My year in reveiw

It has been almost just over 11 months since I last posted on here. Guess I didn't follow the "I will post more in 2013" vow.

My 2013 was busy and has brought some big changes (most of which are yet to be defined). I was able to fill this year with family and friends once again.

In February Molly, Amanda, Racheal and I went to see Pentatonix live. They are a great group. The night was freezing, but that didn't stop us from waiting outside by their bus for pictures. Such groupies!

Photo Bomb!

Nice group shot with the ladies.

Just like any other year we celebrated all 3 of the boys birthdays at Amanda's. Such fun seeing them grow up. Most of the boys picked Brody Hall (on MSU's campus) for their "birthday dinner". I think they like it because it is buffet style and there so many choices it can be overwhelming.


2013 was a big year for some great friends of mine; Bonnie and Scott got engaged and the wedding festivities began. Bonnie asked me to be a bridesmaid and of course I accepted. First thing on the wedding to-do list; Bridal shower and wedding dress shopping. The Bridal Shower was in Washington DC and it was great to get back there. The weekend consisted of bridal dress shopping, a night out for the bridesmaids (and family) and the shower on Sunday. A friend, Emily (also a bridesmaid) and I drove to DC and back together. We had a great time catching up on the car ride. We even pushed the Prius to max and learned that just because the low fuel light is blinking doesn't mean you are "really" out of gas.

We found the dress.

Dinner with friends.

Cheers!!

The entire bridal party.

The spring continued to be great for me professionally. The American Cancer Society was holding it's last year of Cancer Prevention Study 3 (CPS-3) and my office was chosen to host a few enrollment sites. Our goal was to enroll 500 people in CPS-3 and we went over that. It did take a little help from our friends though.

That is Tom Izzo, MSU Men's Basketball coach.. and ME! Yes, Tom enrolled.

I took some time out for me in 2013 went on a cruise to the Bahamas with Kathy. We had a great time. It was so relaxing to be fully unplugged and out in the sun. I got my first sunburn in almost 20 years. I wore sunscreen, I just didn't reapply like I should have - lesson learned. 

While on the trip we met some wonderful people. We are all Facebook friends now and if Kathy and I ever Alabama we know we have a place to stay. 

Looking out on the first port

We went snorkeling and clear bottom kayaking in this amazing water.

Just me and the frog.

I decided I wanted to get in better shape and joined a Fit Body Bootcamp class. I loved it. Unfortunately, my groupon ran out after just 6 weeks and I wasn't going without a groupon (the membership is pricey $$)  So I decided to take up running again. I started to train for the first Color Run to come to Lansing. I went with a group of friends and we had a blast.

Color run at the capital.

Color Me Happy!

We all had a great time and got really colorful. The run is coming back to Lansing for 2014 and I think I might be going again. Also, I bought another groupon for bootcamp and start going again on January 6th. I will need help as I am now officially out of shape. 

Not only did I spend time with family, but family came to see us as well. We had visitors from VA. My Aunt Pat, Uncle Bill, Cousin Shannon (and kids Anna Campbell and Easton), and Camryn came to visit. It was a pretty quick trip but a lot of fun. I can't believe how big the kids are getting. We took them all to the Binder Park Zoo and had a great time. About a month and a half later Shannon's brother, my cousin Brandon came to visit while on a LONG motorcycle trip across the nation. 

Even though I wasn't in the field staffing Relay For Life events this year, I still visited many and was able to have my first family team in here in Michigan. It was a lot of fun, we raised over $1200.00 and the kids loved it. I walked 15 miles and this year, my goal is more. If you want to donate to me for Relay For Life please do! Don't worry another ask will be coming soon - I am sure. 

September brought Bonnie's bachelorette party. This was here in Michigan. I housed some of the bridesmaids and we had a weekend filled with 80's music, Michigan foods, and a Tigers game. All in all fun 3-4 days. 

80's night.

2013 was filled with weddings. In October my friends Meaghan and Ben got married. It was a beautiful ceremony and I was pleased to be a part of it. 

Just about a month after this wedding Bonnie and Scott tied the knot in Miami over Thanksgiving weekend. This Thanksgiving I spent with friends. I did get sick again, but it was just a small cold. The wedding was beautiful and it was nice to be in Miami during what is normally a cold holiday in Michigan. 

Getting ready

Photo booth

Nothing like a Jewish wedding with pictures in
front of Christmas tree.

This year also brought some fun on the home front. I went for many hikes with Sandie - explored some new parks and played in the water. Sandie went through and graduated from doggie training.

Muddy day at the dog park

Hike in a state park and first time swimming off the leash

Sleeping during a day at Aunt Amanda's. 

2013 brought a lot of visits with family and friends. My sister and I took a trip to Pennsylvania to see out Grandmother and visit with my dad and his wife Jen on their move to Florida. We had a great few days together. Amanda, Dad and I were able to explore the old, abandoned brick mill that my Grandfather used to work in years ago. The place was incredible and great for pictures, but it also brought back a lot of memories for my father. For me - it was a wonderful memory to make. Exploring this fantastic place, taking pictures with my sister and father. Something all three of us love to do. It also reignited my passion for photography - all from my iphone. 

Looking back on 2013 I felt like the year was exhausting, mentally draining and very up in the air for me. Don't get me wrong - it was. There are still a lot of things in my life that have yet to settle (can't post on that now, but I will in a few weeks). But doing this post - I realized - my year was amazing. I had great times with great friends (some that didn't make this post), enjoyed my family and I was able to travel to places I have never been before. All in all I couldn't have asked for more in my year. 

My hope is start posting more in depth posts on my 2014 adventures. That may stop a long year in review post... like this one.  If you are still with me thanks for hanging in there!! Happy 2014 to you!!

Share the Good!!

Sometimes I turn on the news, hear a story and wonder, "What is happening to this world?" or "How did humanity end up like this?" or "What happened to that person that made them do that?" I think we all have those days. Unfortunately, there seems to be more bad news on the news than good.

In college I was a communications major. I thought I wanted to become a journalist. I used to say that I wanted to anchor the Today Show. After finally finishing all of my pre-rec courses I was able to take my first journalism class. I knew, even before sitting in my seat for the first time, that this class was the start of my future. I had no idea how that class would help shape my life later on.

My first assignment was to pick a topic (any topic) that I felt had an affect on campus. I don't remember what topic I picked. I don't remember who I chose to interview, but I do remember what my professor said when I turned in the first draft. He advised me that "although this is a good story, it is the bad news that sells papers. So try to find the underbelly of the story." The underbelly? I didn't want to find the underbelly. I was 20 years old. The world was still good to me. Not every story had an underbelly. I wasn't ready to take off the rose colored glasses. It was then that I decided that I didn't want to make my living looking for the negativity in the world. I wanted to work for the good and see the good in the world. This experience helped shape me. I don't think I knew it then, but I believe now that this experience helped me drive towards working in the non-profit industry.

Sometimes, not often, but sometimes a news story makes the rounds that brings a warm feeling to my heart. Sometimes, not often, these stories make the rounds nationally. It is these stories, people and life experiences that bring tears to my eyes; that show me not every news story has an underbelly. News stories like this prove that there is good in the world.

There is good in this world. It is up to us, as human beings, as people who want to help make a difference, to find those stories and share them. To show the media and today's children that good warms the heart, that good draws attention, that good brings ratings too, that good is cool!!

So please if you see someone do something good, share it! That is all I ask; just share the good.