's time to talk about the things I've been loving...with a twist. Just imagine that I'm wearing an stage costume similar to what Taylor Swift wore during her comeback performance of "Shake It Off" at the MTV VMAs in 2014 (which, I have seen in person at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and it's glorious), spinning around in circles whilst doing jazz hands. Instead of talking about what I've loved over the past week, which in reality has just been lounging around in bed and wearing pajamas all day, I'll be talking about what I've been loving over the course of the entire year. Yowza.

1. Hamilton

I first listened to the Hamilton OBCR over the summer after hearing just about one thousand different amazing things about it. I didn't realize that it was on Spotify, so I think it was sometime at the beginning of June when I first listened. I put it on during my drive from Cleveland to Buffalo and let me tell you...I cried. Like three times. And then when I listened to it all the way through again on the way back to Cleveland, I cried at the same exact parts. From then on, everything was Hamilton and nothing hurt.

2. Niall Horan

2016 was the first full year of One Direction's hiatus and it's been wild. I rave about Harry Styles all of the time on this blog, but I think it's time for some Irish loving. Earlier in the fall, Niall released his first solo single "This Town" and single-handedly destroyed my emotions. But every before then, Niall seemed to have the biggest glow-up of all time and I'm here for it. How much more endearing could a fake blonde with an Irish accent be? I'm looking forward to 2017 for many reasons, but knowing that there's more music to come from this adorable ray of sunshine is at the top of the list.

3. Batiste dry shampoo

2016 was the year of me not wanting to wash my hair. I started playing around with that every other day nonsense and now I'm hooked. The only thing that saves my hair on its second day is dry shampoo, more specifically the ones from Batiste. I've used plenty of dry shampoo and this is the only brand that consistently works well. Plus, it comes in so many different scents and all of them are incredible.

4. Gilmore Girls

This show will forever be a yearly favorite. Despite my disappointment in the revival, I still enjoyed rematching the show twice this year and I will cherish it forever in my heart. Oy with the poodles.

5. Atonement

This is one of the only books that I've read this year and it destroyed me emotionally. We can pretend that this book ruined all other books for me, which is why I read so few of them this year. That's my story and I'm sticking with it. I talked more about it in this post back in May, if you're interested!

6. Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara

I've tried plenty of mascaras over the years and no matter which ones I use in the interim, I always somehow go back to the Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara. I don't know why I even bother buying any others. Nothing ever compares to the thick, volumized lashes this mascara gives me. It can border onto clumpy if you're not careful applying it, but if you have a little patience, your lashes will never have looked better.

7. Lorac Pink Taupe

I still love myself some bold lip choices, but this was the year I wasn't afraid to start wearing more nude and neutral colors. I still refuse to buy new natural colors, though, so I've been wearing Pink Taupe from Lorac since I got it last year around the holidays because it's the perfect nude color for me. Plus, the formula smells amazing and never feels drying. What more could you want from a matte lip color?

8. Burberry Brit perfume

If I had a dollar for every time I talked about this perfume on my blog, I might be able to buy myself a new perfume. What can I say, it smells divine!

9. Zara everything

If I had to shop exclusively at Zara, I think I might be okay. I just think they have really fun, interesting and unique tops (along with really great basics!) at really great prices. I've been having fun expanding my wardrobe and comfort zone with some of their more standout but still neutral pieces, like the black ruffle sleeve sweater I featured in yesterday's post!

10. Macbook Air

I finally got a new computer after the people at Apple had told me for the past year to do just that. I ended up getting a 13 inch Macbook Air as an early graduation present at the beginning of the semester so I could actually bring my laptop places with me. I still use my ancient Macbook Pro as a desktop computer, especially since it's my computer that has Photoshop on it, but it's nice to have a laptop I can actually take to campus and work with me without weighing me down (or being insanely loud).

11. DNCE

My teenage heart came alive again this year when DNCE exploded all over the place. It's nice to have Joe Jonas back in my life, especially 2016 Joe Jonas in all of his ripped body glory.

12. Little Mix

Little Mix is the source of all of my #GirlPower and has been for the past few years. What would I do without these girls in my life? They're not even formally in my life, yet it feels like they're my best gal pals. I love them and their music and their friendship more than I could put into words. In case they're reading this: can I be your fifth member? Stunt double? I'll do anything.

13. Clarisonic Mia 2

I have a whole in-depth post about this, but I'm fully convinced that the Clarisonic is the reason why my skin isn't horrendous at the moment. I've tried to focus on my skincare this year, so having the opportunity to work with  Clarisonic on a post was an incredible experience.

14. Short(er) hair

I keep cutting my hair shorter and shorter. Though it has grown out quite a bit since the last time I chopped my locks, I love that I'm becoming more confident with shorter hair. I used to be afraid of not having mermaid hair anymore because it was my security blanket. So like, good job, Self, for realizing that hair isn't everything.

15. This Is Us

This could easily apply to both the NBC television show or One Direction's concert movie, both of which I've watched multiple times this year (and I've cried during both of them). But really, the show This Is Us is just incredibly heartwarming and makes me constantly cry and I'm completely okay with it. Those kind of TV shows just really get me. I loved family based television programming!!!!

16. Sleek highlighter palette

What better way to round off this 2016 favorites post than with a shoutout to my former roommate (is there any way to word this without it sounding like we kicked her out for something horrible...) for picking me up some wonderful beauty bits when she was in Europe over the summer. One of those was the Sleek Solstice highlighting palette, which changed my glow game. It's the only thing I bring with me when I come home because I have four amazing options for highlighters that will make my cheeks brighter than my future. I don't know what I will do when I run out of these powders, but it's not something that I want to think about.

What did you love in 2016?