when 2016 came and went

2016.

The whirlwind year. The year of changes and (still) adapting to those changes. I'm actually ok with change and the new opportunities change brings. But man, the forces of the universe threw in some wrenches in the flow that I was happily comfortable with, which made me learn that I cannot control even the things I thought were an easy handle (I googled a lot of weird stuff last year to find solutions to problems). I did learn the obvious - let it go. 
*Queue Frozen theme song*

I have a problem letting go. I don't know how the hell those lucky people out there who can so easily say and actually do..the you know..LETTING GO, do it. Maybe there is a secret to it all, but for me, it's not easy at all. And lord knows I've tried. I've woken up many a Saturday mornings (my reset days), with a positive upbeat attitude, and by 10AM (after the Saturday morning sister dramas with my girls) I'm back to my pondering of woes and wonderings of  'why is this happening to me'. I don't want to go into the sad details of 2016, but I did really look forward to a new year to actually see the results of all the changes and one day sit and realize to myself 'we went through that! we're ok!' and come out **queue Britney Spears- Stonger song**. (Britney is actually playing off my Echo at this very moment. hehe)

I will though gladly give shout outs to the amazing Cali moments of 2016:

I visited Cali 4 times!

1.

My gf & I took the girls to LACMA & Malibu for hangs at the Malibu Cafe at the Malibu vineyards (so beautiful!), and spent some time in the beaches of Malibu, which I found to be so much better than the normal Santa Monica beach I thought I loved so much..but Malibu killed it. I love you, Malibu! Can you please take us in to live with you forever?? Pleaassee?

2.

Matt & I visited LA to play tourists with our bffs out there and hiked up to the Griffith Observatory. I'm not sure if it was the altitude, or the fact that I'm so out of shape, but I ended up feeling so sick we when arrived and I swear I nearly passed out as I watched the pendulum swing back and forth. Matt actually filmed the whole experience of that trip on our GoPro, but self consciously never shared it with everyone because he felt the film work was not up to par *eye roll*. Maybe I'll put it on here without his knowing..hehehehe

Sorry for the bad quality of the image below but I still really like it. Melinda & I posing in front of the far away Hollywood sign:

3.

For my bff (I know, I like to have a lot of bffs 💁) Erin's birthday, the Wild Girls crew all went to Palm Springs to celebrate and relax and eat and relax and play and eat and there was some swimming in there..but mostly eating (and drinking 🙊) like we were 18 again.

Erin & I also took an extra day to extend the extravaganza to our bff Aida's and then visit Universal Studios to run around Harry Potter land!!

4.

We went BACK to LA to hang out with Herbie (Aida's Goldendoodle) and spend some family time in Disneyland. We actually stayed long enough this time to catch the light parade and I cried like a baby. I still don't know why..I think I was just overwhelmed with happiness. Or maybe I felt like all the money we spent in Disneyland alone wasn't actually worth it..$20 for a face paint?! Come on, Disney!!

So overall, I would like to thank Calfornia for taking us in A LOT during the rocky year. We're 4 months into 2017 now, and we did get to visit LA once so far. Of course I expect more visits until we live there. COME ON CALI, WHERE THE OPPORTUNITIES?!!. I've been patiently waiting...

I'm ready!