My 2023 in Review

My 2023 in Review
📍 Palm Beach, NYC, Key West, Boca Grande, Paris

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Hello, my dear readers! I hope the entire holiday season treated you with love and care. After a temporary rest from the blogging world, I’m so happy to be back. I feel inspired to create a full year of content. Before I truly get 2024 underway, I wanted to take a moment to highlight some of the most incredible moments from 2023. It was a year full of change and growth, some of which will even be revealed in the months to come. Cheers to past memories and to the ones that haven’t happened yet!

January: New Year in Palm Beach

We began 2023 in one of the best destinations possible, Palm Beach! Our NYE Celebration joyfully ended at around 10:30, which left me feeling rested for a full morning of exploring the island. David and I had a delicious brunch with friends at the iconic Colony Hotel and hopped along Worth Avenue. Palm Beach is one of my favorite towns for a warm escape, and I deeply hope we can make our way here again in 2024.

February: Recharging at the Gasparilla Inn

At this point in the year, we knew that a move back to the Northeast was only weeks away. So, we made the most of it by revisiting favorite spots along the Florida Gulf Coast. A place always special to David and me is the pristine Gasparilla Inn in Boca Grande. In February, we snuck away for a fun day trip, including breakfast at the Inn’s Dining Room. Although Hurricane Ian badly hit this slice of paradise, we’re so happy to see that it very quickly reopened for business.

March: We Moved to Connecticut

And just like that, we’re New Englanders! After months of prepping, we resettled our roots in the Coastal Connecticut community of East Norwalk. This town perfectly aligns with our lifestyle and vision for the future. We can walk to the beach, hop on a 60-minute train to Manhattan, and have a quick road trip to all that New England has to offer. Moving to a new state is always daunting, but we are happy to report that this was a great decision for us.

April: Welcome Back Dinner in NYC

After a cross-country move, we looked forward to a quiet month to unpack and settle in April. However, when an invitation with friends calls, you always answer. David and I hopped on a train to the Upper East Side for dinner at JoJo, the original restaurant from Jean-Georges Vongerichten. Even better, the cherry blossoms were at peak bloom in Central Park. It made for a beautiful welcome back to the city that has always felt like home.

May: Overnight Trip to Newport

Now that we’re in Connecticut, visiting a favorite New England destination has become much easier! Newport, Rhode Island is a gorgeous town that meets the Atlantic Ocean. The history alone brings me back for many future repeat trips. In May, we took our first road trip in the region to visit the Ocean State for a day of antiquing, dining, and sipping Newport Water on the wharf. Our home for the evening was the Vanderbilt Hotel. Like all Auberge properties, no detail is overlooked, and the service is impeccable.

June: Birthday in the Upper East Side

Even from the very first day, I could tell my 32nd year would be extraordinary! We had a full day in the Upper East Side, where I could visit my favorite places. We started with Espresso Tonics at Ralph’s, one of my favorite seasonal drinks, followed by Early Morning Hours at the MET. At the time, they had an exhibit on Van Gogh’s cypress work. He is my favorite artist, and seeing the full story of some of his most treasured works was a pleasure. Afterward, David and I toasted my birthday with a few rounds of Bellinis at Sant Ambroeus. This has been an annual tradition since 2021 and one that I hope to continue for years to come. Lunch at JG Melon was finished off with bar-side cocktails at Bemelmans

July: Celebrating Our 5th Wedding Anniversary

Where has the time gone? On our 5th wedding anniversary, which also would have been my grandma’s 100th birthday, we reflected on how we’ve grown together and our hopes for the next five years. Words cannot fully describe how fortunate I feel to have found such a complete partner in David. To celebrate, we were back in the city for a quieter date night. It began with a few glasses of wine at Poppi’s in the Upper East Side and ended at one of our favorite French bistros. Cheers to another five years and many, many more.

August: Fishing Weekend in Key West

Something that wasn’t on my 2023 BINGO card was a trip to the Southernmost Point during the hottest time of year. One of our closest friends was hosting an inaugural charity fishing tournament. While neither David nor I are fishermen, we were so happy to fly down and show our support. Endless seafood, rum punches, and a few days on the water helped to make the intense humidity survivable. The weekend was a smashing success and will be an annual event that will be hard to miss.

September: My Parents Visited Our New Home

Although I live 1200 miles away, I’m incredibly close with my parents. I talk with them on the phone almost every day, and each conversation makes me feel unconditionally loved and supported. We couldn’t have been happier to show them around our new home in Coastal Connecticut. The ballots are in, and they fell in love with our little town! Although they have been yearlong Floridians for over 30 years, I would love for them to start splitting their year with the seasons. After all, I can’t exactly argue with the Florida sunshine during a New England winter.

October: Quiet Month at Home

After such a busy first half of the year, finding a month to relax and begin to feel settled was a relief. October was quiet, but we saw many opportunities to pop into the city, visit the surrounding towns, and explore new parts of Connecticut. We loved Litchfield County, where I found every excuse to stop at antique stores and sample the local apple cider. Even though I love constantly being on the go, I can admit that it was the perfect time of year to take a breather and have a small refresh. That’s especially true before a very busy holiday season.

November: Couples Trip to Boca Grande

What a joy to return to our favorite destination in all of Florida. Our close friends are getting married at the Gasparilla Inn next year, and they had some details to iron out in person. When they asked us if we wanted to tag along, it was an instant and merry YES! David and I worked remotely, poolside, with frozen drinks and much-needed Vitamin D. It was such a beautiful week to celebrate the happy couple preemptively, and it was an omen of great things to come in 2024.

December: Romantic Winter Trip in Paris

What’s a year without a semi-spontaneous trip to Paris? We didn’t have any big trips planned for the year, but during the Thanksgiving holiday, I got the itch to travel in a major way! A winter trip to the City of Lights was an unexpected but most welcome addition to our 2023 plans. The weather was chilly but sunny, making it perfect for aimlessly wandering the city. We ate at some of the best restaurants in the world and lost ourselves in several museums. More details on our Paris trip are long overdue but coming soon!

What does 2024 have in store for us? Somehow, I just know it’s going to be a little bit of wonderful! I’m wishing you the happiest New Year filled with kept resolutions and happy surprises the whole year through.

Love from 2024,
Katie

Thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about my travels and style, be sure to visit throughout the week! Be sure to check out my exclusive adventures in NYC and New England.