I made this list in 2018 and again in 2019. This year feels different because my needs were so vastly different from when an expensive suitcase and noise-canceling headphones were my most important purchases. This year was symbolized by independence, growth, and adjustments and I think my purchases reflect that.
1. My Own (Rented) Apartment
I started the year planning to move out. Pretty soon after that, the friend I planned to live with got a job in Los Angeles instead of New Jersey, and my plans were halted. Then when the pandemic hit and everyone left New York, moving out made even less sense. Eventually, I realized that I needed my own space and independence and opted to move into a studio, despite the ongoing pandemic. My apartment is really a series of rent payments rather than one purchase, and I don’t own it, but it was a huge shift in my life and one I’m so grateful I could make financially.
2. Art/Decor for My Walls
In the 2 full years I was at home after college I didn’t do any interior decorating. I was determined to make my new place feel like home and art has gone a long way in avoiding a third year of white walls. I’ll share more on this eventually, but right now my gallery ledge is one of my favorite parts of the apartment. I stacked it with this Paris print from Arielle Vey, YSL and Princess Grace coffee table books, and a photo of Max and me.
3. An Apple Keyboard
I am the rare employee that has a Macbook for work. As that and my personal computer are both Apple, I knew an Apple keyboard made the most sense despite the price tag. After four months of working remotely, I upgraded from a PC external keyboard to an Apple one for easier shortcuts and synergy with my laptops. The constant use of my work laptop is destroying the keyboard so I’m so grateful the external version allows me to work more easily from home.
4. A Wool Coat
Right before things got serious in the U.S. my friends and I took a drive up to Woodbury Commons to do some shopping at the designer outlets. The Burberry store got the better of me and I splurged on a camel wool coat that is as warm as it is beautiful. I only got to wear it a few times last winter but I know it’ll serve me well for years to come. Linking a few cheaper, alternate options below!
5. A New Camera Lens
When I made my first lens purchase I was mostly swayed by price. I got a “nifty fifty” which was on the cheaper side as far as lenses go. It served its purpose in helping me learn how to better use the manual settings on my camera, but I didn’t love the focal length. I like the distance of an iPhone but I’m a sucker for the quality of a DSLR.
When I look back at my old blog posts from 2017 I expect to be embarrassed and am not so because the quality is amazing even if my outfits were not. Since the pandemic has kept me home, I’ve been wanting to capture more content indoors and use my tripod for timed self-portraits. I felt like my lens was working against me with the limited focal length and started to explore other options.
This led me to my final noteworthy purchase of the year, a Sigma 35mm 1.4 lens for my Canon 5D Mark II. The quality is unreal. I first used it during a trip to the Catskills in October. While I got some great snaps of the very cool Hotel Dylan, I was still getting the hang of the focus at that point, especially when it came to outdoor shots. Despite the fact that it feels like carrying around a ton of bricks, I’m pushing myself to bring it with me more to practice capturing my friends and family. I really love the photos that come out of it and it’s inspired me to want to keep improving my photography.
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