Au Revoir 2016!

This time of year I always like to take a moment to reflect on the year and what has transpired. I'm a big believer in goal-setting, and I think it's vitally important to regularly reflect on progress toward goals; assessing what went well, what still needs work, and what just needs to be celebrated.

Looking back on 2017, it was in short, a pretty epic year for me.

The year started with me joining Lunaria Dance Theatre as a company member. It's been amazing and inspiring to work with this group of talented women, as we perfect our acts. Throughout this year we've been working on choreographing and producing our own full-length cabaret show, which will debut on March 11, 2017 at Hale's Palladium in Seattle.  If you're interested, tickets can be purchased here.

This year also proved to be the year that my husband and I finally bought a house! The Seattle housing market has been skyrocketing over the past few years, with demand greatly outpacing supply. It took us two years and five offers, but we finally were able to close on a home that we love.

During the summer of 2016, I also had the opportunity to attend Aziza's Dream Camp in Canada. Aziza and the guest instructor, Mercedes Nieto, were superb. You can read more about my experience at camp in this post. 

I also was blessed with being able to spend three weeks overseas in Austria and Switzerland. In these countries it seemed that around every corner was yet more beautiful countryside, stunning architecture, and cities blossoming with history and culture; it was a fabulous trip. You can see additional pictures from my adventures here. 

Some other fun highlights of the year were getting my picture taken as a mermaid, going overnight backpacking for the first time, completing a Wanderlust triathlon, spending the weekend inside a converted railroad car at the Red Caboose Getaway, dying my hair purple, and as always, lots of costumes.

With everything that happened during 2016, the one goal of mine that really got put on the back burner was finishing a draft of my novel. I started the year with 38,000 words written, and ended the year with 48,500. So progress, but not all the way to my intended 65,000 words. 

Well, that's a wrap I think. After all that activity, I plan to spend these last few weeks of 2016 being as tranquil and low-key as possible! Wishing you a very merry holiday season, and hoping you saw some of your dreams actualized this year as well. Let it sparkle!

Another One Bites the Dust

 

 

Another one bites the dust! Another year that is. I think I say it every year, but wow, did that year fly by! Before moving forward into the new year, I always like to take some time for reflection on the year that just concluded.

Looking back on 2015, I feel pretty blessed. I landed a new job as the Controller of Seattle Theatre Group; the non-profit that owns/operates the Paramount, Moore, and Neptune Theatres in Seattle; and I'm absolutely loving it.

My husband and I were also lucky to be able to attend the 49th Superbowl in Arizona, as well as to travel to the beautiful country of Costa Rica for just over two weeks.

 

But perhaps my favorite part of 2015 was the vast improvement in my health. During 2014, I really went through the ringer with health issues that were all-too frequently painful, anxiety-inducing, and debilitating. Despite a few temporary setbacks during 2015, I'm ending the year in a really good place health-wise, and I can't even begin to tell you how happy that makes me.

Those were the big highlights of 2015, but some smaller joys that happened during the year included spending a weekend at the beautiful Marco Polo B&B in Victoria, Canada, dressing up and attending a steampunk convention, and having a fun belly dance photo shoot at the Paramount Theatre.

 

 

I also had the opportunity to do a good deal of belly dancing studying this year, including workshops with Sadie, Sahra C. Kent, Bozenka, and Helena Vlahos.

There's not too many downsides to my year, and I feel very grateful to be able to say that. The one negative of the year was attempting to be a home buyer in Seattle and getting anywhere near success in that endeavor. With supply at all time lows and demand at all time highs, the current Seattle real estate market is pretty out of control. Here's to hoping for better luck in home ownership in 2016.

I hope you had an amazing, joyous, and adventure-filled 2015. Cheers to you as you release 2015 and ring in the new year!