This year has been… interesting, in every possible sense of the word. Good, bad, up, down, horrible and absolutely wonderful all at the same time. We never really delve deeply into our personal lives on here so I think the best way to recap the past 365 days is a photo filled month-to-month breakdown. I met fantastic people, traveled a ton, and ate… a lot. I’m also positive I’ll wind up forgetting a bunch of things, but I can comfortably say throughout this past year, through all the ups and downs, it has been one of the best, and the one thing I always say that has really proved itself to be true is… everything happens for a reason, things almost always work themselves out and you’ll eventually be in the right place.
New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2008
January
I flew to Germany all by my lonesome for an impromptu trip to visit a friend and her husband. It was a great week, I skied and snowboarded in the Bavarian Alps, and I learned a lot about the country… and myself. It was completely breathtaking and I’d love to go back one day.
As much as I love the beach and summer, there’s something about a snow-covered mountain that always gets me!
February
I’m not going to lie… I really can’t remember a single thing I did in February of this year besides work. I’m guessing I hibernated as well?
March
Came out of hibernation to head down to sunny St. Augustine, Florida with Kate and Melis! This trip always seems to come at the right time. Ciao ciao snow, hellooooo shorts, sand, and the Atlantic!
Us with our buddy Fredrico, from Portugal, who we’ve bumped into every time we’ve visited St. Augustine!
April
I was laid off from my 9-5 job at the very beginning of the month. I was in shock for about… 3 minutes then quickly moved on when I remembered that everything happens for a reason. As I look back at my calendar from January-April it was close to empty because I think all I did was go to work. After being laid off, my calendar started to fill up with even more trips, opportunities that were better catered to what I want to do with my time and my life, and blogging events that I otherwise would have had to turn down had I still had a “traditional” job.
My friend Sarah also brought an adorable baby girl into the world and we all went to visit in the hospital shortly after she was born. This is a group of girls I’ve been extremely close with since freshman year of high school and I love that we’re all still close enough to be around for events like this.
May
I got my wisdom teeth out, eww to the tenth power. Sues’ sister Beth’s bridal shower happened and I stuffed my face even though my mouth was still sore from the surgery. I will never turn down food at Sues’ parents house regardless of any horrible physical condition I’m in! 
I designed the invitations for the wine and cupcake themed shower, too
Me and Sues at the shower
Also got out of a not-the-best “relationship” situation. Thankfully. Moved on. Learned a ton about myself, thanked my lucky stars for a solid family and unbelievable friends. Because everything happens for a reason…Phew.
I also visited my aunt and uncle’s new puppy, Sasha, for the first time. And I fell in love with her!
My friend Nicole had a Memorial Day party and Sarah brought her new baby, Madison, with her! This month was filled with lots of cute things
June
We met the Mayor of Boston (Tom Menino) at an event at Bella Luna… neat!
I also went to DC to visit my brother for a long weekend since he was working down there this summer. I think it hit me that I was getting “old” when I went to see him at his office on Capitol Hill and he was wearing a suit. woah. Someone please tell me where time goes!
I also had the best eggs benedict of my life at Art and Soul…
July
Spent the 4th of July weekend down the Cape with Melis and her family. Guaranteed good times.
We had a family reunion. I met so many new relatives, ate delicious bbq food, hung out with all the kids, and had a blast
Blogging this month also brought us each a Nintendo DSI (thanks to our fellow Bostonian blogger Julie Q) and we each got hooked up with our own Nikon P90s to play around with
Also met a nice boy
August
Celebrated my sister’s birthday with the family at The Fireplace, one of our favorite restaurants in Brookline.
Of course made time to stop by Crane Beach and the Clambox with my sister this month, too!
Celebrated my 26th birthday, which turned out to be the best one yet!
September
The wedding of the year happened…Beth and Adam got married and it was such a great night! I’ve known Sues, her sister, and their family since I was 7 years old…My, we’ve grown up fast!
I also went up to Ithaca, New York for a sibling trip to visit my brother… the week after he turned 21. Wowza, there we go again with the whole “time is flying” thing!
Realized I needed to prolong Summer a little more and headed back down to Florida for a week with Melis! I also shot a gun for the first time in my life… that’s some serious stuff! 
October
Went to NYC to spend some quality time with my grandmother and bumped into my sister on my way out
Found this old photo of me and my siblings while at my parents house… PRECIOUS! Love these two! We all look so cute and innocent, muah ha haaaa.
Chef Brian Poe also cooked a wonderful multi-course meal… in my apartment and it was all kinds of delightful!
Sues and I (along with three other bloggers) were sent to Chicago to learn all there is to know about turkey at Butterball University! Hands down one of the coolest experiences of my 26 years!
The nice boy I met built me an office in my apartment... sweeeeeet! 
November
Jetted to San Francisco via Virgin America for the Foodbuzz Festival! I can’t think of a time I’ve eaten more food than this weekend. It was well worth it! We discovered lots of new blogs to read, tons of new companies to fall in love with, and even made time to get an “express” tour of the city from my friend Corey before heading back to Boston!
Then there was, of course, Thanksgiving
December
This month was filled to the brim with blogging meet-ups and holiday parties! It’s neat that the friends we’ve met through blogging have become real life friends who we get to see and talk to all the time. Beholdddd the powers of zee internet
Christmas came and went! We went to my aunt and uncle’s house which means lots of time with my adorable cousins… and lots of Wii
And now it’s New Year’s Eve! I’m sitting in my living room with my good friend Nina, who I’ve known since high school, sipping wine, watching movies, and finally catching up! It’s a very appropriate way to wind down a hectic year It’s funny how things fall into place… I’ve never been more excited for the start of a new year! Bring it on, 2010
Happy New Year, everyone, have a wonderful twenty-ten, and thank you for reading!
2009, OUT!
[Chels]
