2015: Year in Review

The end of the year marks a natural opportunity for reflection, with thoughts of the year's memories and accomplishments (or lack thereof), and an opportunity to look ahead and make plans and goals for the new year to come.

This process sounds great in theory, but oftentimes we find ourselves focusing on what we didn't accomplish: resolutions left cold after one week of vigilance, timelines we expected to stay on track with but didn't, great intentions swallowed up by laziness or lack of free time.  But within 365 days, we really do accomplish and experience a lot.   We get up every morning and give it the good ol' college try.  We learn new things, go new places, meet new people.  We give hugs to those we love and smiles to those who need it.

So in an effort to be kind to myself and acknowledge all the greatness in my year, I have done one of my favorite things: made some lists.  So I present, more or less chronologically: My Year in Review.

In 2015, I...

Celebrated Box IPO day

Said good-bye to my first car

 

Met Channing Tatum and touched his abs

Visited the set of Friends

Went to the SF Game of Thrones premiere

 

Watched the third championship banner hung on Giants Opening Day
Had our new roommate, Kasey, move in
Celebrated 2 years at Box
Saw Book of Mormon and Phantom of the Opera at the Orpheum Theater
Had almost too much fun at Kristen's Bachelorette in Guerneville

Was somehow convinced to play Bubble Soccer (yes, of course I'm the one falling)

 

 Spent a wonderful Mother's Day in SF with my mom, aunt, and grandmother

Met the new addition to our family, baby Kendall

Toasted to Kristen and Daniel's marriage in Mt. Shasta

Got a new job at Box, in which I get to think more globally
Said goodbye to my old team with our last hoorah together, the snack fair

 

Realized it's been ten years since I graduated high school

 Drank PBR while floating on the Russian River

Went to both Italian and Portuguese heritage nights at AT&T Park
Swam in the Mediterranean

Experienced my first Turkish Bath, with Goo
Went yachting, twice

 

Drove a jet ski for the first time

Got to dance in a mirrored box with a floor fan, so basically lived the dream

Read lots of great books
Went on a stunning sunset cruise around the bay, for free

 

Became a mentor to Tiffany, a 7th grader in SF

Experienced a traditional Iraqi Henna

 Went on stage to play Family Feud at a Second City improv show

Got to see inside one of the Painted Ladies on the Victorian House Tour

 

Donned fashionable head-wear at Box's RWC office construction site

Made my own sparkly tutu

 

Had countless Emma cuddles and Kendall cuddles, sometimes at the same time!

 

Smoked my first cigarette.  Just kidding!  It's gum.

 

Organized Box SF's gift drive to donate 60 gifts to ECS

And danced to Bieber while soaking my feet in a floor-length gown

Trips

1. Anaheim and LA
2. Guerneville
3. Mount Shasta 
4. Cazadero
5. Croatia and Turkey
6. Chicago, IL
7. Austin, TX

According to Spotify, I listened to 30 days worth of music so far this year.  Living in SF, I was lucky enough to see many of this year's favorite artists live.

Concerts:

1. Sam Smith (with George Ezra) @ Bill Graham
2. Seinabo Sey @ the Chapel
3. Kiesza (with Betty Who) @ Mezzanine
4. James Bay (with Elle King) @ The Independent
5. Seinabo Sey @ Great American Music Hall
6. Lauryn Hill @ Mountain Winery (for 27 whole minutes-shout out to refunds)
7. Jess Glynne (with Avery Wilson) @ The Independent 
8. One Republic @ Bill Graham (BoxWorks afterparty)
9. Florence and the Machine @ The Greek in Berkeley
10. Hozier @ The Greek in Berkeley
11. Muse @ Oracle Arena

So many of these shows were incredible, but if I were going to award my favorite, it would have to be Florence.  Quite simply, she's a gifted, ethereal fairy that was pure magic to watch live.

Became obsessed with:
Peaky Blinders and Cillian Murphy's eyes
Quiet by Susan Cain 
Veggetti, the spiral vegetable cutter
James Bay (apparently my most-listened-to artist this year)
Eating burrata and then regretting it