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!

2009 – Year in Review

2009 was an amazing year for me. There were so many new adventures that I embarked on… it was a year of saying “Yes” and most definitely a year of coming closer to knowing where God wants me to be.

2009 was a year of new beginnings as well as big endings.

Here’s to 2009!!

January

What a better way to start off the New Year of 2009 with some Rock Band with two of your best girlfriends??? We rocked the night away!

February

What a busy month!! Spending time with some of the best friends a girl could have… there was running around DC… running around NYC…. a Guys in Ties and Girls in Pearls Party and hiking Old Rag in the dead of winter! What a crazy but extremely fun month!

Having fun in DC!

Running around NYC on a very very cold winter day.

With ladies from my Small Group.

At the peak of Old Rag on a cold February day.

March

Spring slowly came into the area… with it there was much fun to be had at Shamrock Fest and the beginning of my running racing season!

Running a 10K Race in Richmond with the Cofie Sisters!

A Very Rainy Day celebrating St. Patty's Day.

April

What a crazy month April turned out to be – but one of the best! Why? My best friend, Jo, who I’ve known since I was 5 years old got married. I was so happy to be her maid-of-honor… but what was even more amazing was that she got married on my birthday… my 25th birthday to be exact! What a great way to celebrate 20 years of friendship – at her wedding on on my birthday. It was a fantastic day. April also was my 3rd year running the Cherry Blossom 10 miler.

With my two best childhood friends - Meriam and Joann

With Linda and Laura, ready to run the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler

May

Wow – another crazy month! LOL – I competed in my first ever triathlon – which I thought I would die (in the swim portion) – but God was Good – and I survived and finished the race! In May, I was also able to travel to the Bahamas with my two sisters to celebrate the marriage of our good friend Meghan. It was a great trip with my sisters and a wonderful location for the wedding.

Mid-Race - Bike Portion (18 Miles)

With my parents at the end of the race.

Margaret, Emmile, Meghan, Lucy and I at the Atlantis Resort.

Meghan and Drew...

June

June was no better in terms of slowing down – June was the month that I got my motorcycle’s license  (yes, I’m a bad ass motorcycle chick now! Hahaha), I went camping for the first time in years, and with the start of the summer, it was BBQs, festivals, and tons of outdoor fun!

Justin and I riding our first Carnival Ride!

Jess and I roughing it out in the "wilderness" for the first time.

July

Go-go-go… that describes July pretty well! July 4th in DC, a weekend of hiking in Harpers Ferry, more hiking and getting lost on a mountain the George Washington National Forest, a day in the NYC and a weekend in Boston… man, I’m tired just thinking about July! But it was a blast and I’d do it all over again!

The girls and I at Iwo Jima Memorial to watch the fireworks!

Linda perusing a record store in NYC.

At the Boston Harbor...

Jenn and I celebrating her birthday!

August

August was a bit of a slower month… though I did some traveling. I was able to go to Dunedin, Florida for work and see the beautiful beaches of Clearwater, Florida. I went on my Guatemala team retreat to Harrisonburg, Virginia and I also got to throw in some kayaking in the Potomac River… and August was the month that I packed up my apartment to move into a new townhouse with roommates!

At Clearwater Beach, with white sand and blue water!

Kayaking the Potomac River

September

While August was a bit of a calm month… September was the beginning of the final sprint toward the end of the year. September was moving into my new place with two awesome roommates, more camping and a fun weekend at the beach.

Camping at Big Meadow Park in the Shenandoah

Heather and I at Bethany Beach!

October

This month started off with a fun day at Kings Dominion, followed by the Army 10 Miler Race (2nd year and counting), fall festivals and hayrides, rainy outdoor concerts, karaoke fundraisers, housewarming parties, birthday parties (Mom and 3 year old nephew) and fun Halloween activities, which included the Dupont Drag Queen High Heel Race and a visit to the Markoff’s Haunted Forest – with a fun Halloween party to cap off October!

With two amazing roommates - Shri and Amanda.

My adorable two nephews and niece (god-sons and god-daughter) at the rainy outdoor concert.

Only Lady Gaga would be surrounded by a 5th Element Characters and a Magician with her Rabbit in a Hat!

November

Okay – I said April was the best month… November is way up there as well. First, I went to Atlanta, Georgia to visit my good friend Courtney and I photographed her wedding. And November was also where I was able to see my dream of going on a Mission Trip come true! I along with 11 other beautiful women were able to go to Guatemala to do God’s good works. In Guatemala I learned the lesson of God’s love, what it means to really serve others and what fellowship really means. It has so far been the most amazing trip of my life and I can’t wait to go on another mission trip.

Courtney and I at her wedding! (Thank goodness for tripods!)

Courtney and Howard

December

The end of 2009. The start of the holiday season has begun… which of course includes holiday parties and time with the family. Getting together to spend more time with friends and family was a fun time. While I’m excited for the start of 2010, I didn’t want to see the holiday season to end.

Family Reunion with my cousins... it's a Filipino Christmas!

Ringing in the New Year 2010 with friends

2009 – what a wonderful, amazing year. I wish I could go over every single thing I was able to do – but that would be an entire notebook! I’m just so thankful to have had all the opportunities I was able. It really was a blessed year and thanks to God, my family and friends – I know that 2010 will be just as amazing.