(Photo credit: Shaun Luc)

Happy New Year everyone! To start the new year off, I just wanted to reflect on the past year. 2016 had it’s up and downs but it was still full of fun and memorable times. Here are my top favorite moments of 2016 :

1. Hawaii Trip with my bff, Leticia- Our spring break trip consisted of hitting up the beach and relaxing in the warm Hawaii sun, hiking in the misty rain to Moana Falls  (which was more like a mud slide and less of a falls because of the drought), and catching the beautiful sunset and the fireworks show on our last day there. Every aspect of this trip was amazing and fun.

2. Kaaboo with my buddy, Diana- Our new birthday tradition. This year’s concert shenanigans involved watching our old favorite performers like Rooney, Snoop Dogg and Third Eye Blind as well as hanging out and lounging with the performers in the VIP section at Kaaboo by happenstance.

3. Concerts with my bestie, Jessica- There have been too many to mention but whether it was seeing Ashanti and Ja Rule or hitting up Wrex the Halls, I always had a fun time dancing and singing like an idiot with my bestie at every show.

4. Art Partnership with MCASD- Taking my students on field trips to the Museum of Contemporary Arts and having them showcase their art work was definitely a highlight for me and one of the most rewarding things I did this year. The the students had so much fun expressing themselves and sharing their art pieces with the public.

5. Disneyland at Halloween with Julia- I’ve never done Mickey’s Halloween Party before so it was awesome to dress up and check out the park all decked out for Halloween. The crap ton of candy and the perk of getting on rides in like 5 minutes versus 2 hours was a plus too.

6. My 30th birthday- Having two surprise birthday parties, one at work with my students and co-workers and one at karaoke with family and friends, as well as a picnic with friends and a paint nite with my cousin made my birthday very special and full of love.

7. Photoshoots with Shaun- I never thought I was model material (more like troll material) but it was fun doing some cool photoshoots around San Diego with my friend, Shaun Luc.

8. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter-Butter Beer and the Great Feast galore! So many yummy treats on this trip! In addition, I got to be the “Chosen One” during the wand ceremony at Ollivander’s Wand Shop. All my friends were jealous and wanted to kill me. It was great.

9. Killing my couch with my pal Earl- I had to get rid of my old couch. I couldn’t sell it and no one would take it, not even the Salvation Army, so the couch had to go. It was hilarious and even cathartic “making the couch die” but I definitely think the best part, besides the destruction of the old couch, was the satisfaction we got when my house was sans old couch and was rearranged and finally restored with the new couch.

10. Christmastime- Christmas break has been a blast. Everyday I spent it doing something fun, from Christmas parties with friends and family to hanging out with friends from out of town one-on-one, it has been great catching up with the people I care about so much.

Overall, 2016 made me thankful for the everything in my life. I definitely feel like I was able to get closer to my friends and family and I am blessed I have been able to have many happy moments with them. If 2016 was this good, I am looking forward to was 2017 will bring. Here’s to more love, happiness, and amazing experiences in the coming year! ❤

(Photo credit: Shaun Luc)