Despite Everything, Kristin Cavallari Called 2020 One of the Best Years of Her Life

Kristin Cavallari is feeling “really damn good” right now. The Uncommon James founder and reality TV star celebrated her 34th birthday yesterday, January 5th, and let her followers know that despite everything—being in the midst of a divorce and the ongoing pandemic, etc.—she’s kind of thriving.

“33 was a crazy year to say the least,” she wrote via Instagram alongside a black-and-white photo of her at a birthday dinner. “The ups and downs, highs and lows. But I can honestly say it was one the best years of my life.” The Laguna Beach alum added that 2020 brought “lots of growth and opportunity. I feel like I’m back to my old self and it feels really damn good. This is 34.”

Cavallari’s post comes nine months after she and Jay Cutler announced their divorce in April 2020. The announcement, which Cavallari shared on Instagram, followed an infamous trip to the Bahamas on which the former couple and their three kids—Camden, 8, Jaxon, 6, and Saylor, 5—became stuck for 22 days due to COVID-19.

However, despite the public scrutiny the family received for their ill-advised pandemic vacation and the ongoing divorce, Cavallari says the extra down time during recent months have been good for her.

“This is the first time in a very long time that I feel like I can take a breath. I’m enjoying things slowed down and having more time to focus on what really matters in life,” she told Us Weekly in August. “I want to take this extra time I have right now to better myself and be the best mom I can be and continue to grow Uncommon James.”