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2020 Year in Review

Lauren Mulenos

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I always like to recap my year, but this year I feel was especially a good time to look back. Yes there was heartbreak, but there were also loads of laughs, quality time, and a whole list of things to be thankful for. I like writing these reviews so I can truly think back on the year, but also so I can remember years from now. I’m sure this will be a year that 100% makes it into the history books… and well, here’s my tiny little piece of it. Enjoy the look down {my} memory lane!

January

We rang in the new year some amazing new and old friends. It was probably the most diverse NYE we have had (something we love about LA) and we were able to talk about a lot of differing opinions in a really great setting. We also got a Costco membership for the first time! One of my favorite memories this month was doing the Hollywood Sign Hike, which is NO JOKE. I also had a colonoscopy and was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis.

February

We visited Nick’s parents in Sacramento and spent some time in Amador County. We also made what would be our only visit to Napa this year - a day trip, before we headed back to LA. Some friends came in town and we celebrated all the boys turning 30 by renting a house in Malibu. Shortly after that, I went with Nick’s parents and youngest sister to Las Vegas for what would be my last trip before the pandemic.

March

This month I had a post-op follow up with my GI doctor and we switched up my UC medicine. I literally felt INSTANT relief with the change and I’m so thankful for that. Shortly after, Los Angeles began to go into lock down and the COVID-19 pandemic blew up. I feel really lucky because we were still able to go on secluded hikes and be by the ocean. It made those early lockdown days a lot more bearable and gave us something else to do besides watch TV.

April

My skin started to clear up, but I had also been able to consistently see my esthetician. Amidst the stress and mask-wearing, my skin would inevitably get angry again, but I didn’t know that at the time. We were still in the early stages of the pandemic so we didn’t know anything. Nick picked up sourdough bread baking this month and got really good at it! We still make treats from our starter - it has become a fun hobby! We were supposed to go to Dallas for Easter, but ended up cancelling our flight. Nick also got really into plants… and still is!

May

I remember telling Nick “we have to clean out the guest room! I will be sad if this stay-at-home order is lifted and we haven’t gotten it done.” So naive of me, I know. We did clean it out though and I’m so glad, because it would help us move later on. This month we flew through a lot of series I had never seen like Silicon Valley and Entourage (lol). It was fun to watch a bunch of shows with Nick! We tried to see the poppies / super bloom, but were a little late. Hoping to make it out there earlier next year AND snag some lavender field times to come June. We ended the month by renting a convertible for Memorial Day and driving up and down the coast.

June

This month was very memorable. I’ve never seen social media come together like they did for the Black community. It was much needed and I’m excited to see how this will blossom in the future to become the norm. We flew to Dallas mid-June to get some of Nick’s teeth fixed. He had an injury about 10 years ago and some of the fixes needed to be updated asap. We also started feeling the effects of summer in Los Angeles. We had a major heatwave at the end of March, but it got so much worse. We didn’t have AC and weren’t allowed to have a portable unit. Our apartment would get upwards of 85+ degrees. The way the sun hit our front door would literally bake the apartment. IT WAS AWFUL.

July

For 4th of July we rented a pool and it was so nice! Shortly after that, my family came and visited us. We did lots of outdoor things and celebrated mine and my sister’s birthdays early. We built our first bonfire on beach since living here and it was so fun! I’m excited to do it in the winter.

August

I turned 29! Not much else happened because we entered our second round of lockdowns. To be honest, I didn’t think the pandemic would last this long, but here we are. We also rented a house in Palm Springs for a week just to get away! I had a UC doctor’s appointment and my numbers had gone down, but not down enough to adjust my medications.

September

The most fun part of this month was our little road trip to Ojai! I would love to go back and spend the weekend. We were supposed to have staycation in Silver Lake, but it was cancelled due to the fires. The air quality got really bad for a couple of weeks. I did get to have my first facial since March so that was nice. We also moved into an apartment with AC!! It is super nice and we love it. I had my hormones tested this month and it was suspected that I had PCOS, so I went DF and GF for 4 weeks. We took the cutest pictures with one of my friends and photographers that I know I will cherish forever in honor of living in LA for 1 year.

October

I found out I didn’t have PCOS, but that I did have high DHEA so it as still recommended I stay as GF as possible. The DF part helps with acne, so I try not to eat either for about 80% of the time. I started acupuncture this month! My mom came in town and helped us move / unpack. We moved everything over ourselves!! We traveled to Miami with Nick’s family for a family friend’s {small} wedding. Shortly after, Nick surprised me with a cabin getaway to Lake Arrowhead for our 4th wedding anniversary.

November

Nick’s birthday month! I took him to Solvang for a long weekend and we had so much fun. We went to Sacramento for Thanksgiving with his family. It was special because his parent’s sold the house and moved out of it shortly after. We also drove instead of flying and took the scenic route. We spent 1 night in Paso Robles on the way down, but took the straight shot on the way back. It was so beautiful! Highway 1 is gorgeous but it makes me nauseous every time. I had another GI follow up appointment and my numbers dropped to normal levels and I was able to drop to only 1 medication instead of 2. Best news of the month!! Also I just wanted to mention that this was actually a somewhat of an interesting month. I’m sure I’ll talk about another time, but just know that Instagram is truly a highlight reel and you never actually know what is going on.

December

I tried cupping for the first time! My skin also felt like it was truly healing for the first time in a while. We left for Dallas mid-month, then will head to Denver for NYE before going back to Los Angeles.

That was my year! Here are some of my other favorites things from 2020! (because there were some good things;) )


  • Favorite First Time Meals from 2020

    • The Alchemist’s Garden in Paso Robles

    • Catch LA

    • My birthday dinner at Fia in Santa Monica

    • Joan’s on 3rd Brisket Sandwich

    • The Chori Man breakfast burrito in San Pedro

    • SY Kitchen in Santa Ynez, near Solvang


  • My Favorite Album of 2020: Mosaic MSC Human


  • My Favorite Show of 2020: Ted Lasso (on Apple+)

  • My Favorite Articles of Clothing in 2020

  • What I’m most thankful for: My health. I went through so much from my UC diagnosis to my hormones being out of wack and then obviously living in a pandemic. I am so thankful for my doctors and truly feel that I have the best of the best. I’m still learning, but have come so far this year. I am currently comparing myself to last year - literally a year ago yesterday, as that is when I finally went to the GI doctor. I am in awe of my body and am so so thankful for doctors and modern medicine. My body was so angry and inflamed. I was chatting with Nick about this the other day and he acknowledged that I was really suffering then… something I couldn’t even acknowledge myself. Now I am literally trying to shout it from the rooftops, which is why I began my Women’s Wellness series every Wednesday. I can’t wait to talk more about this with you in the new year.


Now that we have gone through my favorites, let’s look at some of YOUR favorites for the year!




This is my last blog post for 2020. Thank you so much for reading along with me and supporting LMents of Style. I truly, truly appreciate it and can’t wait to see what 2021 has in store.


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