2016
The past year was a difficult one personally. The loss of my mother-in-law to cancer and the continued decline of my dad to early-onset Alzheimer’s were not things that my husband, Nick, and I expected to face in our twenties. (You can read more about how I deal with grief here and here.) On top of that, Nick’s intense trial schedules meant that he billed more hours in one year than I thought humanly possible. So it was a year of many tears, not a lot of sleep, and very late dinners. But here I am, stronger and wiser in the new year.
In spite of the personal, national, and global turmoil, there was still a lot of good in 2016. It was one hell of a travel year for us, including awe-inspiring hikes, beautiful golf courses, and some incredible meals. We were overwhelmed with love and support from friends and family. I continued to find my way professionally as a photographer, cooking class teacher, and blogger. And I launched this new blog! Those are the parts I want to focus on and remember, so I’ve put together this “year in review” to record some of the highlights. I mostly did this for myself as a practice in gratitude, but I’ll also consider it my Christmas card substitute. Lord knows I don’t have my life together enough to get real ones in the mail.
Travel
Clockwise from top left:
January | Andaz Papagayo, Costa Rica (read more here)
April | Road to Hana, Maui
April | Spanish moss canopy in Savannah, Georgia
April | Family luau in Lahaina, Maui
Clockwise from top left:
May | Marsland-Farmer wedding in Raleigh, North Carolina (photo by Callie Pitts Davis)
June | French Broad Chocolate in the creek in Montreat, North Carolina
June + November | Montreat, North Carolina
Clockwise from top left:
July | Rome, Italy (read about our hotel here)
July | Camogli, Italy (more on our Italian Riviera stay here and here)
July | San Fruttuoso, Italy (here’s how to get there)
July | the top of Milan’s Duomo, Italy
Clockwise from top left:
August | Family grilling in Black Mountain, North Carolina
February, June, August, November | Visiting my dad at Black Mountain Neuromedical Treatment Center
August | Flower picking with my nephew in Black Mountain, North Carolina
August | Ice cream making and ukulele playing with my little brother at the “barn house” in Black Mountain, North Carolina
Clockwise from top left:
November | Flowers at Bi-Rite Market in San Francisco’s Mission District
November | Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California
November | Nick’s early 30th birthday present: a round at Pebble Beach
November | Big Sur, California
Left to right:
December | Chateau Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada
December | Frozen waterfalls of Johnston Canyon in Banff National Park, Canada
Not pictured:
June | bachelorette party at Lake James in North Carolina
July | quick trip to Las Vegas with a friend in the travel industry
November | Nick’s work trips to DC + NYC
Golf
Ansley Golf Club, Midtown & Settindown (our home courses)
Four Seasons Golf Club at Peninsula Papagayo (pictured, top left)
Kapalua (pictured, bottom right)
Spyglass Hill (pictured, top right)
Pebble Beach (pictured, bottom left)
Favorite meals
In Atlanta:
Saltyard (pictured, middle)
While traveling:
The Florence, Savannah (pictured, right)
Mama’s Fish House, Maui
Da Paolo, Camogli, Italy
VUN, Milan
SPQR, SF
Petit Crenn, SF (pictured, left)
Frances, SF
Bakeries + treats:
Back in the Day Bakery, Savannah
Leoda’s Pie Shop, Maui
Tartine Bakery & Manufactory, SF
8ARM, Atlanta
Balcony garden
My little, west-facing balcony garden has lots of pots with my “plantas” (as I call them). Here’s what I grew this year:
Flowers | gardenias, zinnias
Vegetables + fruits | arugula, strawberries, sungold tomatoes, sweet peppers, broccoli (greens), kale
Herbs | sweet basil, Thai basil, rosemary, thyme, oregano, mint
(I also have an avocado tree, two lemon trees, and a serviceberry bush, but they aren’t producing yet)
Professional highlights
(Second photo down on the left is by Jamie Clayton Photography, and bottom right is by Tulle & Grace Photography.)
- I catered an 80-person wedding!
- I was guest chef for a styled shoot featured by Style Me Pretty Living.
- I cooked for the Lady Locavores fundraiser for Community Farmers Markets and a Sunday Supper fundraiser for Meals on Wheels Atlanta.
- I co-hosted a series of Sunday Suppers with Erika of Southern Souffle.
- I got paid to photograph brides and babies and belts and bottles and business owners.
- I taught cooking classes and led farmers market tours at a variety of venues.
- I designed business logos, wedding invitations, and maps.
- Nick took his first depositions!
- Nick had two legal articles published about insurance coverage.
- Nick billed *hopefully* the highest number of hours he ever will.
Taking the time to write all of this down reminded me that we have so, so much to be grateful for. In her diary, Anne Frank said, “I don’t think of all the misery, but of all the beauty that remains.” I hope to channel that sentiment going forward. Thank you for being a part of the beauty in 2016! Stay tuned for my 2017 intentions and my new favorite goal-setting tool (hint: there’s going to be a giveaway!).
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