2019 in Review

My annual year in review has easily become a favorite entry to write. This year in particular has been so very good, and I’m looking forward to some exciting changes happening later this month (read on). But first, here are some of the highlights from 2019:

Zip-lining Arenal Volcano with the Gore Four. It was the second to last day of 2018 – so, getting squeezed into this post – and the final day of a family road trip through Costa Rica. We had so much fun zipping at high speeds through the volcanic jungle. The craziest surprise of all was a Tarzan swing halfway through. The guide volunteered me to go first with no preview or idea how far of a drop it would be. Terrifying, but such an adrenaline rush!

An epic sunset from the top of Acatenango Volcano, Guatemala. This one was particularly special because it followed one of the most intense hikes I’ve completed, and it was New Years Eve! After trudging up a steep volcano for 5 hours, Matt and I watched the sun go down while at eye level with the clouds, and then camped on the volcano. We loved our time in Guatemala.

The food in El Salvador. This makes my best of the year list, because food is, well, one of the best things about being alive – and El Salvador’s did NOT disappoint! As a whole, we enjoyed our time in the tiny country, and the food may have been the biggest surprise of all (we still talk about those pupusas and micheladas to this day). The coolest experience was a deep sea fishing adventure where Matt caught a massive yellowfin tuna that our captain then cooked and served for lunch.

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A create-your-own-adventure-day in Tulum, Mexico. To each their own, but Tulum was not really my cup of tea. A bit inauthentic-feeling, and crowded with “Instagram” tourists. After a mediocre first day at a beach club, we set off the next day with no plan, as I rode on the handle bars of Matt’s bike. Many miles later, we found ourselves on a half-deserted resort property and had an awesome day drinking homemade vodka lemonades, swimming in the sea, and lounging in rainbow hammocks. Sometimes the unscripted days turn into the very best.

Reuniting with old roomies in Austin, TX. It was my first time keeping Austin weird, and an awesome place to rendezvous with old Dixie Trail friends for Allie’s bachelorette party! I also got to spend a few hours with Smashley, my best friend from college. Cool city and great weekend.

Silent disco! I highly recommend a silent disco if you’ve never experienced one. Imagine a crowd of people wearing wireless headphones, each person switching between various DJ stations, jamming to their own personal dance party. Mix in your best friends and the setting of your local art museum, and you’re basically laughing and dancing for 4 hours straight. Also, you might rip a large hole in your favorite pair of jeans and get kicked out of an art gallery for cartwheeling, but that’s another story.

Best friend time in San Diego. Andrea and I got to spend time with Victoria and John shortly before the birth of little Jaxon, and threw Vic a mini baby shower with lots of east coast love! San Diego is always a good time with its gorgeous weather and laid back, beachy vibes. And this time, our meals were a major highlight (stand outs: spicy vegetarian Thai and scrumptious Ethiopian). I can’t wait to get back this coming spring to meet the little man himself!

Crossing the U.S.-Mexico border by foot. This makes the list because of the sheer randomness. I was curious about crossing the border and day tripping into Mexico, so made it happen between San Diego and Tijuana, with Andrea as my willing partner-in-crime. As it turns out, the crossing was relatively uneventful, and TJ was just so-so. But we drank margaritas and ate the BEST adobada tacos on Las Ahumaderas, a street with multiple taquerias linked together. Awesome discovery, right!?

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First concert alone – at Red Rocks! A work trip took me to Denver where I had a few days of conference obligations, but also a few nights off the hook. So I did what any good adventurer does, and I ventured out for a night at Red Rocks. Turns out a solo Phil Lesh experience is very good for the soul. Red Rocks was stunning and special, highly recommend.

Camping in Great Sand Dunes National Park. I was so excited to extend my time in Colorado, spending the weekend with Hayley, who planned us an epic camping trip in the national park 4 hours south of Denver. We were essentially alone in the wild with Hayley’s dogs and the local Pyranees pups, bundled up during the chilly nights, laughing by the campfire, and catching up on life. It was a super relaxing (and scenic) weekend – check out our serene camp site below!

Florida family time. Loved spending time with the Jaffee clan at my twin cousins’ b’not mitzvah, and then with the Gore crew in the Tampa area. The b’not mitzvah was a night of dancing and laughter (serious laughter, right Jesse?), and the Gore portion involved great food and beautiful sunsets on the water. Bonus, my airline temporarily lost my luggage so I got to go on a paid shopping spree.

An amazing surprise birthday party! I was truly touched by this gesture after a stressful month. The party was Kacee-themed, complete with my weird outfits, beauty marks, llamas (still trying to figure this one out :)), and favorite junk foods. SO sweet and embarrassing! My friends are the very best around.

Passin’ the Buck out West. Matt and I went on a killer road trip out west just after July 4th. In one week’s time, we visited and hiked Sedona, the Grand Canyon, Cathedral Wash, Page, Zion National Park, and Las Vegas. The Grand Canyon had been a lifelong dream destination for both of us, and it did not disappoint. There’s much more detail in this blog post so please check it out if you’re interested in going on a similar trip and need some route suggestions! This region of America took my breath away.

Cuba. My mom and I went for a 4-day trip, which I wrote about here. This trip was super meaningful because we had never traveled alone before, and this allowed us to really bond and let loose together. And my mom really did relax! I’ve never seen her eat so much food, casually enjoy drinks, or smoke a cigar before. She was also fine wandering the dark Havana streets with me in search of wifi cards, which was an adventure in itself. She was awesome and we had so much fun.

NYC weekend. I was so touched that my long lost cousin Dan invited me to his NYC wedding this fall. Matt and I made a weekend out of it, staying at a nice hotel in Chinatown (my gift for his birthday), going to a psychedelic art experience at ARTECHOUSE, and day drinking through the various neighborhoods. The wedding was in Long Island City and was lovely with views of Manhattan, a 12-person jazz band, and other relatives I hadn’t seen in years. We almost missed our flight on Sunday because I ordered an Uber to the wrong airport. Oops!

Other noteworthy happenings: I got a new car! I’m loving my Audi and am very grateful for the gift from my late Aunt MJ. She lives on in my heart. I also dove into my hot yoga practice this year, finding that it brings me immense loads of inner peace (and helps me feel great physically). Another cool thing was being hired by a few friends to plan their international vacations, saving them hundreds of dollars in the process. Their faith in me really inspired me to continue pursuing my own business. We’ll see – maybe one of these days! And as always, there were plenty of short, fun trips sprinkled in throughout the year, like the annual girls beach weekend, kayaking in Saxapahaw, hiking at Hanging Rock, Beaufort, Shackleford Island, and celebrating Matt’s grandmother’s 100th birthday!

Congrats are in order: Allie, Dan, and Katie got married this year! Victoria, Elian, Danielle, Courtney, Nikta, and Megan brought new life into this world, becoming mamas. I can’t forget to mention Anna and Lindsey, who became puppy moms! Exciting to see the crew growing 🙂

Countries visited in 2019: Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico, United States, Cuba. Matt and I are stoked to be heading to Asia in a few weeks, wrapping up 2019 in Shanghai, China.

New U.S. cities visited in 2019: Austin, TX; Creede, CO; New Bern and Hertford, NC; Long Island City, NY; and Newport, RI.

Favorite new destination of 2019: Lake Atitlan, Guatemala. Pure magic.

Favorite books: I was not expecting to be moved by Chelsea Handler like I was with her Life will be the Death of Me. This book is unlike any of her others as it tackles self-discovery, introducing a high level of vulnerability (and lots of edibles). The other book I loved, which I just finished last week, is To Love and Let Go by Rachel Brathen. The author, now a renowned yogi with multiple successful businesses, shares her past traumas, how she coped with loss and pain, and learned to love and feel deeply from the heart. It had me in tears in the best way possible.

And for my news. If you are still reading at this point (bless your heart), you may recall I mentioned some changes happening during the month of December. Drum roll… I am moving to Charlotte next week to move in with my boyfriend! I’ll be keeping my job (telecommuting) and adjusting to life in a new place. We are super excited to kick off this chapter. Interestingly enough, I’m not terribly emotional at this point. Saying goodbye to my yoga studio and regular coffee shop had me wrecked, but I trust with friends and family, nothing will change. I may not always be here with you, but I’ll always be here for you. Life is beautiful, life is truly good.