2013

So 2013. An amazing year for me. I had a few awesome opportunities professionally that challenged me. I fell in love. Had a few awesome adventures. Traveled. Went to 29 new National Parks. Enjoyed life.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 To capture the essence of 2013 I've picked a few of my favorite photos from 2013 to illustrate my year. So here we go:

January: one word INAUGURATION. That's what January was to me. Prepping for the biggest thing in my professional career so far! And a few days after I agreed to go on a date with a boy and that date has changed everything.

Roomie & I on inauguration morning

Speaking to approx 1500 HS students

February: A busyish month with not a lot of pictures. A training for work and then a week in Indy. Lots of date nights and dinners with friends! 

 

Channeling my inner Leslie Knope in Indy

My loves!

March: TRAVEL - I was home for 5 days all month. And 3 of those days were spent with Chance skiing. I was working in Columbus, Westchester, Albany & Orlando. It was a crazy month. A lot of National Parks visited!

World's largest basket in Ohio

airport fun

One of many National Parks visited in March

Celebrating St. Patrick's Day in NYC with Meg & Suz. I've known them both since elementary school!

 April: Still some travels. A conference in Columbia, SC plus a few needed days in Charleston seeing Amy and enjoying all my favorite places! Went home to say goodbye to the house I grew up in as my parents were moving. Went backpacking with the boy and his friends!

Charleston

backpacking in GW & Jefferson National Forest

home

May: Fun travel! And enjoying not working 24/7! Went to Cali for Mary's wedding! Lots of adventure on that trip! Charleston for Amy's grad school graduation! A fun bachelorette in Chestertown! Seeing friends and enjoying spring! 

Cabrillo National Historic Site

Congrats Mary!

Congrats Amy!

Chestertown fun!

 June: starting to pick up again before traveling for 6 weeks. A fun hike at Harper's Ferry with Chance. The little brother graduating from high school! And starting 3 weeks in Colorado for a conference!

Harper's Ferry from the hike

family

enjoying an afternoon off at one of my favorite places in Boulder while in Colorado! 

 July: work, work, work. Was in Colorado, NJ & North Carolina for the month working conferences. At times extremely challenging but it was a big learning experience for me. And I turned 28!

happy birthday America from Colorado

a quiet moment in NC

happy birthday! my staff made me a birthday fort!

 August: So apparently I didn't do much in August. After the 6 weeks I was gone I just wanted to relax! Though Chance met my parents!

one of the few things I did in August

September: a busy month - but lots of fun! A crew reunion for Megan's wedding. Chance and I went camping on Assateague for a few days, Suz came to see me and we played in DC and I went home to see my parents. 

Crew ladies! 

all of the ponies! 

Suz and I visiting TJ

Momma and I at Sandy Hook

Probably my favorite picture all year at Gettysburg!

October: The highlight was running 200 miles through Tennessee with an amazing team! Ragnar was one of the coolest things I've ever done! A panda-cam Halloween and  a super wet weekend camping!

George's Girls! After 200 miles through Tennessee in 29 hours! 

Halloween fun! 

November: Helped Gamma Beta celebrate 75 years of sisterhood and said goodbye to my grandfather who passed away at 84.

My chapter's chain in the ZTA chain of chapters - we are the 75th link! 

December: Lots of baking, celebrating Christmas, National Parking and ending 2013 with Chance. 

O Christmas Tree

Happy New Year

the house - as of the end of December

A day of National Parks fun

So 2013 was pretty awesome. Travel wise I went to 16 states. No new ones in 2013. I did go to 29 new National Parks and around 58 National Parks this year.  I can't wait for my 2014 adventures! I just hope 2014 is as good as 2013!