Best of 2017- Makeup, Clothing, Moments and More

It’s about time for me to round-up everything of 2017 from the moments to the makeup and everything in between. I am so beyond excited to see what 2018 has in store but I am even more appreciative for the chance to reflect on all the amazing opportunities 2017 brought.

Starting with the style; this was my year to really get to know my own personal style. I spent most of the colder months layering up in vests, blanket scarves, turtle necks, and over the knee boots and went full force on the overalls, mules, dresses, and block heels throughout the summer time. I experimented with styles that were a bit out of my comfort zone like flared jumpsuits, faux glasses, and off the shoulders galore. My most worn piece hands down was the two-inch black block heels from Target and my favorite jewelry was most definitely my gold watch and ‘M’ necklace from Nordstrom.

This was the first year in a long time where I didn’t purchase a new palette of any kind in terms of makeup. However, I began to play around with highlighter, lip glosses of all sorts, and simple, subtle makeup. Contouring has still been big for me and the eyebrows remained square and penciled in for a majority of the months.

Best show of the year… I’m going to have to go with a tie between Gilmore Girls and #GIRLBOSS. Nonetheless, I have watched so many amazing shows on Netflix this year. My favorite book this year was definitely #GIRLBOSS by Sophia Amoruso as I felt it was the perfect inspirational book for the girl who is motivated, determined, and in desperate need for some inspiration.

My favorite song of the year is, wait for it, Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond; certainly an oldie but most definitely a goodie. This song makes me feel all warm and fuzzy and overwhelmed with that feeling of ‘home’.

In January I rang in the New Year with Aug and the rest of the fam, celebrating a new beginning and one whole year of StyledbyMcKenz. Throughout February and March I stayed busy cheering for basketball, shooting for the blog, and went to Spring Formal with my best gal pals. In April, my heart was bursting at the seams at the launch of my new blog, www.styledbymckenz.com. Having my own domain is something I have always wanted to achieve in my blogging career and with the help of my parents I was able to chase that dream. Over Spring Break we took a little girls trip to New York City for my first college visit at the Fashion Institute of Technology and we walked over twenty miles in the two and a half days we were there. In May, Madison and I celebrated our sixteenth birthday with family and friends. June came and the school year winded down leaving me with more blogging work than I probably should’ve taken on but I loved it nonetheless. I had a week to spend by myself while Madison was on vacation with her boyfriend. In July, Madison and I headed off to Wisconsin for our annual vacation with the grandparents. We had a blast growing closer together while fishing, riding the golf carts, playing games, and hanging around the farm. Two days after we got home from Wisconsin we headed down to North Carolina for a few days at the beach, soaking up the sun and sharing our last hoorah before the school year and sports kicked in. The first week of August rolled around real quick and the start of my junior year on Varsity cheer began. I blogged every single day of August providing more content for the Back To School season than one could ever imagine. In September, I started my Junior year of high school and life was good. I’m taking three AP classes, three honors, and Pre Cal and I surprisingly, really love my school work. Cheer was busy with nearly twenty hours a week and winning games every Friday. Heck, I have not one complaint with how September went; my heart was so content. In October homecoming week rolled around which was a blast as always and cheer picked up as we got ready to compete at our county competition. We won first place meaning the following week we were competing for our first ever Regional title. We won that too. The following week we were at States with the whole town supporting us, making us posters, cheering on the girls who are always there cheering them on. It was a magical few weeks. Weeks that left me proud in what I do, pleased with the way I push my body throughout the school year. We placed third and all felt right somehow. Oh yea, and throughout those three weeks our football team managed to rank themselves number one in the county granting us home field advantage throughout playoffs. We won the first round, won the second 3-7 in quite possibly, Damascus’s biggest game ever and of course the third week as well. I have never spent so much time working on banners in my life; I wouldn’t trade it for anything. The following week, my best friend, my rock, my Aunt Cath (or as you may now her on the blog, Auggie) passed away and my family and I found ourselves back in New York mourning the loss of our dearest friend. It was awful. The next day we were back at Navy Stadium cheering our boys of Fall on for their third straight State title and their 43rd consecutive win. I have no words for this feeling. Christmas rolled around fast calling for a visit from the grandparents and another trip to New York. Oh, yea and I managed to celebrate my second blogging birthday somewhere in that mix too!

This year was a whirlwind of emotions, experiences, and events. I could not be more grateful for all that this year allowed me. I felt lost at the beginning of the year and right now I feel found; that feels powerful.

Success was empowering, love was abundant, and pride was invigorating.

2017 you were oh, so good to me but 2018, I’ve got an even better feeling about you. A clean slate, a fresh start, a new beginning- 2018 I’m coming for ya!

With a whole lot of love, McKenz

Latest Post: My Top 17 Favorite Outfit Of 2017
Related Post: Best Of 2016- Makeup, Clothing, Moments, and More
Instagram: styledbymckenz // YouTube: McKenzie Morgan // Pinterest: mckenzmorgan