I love photography and use photos to share little stories, moments and discoveries from my life. Every year, I look at my Instagram top nine – the nine best performing photos on the platform of the year. This year, I thought I would do something a little different and share my top nine photos, plus the stories behind them. Interested? Read on!
Depending on how you prefer to consume content, I have the full blog post with links below, but I have also filmed a vlog for YouTube which also shares even more related photos behind each story 🙂
Number 9: Finally blogging about Budapest, Hungary!
As of 2019, I had been to Budapest, Hungary four times – all without blogging about it. Shame on me! Thankfully, that all changed this year when I wrote the super long, in-depth blog post combining my favorite restaurants, sights to see and places to stay in Budapest. Check it out here: https://thesavvybostonian.com/2019/11/travel-see-do-eat-budapest-hungary/
Number 8: A decadent brunch at Jikoni in London’s Marylebone
In 2019, I made an effort to share more of my food photos. I LOVE to eat out and my dining out philosophy is to try things that you wouldn’t normally make at home. Case and point – pina colada pancakes from Jikoni in Marylebone. In our family, my Dad is the pancake master. So instead, I’ll enjoy some exotic pancakes and hope he takes some inspiration from these as he’s also the chief mixologist in our family. Jikoni is a wonderful Indian-British fusion restaurant. I highly recommend a visit: https://jikonilondon.com/menus/lunch-dinner/
For more of my favorite restaurants in London, plus things to do, hotel recommendations, and more, visit my ever-growing, free London Guide: https://thesavvybostonian.com/london-guide/
Number 7: The New York City Skyline
In October, a surprise trip to Los Angeles presented itself. Instead of simply flying to LA, I found a way to pop over to NYC for a few days. Serendipitously, my parents were also going to be there – and an opportunity to speak at NASDAQ sealed the deal. The experience reminded me that while I will always be a Bostonian at heart, I do want to take an annual trip to New York City. In addition to being an incredible city, I have so many friends that I rarely see. I captured the above photo on the taxi ride on my way in – the NYC skyline will always be a favorite.
Number 6: Oogling the Trdelnik in Prague
Another favorite trip of mine in 2019 was to Prague. I had not been to Prague since 2004 and was SO excited to see what I remembered and what had changed. While there, I snapped this photo of the Trdelnik, a delicious dessert that’s ubiquitous around Prague’s Old Town. It’s made from rolled dough that is wrapped around a stick, then grilled and topped with sugar. It’s then filled with ice cream! Ohhhhhh!
While it’s marketed as a historic treat, the Trdelnik actually has Slovak and Hungarian origins dating back to the 19th century. So, while it might not be uniquely Czech, it’s hard to dispute it based on sheer deliciousness. The more you know…right!?
Number 5: A grilled chicken salad recipe from yours truly!
I am still cooking up a storm and love trying new recipes. For this super simple lunch recipe, I found myself with leftover grilled chicken and paired it with quinoa, zucchini, tomatoes, pumpkin seeds, and dried currants. Check out the full recipe here: https://thesavvybostonian.com/2019/09/recipe-grilled-chicken-with-quinoa-zucchini-tomato-and-spinach-salad/
Number 4: A fab find at Marshalls!
The fact that this photo did so well surprised me – maybe I need to share more outfit photos! While in Boston this summer, I scored this gorgeous Calvin Klein dress for $40 at Marshalls in Downtown Crossing. I also got the dress in forest green! A fun fact – I worked at a Marshalls store at age 16 – starting my love affair for a good bargain. Now, I only wish the UK equivalent, TK Maxx, Marshalls’ sister brand to TJ Maxx, was better!
Number 3: London in bloom for the Chelsea Flower Show
Those who know me well know that I have quite a love (errr obsession) for flowers. As part of the annual Chelsea Flower Show, shops around Chelsea in London create their own custom installations and they are a delight to see! I highly recommend going if you are in London during this time of year. For more on the Chelsea Flower Show, visit: https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show
Number 2: Visiting the Taj Mahal!
I still cannot believe this photo even happened! In 2019, I had the opportunity to travel to Delhi, India, for work and took time over the weekend to visit the Taj Mahal! I’ll write up a full blog post on this soon, but a few observations. First and foremost, a day trip from Delhi is very possible, but a very long day, as it is about 2.5-3 hours drive each way. We organized everything through our hotel, using our hotel driver and a local guide to take us through the Taj Mahal and it all ran very smoothly.
I highly recommend having a guide, as it makes everything SO much easier. It’s helpful to have a guide to explain the history and significance of the Taj Mahal. Our guide also came in handy when we kept getting asked for selfies by other visitors to the Taj Mahal. This will happen to you as a foreigner and is normal, but when you say yes to someone, more and more will ask, so our guide was good about cutting it off when we needed to move on, as you only have a certain amount of time inside the grounds.
Overall, I absolutely loved my visit. The Taj Mahal is even more stunning and grand in person. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I am so grateful for having the opportunity to see it.
Number 1: An iconic portrait that I will treasure forever
In 2019, I had the incredible opportunity to be photographed by my friend, Dan Taylor. This was not the first time Dan photographed me, as Dan has photographed me before during some of my speaking engagements at tech conferences. It was, however, the first lifestyle photoshoot I did with him.
I was absolutely speechless when I saw the results. I’m not a natural in front of the camera – as in, I can stand and smile for the camera, but having lots of different poses like a model? It’s not something I have a lot of experience with and is a lot harder than it looks! Dan made me feel so comfortable and guided me, making the end result even more special.
Whether you’re looking for a new headshot, beautiful photos of yourself or an amazing wedding or event photographer, Dan is London-based but often traveling, so do not hesitate to reach out to him! http://www.dantaylorphotography.com/
A big thank you to Dan for capturing me. I know in my heart of hearts that I’ll treasure this moment and photo of me in my 30s, in a hot red dress, feeling every bit the strong, confident and graceful woman that I am proud to be.
Final Thoughts
2019 was another incredible year. I’m such a big believer in reflecting, learning and being grateful. Reviewing these nine photos was a small sampling of the year, but a wonderful reminder of just how much I have to be grateful for.
Thank you to everyone for cheering me on and celebrating these moments small and significant with me. Here’s to more in 2020!