Happy (Almost) New Year, everybody!
If I had to choose a word to summarize 2024 in it’s entirety, which is no easy feat when trying to accurately and thoroughly describe these past twelve months, I’d say “whirlwind” is the one that comes to mind almost immediately. This past year has been such a flurry and frenzy of big personal and professional changes, and of long-awaited closure that made way for new chapters and beginnings. It’s been a year of justice in a variety of ways – and for me, personally – so many things have been put into perspective as it pertains to my goals and ambitions for 2025. Those resolutions, which I’ve been carefully considering since well before the holiday season started – will be shared closer to the end of this post along with my plans for ringing in the New Year.
As I do every year, I’ve compiled a list of some of the biggest headlines, news stories, pop culture moments, trends, and so on and so forth – but I also need to talk about how 2024 was for me as a person and as the author of ‘Coffee & Chiffon‘ because so much happened in my life this year that I still can’t believe we’re already getting ready to circle back to another January!
I had comfortably and quietly began 2024 in the familiarity of my former home – Boston, Massachusetts – forgoing late, loud parties and crowds and instead enjoying a savory meal on my own in the North End and a warm hotel room in Downtown Crossing where I watched the ball drop in Times Square on TV while Troy and I remained on a video call while he was awaiting midnight to reach him in California. He would be joining me in the Pioneer Valley later on that month, although the reason for his visit was not for celebratory purposes (although my birthday was right before he’d arrived.)
You see, in February of this past year, after many years of the discovery process and of COVID-19 related delays, reschedulings and cancellations since 2020 – Troy’s long-awaited defamation trial had finally started. His case, stemming from an incident that occurred in 2019, well before I’d even moved to the Pioneer Valley, went before a judge and a jury. In a process that took a little over two weeks of testimony and sharing evidence until closing arguments, the woman Troy had sued – Susanna Apgar – was found guilty on all counts brought against her. Troy – my longtime friend, my boyfriend, and my beloved partner in this current phase of my life – was vindicated once and for all. I wrote about everything that happened, including everyone involved, shortly after the verdict.
And while the verdict was and is still cause for celebration, at the time of my publishing this – the ordeal is far from over definitively. Susanna Apgar continues to lie, to blame everyone but herself for what has happened following her actions and efforts to destroy an innocent man’s life, and she has continually asked for hand-outs from the very community she deceived to pay the award owed to Troy and for her legal expenses. She continues to slander him and to try and paint him as the bad guy in the scenario – but there is a deadline for Troy to be paid in full in 2025 – and both and he and I have found some solace in the fact that she cannot get around it. Her guilty verdict and what she has done will follow her and her name forever.
With the trial behind us, and it’s crushing weight lifted from our shoulders, I was ready to jump back into travel, quality time spent with my friends and family, and enjoying live music again by the Spring. I was taking day trips all over New England throughout April and May, catching pop-up gigs by my favorite bands and having the full festival experience just as the warmer weather was starting to stick around more consistently. Around this time, I also walked away from my hosting/DJ gig at Indie617 after months (if not years) of mistreatment, not being paid or fairly compensated for my work and contributions to it’s survival during the pandemic, and being outright lied to about the future of the station and my role within it. The support I have found within the fanbase who have followed me and championed me after I briefly explained what had happened on social media filled my heart with so much joy. It still does – and I’m so thrilled to report that I may be getting an entirely new show on an entirely new network in early 2025 where I’ll finally have the full creative control I’ve always wanted!
I experienced a minor but frustrating health setback in the Summer when it came to my wisdom teeth and a dental infection that resulted in weeks’ worth of surgeries, antibiotics, and a soft food diet for a little while. Thankfully, I emerged from the other side of it with a healthy, healed mouth and a big smile that I show off all the time now. I’m still so grateful to my team of dentists, orthodontists and hygienists who took such extraordinarily good care of me and put my mind at ease from Day 1. They are truly the best.
To reward myself for being a very brave girl during my wisdom tooth extraction and follow-up care, I took an extended vacation near the end of Summer and into the beginning of Fall – staying with Troy on the West Coast throughout August and into September. While there, we visited Vegas (and caught The Killers’ residency as they celebrated 25 years of ‘Hot Fuss’!), we went hiking in the Redwoods, and we stayed at the famous Madonna Inn before it was ultimately time for me to return home and back to the real world – where I enjoyed many Autumnal and spooky activities, including one last music festival with Andrew and the kids! – leading into this most recent holiday season. I also bought a brand new car this past Fall after my old and long-time one was declared a total loss following it sustaining undercarriage damage, so it’s been a year with new and shiny rewards peppered throughout it, too!
And with November’s election over, and the results not quite what I was expecting or hoping for, I’ve been pondering the future and what 2025 will bring for myself and many others who feel the same uncertainty that I do right now. I am, admittedly, nervous for this coming New Year – and am very much in a “hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst” mindset as we head into it. While I can’t predict the future by any means, what I can guarantee is that I will continue to write, to post, to share my life’s ups and downs as I always have done since creating this blog back in 2020 – and I will welcome any reader and friend, new or long-term – with open arms. I will lead with kindness, because I think that’s what we can all use more than anything in the weeks and months ahead.
With all that being said, it’s time to get down to the big stories – the ones we were all talking or reading about – the good, the bad, the funny, and the bizarre. Some are still unfolding as we speak, others were a blip on the radar before they were gone, but all played a major role in the year 2024 – a year I don’t think I will be forgetting anytime soon.
This was 2024 – a year I think we’re going to be talking about for quite some time.
I was really just hoping he’d go away and we’d never have to see or hear from him ever again: Although I am in no way diminishing the importance of voting or the pride and gratefulness that I feel as an American citizen who is able to do so, I also cannot stress how much I despise election years. From the onslaught of increasingly aggressive political advertisements, to the endless dread that is jammed down our collective throats by the 24 hour news cycles for months at a time – it is utterly exhausting and maddening – and this year was really no different other than we had absolutely insane things happening on and off the campaign trail this year. Moreso than usual, anyway.
If I could do a rundown of all of the scandals, verdicts, potentially staged moments and candidate shake-ups in the style of Billy Joel’s ‘We Didn’t Start The Fire’, I would – but I don’t think I could condense things like Donald Trump being found guilty of multiple felonies (including sexual abuse), Robert F. Kennedy Jr. admitting part of his brain was eaten by a parasite, the alleged assassination attempt on Trump’s life, Joe Biden stepping down from re-election and making way for Kamala Harris and her Vice Presidential pick, Tim Walz, to run instead, or Matt Gaetz losing his potential bid as Attorney General for being a serial predator – into just one or two verses and a chorus. It was a LOT this year, to say the least.
Ultimately, however, Americans voted for four more years of the corrupt conman with a bad combover to lead us into whatever insanity he has planned with his equally detestable family and clown car of cabinet picks – and I’ve been trying to process this country’s seeming complicity, if not downright acceptance and encouragement, of the blatant hatred, misogyny and racism that was at the heart of Trump’s campaign. We have truly lost the plot.
But when people start getting exactly what they voted for, maybe things will turn around by the next election. Assuming we even have another election again, anyway.
All eyes were on the beginnings of a genocide: When I put together my recap of 2023 last year, the ongoing and rising tensions between Palestine and Israel were at the top of the list, as were Israel’s coordinated attacks on Palestinian civilians who were desperately trying to flee the carnage. Since then, we’ve seen continued and intentional attacks by Israel on hospitals, refugee centers and businesses attempting to feed, house and clothe those displaced by bombings and air strikes. Horrifying footage has been captured of the aftermath – with an alarming number of those killed being Palestinian children who have nowhere left to go for safety.
There has been an uptick in condemnation and protests over Israel’s tactics since the end of 2023, which appear more than ever to be an attempted genocide of the Palestinian people – and it became a point of contention in the most recent Presidential election. Kamala Harris drew intense criticism when she vowed to provide aid and arms to Israel during her first and only debate with Donald Trump, whereas Trump advised he would let Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, do whatever he wants/needs to “finish the job” after he is sworn into office in a few weeks. We’re now waiting to see exactly what that entails.
As of November, another ceasefire was brokered by the United States and France, this time between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, in an attempt to take one step closer to permanent ceasefires in the region – but it’s unclear how long this will last considering tensions are still extremely high and the occupation of Palestine is still happening at the time of my publishing this post.
I’m just really hoping that by this time in 2025, I’ll have happier updates and better news to share about Palestine and that it’s people will be given grace, the chance to rebuild, and their freedom.
How was he not charged AGES ago?: In music/entertainment music, and following a string of lawsuits and sexual abuse accusations that began near the end of 2023, as well as a raid on his multiple homes that took place in March – Sean “Puff Daddy/P.Diddy” Combs was arrested this past Fall and charged with a string of horrifying crimes – including sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, and multiple drug offenses in an investigation that was reportedly underway for a significant amount of time.
Although Combs has denied any wrongdoing, the consistency and detail of the crimes in question as outlined by multiple accusers is damning – including years’ worth of drugging victims and sexual abuse by both Combs and his associates during parties hosted at his numerous residences. Additionally, surveillance footage obtained from a hotel hallway that had been taken in 2016 shows Combs chasing down one of his more well-known victims and physically attacking her as she was reportedly attempting to flee to safety and/or find help.
Combs is currently being held without bail while awaiting trial, which is scheduled to take place in May of 2025, and more victims have since come forward to both present their own accusations and corroborate others’ versions of events. Most recently, Jay-Z has also come under fire for an alleged sexual assault on a minor in connection with alleged trafficking ring that Combs orchestrated and oversaw. At the time of my publishing this, he, too – has denied any and all accusations.
Speaking of court cases…: Like every year before it, 2024 had it’s fair share of high profile trials and courtroom drama (not including my boyfriend’s aforementioned defamation case, of course) that made headlines and caused some divisive debates, with most of the verdicts and decisions made in the Summer months of this past year.
In June, after being found guilty of the grizzly murders of his first wife and his two step-children (and the subsequent insurance fraud committed afterwards), former self-published author and “Doomsday Prophet” Chad Daybell was sentenced to death, nearly a year following his co-conspirator and current wife’s sentencing in July of 2023. The verdict finally brought an end to an unsettling mystery and ordeal that first began back in 2019.
Also in June was the controversial conviction of Hunter Biden for three federal firearm charges in relation to his previous substance abuse issues. Although sentencing for those charges was scheduled to take place before the end of this year, he has since been fully pardoned by his father as of December 1st. Joe Biden was done playing around, it seems.
A month later, the voluntarily manslaughter charges brought against Alec Baldwin that stemmed from the accidental 2021 shooting death of Halyna Hutchins while on the set of the movie ‘Rust’ were dismissed with prejudice, meaning that the case/charges cannot be brought against him a second time. The ruling was determined by the fact that the prosecutors had withheld evidence in the case that had reportedly been linked to the incident.
In more local, somewhat trashier July 2024 courtroom drama, the jury tasked with deciding the fate for Canton, Massachusetts’ very own Karen Reid were deadlocked as it pertained to the alleged vehicular homicide charges she faced for the death of her Massachusetts State Police Officer boyfriend in 2022. The case had everything – corruption, affairs, conspiracy theories, terrible accents and local bloggers getting into trouble for tampering with evidence and witnesses. And we get to go through it all again when the second trial begins in April of 2025!
And one trial coming out of France was the Mazan mass rape case where outed pervert and predator Dominique Pelicot faced charges – along with 50 other men from the region – for drugging and staging the repeated rapes of his then wife, Gisèle Pelicot, from 2011 through 2020. Gisèle, who was unconscious during these attacks, had been unaware of what was happening to her until photo/video evidence was discovered on her husband’s computer while he was being investigated for other, unrelated crimes against women.
The trial, which had been underway since September, concluded just a couple of weeks ago with Dominique Pelicot being sentenced to twenty years in prison (and the identified men who participated in the crimes being sentenced to varying years in prison, as well.) Gisèle Pelicot has since become an inspiration as she has faced all of her perpetrators head-on with no fear and no anonymity so that the world would know her story. If there was ever a “Person of the Year” contender I would get behind whole-heartedly, it would be her.
This was something out of a horror movie…: In the early morning hours of March 26th, the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore sustained catastrophic damage and collapsed into the Patapsco River below after one of it’s piers had been struck by a container ship – which had fully lost power and veered off course shortly before impact.
With no way to correct the drifting ship’s course or avoid a collision with the bridge as the crew struggled to regain control, including dropping an anchor as a last ditch effort to stop the ship entirely – a mayday call was issued to the Maryland Department of Transportation to block traffic in both directions from crossing the bridge. Thankfully, since this was taking place late at night as opposed to rush hour – there wasn’t a lot of traffic to control.
After being struck, the bridge immediately collapsed in various sections, all of which was captured on camera. The footage is horrifying, and the incident resulted in the deaths of six construction workers who had been fixing potholes in the roadway shortly before the impact occurred. It is nothing short of a miracle that more people weren’t killed or seriously injured in the aftermath of this one.
As of now, all roads leading to the bridge have since been closed/re-routed, and a new bridge is scheduled to be designed and completed by the Fall of 2028.
Speaking of horror movies…: When it wasn’t catastrophic bridge collapses scaring everyone away from travel in 2024, it was the multiple issues and close calls with Boeing planes and shuttles that had everyone second-guessing visiting their dream destinations (and beyond) this year. With exit doors breaking open mid-flight, multiple failed inspections that noted missing or faulty parts in multiple aircrafts, and the mysterious deaths of not one but two Boeing whistleblowers within weeks of one another – I’m still wondering how and why I willingly boarded multiple flights this year during any of my travels around the country.
But perhaps one of the most “worst nightmare” scenarios happening with Boeing right now is taking place beyond the Earth’s atmosphere with NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore – who have been trapped in space since June of this year when their Boeing Starliner shuttle (which was being used for the first time in a trial run that was only supposed to last a week) encountered numerous and significant complications. A rescue mission is scheduled to take place in March of 2025 to retrieve the crew from the International Space Station, although it has already been postponed more than once leading up to now while preparations are being made.
As someone who has panic attacks through movies like ‘Gravity’ and ‘Interstellar’, I cannot even imagine being stranded in space with no definitive return date.
Okay, onto something more fun…: In lighter news, 2024 gave the world the opportunity presented to us every few years where we all become overly patriotic for a couple of weeks as we watch our respective countries compete in the Summer Olympics. This year’s games, which took place in Paris, had no shortage of iconic moments following an impressive opening ceremony, amazing wins, and a few unintentionally hilarious figures that fueled non-stop memes throughout the course of the event.
I made sure to check out Simone Biles and the USA Women’s Gymnastic Team as they took home the gold following some jaw-dropping athleticism – and saw Worcester, Massachusetts’ very own Stephen Nedoroscik claim the bronze medal for his Pommel Horse routine (before he competed in ‘Dancing With the Stars’ this year!) I also watched a recap of the infamous breakdancing segment that went viral due to the Australian dancer “Raygun” and her unusual performance that yielded no points whatsoever from the judges – and kept up with Norwegian Swimmer Henrik Christiansen’s obsession with the chocolate chip muffins served in the Olympic Village that he documented on social media.
We have to wait until 2026 for the next Winter Olympics, which I’m sure will also be a lot of fun to watch even though I don’t understand 90% of the sports played.
There was no shortage of natural disasters and unusual weather around the world: I wish I could say that the strange weather/disaster phenomenons that occurred this year were limited to the East Coast earthquake that shook New Jersey (and my apartment!) back in April, or the recent brush fires that we had in and around New England throughout November that left us with a perpetual air quality alert for weeks at a time, but we got pretty much every type of natural disaster in 2024. All of the bases were covered, I think.
There was the volcanic eruption in Iceland, which came dangerously close to reaching the famous Blue Lagoon, the catastrophic flooding throughout Spain which resulted in the deaths of over 200 people, and Hurricanes Helene and Milton – which reached Category 4 & 5 status prior to making landfall and spawned multiple tornadoes in the affected areas, resulting in even more fatalities, injuries, and billions of dollars worth of damage.
I had written about, and shared ways to help those affected by Helene and Milton back in October, and a lot of those resources/organizations are still seeking donations and assistance during what is undoubtedly one of the most difficult times of year for so many people who are displaced and attempting to rebuild.
And unfortunately, we had to say goodbye to some of the greats this year, too…: The saddest part of putting together these annual year-end wrap-up posts is revisiting the beloved stars and icons who passed away. In 2024, we said goodbye to absolute powerhouse performers of both stage and screen – like Maggie Smith, Gena Rowlands and James Earl Jones. While some celebrities passed away from old age and natural causes, others succumbed to long-time illnesses, like Shannen Doherty, who had courageously fought breast cancer since 2015.
I personally grieved the losses of music and movie star Kris Kristofferson, whose albums I adored and whose appearances in films like the ‘Blade’ movies (even the third one we don’t talk about) made them all the more memorable – as well as the iconic Shelley Duvall – who was thankfully given the chance to have a proper, thoughtful and respectful interview conducted with her about her life and career before she passed following a predatory and exploitative piece that had been done about her by daytime host Phil McGraw back in 2016.
Just as I was preparing to publish this post this week, we lost the great Olivia Hussey and Jimmy Carter seemingly back-to-back, too.
And I have deliberately omitted a few controversial sports figures and musicians who passed this year, as well – as their legacies include documented abuse of women, racism, and probable murder (the world is not worse off without O.J. Simpson. for example. I’m just saying…)
“If he’s hot and fit – you must acquit.”: Rounding out the major headlines from 2024, we got ourselves a doozy of true crime, conspiracy theories, corruption, and a prisoner that the nation appears to have a collective crush on. Earlier this month, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare Group, a health insurance company notorious for denying a disgusting amount of claims presented to them, was gunned down outside a Manhattan hotel in broad daylight before the suspect – donning a medical mask and backpack – fled into Central Park. Images of a person of interest that were captured by security cameras in a hostel, coffee shop, and cab were circulated – and it was quickly established that the young male depicted was extremely photogenic.
The death of the CEO in question, Brian Thompson, was met with a lot of indifference by the population – with many people sharing their own horrific stories about themselves and/or their loved ones dealing with health insurance companies while at their most vulnerable and most desperate. Many stories involved claims being denied and sick or dying people being forced into bankruptcy and financial ruin as they attempted to get out of medical debt. While murder is unquestionably wrong, it was admittedly difficult to feel sympathetic for a millionaire who made his fortune off of the pain and suffering of others.
Days after the murder, 26-year-old Luigi Mangione was arrested in connection with the shooting while in Pennsylvania after being spotted at a McDonald’s. On his person at the time of his arrest (allegedly) was a manifesto, the gun used, and fake identifications/licenses – and it didn’t take long for his social media and former friends to be located for statements. Mangione, who has no prior criminal record, was the Valedictorian of his graduating class, and attended an Ivy League school – reportedly suffered from a debilitating back injury – although it is unclear if UnitedHealthcare Group played a role in any of his claims or treatment being denied.
Multiple photo shoots have been conducted of Mangione in custody, during transport, and recently being “perp walked” by a small army after being extradited back to New York City – although the photos the NYPD have released appear to have the opposite effect on the general public, who view him as a sympathetic and relatable figure. He is facing multiple charges, including the completely ridiculous and unfounded “terrorism” charge (which is never used on mass shooters or anything, for some reason…) but there are a lot of questions about his involvement in the shooting at all – with the NYPD’s own initial “Person of Interest” photos being heavily scrutinized.
This one is still playing out in real-time, and it’ll be interesting to see what updates happen in 2025.
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Narrowing down an entire year to just a handful of brief summaries and synopsizes can be and often is an extremely difficult and daunting task – and I’m sure there are stories I didn’t include that many people may think warrant consideration and a mention (don’t even get me started on the drones above New Jersey right now!) – but the above headlines are the ones that really caught my attention and that I was fully invested in throughout the year.
But, of course, there were a few other smaller, “blips on the radar” moments throughout this past year that I either thoroughly enjoyed or was caught completely off-guard by – and those deserve a mention in this wrap-up, too!
That being said, may I present your “Honorable Mentions” of 2024!
– The Glasgow Wonka Experience: It’s been a while since we’ve had ourselves a good, old-fashioned convention or meet-up disaster story (the ball pit at DashCon in 2014 or Fyre Fest, anyone?) but February of 2024 brought us the Willy’s Chocolate Experience in Glasgow, Scotland. Using advertising that was created entirely out of A.I. – the social media pages for the event touted it as an immersive, interactive experience for families that would transport guests directly into the ‘Charlie & The Chocolate Factory’ universe.
The reality was much, much bleaker. Held in a sparsely decorated warehouse and with only a handful of working actors who’d reportedly been given a ChatGPT-generated script the day before doors opened, the photos and videos obtained from the “event” were WILD. Flimsy backdrop images were pinned to the walls, there were random props strewn about a dirty and otherwise bare floor, and the event apparently ran out of the minimum candy allotted to each child in attendance almost immediately (after promising guests in the advertisements that there would be a lot more.)
Refunds were eventually issued by the founders of the event, and the actors that had also been jaded/screwed over by the experience made the best of things by hosting an auction of some of the props from the event to raise money for charity – so it was nice to see a somewhat happy ending to it all.
– The reunion we knew we needed and finally received: At the end of August of 2024, it was announced that Oasis were planning on reuniting for a tour after Noel and Liam Gallagher seemingly put their differences aside (for now.) Having seen Oasis live only once before many, many years ago, and being a long-time fan of their music since I was a kid – I was elated but cautious given how temperamental the brothers are known to be. In the wake of the announcement, there were plenty of memes poking fun at the brothers’ volatile relationship, as well – so I think it’s safe to say I wasn’t the only one feeling a little skeptical.
But a tour was eventually announced for 2025 – and although there are no dates anywhere near me and the ones in Los Angeles sold out almost immediately – I’m hopeful the overwhelming hype will inspire them to add some more dates and I’ll be able to finally see them again within the next couple of years!
– In this house, we only pray to Moo Deng: Nothing can unite the world quite as much as an adorable baby animal – especially one that behaves like an absolute diva. In July of this year, a pygmy hippopotamus named Moo Deng (which means “bouncy pork” or “bouncy pig”) was born in Thailand and within the Khao Kheow Open Zoo. Immediately, photos of Moo Deng trying to bite trainers and appearing to make playful faces at the camera whenever it was pointed at her went viral – and visitors flocked to the zoo to catch a glimpse of her as a result.
She is undeniably and unbelievably cute, and the memes that have resulted from many of her photos/videos are the sort of timeline cleanse I can use on particularly rough news days. I just wish there was a way her and Fiona, another famous and super adorable hippopotamus, could meet up.
– DAVE GROHL, NO. WHY.: As a Foo Fighters Fan who always appreciated how cool, approachable, kind and talented frontman Dave Grohl appeared – it came as a complete shock to many when he released a statement earlier this year that not only had he cheated on his wife of over twenty years and betrayed the trust of their children per his own statement – but that he’d fathered another child, a daughter, outside of his marriage as a result of his affair.
The announcement was met with heavy scrutiny, amplified even moreso as Grohl had just come under fire for remarks he’d made about Taylor Swift (that may or may not have been taken out of context) while performing in London prior to his admission of infidelity – and the fallout included his daughters deactivating their social media accounts for some time while things blew over. Since then, Grohl has mostly remained out of the limelight, and it’ll be interesting to see how any future appearances or projects are received once he’s ready to appear again.
– ‘Wicked’ was everywhere: Although I’ve never been opposed to musicals, ‘Wicked’ is one I’ve never really gotten into. I’d never read the book, had only seen snippets of the original Broadway production on YouTube, and have yet to see the movie – but I can appreciate a cinematic and theater event that breaks both boundaries and records while simultaneously uniting people of all ages, genders, ethnicities and religions.
The first ‘Wicked’ movie (I believe there will be two parts total?) has been universally celebrated – sparking brand collaborations, pink and green-colored everything in stores, a million and one memes from both the movie and the somewhat unusual press tour that pre-dated it’s official release – and sing-alongs in theaters from captivated audiences. The hype has been so strong, in fact, that I’m thinking I might cave and finally watch it in 2025 when I have some time to give it my full attention.
– End of an Eras: Speaking of uniting the world and breaking barriers and records… After over a year of sold out shows around the world, Taylor Swift wrapped up her highly successful ‘Eras’ stadium tour earlier this month with a final concert in Vancouver. With each show lasting for over three hours, including multiple costume changes, an impressive stage set-up, and the occasional surprise guest both on-stage and in the audience- the tour would become the highest grossing of all time (making over a billion dollars in revenue) and received glowing reviews.
And the traditions of the attendees was also fun to watch along with concert highlights – like the making/swapping of beaded friendship bracelets, sing-alongs in the parking lots outside venues, homemade costumes, etc. The fun was infectious – and I’m glad a few of my friends got to experience it live, too!
And that, ladies and gentlemen, was 2024 – a year to remember for sure! And now with 2025 upon us, what do I have planned?
I’m doing something a little different this New Year’s Eve/Day – because I’ll be ringing in 2025 from fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada! Troy, who recently moved to the area, invited me out for a while so we can ring in the New Year together, cruise The Strip, and visit some of our favorite spots off of the beaten path. It’s my first time spending New Year’s Eve/Day outside of the East Coast and my first time spending it in Vegas – so I’m very excited!
And I cannot wait to share some photos from the trip so far at the end of this week after I take a little break from blogging for the holiday to refresh, recharge and dive into the resolutions I’ve set for myself this year! Here’s what mine are going to be, for anyone whose interested!
1. Take my health seriously and get into better shape once and for all: I started to slack with my dieting and exercising routines around the Fall when the temperatures started dropping, the sun started setting earlier, and I was going to a lot more seasonal dinners, parties and get-togethers leading up to the holidays (the most indulgent time of the year!) and as a result, I’ve put on a little more weight and fell into a kind-of-lazy, maybe a little bit depressive slump as a result – which has impacted my sleeping habits, too – because of course it would!
In 2025, I’m determined to get back into the regimen that has worked best for me over the years when I’ve stayed consistent with it – including eating healthier, exercising regularly, getting an appropriate amount of sleep, drinking more water, etc. I know this resolution is cliché since everyone says the same thing on December 31st – but I’m fully committed to seeing it through in the coming year ahead.
2. Potentially Relocate: I’ve lived in the Pioneer Valley for nearly six years now, and as much as I love the area and am not particularly eager to leave – my apartment building outside of my actual apartment has become somewhat unsavory. New tenants that moved in this past year litter the property, smoke heavily, steal packages that aren’t theirs from our lobby/mail room, and let their pets run around without leashes and without cleaning up after them. Dan, who also lives in my building, has also noticed the decline in quality and care from our landlord – and we both expect yet another rent increase in the Spring despite our pleading with him to do something about the ongoing and worsening issues (which remain unresolved.)
So while nothing is set in stone just yet, I’m thinking that 2025 might be the year I relocate somewhere else. Whether or not I’ll stay in the Valley is still up in the air, but I have a few months to browse and to make a definitive decision as to whether or not I’ll tough it out for another year. Fingers crossed!
3. Put my passport to good use: I did quite a bit of traveling throughout this past year, with notable stops in California, Nevada and Maryland – so I’m pleased that I was able to get out and explore new places despite a consistently pretty busy schedule! But I did also finally get around to renewing my passport in 2024, and even got myself an adorable case to keep it in – so I’m hoping that in 2025 I’ll be able to use it by visiting some far away places I’ve had on my “Travel Bucket List” for quite some time now.
That’s not to say I want to limit my travel within the States, though! There’s still plenty of cities I want to visit in the South and in the Pacific Northwest just to name a few, and on top of my aspirations to travel abroad for a true vacation out of my familiar comfort zones. I’m hoping that in the year ahead – I’ll have even more adventures to write about and photos to share!
4. Save a little more money: Despite my travel aspirations and my potential move in the coming weeks/months, and regardless of how this is another resolution that makes frequent appearances on so many peoples’ lists each and every year – 2024 saw me buying a brand new car, paying thousands of dollars in an attempt to fix my old one, and taking care of the bill after I’d undergone my aforementioned dental procedures during the Summer. Needless to say, those expenses weren’t cheap!
In 2025 I’m actively striving to better myself financially (on top of the physical, mental and emotional work I’m going to be putting in to improve my health!) so that I don’t need to worry myself sick the next time something needs repairing or replacing!
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My goodness, that was a lot of writing! But with all that being said – that was 2024 – a year to remember, indeed. I’d like to think I covered some of the bigger, most compelling and maybe even controversial stories throughout this past year as clearly and concisely as possible, but I always welcome feedback and comments in case I’ve missed anything or need to correct any facts/dates/etc. (feel free to drop me a line if so!)
Overall, I had a wonderful year. It wasn’t always easy, and it definitely wasn’t always perfect – but the good times and the rewarding moments far outweighed the bad – and I’m so grateful for that, and so grateful to my friends, my family and to each and every one of you who have supported myself and ‘Coffee & Chiffon‘ throughout 2024. It meant the world to me and still does. This remains my favorite passion project!
I’m going to be back this coming Friday with a look at my New Years in Vegas (I still can’t believe I’m spending it there!) but until then – I’m wishing all of you a safe, joyous holiday as we head into 2025. I know times are a bit uncertain right now, and maybe even a little scary, but I hope that we can all move into the New Year with optimism, kindness, and both the ambition and resilience it takes to not only want better for ourselves and for each other – but to put in the work to make things better, as well.
Cheers to a beautiful year ahead for all of us!
xo
Coffee & Chiffon 