year 23 in review

Since Birthday's are a nice time to reflect, here is a post with 23 highlights from my 23rd year on this earth. I did a post similar to this last year, click here to view.

1. Learned how to ski in Champagne Powder, a phrase coined by Steamboat.
Ok, maybe I'm not the best at skiing in powder but this past year I learned how to enjoy the fluffy white snow on my skis. (buying wide skis was a huge help!)

2. Fell in love with children. 

Ski school created a deep love for children within me. Yes, they are aggravating at times but then there are those fantastic moments! The moments where children make me realize how silly we adults are. Why do we stress over the little things and make everything so complicated?  

3. Was able to spend time with my mom and sister in Tucson. 

Oh how great and rare it is to be surrounded by the company of my two favorite ladies.

4. Created roots in Steamboat Springs. 

We thought we'd stay for a winter....... then we decided to give summer "a try". Whew, was it beautiful!

5. Went on a road trip to the West Coast. 

Tobias & I decided to treat ourselves after a hard working ski season so we hopped in my car and traveled to the West Coast! Colorado > Northern California > Oregon > Washington.

6. Visited some wonderful souls in Hood River, OR.

How great it is to be reunited with friends!

7. Did a little diving in Roatan, Honduras. 

The water was clear blue, the fishes ranged in colors, and we decided to wear yellow shirts the last day.

8. Explored night photography & pushed my photography skills. 
Warm weather and long hours of daylight are invitations of night photography. This past year I really put myself out into the world as a photographer and received positive feedback.

9. Learned to identify Colorado wildflowers while experiencing my first mountain wildflower season. 
Ladies & gentlemen you are looking at an Indian Paintbrush to your left here!

10. Photographed my 2nd Wanderlust Festival. 
Always a great photographic experience and way to push myself. Taking photos of people practicing yoga is very intimate and can sometimes feel invasive.

11. Hiked up to Rabbit Ears Peak, a classic Steamboat hike. 
The first of many summer hikes with my friend Shilo and her beautiful red-haired friend Roxy.

12. Explored the Flattops Wilderness. 
In honor of the 50th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act I vowed to explore as many nearby Wilderness areas as possible. The Flattops were a beautiful, mosquito-filled paradise.

13. Witnessed the Steamboat Balloon Festival. 
Waking up at 6 am to shoot the balloon refelctions on the lake was well worth it.

14. Hiked the Devil's Causeway, known as one of the scariest hikes in Northern Colorado. 
Another classic Steamboat hike I experienced with Roxy and Shilo on a beautiful summer day.


15. Backpacked the Zirkel Circle with Tobias.
This 12 mile loop is a very popular route and with good reason. We decided to backpack and explore some lesser-known areas. 

16. Became a mama to a few new plants.. 
Since I cannot have a pet in my apartment of with my transient lifestyle, I care for plants! Not shown here is my lavender plant from this summer. Aka: My pride & joy!


17. Turned into a sand ninja while on a trip to Southern Colorado. 
The San Luis Valley is a very special place. We got lucky with the overcast weather because we could then play in the Sand Dunes without our feet burning.

18. Pugsat Eddie.
If you've ever had a pug or pugsat one you know why this is a highlight of my past year..... Just look at that face!

19. Survived my first juice cleanse. 
3 days without chewing food seemed like an eternity. I was never hungry, but found myself missing meal prep and cooking. What was even harder were the 5 days after the juice where I reintegrated soft, raw foods back into my diet. This experience truly made me appreciate the food I put into my sacred body.

20. Took an inaugural ladies trip. 
The first of many to come! These three ladies are dear friends from college who hold a special place in my heart. I'm lucky to have convinced Katie to move here to Steamboat but the other to are away in other states so it is rare when we all get together. For this ladies trip we backpacked in Dionsaur National Monument, soaked in Strawberry Hot Springs, and hiked to an ancient Indian Quarry outside of Steamboat.

21. Watched my first mountain fall unfold. 
As you can tell from the yellow aspen leaves above, fall in the mountains did not disappoint.

22. Traveled to Indonesia! 
At this moment, a large part of me feels like this was THE highlight of my 23rd year. Maybe because it is still so fresh or was such a crazy experience. I traveled alone to the small town of Sukadana where I only knew my best friend, Adam. For 6 weeks I was able to photograph ASRI, an amazing non-profit that links together human healthcare and environmental conservation.

23. Reintegrated into American society for another Steamboat winter.
Here I am! Coming from Indonesia to Steamboat was weird, for lack of better words. Hot and humid on the equator > snow and freezing in the mountains was one small part of this awkward transition. Regardless, I am finally settled back into life here and ready for another beautiful winter here. Let it snow!!!

Cheers to 24! I have a feeling it's going to even better than this past year.. 23 was not all beautiful happy moments. There were some very dark, low periods filled with insecurity and self-hatred. But once again I have learned that life events causing such moments are given to us as a gift to find light in.

To every person who has been in my life throughout the past year; thank you. Your energy has touched me in some way.