100 Things That Made My Year - 2022

Typically I try to make a video recap of my year in review but this year Instagram got too complicated and I couldn't figure out how to add a song to my video so I gave that up. I'm trying something new this year, making a list of 100 things that made my year. Elsie Green inspired this list, who was inspired by Austin Kleon's list of "100 Things That Made My Year (2022)". So thank you both for the inspiration for this exercise that reminds me that there's so much to be grateful for everyday.

1. Trying new foods, like sushi, for the first time and becoming obsessed

2. Celebrating Aaron's 30th birthday with a trip up North. Renting an airbnb with hot tub became a necessity

3. Learning how to ski and the feeling that comes with making it successfully down the bunny hill

4. Cooking together at home and trying new recipes

5. Receiving a very thoughtful gift from my sister- a retro charm bracelet that reminds me of who I am and my childhood charm bracelet that I thought that I lost

6. Good friends moving back to Arizona

7. Enjoying the sound and smell of the rain

8. Having a beach day with the family, playing Aggravation, swimming in the ocean (it was a HOT summer day)

9. Buying my very first Mac Book for my new business

10. Crying over said MacBook after spilling water on it and losing all work that was stored on my Desktop. Lesson quickly learned.

11. Celebrating the small victories throughout the year with a shared bottle of wine

12. Saying "yes" more often than saying "no"

13. Trying new restaurants with friends

14. Buying 4 lounge chairs for our patio to enjoy the sunshine and sit around the fire pit making smore's

15. Aaron making me ramen because he's the best at making ramen

16. Going to therapy and learning how to heal

17. Visiting as many art museums in Italy as we had time for

18. Country dancing with my co-workers

19. Making videos of trips that we take and never posting them to social media

20. Having happy hours with my favorite girl friends most weeks

21. Walking the dogs together

22. Playing cards and games with my cousins at family gatherings

23. Listening to my papa while he talks about our family ancestry

24. Admiring my friends design work and walking the houses they design

25. The feeling of spring time. Bright colors, sunshine, flowers, visiting the nursery.

26. Making intentional time to be with my family most weekends

27. Pool season. Making every guest jump off the diving board at least once.

28. Quick roadtrips to San Diego to see my college best friend and her family

29. Celebrating our 5 year wedding anniversary with an Italy trip

30. Vespa riding through Tuscany to an ancient town and wine tasting. Best day of my life. Cried happy tears as I checked this off my bucket list.

31. Wishing that every time I ate pasta that I could be transported back to Italy

32. Thoroughly enjoying train rides in Europe

33. Welcoming my cousins baby into the world

34. Eating alfresco with wine and enjoying being outside

35. Going to the gym as consistently as I could

36. Getting my first facial

37. Shopping solo at Trader Joe's and being content grocery shopping and listening to their playlist

38. Finding a new found love for reading again

39. Buying a gingham duvet cover in two colors because we loved the first one so much

40. Having friends that encourage that love for reading and let you borrow all their books

41. Annual summer vacation to June Lake cabin. Stargazing on the balcony, playing pool at the local bar, fishing, hanging out on the dock, deer watching, hanging out with the babies, sharing wine and cheese, having breakfast at The Stove, taking our traditional "rock" picture, relaxing in the natural hot springs, watching fireworks in Bridgeport, visiting the family cemetery, listening to music in the park, eating ice cream, thrifting, a 11 hour road trip (both ways) but so worth it.

42. Belly laughing with friends and family

43. Playing poker, usually never for money, just for fun

44. Celebrating friends turning 30 this year, knowing my turn is right around the corner

45. Watching bald eagles hunt for food

46. Day dreaming home projects but never getting around to them

47. Re-watching our favorite shows at night that make us laugh, i.e. "The Office"

48. Making friends with vendors that spoil us with aperol spritz, treats and long talks at their office

49. Buying myself flowers from Trader Joe's weekly

50. Going to 2 different comedy shows

51. Quitting the comparison game

52. Having friendly neighbors that I can talk to and call if needed

53. Winning $44 on scratchers, our biggest win yet ;)

54. Grandma moving to Arizona

55. Spending time actually talking to my grandma and learning more of who she is while I still can

56. Having a fun and memorable pool day with friends on the "last day of summer"

57. Starting my interior design business, Studio Lane

58. Managing the highs and lows of running a business and navigating new territory

59. Being proud of myself for standing up for myself

60. Willingness to try new things

61. Co-hosting a Halloween party and my sister dressing as a grandma winning best costume of the night

62. Helping my friend wedding plan and another friend with their home remodel

63. Visitng family in Kansas City in the fall and meeting our baby cousin

64. Finding time to carve pumpkins before Halloween

65. Frequent family FaceTimes

66. Catching up with a childhood friend that lives out of state over dinner and drinks

67. Celebrating my best friends 30th with a party bus and a mechanical bull

68. Having to say goodbye to our sweet Honey B, my 12 year old boxer that I miss so much every day

69. DIYing a new dining room pendant because I was so tired of our old light fixture

70. Hosting Thanksgiving at our house for the first time ever. Watching Aaron cook a turkey (very successfully) and family coming together. Took a nap immediately after with zero shame.

71. Friendsgiving with our friends at their new home. Walked to the park and played with the kids.

72. Adjusting to having only one dog and making sure Ollie had plenty of walks and trips to the park

73. Taking the time to slow down during the holidays and going with the flow instead of being go, go, go

74. Enjoying watching TV Shows. White Lotus. Barry.

75. Receiving hand-written cards in the mail from friends

76. Learning how to play pickle ball

77. Making a "Christmas Ball" for the first time this year, following the family tradition

78. My sister creating my business logo

79. Feeling so happy when "Always and Forever" starts playing because its our song

80. Getting excited to have kids one day

81. Always stopping to smell the flowers

82. White Elephant Christmas party with my girl friends

83. Bar hopping with wigs for a friends birthday celebration

84. Going on date nights

85. Favorite date night was our Studio Lane Holiday party at the Biltmore. Drinks around the fire with the best steak and potato dinner at Oak.

86. Ojai. Winery tasting rooms, thrifting, rainy day, hot coffee, beanies, ice cream, walking around town

87. Stopping on the side of the road to watch the deers and their babies eat grass

88. Santa Barbara. More wine tasting rooms, perfect weather, sandwiches, Harrison stroller napping like a champ, pier walking, more coffee, train rides, lifelong friends.

89. Crying because sometimes it feels good to let it all out and feel what you feel

90. Watching the sunset and taking many pictures of it

91. Dreaming about retiring and becoming a professional sunset chaser (lol)

92. Jamming out to Taylor Swift's new album many times in a row

93. Sleeping in and getting as much rest as possible was a priority

94. Spending New Years Eve with family, playing games, lighting fireworks and acting like teenagers

95. Getting better at Pickleball and spending Friday nights playing with friends

96. Being thankful that Phoenix weather was good to us this year

97. Having family pictures taken together to remember these times

98. Looking forward to the next year and all the possibilities

99. Being genuinely happy for others

100. Aaron being my rock and best friend