Finishing and Beginning Again | December 2025

December has been busy and I can't seem to get caught up on sleep. I didn't used to be a napping kind of person, but now... *yawn* Between my crazy hours at work, traveling to the southern hemisphere (and crossing the date line), and then taking trips on all my days off, I'm extremely sleep deprived. 

Dec 2 Flying to Bozeman and Boise just to collect flights (then my flight home was cancelled, so I flew to Spokane and took the train home)

Dec 6-11 Brisbane, Australia

Dec 15/16 Los Angeles for one night

Dec 22-24 San Diego and Santa Barbara (my biking plans were washed away by a huge storm)

Dec 29-31 Palm Springs with Cheryl 

Here are some of my favorite photos: 

CURRENTLY

Eating | Costco pumpkin pie 
Enjoying | as many naps as possible 
Watching | Krista's Compass on YouTube
Thankful | sunshine after lots of cloudy days
Planning | ski trips in February 
Anticipating | an EVEN year coming soon!! 

Surprising | I flew on 100 flights in 2025 

WRAPPING UP 2025

What an incredible year!! I visited eight new countries this year: Finland, Estonia, Sweden, Ireland, Australia, Thailand, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates. Thailand was my favorite, with Australia being a close second!! So my country count now is 32...still hoping for 50 before I turn 50!! 

In September, the airport was closed for runway restoration so I decided to travel all month and fly around the world! I was away from home for 24 days and somehow still managed to live out of just my little backpack. I was tired by the end, and did SO MUCH walking, but it was a very cool adventure to have by myself. 

Top five experiences this year: 

#1 Seeing so many hot air balloons at sunrise in Cappadocia

#2 Hiking and swimming in Lake Tahoe

#3 Ice skating on the Rideau Canal in Ottawa

#4 Climbing 4,444 steps in Florli, Norway 

#5 Seeing the midnight sun in the Lofoten Islands, Norway

Best ski resort: Big White, near Kelowna BC

Best alpine lake: Gem Lake

Best food: Pad See Ew and mango sticky rice in Thailand

Best hostel: Furu Hostel in Norway

Best walking tour: Dubai

Best time with friends: Las Vegas

Best workout: hiking to Mailbox Peak

Best old town: Tallinn, Estonia 

Best swimming: Lake Tahoe 

Best views: Reinebringen, Lofoten Islands, Norway

Best public transportation: Brisbane, Australia 

When you think about it, time is pretty weird. In some ways, the year was gone in a snap, but when you dig into it, we all accomplished soooo much and did so many fun and important things. If you're intentional about how you spend your time, a year can hold a lot! I'm really glad I was able to spend more time with Peter while he was going to college in Kirkland, and it was fun to do so many Seattle area hikes this spring! I feel like we really made lemonade. :)

I crossed all these adventures off my to-do list for this year!! 

Northern lights in Finland (not very bright)

Hike a section of the PCT

See the cliffs of Moher in Ireland

See the hot air balloons in Cappadocia 

Hike Artist Point, near Mt. Baker

Visit the Lofoten Islands during midnight sun 

Climb the Florli stairs

Walk from Coogee Beach to Bondi Beach near Sydney, Australia 

Hike the PR1 "Stairway to Heaven" in Madeira, Portugal 

STATS FOR 2025

12 blog posts including this one (YAY)

173 posts on my travel Insta and only 29 on my personal

only 3 posts on FB (oooops)

Strava: recorded 56 runs and 11 rides (I need to record more consistently here for sure)

100 flights (306.5 hours and 122,252 miles) visiting 51 airports on 23 airlines and touching 19 countries

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GOALS FOR 2026
run 100 miles

bike 1000 miles
consistently use my 12 pound weights at Jazzercise 

see more gorgeous local places

more mountain biking and paddleboarding

AND....drum roll please..... (I probably shouldn't make these lists but......) 

TRAVEL ADVENTURE WISH LIST FOR 2026
(first two carried over from last year)
Bike the Ohio to Erie Trail

Visit Sedona and Flagstaff in the fall and hike West Fork Creek 
Scotland: bike the Great Glen Way and climb stairs at Arthur's Seat

Cycle from Bilbao to San Sebastian, Spain

Experience the Road to Hana in Maui

Paddleboard on Redfish Lake, swim in Sawtooth Lake

Ride the Maya train to Merida, Mexico

Visit the Tolantongo hot springs north of Mexico City 

Swim in Lake Atitlan, Guatemala 

Climb the 3300+ steps to Shaka-in Temple in Sakamoto

Hike to Vesper Peak, Jade Lake, and Robin Lakes

Hike Roy's Peak, Wanaka, New Zealand