What a Day to be Alive: year in review

Thursday, January 2, 2014

2013 Year in Review in Photos- PLACES

Looking back through my photos of the past year, from my "real" camera and those taken on my iPhone and posted to Instagram, I realized that I've done some serious traveling this year. In 2013 alone I visited: Ireland (with a brief layover in Paris), Minnesota, Seattle, Madison Wisconsin, Atlanta, Peoria, Arizona, Baltimore, Chicago, New Jersey, Manhattan, Long Island, Boston, the seacoast of New Hampshire, Chicago, Cleveland Ohio, Ireland, Amsterdam and San Diego.

It's amazing how you don't remember what happens throughout the year. When I went back through my list of photos to see all the places I'd been, I had forgotten about a few of the trips I took. Which is another wonderful benefit of taking photos all the time- you're forced to remember where you've been and what you've done.

I realize how fortunate I am. I know many people don't get to travel at all. So the fact that I was able to take 12 different trips this past year makes me feel more fortunate and grateful than when I first started this post.

As if it weren't enough to be able to travel to so many beautiful places and get to create such wonderful memories with new and old friends and reconnect with my family, I get to call Santa Monica home. I'm surrounded by palm trees, the ocean, gorgeous sunsets and am close to beautiful nature all around me. And while I spend a lot of time wishing I were other places, I recognize that I am truly blessed to live here.

Here's a look back with one photo for each month of the places I've experienced in 2013.

JANUARY Hiking to the Carrowkeel Tombs in the Bricklieve Mountains, Ireland

FEBRUARY Seattle, WA

MARCH Peoria, AZ- Visiting Terri & Jim

APRIL Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA- Kevin & Kelly's rehearsal dinner

MAY Hard Rock Hotel, Chicago, CA- Work trip

JUNE Palisades Park, Santa Monica, CA

JULY Taken from Bobbi's window in the West Village, NYC

AUGUST Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, IL- work trip

SEPTEMBER Dublin, Ohio- work trip

OCTOBER The Delphi Mountains in Connemara, Ireland

NOVEMBER Venice Beach, Venice, CA

DECEMBER Venice Canals, Venice, CA

2013 Year in Review in Photos- PEOPLE

Inspired by another blog I visited recently, I wanted to start doing more with the photos I'm taking. While I do a really great job of doing my post-vacation recaps, there's more I can do all throughout the year. I've committed to two different photography challenges for 2014, and I wanted to start off the year by doing some photo recaps of 2013.

First up is the year in review based on photographs of and with people throughout the year. I've spent a lot of quality time with so many people during 2013 and trying to get this post down to just 12 photos was pretty freaking hard.

I've been blessed to be with so many wonderful people I love in 2013 and to also have an opportunity to be in the company of people I just met this year. Looking through all my photos, I definitely feel an enormous sense of gratitude for all people in my life.

Here's a look back with one photo for each month of some of the photos that either summed up my month or just made me smile or laugh.

Thanks to everyone who was part of my 2013 PEOPLE memories. Most of you aren't featured in the photos below, but you'll just have to believe me when I say that I treasure each moment I spent with you this past year.