A Look Back at 2017; My Favorite Memories!

2017; the best year filled with travel, new beginnings, friendship, and the most beautiful moments!  Take a look at my favorite moments from 2017, and all of the incredible memories that were made!

Let’s start by saying, 2017 was the year I became a senior in college!! I must admit I am more than ready to finally graduate, so starting my senior year was so exciting!  This fall was spent attending many football games, Homecoming, and tailgating with some of my favorite people! 

This past spring I attended Doug’s ATO formal, where we traveled to Toronto, Canada!  We had the best weekend spent with friends, and I’m looking forward to our last formal this spring!

For Spring Break, Doug and I hopped on a cruise ship to the Bahamas!  It was such a dream!  This was my first time ever traveling  to the Bahamas, and it was truly paradise!  Not to mention, the coconut drink that I had was easily the best thing I’ve ever had in my life (coconut milk/water + coconut rum) YUM!! Check out my A Week In The Bahamas {Places to Visit & Travel Tips}, and my Mauve & Stripes in Nassau, Bahamas post!  

Speaking of travel, one of the highlights of my year was traveling to Europe and California back-to-back, and getting engaged to my best friend!!

Our adventures in Barcelona, Spain!  Spain was both Doug and my’s favorite place in Europe, and we are already planning to go back!! We met up, and stayed with, some friends downtown Barcelona, and had the best adventures along the way!  One of my favorite unique spots was a small, authentic Mexican restaurant with THE best tacos I have ever had!  Check out my Exploring Ibiza, Spain post, and check out these three posts for my Spain outfit inspiration; Simplistic Stripes in Spain, Denim & Satin Ruffles, Black, White & Denim!

Rome, Italy was one of the most beautiful places! I totally had my Lizzie McGuire moment in front of the Trevi Fountain, but one of our favorite memories was accidentally sneaking into the Sistine Chapel!  Words cannot even describe how breathtaking the Sistine Chapel is, and if you have the chance to visit (or sneak in, lol!) I highly recommend!! Take a look at my Exploring Rome, Italy post!

My favorite moment of 2017 has to be when Doug proposed in front of the Eiffel Tower!  It was such a dream come true, especially since Paris, France has always been my top destination to visit!  What made it even better was the fact that Ally, and some of our close friends, were visiting on a Study Abroad trip during the same time, so I was able to celebrate my engagement with beautiful friends in the most beautiful place!  Paris definitely holds many memories, and I will cherish those memories forever!  Check out my We’re Engaged; The Proposal in Paris, my Brunch at Ladurée, Paris Champs-Elysées, and my A Parisian Picnic & Exploring the City post!

We also visited Munich, Germany, Ibiza, Spain, and Mallorca, Spain along the way!  While in Munich, visiting the Birkenstock store (and purchasing a pair!) was absolutely necessary, and we had many, beautiful beach days in Ibiza!  Mojitos are THE drink in Ibiza, and we enjoyed the night life while exploring the beauty!

Another one of my favorite memories was when I had the opportunity to visit the PINK Nation Motel in Palm Springs, California! Last year was my first year being a Sponsored Stylist for Victoria’s Secret PINK, and at the end of the winter semester we were all invited to the most amazing getaway!  I met some of the best people and made the most incredible memories!  Take a look at all of the details from my PINK Nation Motel in Palm Springs, California post! 

Speaking of PINK, I was invited to be a Sponsored Stylist for a second year!! YAY!! Because of this, I was able to attend Brand Training in Columbus, Ohio this summer!  I was able to meet up with some of the amazing people I met in Palm Springs, and I met all of the new Sponsored Stylists as well! It was the best time, and I enjoyed learning so much more about the brand (as well as myself)! Check out my video for a behind the scenes look into my brand training!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X__34Z-B7dw&t=1s

Later in the summer, Doug and I travelled across Michigan and explored some of our favorite places! We visited Manistee, Michigan over the 4th of July, where I consider to be “home”, and we also travelled to the Upper Peninsula where we visited the Porcupine Mountains, and Mackinac Island along the way! 

My parents, Doug, and I took our boat across Lake Michigan to travel to our favorite spot!  First stop, our old marina in Ludington (where we used to keep our boat when we lived in Manistee), and then on to Manistee!

Tandem biking around the Mackinac Island was one of my favorite moments from the trip!! I have a vlog coming soon from our adventures in the UP, so definitely stay in touch for that!! Check out all of the details from our vacation in my Adventures in the Upper Peninsula post! 

Being a senior in college, I had my very last sorority recruitment and bid night for Delta Zeta! Not only did I make the best memories these past years in DZ, but this I also became a GBig! 

October 1st, 2017, I turned 21!! I had the best time celebrating with friends and family! Check out My 21st Birthday: What I’ve Learned in 21 Years post!

Throughout the year I made the best memories spent with some truly amazing people!! While these were a few highlights, I wanted to share a montage of photos featuring some of my absolute favorite moments of the year!

Getting my hair extensions, my new Chevy Malibu, and when Bryan and Rachel (The Bachelorette) got engaged and we had matching rings! Good choice, Bryan! 😉 

This year was the year that I really started to discover a workout routine that made me feel incredible inside and out!  I started focusing specifically on cardio and hot yoga, while taking some barre, spin, and pilates classes along the way!  For 2018 I’m looking to get into weight lifting and kick boxing a little more, while running two more half marathons and attending hot yoga three times a week! 

Throwing my parents a surprise 25th Wedding Anniversary party with dozens of our closest friends and family!  We had the best time sharing their special day, they are SO loved!! 

Tulip Time (my favorite flower!) in Holland, endless farmer’s markets, fresh flowers, bloody Mary’s, sushi dates, and the best corndogs in Grand Haven! What a summer to remember!

Oh yeah, did I mention all of the coffee dates?!

Incredible moments spent with friends that will always be cherished!

To end the year, a trip to the most beautiful place in the world with my best friends; New York City! 

2017, you certainly were a year to remember!  2018, I know you’ll be even better!  Happy New Year, everyone!

Love & Good Vibes

Tessa

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