Happy New Year!!! 2010 In Review!

Wow! It’s 2011! Can you believe it??? How crazy is that! 2010 has gone by incredibly fast – and I’m sure 2011 will too.

But 2010 was a fantastic year and I’m just amazed at all that I’ve done this year. I’ll try not to make this too crazy of a long post but so much has happened this past year and I want to try and include all the fun that’s happened!

Before I get started however, to all my family and friends who read this – I want to sincerely thank you for everything you’ve done for me this year. For all the love, support and kindness that has been bestowed upon me this year. Without my amazing family and friends… and also just all the awesome blessings I’ve received, this year would not have been the same.  I wish I could write about all my amazing adventures this year and about all the friendships, but I’ll just have to save that for other posts.

So, let’s get started!!!

January

The start of the busy year – with a ton of birthday celebrations. My oldest nephew turned 10, my oldest niece turned 5 – with a huge birthday party that included a magician, my best friend Jamie had an old fashioned sleepover, and then I think there were some other celebrations in there – but it was a fun and busy month to start of the new year. I guess I have that to look forward to this month too!

Yummm... Chocolate Covered Wine Glasses to go with delicious wine for Jamie's Birthday

February

Looking at the busy calendar – it looks like I had a lot of dinners during the month of February. But one thing that stood out was the day at the Washington DC Roller Derby. I had never seen the roller derby before – and it was really so much fun seeing girls being tough. I also had an awesome Valentine’s Dinner with my roommates – where we had some delicious steak, cupcakes and champagne. Who needs a guy when you have your best gals at your side?

February Blizzard

Roller Derby

March

March was a bit slow – however, the most fun thing that month was the trapeze class I took. I learned how to jump off the scary platform, swing back and forth, hang from my knees on the bar and then somersault off the bar into the net below. Wow – so much fun and pretty scary. But I know I’d love to do it again.

Trapeze Act

April

Gosh – April was an extremely busy month – but what is definitely the highlight of the month and maybe even of the year – was my solo backpacking trip through Guatemala. I love Guatemala now and can’t wait to go back again. But it was just an amazing trip. I learned so much about myself and realized that I am so much stronger than I realize and that I really really love traveling by myself. And I can’t complain over the fact that I saw amazing sites, which included Mayan Pyramids, Volcanoes, the World Heritage site of Antigua and many more things. I also connected with amazing people that I will carry in my heart forever. April also included fun picnics with family and friends and the start of Spring. It was also my birthday in April – and that was a fun time too.

Mayan Ruins

May

May was an extremely busy month. Not only did I get to celebrate both of my sisters’ birthdays – one turned 27 the other the big 30, as well as my roommate Amanda’s birthday – but I saw myself going to New York City for a quick weekend and then a fun trip to Costa Rica with Jess and Linda. In New York City – there was biking in Central Park and eating at a delicious Greek Restaurant in Chelsea. And in Costa Rica there was zip lining, surfing, private coves, laying out in the beach, monkeys and delicious, fresh seafood every day. May also was the completion of my second triathlon the Kinectic Triathlon, which I did in 2009 – and I cut my time by 10 minutes.

Getting Ready to Zip line!

Costa Rica Beaches

June

June, compared to May and April was “slow” but other than the fun start of summer – I also did the MS Beltway Bike Ride in Middleburg, VA – where my sister, brother-in-law and I biked 60 miles of hilly country road. It was a lot of fun and I’m looking forward to it again next year. I also was able to attend the baby shower of one of my childhood friend’s Meriam – who had her daughter Summar in August. It’s so interesting how time goes so fast – and it seems like only yesterday that Meriam and I were in the woods of our neighborhood coming up with rules for our own Unicorn Club (Sweet Valley Twins reference) – and now Meriam has her own beautiful daughter of her own.

Reunited with my best childhood friends!

Surfs Up!

First – what a gorgeous country Costa Rica turned out to be.

Not that I didn’t think it wouldn’t be gorgeous – but being there in person – it takes your breath away. I’m constantly amazed on how God creates so many beautiful landscapes.

My time in Costa Rica with my two girlfriends was absolutely amazing and we all had a blast. But how could we not have a blast when we were in such an amazing country?

Costa Rica is pretty well known for its beaches and being a well-known destination for surfers. And what better way to enjoy our time down there then to learn how to surf?

One -  I love the ocean and water. I LOVE it. But of course I’ve always been a bit intimated by it. How can you not when you know how dangerous it can be? These are not lapping waves that come up to the shore gently, but waves that can easily knock you back and churn you around in the surf.

Two – While I’m not an incredibly strong swimmer, my swimming has given me the ability to last long in the water and be a bit more confident.

But regardless of these two factors – I WAS TERRIFIED!

ME! Who is generally pretty fearless on most occasions – WAS TERRIFIED!

We had some young guys teaching us how to surf on foam boards. And after a quick 15 minute lesson on the sand – they led us into the water.

The lesson by the way was showing us how to pop-up onto the board into a standing position. And also basically telling us not to put the board in front of us while heading into the water, lest a wave hit the board which then can smack into our face, thus breaking our nose. Though that would make a funny story (I broke my nose surfing) – I’d rather that not happen!

So – after the quick lesson – we headed into the water with our boards in tow – into the strong (somewhat) waves and headed to our deaths.

Okay, apparently I’m not dead, and neither are Jess or Linda – but the 3 hour lesson was pretty brutal.

I will say that after the lesson, I’m not too scared of the ocean or swimming in it and I don’t have too big of a fear of drowning. Because after all the wipe outs I had in attempting to surf – and churning into the water and not knowing which way was up or down – but still surviving – I became much more confident.

All three of us… Linda, Jess and I – can say that we stood up and surfed! WE SURFED!!! How awesome and amazing is that? Not that we will be going to Hawaii (though I’d love to go there) and surfing their giant kahuna waves or anything.

3 hours of surfing, with a ton of paddling and pushing yourself up is very very tiring. You’re out in the bright sun, paddling and fighting the waves, listening to the instructors as they watch for waves for you to catch and they yell “Up” so you can push yourself up to ride the wave.

Sometimes I was up for one or two seconds before I tumbled into the water. Other times I was up for 10-15 seconds as I rode the wave to shore.

Either way, it was an incredible experience and one I’d love to do again. I think I’ve found another extreme sport to enjoy.

I wish I was able to get pictures of us actually surfing, but that wasn’t possible. But here are a few of the surfboards and us holding our boards. So funny how Jess’s board is sooo much taller than Linda and I’s board… but it might be from perspective.

Wonder when I’ll be able to go surfing again…

Gorgeous Costa Rica Beaches

Surf shirts...

Linda with the surfing school Shirt

Ready to surf?

Surf boards lined up in a row...

Jess, Me and Linda

Spring has sprung….

And it brought along with it… TOURISTS.

Okay – technically, nothing wrong with being a tourist – but when they invade your city – it is a bit annoying. And right now – it is peak tourist season in Washington DC.

It is Cherry Blossom time – and thousands of people from around the world come to DC to enjoy the spring and the sight of the gorgeous Cherry Blossoms. And yes, they are beautiful. But… the tourists can go home now. Especially when they crowd the Metro.

But – what a wonderful weekend! I had a fantastic weekend, although I had a cold – and still recovering from it actually.

But – I organized a picnic in downtown DC on the Mall (not a mall, but the DC Mall) where we watched kites fly, ate delicious food and played some frisbee (not me though).

Easter Sunday was a great day with my family – with church in the morning (and afternoon) – and brunch at my dad’s house – it was a great day. And the weather was absolutely gorgeous. It was in the 80s – sunny skies… and just beautiful.

I did not want the weekend to end… however… just 3 more days until my Guatemalan adventure!!!!

Enjoy some of the pictures from this past weekend!

The ants were among us!

Strawberry anyone?

DC Architecture

Ring around the... Washington Monument?

Flowers in bloom...

Cherry dress for Easter... almost good enough to eat!

I love Paris in the springtime!

Okay – one, I’m not in Paris. Two, I’ve never been to Paris. Three… I wish I were in Paris… however, while I am not in Paris, my good friend Linda is there right now.

How jealous I am that she is there – but happy she is enjoying herself there. She comes back this Friday and I can’t wait to hear all about her trip. She is there by herself and exploring Paris and all its wonderful delights.

I received an email from her last night on a few of her observations which I of course find fascinating.

Here are her observations:

• A lot of smokers. Even the kids are smoking as they are waiting to go to school in the mornings.

I know that the Frenchies smoke a lot – but wow, kids smoking before school – that blows my mind a bit. I wonder how much education they get on how smoking is bad for your health.

• The French love their bread. Saw a good amount of people walking around with a baguette sticking out of their bags on the way home from work

Hmmmm… baguettes… I wouldn’t mind a fresh French baguette from France!

• The french don’t believe in napkins. I have to ask for napkins a good amount of the time.

Not believe in napkins! That’s nearly crazier than kids smoking! I’m obsessive about having a napkin when I eat my meal. While you think it’s because I’m neat – it’s not. It’s because I’m extremely messy when I eat.

• Rollerblading is still used as a mode of transportation. Even on cobble stone.

Rollerblading.. how 90s.

• Words I had to use the most “Pardon” (excuse me), Merci, and S’il vous Plait (Please)

I can definitely see this – considering that I will be leaving for Guatemala in two weeks (eek!) I will probably be saying, Perdonome, Gracias and De nada – all the time.

• You have to ask the waiter for the check. Its rude for them to bring it to you without your consent.

This last observation is definitely interesting – considering in the U.S. – waiters here give you the check as soon as you say you don’t want to order anything anymore and then they are ready to push you out of the restaurant.

I love reading about travel observations and I’m so glad Linda shared with me. And  – in two weeks time, I’ll be on my own trip and I’ll be making my own observations! How exciting!

Hopefully, when Linda is back she’ll share some of her photos and I ‘ll share them here!

Au revoir!

It’s All Just a Circus Act…

I think I’m ready to join the circus… maybe… or maybe not.

Why do I say this? Because I took a Trapeze Class!! You read that right, a TRAPEZE CLASS! I, along with my friend Jess, decided it would be fun to do a trapeze class.

Any boy, was it fun, as well as scary.

We learned how to hang from the trapeze from our knees as it swung back and forth… and then to dismount from the trapeze bar by doing a back flip. Sounds pretty impressive, right?

Let’s start from the beginning first, shall we?

Jess and I arrive at the Trapeze School at the Navy Yard in Washington DC, right next to the Washington Nationals Baseball Stadium. It is in an indoor location and looks kind of a like a tent. Right down the street, they’ll be building an outdoor location.

So, once we arrive, we sign the waiver forms which basically say, if we die, maim ourselves or anything of that kind – they are not responsible. So, we initialed our way through the form and then signed our lives away. Shouldn’t be too bad right?

It’s basically one huge room, and on the left you see these amazingly flexible, strong women, doing awesome tricks and acrobatics on this ropes/curtains that hang from the ceiling. On the right is a giant trampoline. And right in the middle which basically takes up the entire room is a huge net – with two trapeze bars hanging and one small platform.

Oh crap, that is what we’re going to do.

We sit on some plastic chairs as we wait for the class to start – and at 1:15 sharp we start. We had about 9 people in the class * 5 of us beginners they others have done it before. Us 5 beginners (3 girls, 2 guys) get whisked away to the side to get a beginners lesson.

The lesson, basically takes about 10 minutes. 10 minutes!!!!! They put on this tight belt around our waist – super tight that you can’t breathe. They tell us that they will teach us how to do a knee hang from the trapeze, let go of our hands and then at the end we’ll do a back flip off the trapeze into the net. Sounds easy enough right?

They let us do one practice run on the one trapeze that is hanging about 6 feet above the ground. And we do one practice knee hang. Like the picture below…

I'm practicing my knee hang with arms out...

Jess practicing her knee hang...

Once we do that – the lesson is basically over. They give us so more safety instructions, saying how we’ll constantly be hooked into safety lines. And what the commands will be… “HEP!” means to jump off the platform… then once we hop, they’ll yell “Legs UP!” which we then proceed to the knee hang… once we get our legs up, they’ll yell “Hands Down” which we then we’ll let go of our hands and then proceed to hang upside down, swinging back and forth. Then they’ll yell, “Hands up”, we’ll get our hands back on the bar, “Legs down” bring our legs down from the bar, “forward, back, forward” we kick our legs back and forth and then we let go of our hands and then back flip off the bar into the net…

Again, sounds easy enough right??