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2018 Snapshots

one of my favorite pictures of the year... pretty much sums up how i felt throughout 2018

2018 was, to say the least, an amazing year. I really can't even put into words how good it was... so I'm not even going to try. A picture is worth a thousand words, so get ready for a novel... because 2018 was a great one!

Life Lately Vol. 46



Welcome to the last Friday post of 2018!! It's so cliche, but this year really has gone by insanely fast. It's been such a good one (stay tuned for a recap post next week) and I am so excited for everything that 2019 has in store! This past month has been especially great; it's hard to be sad when it's Christmastime!

Currently Vol. 17

Happy Friday! We've made it... finals week is over and Christmas is upon us. This month has gone by so fast... I can't believe the Christmas season is almost over! I have one last festive weekend ahead of me, filled with shopping, baking, and gift wrapping!


Eating... allllll the Christmas desserts. My favorite is this eggnog cake. Please please please go make it, because it is the BEST thing EVER.

Holiday Gift Guide: The Best of Blissfully Brooke

We are nearing Christmas and I am sure most of y'all have finished your Christmas shopping already... but if you're anything like me, then you probably procrastinate on getting gifts for people until the very last second :) Today I thought it would be fun to share some of the most popular items on Blissfully Brooke! I use affiliate links whenever I link a product or item of clothing, and that enables me to see how many people click on each link + purchase the items I've linked. I've included the most popular items that y'all have clicked on and purchased over the past year - so this is basically like a Readers' Picks vol. 2!



Holiday Gift Guide: The Stationery Addict

I feel like pretty stationery is something that every girl loves, but nobody really buys stationery for themselves. Therefore, it makes a great gift: who doesn't love receiving a pretty new notebook with a nice set of pens attached? Today I've rounded up some of the prettiest stationery items out there - they make perfect stocking stuffers, gifts for your Secret Santa, or gifts for the stationery lovers in your life!



Tape Dispenser // Desk Calendar // Thank You Notes // Gold Calculator // Bookmark Pad // Initial Notebook // Compliment Notepad // Gift Tracker // Highlighters // Wellness Tracker // Day Designer // One Line A Day // Smiley Notepad // A Year of Gratitude // Pencil Pouch // Bullet Journal

Ugly Christmas Sweater Roundup

I think ugly Christmas sweaters are so cute. I love the fun (and slightly obnoxious) designs, witty sayings, and festive colors! Today I've selected some of my favorite ugly Christmas sweaters to share with y'all, in case you're looking for one to wear to a party or other holiday event.


12 Things Vol. 8

My apologies for getting this post up a little late... the weekend totally snuck up on me! This week has been crazy busy but full of fun Christmas activities - December is easily my favorite month of the year.



1. First of all... I'm doing Vlogmas!! Go check out my YouTube channel to see daily vlogs for the entire month of December :)

The Fuzziest Pink Cardigan + A Day At Sundance Square

During the winter, I'm a sucker for anything soft and cozy. There is something so comforting about feeling the buttery soft fabric of a sweater on your skin, especially when it's freezing outside! That's how I feel in love with this cardigan: not only is it the dusty pink color I'm in love with, but it's the softest, fuzziest thing I've ever felt. (Okay, maybe it's tied with my chenille sweater. But still.)

Life Lately Vol. 45

I'll be honest: this week was a rough one. The transition back to school is always hard when you're coming off a week-long break, and I feel like my teachers really slammed everyone with a lot of work. I'm trying to stay positive, though, because tomorrow is December and with December comes peppermint-flavored everything, gift shopping, Christmas music, happiness + cheer, and Vlogmas!

During Thanksgiving Break, my family and I spent the night in Sundance Square in Fort Worth to watch a Christmas parade. It was so crowded and cold (I think we lasted about 20 minutes at the parade before we left to get pizza) but the square was all decorated for Christmas and we had fun walking around and shopping the next day!

Holiday Gift Guide: Reader's Picks

I am so excited about today's gift guide because I get to feature you guys!! I asked y'all on Instagram for some input on Christmas gifts, and y'all came through. Today I'm sharing the most extensive gift guide I've ever put together, featuring a) your favorite items that y'all have either given or received, and b) items that are on your wishlist this year. Keep scrolling, because this post is going to be a long one!



Holiday Gift Guide: Annabelle's Picks / What To Get Your Sister

This gift guide is dedicated to Annabelle. She's occasionally featured on Blissfully Brooke, but if you don't know her, she's my little sister and my favorite human on this planet. I thought it would be fun to get her input on the best gifts to give, so today, I'm sharing some items that she loves and some gifts she recommends... basically everything she owns that makes her innately "Annabelle."

This gift guide is perfect for your little sister, best friend, older sister... pretty much anyone! Annabelle is eleven but she is mature beyond her years; she is an old soul and is eleven going on thirty. She is the funniest person I know, and if you've ever had the joy of meeting her you'll understand just how uniquely perfect she is.



Checkered Vans // Face Mask Set // Adidas Tank // Essential Oil Diffuser // Wireless Headphones // Black Leggings // Smartphone Projector // Bath Bomb Set // Essential Oil Kit

// SNEAKERS //
I always joke that Annabelle is like a guy when it comes to sneakers. She is so protective over her Vans and obsessive about keeping them clean. I always know she'll appreciate a good pair of sneakers, whether they're Vans, Adidas, Nike... anything.


12 Things Vol. 7

We've made it!! Thanksgiving Break is upon us (well, after today, at least) and I could not be more excited. I am so excited for a whole week off from school: I'm ready to eat a lot of good food, spend time with my family, and do a lot of shopping. Today I'm sharing twelve things that have been on my mind lately... enjoy!


1. Okay I really want this Christmas sweater... yes it's obnoxious but I love it so much

The 10 Best Clothing Boutiques In The Dallas-Fort Worth Area

It's no secret that I love to shop. However, when given the choice between shopping at a mall full of big corporations versus a plaza with tons of boutiques, I will choose the latter every time. I love discovering new boutiques because a) I think it's great to support smaller businesses and b) you can find tons of unique pieces that nobody else has.

the best clothing and fashion boutiques in dallas fort worth

In honor of Small Business Saturday coming up in a couple weeks, I thought I would share some of my favorite boutiques in the DFW area for all of my Texas followers! Don't worry - if you're not from Texas, some of these boutiques have locations in other states :)

Holiday Gift Guide: Warm & Cozy

WELCOME TO THE FIRST CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE OF THE SEASON!!! I am so excited to start sharing gift guides with y'all, because I love Christmas and I love picking out gifts for people. Today I'm sharing some gift ideas that every girl needs to survive the winter: think comfy clothes and accessories that will keep you warm all winter long.


Beanie // Fuzzy Blanket // Teddy Bear Coat // Button Thermal // Scarf // Pajamas // Wubby Pullover // Fuzzy Socks // Chenille Sweater (not pictured)

Life Lately Vol. 44

Happy Friday, friends! Just a warning: this post is going to be really sporadic and all over the place... but those posts are usually the best kind! :) Grab a cup of coffee and keep reading to see what's been going on lately + some housekeeping I need to discuss with you!

My school's annual Color Run was last weekend. This year was my second year going and I loved getting to spend time with my friends + throw colored powder everywhere :)

Currently Vol. 15

Happy Friday, friends!! This weekend is shaping up to be a busy one: I have a 5k tomorrow morning, followed by a soccer game, then an NCL event on Sunday. Grab a cup of coffee and sit back to see everything I've been loving lately!

as seen in my latest blog post

Watching... Riverdale! I started watching it two weeks ago and I am completely caught up (yes, I know, I have a problem). I also finished Friends and I'm so sad about it! My mom and I need a new show to watch together now - if you have any ideas, let me know!

A Trip To The Pumpkin Patch + My Favorite Sweater For Fall

Fall is my favorite time of year. Pumpkin-flavored everything, the orange hues, sweater weather, cool temperatures... everything about it is perfection. I always love my annual trips to the pumpkin patch, because not only are they so fun, I always get the cutest pictures and they make me so happy just looking at them!



12 Things Vol. 6

Happy Friday! My apologies for no blog post earlier this week; I've been feeling somewhat uninspired lately so I took a short break from social media, but I'm feeling refreshed and can't wait to come back!

what my afternoons consist of
1. I'm off to Waco this weekend! I can't wait to go to Magnolia Market and do some shopping.

2. Pumpkin Pie Halo Top has been my new addiction this past week. It is so creamy and sweet!

Life Lately Vol. 43

I think a Life Lately post has been long overdue. My life has been filled with what feels like nonstop activity lately, and I have so much to catch y'all up on. Grab a cup of coffee (and maybe a muffin or something while you're at it) and sit back, because this post is going to be a long one!


First things first... I went to Austin a couple weeks ago! Go check out that post here if you want to read all about that trip :)

Now that I have that out of the way... here's everything else I've been up to!

Currently Vol. 14

Happy Friday! This week has been the first week that it finally feels like fall, and I am beyond ecstatic. The weather is cool, my fridge is stocked pumpkin-flavored everything, I get to break out my sweaters... life is good.

ft my favorite shoes everrrr

Eating... I had so much delicious food in Austin last weekend, including three different dishes of migas (my FAVE) and five scoops of ice cream!

12 Things Vol. 5

It feels like it's been forever since I've sat down to talk to y'all! These past couple weeks have been incredibly busy, so I've had no time to write blog posts or take pictures. I hate not having new content to share, but I'm in Austin this weekend so hopefully I can get some fun content for y'all while I'm here!

homecoming with my friend ryleigh!!

1. Like I mentioned earlier, I'm in Austin for the weekend. I'm touring UT today and I'm going to some sessions on business and journalism. It's going to be such a fun weekend!

101 Things In 1001 Days

1001 days ago, I published a list of 101 things I wanted to accomplish in the next 1001 days. It's crazy how fast time flies... but here we are, and I can proudly say I have accomplished 60 out of the 101 items on my list. I now have a new list of things to accomplish... wish me luck as I try to cross these items off the list!



START: september 29, 2018
END: june 26, 2021

TRAVEL & ADVENTURE
1. visit 7 new states (2/7; arkansas, new mexico)
2. travel out of the country
3. meet a celebrity
4. go on a trip with a friend
5. go parasailing
6. go on a helicopter ride
7. go on a hot air balloon ride
8. visit new york
9. visit los angeles
10. visit san francisco
11. see a uswnt soccer game
12. see a usmt soccer game
13. see a ut football game
14. go to prom
15. ski down a black diamond slope (completed 03.16.19)
16. go camping
17. travel by train
18. go to a concert (train; completed 06.29.19)
19. go on 5 road trips (5/5; austin, waco, arkansas, new mexico, horseshoe bay)
20. go to the blue bell factory
21. fly by myself

HEALTH & FITNESS
22. run a 10k
23. run a half marathon
24. go vegan for a week
25. cut out sugar for a week
26. do whole30
27. try orangetheory (completed 11.30.19)
28. try soulcycle
29. try pure barre
30. get my mile under 6 minutes
31. hold a plank for 4 minutes (completed 11.22.18)
32. take a cooking class
33. run 500 miles in a year
34. get 15,000 steps every day for a year (completed 01.01.19)
35. learn how to cook five desserts really well (3/5, nutella brownies, coconut cake, chocolate chip cookies)
36. learn how to cook five dishes really well
37. go for a 10+ mile bike ride (completed 05.20.20)
38. try 30 new foods (9/30; scamorza, polenta, sriracha, oysters, bibimbop, pho, pad thai, chorizo, smoked salmon)
39. cook a really complicated dish (and have it turn out well!)

BLOGGING/YOUTUBE
40. reach 10k instagram followers
41. reach 10k pinterest followers (completed 01.05.20)
42. be reposted by a major brand
43. work with a major brand (james avery)
44. go to a sponsored event (james avery shopping event, 05.19.19)
45. meet a blogger friend in real life (katie! 06.08.20)
46. reach 5k youtube subscribers
47. host a big giveaway
48. become a part of the youtube partner program (completed 04.22.19)
49. have a tweet go viral
50. shoot with a pro photographer (callie beth photo, 08.22.20)
51. publish an article on a major website
52. post on Instagram every day for a month
53. reach 500 blog posts (423/500)
54. reach 500 youtube videos (164/500)
55. take a photography class
56. buy a new piece of camera equipment (canon g7x; completed 06.16.19)
57. make x amount of money in redbubble sales (keeping amount hidden) (completed 05.08.19)
58. make x amount of money in affiliate link sales (keeping amount hidden) (completed 10.18.19)
59. reach 1 million lifetime channel views on youtube

FAITH
60. go on a mission trip
61. go on a younglife trip
62. read the Bible for 365 days in a row (completed 08.12.19)
63. help someone find God
64. start a Bible study with friends
65. start doing nightly Bible studies on Instagram

FASHION+BEAUTY
66. dye my hair
67. grow my hair out
68. chop my hair off
69. learn how to straighten my hair (completed august 2019)
70. learn how to curl my hair
71. invest in a pair of good heels
72. get a second ear piercing??
73. get my nails professionally done
74. get my makeup professionally done
75. invest in a designer item
76. learn how to french braid my hair well

SCHOOL+ADULTING
77. become a community scholar ambassador (completed 09.24.20)
78. pass 13 ap tests (10/13; human geography, environmental science, art history, world history, us history, calc ab, computer science principles, english language, statistics, spanish language)
79. graduate at my goal class rank
80. join my school's leadership group
81. make two new close friends
82. save x amount of money (keeping amount hidden) (completed 06.05.20)
83. start a club at school
84. get a debit card
85. become a spirit sister my senior year (completed 08.17.20)
86. be on my varsity soccer team (completed 08.17.20)
87. graduate high school
88. be accepted to college (completed 09.15.20)
89. choose a college
89. get my driver's license (completed 06.17.19)
90. get a car (completed 12.01.19)
91. get a job (completed 10.15.19)

JUST FOR FUN
92. read 50 books (19/50; things fall apart, #girlboss, i'll be there for you, by invitation only, girl wash your face, wolfpack, the summer that made us, hello sunshine, girl stop apologizing, the tipping point, 7 habits of highly effective people, tell me lies, all we ever wanted, what the dog saw, frankenstein, sing unburied sing, 1984, both feet on the ground)
93. completely clean out my closet (& list it on poshmark!)
94. read a book that is completely in spanish
95. take a dna test
96. go a week without wearing makeup (completed 06.13.19)
97. go a week without watching youtube
98. redo my room (completed 1.5.20)
99. completely clear out my email
100. beat my previous record of 60/101 things
101. inspire someone else to make a list of their own

completed: 28/101

Life Lately Vol. 42

Happy Saturday! I hope you all have had a great week! My week felt like it lasted forever - I kept thinking it was Thursday when it was only Tuesday or Wednesday. Today I am sharing some snapshots of what I have been up to lately (and spoiler: it's been a pretty fun month).


My 16th birthday was two weeks ago! I had a party with my friends on Saturday, and the next day (my actual birthday), my family and I went to Dallas for cupcakes, tacos, and shopping (see my birthday vlog here). It was such a fun weekend!

Ten Instagram Accounts You Need To Check Out ASAP

I've been spending wayyyy too much time on Instagram lately. Not necessarily posting, because I've had a hard time finding time to shoot outfits, but I catch myself scrolling through the app whenever I have a few minutes of free time. There have been a ton of influencers that I've been really inspired by recently, so today I'm sharing ten of my favorite Instagrammers that you need to follow ASAP!

Also... I feel like a little self promo is appropriate here... my Instagram is @blissfullybrooke if you want to go follow along (which you totally should)!

@daniellecarolan // I've watched Danielle's YouTube videos for years, but she has been absolutely killing the Instagram game recently. Her outfits are so cute, her color scheme is perfect, and she just radiates positivity!

Currently Vol. 13

This week has kicked my butt. Between all the tests and quizzes I didn't do so hot on, and the late-night soccer games that kept me up until midnight, I am absolutely exhausted. On a happier note, I am so glad that it's the weekend: I can finally have some much-needed relaxation, and I'm having a belated birthday dinner with my dad tonight! Keep reading to see what I've been loving lately!

from my birthday this past weekend!!
Eating... cake!! I have lots of leftover cake from my birthday, so I've been eating a slice every night for dessert. Blue Bell also introduced a new ice cream flavor, Happy Tracks, so I've been eating that for an after school snack. As you can see, I've been trying to eat really clean and healthy lately :)

Steal Her Style: To All The Boys I've Loved Before

I finally got around to watching To All The Boys I've Loved Before, and y'all... it is such a cute movie. Between the romance, the characters, and the fact that every scene in the movie looked like it came straight off of Instagram, I fell in love with the movie. The main character, Lara Jean, wore so many cute outfits throughout the movie, so I thought I would share a few of my favorites with you! For each outfit, I've included a picture of her wearing it, then some similar clothing items that you can get to recreate the look. Happy shopping!

You'll see that Lara Jean wears a lot of sweater + skirt combos, and I love this look! The colors of her top are so cute, especially with a simple skirt and some black sunglassses.



12 Things Vol. 4

Happy Friday!! This week was a pretty good one; it was short due to Labor Day and I've started to get into a consistent school routine, which is nice. Today I'm sharing some random thoughts that have been on my mind lately - enjoy!


1. My birthday is this weekend!! I'm so excited to celebrate with my friends + eat a lot of good food.

2. It's been raining here for the past week and I love it - so cozy!

August 2018 Instagram Roundup

Labor Day was yesterday, which means summer is officially over... it went by incredibly fast and that makes me so sad, but here we are, with another Instagram roundup post. These are some of my favorite posts to do, so I hope you enjoy!


Similar Top // Skirt
You can't go to Chicago without visiting The Bean... it was my second time going and it's such a cool sculpture.

Life Lately Vol. 41

I cannot tell you how glad I am that I have a much needed three day weekend on the horizon... school has not been that bad but I've been swamped with homework and I could really use some relaxation! I have some fun things planned for Labor Day weekend, and my birthday is the weekend after this one, so I have a feeling September is going to be a pretty great month!

Although I've been busy, these past two weeks have been pretty good and overall I've been happy. I actually love my classes, I'm glad to be practicing soccer again, and I've enjoyed getting to see my friends. I've been a little stressed and busy (which is why I didn't get a blog post up this week) but happy. And I think that's how it should be :)

As I mentioned earlier, the first day of school was a couple weeks ago. In some ways, it feels like the school year is flying by already, but in other ways it feels like it's gone by incredibly slowly. I'll let you know how I feel when we reach Thanksgiving break :)

I've been trying to be better about managing my time this school year and I feel like I've been pretty diligent when it comes to staying on top of my homework and taking good notes. I honestly never thought I would say this, but my favorite class so far is World History. It's definitely the hardest class I'm taking this year but my teacher makes it really interesting. I also love AP Art History (the class pictured above). I never thought my two favorite classes would be history... but never say never!!



My sister's seventh birthday was last weekend. To celebrate, we went to the American Girl store for lunch and I made a modified version of this cookie cake for her. I think it's safe to say everyone loved it... but that's no surprise as Sally's recipes never fail :)

The first soccer game of the season is next week and I cannot wait. I've missed playing soccer and I am so excited to finally play (also, I can finally start refereeing again and I really could use the extra money haha!). The worst part about summer is that there's no soccer!

Have a great weekend!

Currently Vol. 12

Well, friends, I have officially survived my first week of sophomore year! 12 pages of world history notes later, and it's finally Friday! I am so excited to celebrate my sister's seventh birthday this weekend - it's going to be a much needed break from the long week I've had.
from the first day of school!

Reading... I finished My Life Next Door, but I'm not sure what to start next. Recommendations??

Steal Her Style: Outfits Inspired By Mamma Mia 2

I have an exciting announcement: I have decided that I am moving to Greece, opening up a hotel, and speaking solely in ABBA lyrics from now on!


Totally kidding. But seriously... I watched Mamma Mia 2 last weekend and let me just say, I need to visit Greece asap. Sadly, a trip to Europe is not in the cards any time soon... so the next best thing is copying some of the outfits and eating my weight in baklava (just like I did at a Greek festival last year). Throughout the entire movie, I kept thinking how cute all the outfits were, so today I've rounded up some lookalike items so you can channel your inner dancing queen!

My Favorite Amazon Finds (Part Two!)

Here on Blissfully Brooke, my post on my favorite Amazon finds is one of my most popular blog posts. I've since then discovered quite a few more gems on Amazon, so I thought I would share them with you today!

Life Lately Vol. 40

Happy Saturday! I hope your weekend is off to a great start so far! Today I'm sharing another Life Lately post (my 40th one!!), where I catch y'all up on what I have been doing lately. It feels like I just did one of these, but so much has happened since my last one... grab a cup of coffee and enjoy!

The last time I did a Life Lately post, I was heading to Oklahoma for the weekend! That trip feels like forever ago, but it was so fun and I miss the lake like crazy. You can read more about my trip here.

Polka Dot Keyhole Top

I know everyone has mentally shifted away from summer fashion and the focus is now on fall clothes + back to school, but SUMMER'S NOT OVER YET!! We still have a good month left before Labor Day, and you bet I'm going to be wearing my summery tops and white jeans every chance I get. Today I wanted to share one last summery outfit with you all. I picked up this polka dot top about a month ago, and I think it's so fun - polka dots are a huge trend this season, and I love the fun cut of this top.



Behind The Gram Vol. 4

It's no secret that I go to some extreme measures for Instagram photos. In the summer, I take pictures almost daily, and more often than not, there's a story behind every picture. Today I'm back with another installment of Behind The Gram, where I share some crazy stories as to what happens behind the scenes of Instagram. Enjoy!

This frozen custard spot was our last stop in Milwaukee before heading to the airport. I was tired and being my indecisive self as usual, and I wasn't hungry, so I wanted to split something with my sister, who of course refused. I told my dad not to get me anything and just waited by the car. He was nice enough to get me some chocolate custard anyway, and then I made him take a picture of me with it while it melted in the 85 degree heat.

Currently Vol. 11

Happy Saturday! I hope you're having a great Saturday morning so far - hopefully it involves a cup of coffee or two and a big brunch. I have a bag of coconut macadamia nut pancake mix in the pantry that is calling my name! Keep on reading to see what I've been loving lately.

A Weekend In Milwaukee + Chicago


If you've been following me on Instagram, you might have noticed that I spent last weekend up north. My dad had to go up there for business, so he decided to bring my sister and me along so we could make a long weekend out of it. I got to go to my favorite city, Chicago (see last year's Chicago recap here) and I discovered a new city - Milwaukee!

July 2018 Instagram Roundup

It's so crazy to me that tomorrow will be the start of August. I know I say this every month... but wow. Summer is flying by and I'm not ready for it to be over.

On a happier note, I've been posting to Instagram almost daily! It's required a lot of effort but I'm so proud of how my feed is looking. Today I am sharing a roundup of all my pictures during the past month.


Mom's Hat // Mom's Coverup // My Hat // My Coverup
My mom and I are the most extra people you'll ever meet and we bought matching sunhats to take pictures in at the beach! I love the sassy sayings on them.