Abby Meister

Lifestyle Personal

Fall Photo Diary

December 31, 2022

Happy New Year’s Eve! As we close the chapter on 2022, I can’t help but reflect on the year–the past few years, really. I’ve joked with friends that I’ve been a whac-a-mole since 2020. Life hits me with a sledgehammer, I bounce back, life hits me with another sledgehammer, rinse and repeat. The first three quarters of 2022 felt like a continuation of this trend, and to be candid, there were moments when I wondered if I had reached the limit of my resilience. Then, around October, something shifted. It was an underdog’s fourth-quarter comeback. I climbed a mountain. I gallivanted in the streets of Salt Lake City. I danced like no one was watching.

So before we toast to 2023, here’s one last look back at the fabulous final months of 2022:

Lifestyle

Spring + Summer Photo Diary

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October 1, 2022

It’s officially autumn and the weather here in Virginia is acting accordingly. As soon as the calendar marked September 22, the first day of fall, the temperatures dropped to the 60s. I love this time of year. To me, the crisp, cool air evokes feelings of fresh beginnings.

While I’m excited about this new season, I relish the practice of pausing and reflecting on the prior months as I put together these photo diaries. After taking a hiatus in the fall and winter, I’m happy to bring back this quarterly series. This particular photo diary covers spring and summer 2022 but going forward, I’ll return to a dedicated post for each season.

Lifestyle

On My Radar

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August 7, 2022

The July recap is coming to you a week late because work has been hectic recently (and shows no signs of slowing down). I’m enjoying my projects, but boy, they’re keeping me busy!

These monthly On My Radar posts are some of my favorites to write, and I hope you enjoy them, too. I think they offer a very authentic glimpse into my everyday life. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the July recap!

Sunny the Golden

10 Must-Haves for a New Puppy

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July 31, 2022

Today marks two months since I brought Sunny, my golden retriever puppy, home. She’s become an integral part of my life in such a short amount of time. Since dog items have become staples in my everyday life and are at the forefront of my mind, today I’m sharing 10 must-have items for a new puppy.
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Lifestyle Personal

On My Radar

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June 27, 2022

It’s hard to believe that June is coming to a close. The last six weeks of my life have been a whirlwind! To recap:

In late May, I spent a long weekend in DC to visit with friends and former coworkers. Seeing my people filled my cup! While I had a blast (and realized I still know my way around Washington far better than in Richmond), I didn’t have the itch to move back.
I then flew from DC to South Carolina–something I hadn’t done since March 2020! The whole experience was a mess. Originally, I was supposed to land in Greenville at 10:45 am on Monday, May 23. After a flight cancellation and many subsequent delays, we finally arrived at 2:30 am on Tuesday, May 24. The silver lining was that my friend happened to be on the same flight, so we got to catch up at the airport bar as we waited.
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Personal Sunny the Golden

Meet Sunny

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June 25, 2022

Abby holding Sunny, a golden retriever puppy

A few weeks ago, I teased that I had big news. The news is, *drumroll please,* I got a golden retriever puppy! Those who know me personally know that I’ve wanted a golden retriever my whole life. Of course, it didn’t make sense to get a dog when I was working in downtown DC and living in a tiny studio apartment. Now that I’m permanently working from home and have a backyard, it felt like the perfect time to add a canine family member.

Personal

Life Lately

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June 5, 2022

Hi there! It’s been a while. I’ve been quiet on the blog in recent months because, truthfully, I wasn’t sure how to share about my life in the midst of a difficult season. It felt too raw.

Thankfully, I’m in a much better place now. There’s a skip in my step again, and the familiar pull to pick up my pen has returned. I invite you to come along today as I reflect on the past eight months and look ahead to my plans for the future.

Lifestyle

On My Radar

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February 1, 2022

January was a busy month. I resigned from my first job, experienced record-breaking snow in South Carolina, deep-cleaned my house with my new Bissell, and started my new job!

With the inclement weather, I also spent a fair amount of time this month curled up with a good book. On that note, today I’m sharing everything I read, watched, bought, and loved during January.

Lifestyle

On My Radar

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January 7, 2022

Happy New Year, friends! It’s been a while. If you’re wondering where I’ve been, I got really sick in the fall and had to take a step back from blogging to focus on resting and getting healthy. I’m thankful to be feeling much better now!

Since we have a lot to catch up on, I thought what better place to start than with an On My Radar post that recaps everything I read, watched, bought, and loved over the past few months.

Lifestyle

5 Products I Can’t Live Without

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October 25, 2021

Do you ever look back at your credit card statements and think, “I didn’t really need to buy that”? And then other times go, “I’m so glad I bought that!”? The items on today’s list fall into the latter category. They have stood the test of time and become the 5 products I can’t live without. In a different, non-COVID era, this list may look a little different. Perhaps slippers would be swapped out for a work tote. However, at this current moment, these are the products I reach for and rely on daily.

Hi, I'm Abby!

Originally from South Carolina, I now call Richmond, VA home. In this little corner of the internet, I write about everyday style, attainable travel, and navigating my 20s. I hope you’ll grab a cup of coffee—or a glass of wine!— and stay a while.