2016 - A Year in Pictures

As 2017 comes around the corner, I wanted to pause and reflect some of the highlights of this past year.  In 2016, I got to experience some great trips and time with family.  We celebrated the life of my grandad, who passed away this spring.  In the summer, I discovered a love for spinning and renewed my love of running - which, combined, led to a much healthier/happier version of myself at the end of 2016 than at the beginning.  Here are some of my favorite pictures and memories from this year.

Holiday Festivities

Christmas of 2016 may be behind us, but I wanted to take a post (as I play catch-up) to commemorate some of the other December happenings that filled this year's Christmas season.

My mom and I kicked off December with a mother-daughter date night to see The Nutcracker at the Winspear Opera House in downtown Dallas.  We got dressed up and had a delicious meal at one of my favorite little spots in town, Joyce & Gigi's, before heading over to the opera house.

 

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, from our family to yours!!  I hope that you and yours had a blessed and enjoyable Christmas.

A Weekend in Seattle

Back in November, I took a weekend trip to Seattle, Washington to visit a friend.  The two of us worked together back in Indiana, and she actually helped me get my job.  She moved to Seattle soon after I relocated to Texas, so it was a real treat to get to reunite halfway across the country with her and to explore a new-to-me city.  It was cold and rainy, but I still found myself fascinated by the beauty of the city and the surrounding areas.

Dallas Half Marathon

When my friend Erin asked me this summer to train for the Dallas Half Marathon with her, I was very hesitant.  I have tried to train for a long running race several times in the past, only to be sidelined halfway through due to various injuries.  Having dealt with a back injury since college, I just figured that my body wasn't able to handle such an intense training regimen.  But I agreed, mainly because she told me I could back out at any time.