Dear 2014,

You were a odd one. Here are some of your:

Travel highlights:

• Attended three weddings. Family wedding Florida, adopted-cousins wedding in Sardinia and friend’s wedding in Toronto. All spectacular.
• Secluded beaches in Sardinia.
• Family time and delicious seafood in Norfolk, UK.
• Flooded Piazza San Marco in Venice with funky Manchester crew.
• Mountain Hike for Canada Day at Mont – Tremblant.
• Ice Climbing at Beaver Creek near Haliburton.
• Skying lessons at Blue Mountain.
• Detroit Institute of Art and Weekend in Detroit.
• Niagara on the Lake Lunches and Wine Tasting.

Personal highlights:

• Keeping up the plan to be best Aunt to 2 pair of twins. I think by the end of the year I had 4 kiddies who can pick me in a crowd. Tremendous success.
• Our Etsy shop has increased sales by 100% that is two sales have made me really giddy, super giddy. They were sales from our neighbour down south and I can attest I do not know these lovely people and I did not guilt trip them into buying them. Also very proud that both prints were Romanian-based.
• Upgraded my Camera.
• Read 24 books and 8 children books.
• Found a Yoga place I/we like.
• My software development work has extended to include both medical assessment as well as clinical. It is something I wanted for a few years now.
• Walks in parks even on my own, without Husband pushing me out of the house.
• Decided on the type of place we want to live in.
• Had my 15 seconds of fame by ending up on stage in a Romanian play.
• Stuart, our Norfolk Pine Tree is growing beautifully.

Toronto highlights:

• Long walks through parks. Worth mentioning again because they are some of the most peaceful moments we have.
• Friend’s visits from overseas helped us walk around downtown more than usual.
• A visit to the Royal Ontario Museum.
• Theatre plays: Some at Passe Murraille Theatre, Book of Mormon, a trip to Stratford and one to Shaw Festival, some Romanian theatre and Australian Opus.
• Good food: Rose and Sons, Smoked and Cracked, Café Belong brunch, hot chocolate at Soma and NADÈGE and some other regulars.

I call you odd 2014 because it is hard to classify you. You were a year of searches, patience, lots of work, and learning. It is easier to channel your peaceful self when all is fun and games, travel and good times. It is equally important to find the same balance when work takes precedence and things do not move at the speed you want them to. I am lucky to enjoy both my work and my hobbies so balancing it all and myself is achievable with some good nights of sleep. The key to all, as simple as it may sound, is to take it one day at a time. So 2014 you really pushed me to take it one day at a time.

Before we let 2015 take center stage here are a few highlight photos of the year, all based in our lovely Canada. Wishing everyone a peaceful 2015.