I really am a sucker for the whole “new year, new me” thing. I’m always looking for a reason to renew myself, press the refresh button & try to tackle this thing called life with a fresh mindset. What more opportune time to do that other than the new year?
This year, I’ve been feeling a lot different. Maybe it’s because I still feel like I’m settling in to our new home in California or maybe it’s because I reflected on my 2017 and truly don’t know how it’s going to compare to the past 12 months.
January
January was full of German adventures but the highlight was my husband and I shooting some photos together at an 850 year-old German castle.
February
For my birthday, I visited my love, the Eiffel Tower, for my 10th & final time. I chatted with her over a bottle of wine (as I always do), I gazed at her with adoration then I waved goodbye to her with a tear running down my cheek. What Paris means to me cannot be put into words, and is 100% the reason I’ve never written a blog post about it. You just can’t explain the feeling you have when you visit the City of Love.
Read More: A European Love Affair
March
On my 5th trip to Amsterdam, I was able to visit the Ice Bar and froze my tushy off drinking keg beer in 20°F temps.
Read More: 13 Things You Can’t Miss in Amsterdam
April
I was front row to a Dave Matthews concert in the beautiful city of Vienna, Austria. We continued on to watch more shows in Amsterdam, Prague and Portugal (top 3 best month of my life!)
May
We found ourselves on the shores of Portugal, having the entire beach all to ourselves. We roamed around the romantic town of Porto sipping Port Wine with fresh fruit.
Read More: A Guide to Porto / Northwest Portugal in 3 Days
June
We explored as many castles as we could in the hot German heat. One of my favorites was this gem, Schloss Drachenburg.
July
I started my journey in little thing called blogging and so began the obsessing-over-everything content-related! Here’s my very first header image & logo.
As you can see (I hope) I’ve come lightyears since then!
August
I floated in the Balos Lagoon in Crete and dipped my toes in pink sand at Elafonisi Beach.
September
I climbed to the top of the Acropolis in 110 degree temps…
…and had a private beach on Paros Island.
I also fulfilled a dream of mine by walking through alleyways with that iconic white-and-blue Cycladic look.
October
I returned back to my hometown in Indiana to begin packing up the rest of my things I had left behind when I went to Germany. Now, it was time to move on to California. Packing up and saying goodbye to my family with no future plans to return was the hardest thing I have ever had to do but here I was, with a U-Haul & my pup as my co-pilot, on the road to the west coast.
November
I found a house in California and moved in. My husband arrived from Germany after almost 2 months apart and we started exploring as much as we could between his work schedule. I was mesmerized by the fall-time vineyards of Napa Valley…
…and the cliffside, pine-forest paradise of Lake Berryessa.
December
We hung our stockings and what decorations we did have on our mantle, baked cookies and had fires drinking hot cocoa on Christmas morning while opening presents. And so began our own holiday traditions.
What a year, right? I’m so damn blessed for the experiences I’ve had, the places I’ve been and the memories I’ve made. It’s crazy to me how the days and weeks go by so slowly as we’re living them but looking back on my year, it flew right on by.
There are still so many things I want to accomplish and I’m hoping to make 2018 THE year for me. The year I start to get to know myself better, the year I become a little kinder, the year I find my calling and purpose, the year I build myself up, the year I become courageous and brave. MY year.
Yep, I’m making 2018 my year. And you all should do the same. Because what better time to start than now?
HI! I have nominated you for the Sunshine Blogger Award! Check out my post to see what you have to do next: https://rinasees.wordpress.com/2018/01/02/sunshine-blogger-award-nomination/
Awesome, this is great! Thanks so much. I’ll check it out now 🙂
What an amazing year you had Charli, I hope that 2018 brings you lots more happiness. Looking forward to seeing how it all pans out for you.
Thank you so much, Jane! I was so blessed to have such an amazing 2017. Here’s to 2018! Hope it’s a great year for you 🙂
Everything about this post is perfect, I loved the pictures and how you kept everything sweet and to the point but yet it was enough for us to understand and be there with you.
I loved the idea of going though one moment you had in each month for 2017 that meant something special to you. It gave me motivation to do something similar, almost a jolt of energy. If you don’t mind that is and I’d like to tag your blog in with mine.
Keep up the great work!!
Lauren, THANK YOU! Always appreciative of your kind words. Of course you can tag mine in. Let me know when it’s up and I’d love to check it out. This year was so amazing for me, I’m kind of sad it’s over but on to bigger and better things, right? I hope! Thanks again, love!
Wow, what an incredible year you’ve had! ✨ I’ve only recently found your blog through twitter, but I love it and it’s inspired me to keep working on blogging!
Yesss girl! Definitely don’t give up! I’ve gotten discouraged so many times but I’m still pushing through because this little blog makes me so very happy…and then to hear you say that it’s actually inspiring you, well that makes it all worth it to me! Thank you so much for your comment. I’m heading over to check out your blog now!
You seem to have had an amazing year! Your success and happiness is inspiring even though I don’t know you and gives me the feeling that everything is possible. I’m sure 2018 will surprise you positively even if 2017 seemed like the best year yet!
I am so happy to hear that as I always strive for inspiring others & spreading positivity. I really do believe that catching our dreams is 100% attainable, no matter what anyone else may say. I’ve had such an amazing year and was unbelievably blessed for those experiences. Here’s to 2018!
All you’re pictures and experiences look incredible! I can’t wait to move my travels over seas and visit Europe!
Yes you definitely should! Europe is the best place to travel and can be done so inexpensively too!
What are your top 3 favorite places?
That’s such a hard question for me to answer because each place is so very different! Maybe if I do it like this I can pick!
Top 3 Cities I’d go with Paris | Amsterdam | Strasbourg, France
Top 3 Beachy places: Crete | Malta | Palma de Mallorca.
Top 3 Outdoorsy places: Interlaken, Switzerland | Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany | Innsbruck, Austria
Crete is definitely on my list! But I took a screenshot of your reply to save. I hope to go by next summer! ♥️
Crete is the BEST place I have EVER been. I seriously try & give plugs to Crete so much because it is so incredibly magical and I’ve never been anywhere like it! If you have to pick anywhere out of all of those, go to Crete 100%.
Awesome to hear!! I am so excited now. Ready to plan!! ☺️
Oh crap. I totally didn’t add Portugal in there. I have no clue how I forgot that. I’d pick Portugal beaches over Palma de Mallorca, for sure. Specifically Porto. An amazing place. Happy travels!
Thanks for the information!!
You’re welcome!
Wow, what a year! With your ambition and willingness to explore, I am sure that 2018 won’t disappoint! Wishing you and your husband all the best.
So sweet of you! Thank you much, happy 2018 to you! Hope it’s an amazing year!
Such a lovely post, you’ve inspired me so much to travel more this year! Wishing you an even better 2018 xx
Yessss girl! Go see the world, you won’t regret it! Hope this year treats you well!
I really enjoyed seeing these snapshots of your past year & a great way for readers to get to know you more 👌 some great pictures 📷
Thank you! I had such an amazing year, was so blessed! Hope 2018 treats you well 🙂
You have such amazing pictures! You’ve visited so many beautiful places this year — makes me super happy to see. I reaaaally want to go to Greece and Amsterdam (someday!) I hope you are enjoying your time in California. Hopefully you can feel at home there!
Nicole | http://www.badwithdirections.com
Thank you so much! I really am so blessed to have seen so many beautiful places this year. You HAVE to go to Greece! OMG it’s just unbelievable and Amsterdam is so dreamy, like a little fairtytale. I’m loving it here so far, it definitely is starting to feel like home!
What a year indeed! It looks like your had many beautiful experiences and lovely photos to remember them. Congratulations on your paid blog post and best wishes for an equally exciting and fulfilling 2018!
Thank you so much! I’m looking forward to an amazing year! Hope 2018 treats you well 🙂
Wow, what a year you had with your travels! I hope you have many more adventures coming up in 2018.
Thanks so much! Sadly, I’m not in Europe anymore so I won’t have the opportunity to travel like I did last year but hoping I can discover some cool spots here in the US 🙂