Happy 2016!! It was a great NYE celebrating with my closest friends at a white out party. We had plenty of drinks, a golf tournament, a darts competition, and a very passionate guessing game...

Anyone who knows me knows that I love lists and goals. So it comes as no surprise that I have a bunch of New Year's resolutions ready to go.

Travel

• Visit 5 countries 
• Pay cash for all trips! No getting into credit card debt to travel the world
• Take Nikita to the beach

Health and Fitness

• Workout 4 times a week
• Hike Camelback 
• Cook healthy dinners 4 times a week
• Bring lunch 4 times a week to work 

Financial

• Maintain $0 credit card balance
• Payoff student loan

Soul Goals

• Read one book per month
• Foster and adopt out at least 5 dogs
• Learn Spanish
• Practice Rosetta Stone 4 times a week

For Christmas this year my family decided that we would celebrate by being together and having new experiences, rather than exchanging gifts. It was a very different holiday for us but I think we all had a great time! We stayed at the Pueblo Bonito at Sunset Beach, which was an all inclusive resort. It was great to eat our fill of seafood, tacos and margaritas! 

Christmas Eve and Christmas night we dressed up and enjoyed both a sushi dinner and the more upscale restaurant. 

 

 

Christmas morning was very different in Mexico! First of all, 70 degrees and sunny was quite the environment to feel jolly!

Christmas breakfast was also quite impressive!

 For mom's birthday the day after Christmas we celebrated by taking a boat ride to The Arch and to whale watch. 

 Overall it was a great trip, even though it was a non-traditional Christmas. I think this is a tradition I could get used to though!

What a wonderful weekend to kickoff my 29th year! I celebrated doing all my favorite things with all my favorite people.

 Even though happy hour on Friday was not about me, but to celebrate my good friend's professional achievement, it was still a fun time with great people and great wine.

 Saturday morning my family through me a gorgeous and thoughtful travel/Paris themed lunch. 

Saturday night my friends took me out for a funky fun dinner. 

Then we went out for drinks

Sunday I went to see the new Star Wars movie and it was marvelous! 

On Monday, my actual birthday, Nikita and I went for a hike at South Mountain.

Then we went for a burger and Nikita rode in an elevator.

This past year further cemented the fact that I am a very lucky girl and I feel I have more than I deserve.

I have family that will celebrate my highs even if they don’t share the same passion (solo trip to Thailand over Thanksgiving nearly gave me mother a heart attack) and be supportive during my lows. How many mothers out there will swoop you up for In and Out Burger when you have had a rough day, or aunts that will check on your house because your dog is barking out of control at something, or cousins that will snuggle up with your very fluffy GSD in an AZ June just so you know she isn’t lonely because you’re gone? Ok maybe there are some, but mine are the best! 

I have friends that provide unwavering support, endless laughter, courage and adventure. Friends that will ease the pain of heartbreak by bringing wine and pizza and watching girlie movies. Friends that will ferociously go after those who wrong me and friends that bring humor to things when it is needed most. These friends are always up for something new and have introduced me to so many adventures I would not have experienced if not for them. I admire each one of my friends and I am so very lucky they picked me to be one of theirs. 

I have a job that I am passionate about and work for a company that appreciates me. I work with a lot of fun, ambitious and talented people that I enjoy collaborating with and motivate me to do better. I feel they truly root for my success and celebrate my accomplishments, just as I am proud of them for theirs. 

Because of all the above support I was able to experience much more of the world in my 28th year. I have amazing memories from friendcations, family vacations and solo trips and I can’t wait to make more in my 29th year.

Phuket was such an enchanting place. During my time in Thailand, visiting this location had to be the best thing I experienced. 

The Buddha Cave Temple, or Monkey Temple,  was quite an interesting place. There are monkeys everywhere that you can feed and interact with. Walking past the monkeys there is a cave that houses a large reclining Buddha statue (although nothing compared to Wat Pho in Bangkok!) and a monk that will bless you. 

The next stop was the infamous James Bond Island, where The Man With The Golden Gun was filmed. It was interesting to see, but much too crowded for my taste. 

Next up was lunch at a Muslim fishing village that was floating seemingly in the middle of nowhere.

Later that night on Kamala beach, a bunch of us talked a man on the beach into selling us paper lanterns for 50 baht each. It was so magical to light the lanterns, make a wish, and watch that wish float away over a moonlit ocean. 

The weather was pretty hot and humid, as can be expected in tropical environments. That also comes along with occasional rain storms although I completely lucked out and missed all the rain!

I stayed at the Novotel at Kamala beach and it was really a wonderful hotel. Right on the water and walking distance to various restaurants and bars, it was the best experience.

Kho Phi Phi Island was just as gorgeous as I have seen in photos. While the water wasn't super clear for snorkeling, the vibrant turquoise color and refreshing temperature made it a great place to relax.  

On to clearer waters, the snorkeling was amazing! So many fish and different things to look at under the sea.

The last day in Phuket was truly my favorite. After enjoying a leisurely breakfast by the pool and overlooking the beach, I walked down and had an incredible Thai massage. What made it even better is that it was around $8 for an hour of bliss. After that I indulged in a $5 lunch of pineapple fried rice with prawns. 

In Phuket I experienced a level of zen I didn't think was possible. All the fears of solo travel drifted away with the tide and I felt truly at peace. It was a feeling I knew wouldn't last forever, but one I will never forget. Thailand holds a piece of my heart forever and always.