As is customary at the end of any year, I'm in the midst of some deep reflection. By all accounts, 2017 was an incredible year. I don't know about you, but the previous couple years were definitely filled with some pretty big struggles for me (hello, Pittsburgh crash of 2015 and broken ankle saga of 2016). But I had one main goal for 2017 -- call it a resolution if you will -- and that was to be HAPPY. (See proof above: this was me in Palm Springs over Labor Day. The elation was totally, completely, 100 percent real.)

We only have one life. And, the fact is, we never know how much time we're really going to have. This past year, I took it upon myself to make my life everything it could possibly be. Am I exactly where I want to be now that 2018 is approaching? No. But am I pretty darn close? A resounding yes. LA has been and continues to be the place that makes me feel like my true, best self.

My hope for all of you is that, as 2017 ends and 2018 begins, you feel like you're on the path toward being happy, healthy and both who and where you want to be.

Please indulge me as I take a (not so) quick walk down the memory lane of 2017. (Spoiler alert: there are a LOT of photos!) Here's to everything 2018 has to offer!

JANUARY

I started the year with one of my closest friends, Claire -- we celebrated New Year's at one of my favorite bars, Good Times at Davey Wayne's. I bought that Alice + Olivia dress the night before!

LA is the place of incredible sunsets. I kicked off the year with this fiery stunner, seen one night as I was leaving work.

In case you weren't aware, I love Disneyland! I got an annual pass 4 days after I moved to LA. And in all my times going, I'd never met Minnie -- until this fateful day in January when I finally visited her house! (Side note: I love her shoes.)

The "LOVE" wall on Abbot Kinney is always worth a stop. It was just a happy coincidence that we were color coordinated!

I threw a party for my birthday and got to celebrate with some of my very favorite people. And no party is complete without a photo booth -- I put this one together with a curtain from Party City, a tripod, a photo booth app on my iPhone and about 300 props from Amazon (no, I'm not exaggerating).

I got to work with the absolute best team at JustFab this year. And they totally surprised me for my birthday -- they decorated my desk, took me to lunch, bought me that lifesized J balloon and got me that delicious chocolate cake!

To continue the birthday celebration, my mom flew in from Cleveland. We had dinner with two of my very best friends, Todd and Claire.

FEBRUARY

Bri has been one of my closest friends since my very first work trip to Pittsburgh in 2010. She came to visit me in LA and I simply had to take her to High Rooftop Lounge in Venice -- the view of the ocean and the sunset can't be beat! It was FREEZING up there, though, and they refused to turn on the heat lamps!

No matter how many times I go to the Broad, it's never enough. Roy Lichtenstein has always been one of my favorite artists, and his "Goldfish Bowl" easel just always strikes me when I visit this museum.

MARCH

It wouldn't be a year in the life of the Beauty Chick without some nails photos! butter LONDON Dodgy Barnett has been one of my favorite colors for years, and I revisited it this year for a Throwback Thursday post, which you can check out here.

March 7 marked a little over a year since my ankle surgery -- and the first time I was able to get back into heels!

Another day, another visit to the Broad ... this time with my best friend, Katie, and her son, Walter, in tow! "Under The Table" by Robert Therrien is always worth a photo op.

Katie and I had been talking about taking Walter to Disney for quite some time, and it finally happened! We stayed at the Disneyland Hotel, had breakfast with all the characters, and I even got totally dazzled by Donald Duck.

I'd been thinking about going pink for YEARS ... and, with the help of my amazing stylist, Erin Sanders (yes, we're cousins), it finally happened! You can read all about the hair transformation here.

APRIL

My mom and I visited my brother, Evan, in Boston at the beginning of April. This was taken on a gorgeous day in the North End (before we stuffed ourselves with delicious Italian food)!

A couple weeks after visiting Evan in Boston, we met up for a brother/sister weekend in Vegas! He got invited to speak at a conference and asked me to accompany him -- and, since I got a free stay at the Wynn and a fun weekend with my brother out of the deal, who was I to say no?

I'm incredibly grateful for my JustFab family -- I've met so many amazing people and had wonderful experiences (like our VIP event in San Diego) during my time with this company. And this gal right here, the fabulous Bri, is one I truly can't live without!

Oh look, another stunning sunset. This one was taken in San Diego.

MAY

2018 was the year of the Museum of Ice Cream! I went twice -- and to say I was obsessed may be a little bit of an understatement. I mean, come on -- a SPRINKLE POOL?!? I was in ice cream heaven!

The banana swing room at the Museum of Ice Cream was SO. MUCH. FUN. It was the scene of many boomerangs, and also where I took one of my favorite pictures of 2018. (Also, the bananas on the walls were scented! Total Charlie and the Chocolate Factory vibes!)

I'd been dying to see Aaron Tveit for years. I finally got the chance when he performed at the Belasco Theater. Let's just say it was worth the wait.

My mom came to visit again in May, but this time, I was sick with the flu! And it continued for two miserable weeks. However, I was feeling well one of the days she was in town, so we ventured to the pink wall at Paul Smith to snap some pics along with the hordes!

JUNE

June 1 marked National Nail Polish Day -- and, since I couldn't decide on just one favorite color, I went for a rainbow mani with five! Check out all the details here.

I believe in buying what makes you happy -- and this JustFab banana bag most DEFINITELY made me happy.

Disneyland turned Tower of Terror into the Guardians of the Galaxy ride this summer. My friend Todd and I woke up EARLY (we got there at 6am!) to wait in line -- and it was SO MUCH FUN! I miss ToT, but I really love the thrilling new ride.

I will never, ever tire of Disneyland.

My friend Jenny and I went to the Arroyo Seco music festival on a blisteringly hot June weekend (the temperature on this day was 98). While you can't see him, this was during Tom Petty's headlining set. I'm so grateful I got the chance to see him live before he passed away.

Erin and I are soul sisters! We work together at JustFab -- and, if you can't tell, we're basically the same person. And, yes, we own the same Free People Tree Swing Tunic!

Ansel Elgort followed me on Twitter. ENOUGH SAID.

JULY

Little Damage is an ice cream hot spot (cold spot?) in downtown LA. I trekked there on a 102-degree day because -- well, come on, why wouldn't I?

After two years in LA, I finally made it to the Hollywood Bowl! My friend Claire and I got to see the marvelous Tony Bennett in concert.

2017 was the year of the jumpsuit -- more specifically, the Riviera Sun jumpsuit! I found this on Amazon for $19 and quickly bought it in seven different colors. I. Am. Obsessed.

AUGUST: AKA MY TRIP TO NYC

I went back to New York City for the first time in three years this summer. And on my first day there, I met up with my cousin Sarah, her husband, Bangaly, and their ADORABLE son, Sundiata. Are they the most beautiful family or what?

This guy right here! Nick was my roommate senior year of college (go Hoosiers!) and we've stayed friends ever since. He's working as an RN at one of the major hospitals in NYC, but he still made time to have breakfast one morning -- even though he'd just gotten off a 12-hour shift! I love him to pieces.

I saw Shawn Mendes at Barclays. From row 2. THIS WAS LIFE CHANGING.

Oh yeah, and then Ed Sheeran came out to sing "Mercy" with Shawn Mendes. NBD.

The main reason for my trip to NYC was to visit my good friend, Felicia. She surprised me to tickets for Groundhog Day because we both love Andy Karl so much!

A reflective moment amidst the hustle and bustle of Times Square.

Right after I got back from NYC, my childhood bestie, Danny, was in Orange County for the weekend. I was so grateful for the chance to spend time with him!

Witnessing the solar eclipse! What an incredible moment.

I will never, ever tire of the beach. Right at the end of August, I went to Zuma Beach in Malibu -- and it was the perfect end to the perfect summer.

SEPTEMBER

I kicked off September with my first trip to Palm Springs! I spent Labor Day weekend chilling by the pool at the Riviera in these fabulous ban.do sunnies. If you can't tell, I'm pretty sure Palm Springs agreed with me.

As soon as I got back from Palm Springs, I immediately drove to my friends' house in Corona! Mel and Kyle went to IU with me and we've been friends ever since we worked on the paper together. The fact that they had this huge unicorn float for me to play on just made my Labor Day weekend that much better!

This was finally the year that I learned how to let my hair air dry and walk out the door! And it's all thanks to the magic contained inside Ouai Wave Spray. These waves are all natural ... and my life is changed for good!

OCTOBER

My mom and brother came to visit for Evan's birthday -- and we finally saw HAMILTON! My friend, Rory O'Malley, plays King George, and we were beyond lucky to have the chance to see him in this role. We were finally in the room where it happens!

Well, of COURSE I had to take my family to the Museum of Ice Cream!

Obviously, we spent a day at Disneyland. Like we would go anywhere else!

The fires in the Anaheim area turned the sky orange. This was above the Matterhorn around 11:30am -- no filter.

I took a little trip to Chicago to visit my cousin Rachel! This is one truly fantastic person and I'm very grateful she's in my life. We went to drinks at my favorite bar in Chicago, The Violet Hour!

My bestie, David, and I got to attend our friend Michael's beautiful wedding in Michigan. This is before we both cried during the vows.

The entire wedding weekend was filled with joy and laughter. I'm surrounded here by David, Matty and Michael -- three friends I've had since college and can't even begin to imagine my life without.

Trying out yet another ice cream fad -- rolled ice cream! And come on, doesn't this s'Mores ice cream from Cold Rolled Ice Cream Co. make your mouth water?

It's not every day that you discover the skincare brand to change your life. The moment The Ordinary stepped into mine, I knew nothing would ever be the same. Read all about my reaction to this immediate cult favorite here.

I did a small photo shoot in Santa Barbara right around sunset, and the photographer and I were both struck by the beauty of the sand catching the light.

Come on Barbie, let's go party! The JustFab creative team went as Barbies for Halloween, complete with this fabulous Barbie box. I was Barbie and the Rockers -- complete with my own stonewashed denim jacket from the 80s! (And this incredible Let's Get Physical wig.)

NOVEMBER

I look forward to Wednesdays every week mainly because I get to pull out the old "On Wednesdays we wear pink" quote from Mean Girls. And on this fateful Wednesday in November, the gods certainly smiled upon me as I was caught in my hot pink Free People sweater dress!

As soon as I got the proofs back from my photographer, Jake Douglas, I knew this was a