100 things that made my year
Starting the new year with my best friends and our kids in Tahoe - my favorite place in the world.
Griff got to see snow for the first time!
Griff’s favorite Christmas gift from last year was a big cardboard box that we made into a spaceship.
Playing and never winning the lottery. Gotta play to win baby.
The magnolia trees blooming two months earlier on this side of the tunnel.
Griff being my sous chef each night for dinner. It has become a habit for us both to spend quality time cooking together.
Meditating more than I ever have before.
Dance parties with Griff after bath time. This will forever be a core memory for me.
Runs in the rain = FREE THERAPY.
The rainbow machine we hung in the window.
Using the bubble machine with Griff out in the yard. Bubbles are magic.
Taking my film camera with me to the flea market.
Took a few self portraits that I truly felt like myself in.
Photo safari walks where I just walk out my door, take my camera, and photograph whatever strikes.
Movie nights on the projector, cuddled up in Griff’s bed. Endless bowls of popcorn.
Endless trips to the beach.
The eight-week ceramics course I took with Danielle. I am so enamored with what I made and the entire process. Trying to figure out how to make more room for that in 2023.
The pieces I made in said ceramics course. I smile everytime I use them! WOW, I MADE THAT.
Dinners on the floor at Laurie’s new apartment before she had furniture.
Loved the movie Kodachrome.
Epic sunsets on this side of the tunnel.
Cooking a lot at home. Mucho dog walks with Ralphie. Enjoying my little house nestled in the trees.
Making homemade noodles with Griff, just the way my mama used to.
Spending an incredible amount of days at the Oakland Zoo.
Stretching myself creatively at Elsie Green and elevating my photography skills.
Spent a lot of time working on my fitness at the beginning of the year. Hoping to get back on the proverbial wagon (or Peloton) there.
Letting Griff dye my hair pink.
Visiting Filoli for endless photo safaris with Rachel. Starting the first day of 2023 there in true fan girl fashion.
Shot four seasonal digital magazines for Elsie Green - each one better than the last.
Got lots of new tattoos. Sorry Dad.
Started doing my own eyelash extensions at home. This has brought me endless amounts of joy this year.
Read almost 100 books. Crushed my 2022 goal.
Took a photo every night of the funny hairstyles we would give Griff in the bathtub. “Mommy, lemme see it”. I’ll never delete these.
Our Anna had a baby! Little Magnolia!
Played a nightly round of “mommy, can I put my face on that?” after Griff would get done eating dinner (the answer was usually no because his face was so dirty and why would you want to put your face on something? Yet, he persisted)
Spent many a night at home with Griffy and Auntie Ray Ray - reading books, doing bath time and drinking wine (us - not Griff ha)
Realized I am very much into women. Came out to all my friends and family and felt so incredibly supported.
Met a girl…. I was so nervous the night we met my hands were shaking.
Had endless book club meetings with my friends with the intent of talking about the books we read. But really it was just an excuse to get together and drink wine.
Watching Griff thrive up at my Dad’s property in Red Bluff. A little boy’s heaven - fishing, tractors, ATV rides. Grandpas are just the best aren’t they?
Learned to play tennis and love it!
So many Sunday pancakes.
Celebrated Naazak’s summer wedding with a shower in LA with all my favorite people!
Started my antidepressant again. HALLELUJAH FOR MODERN MEDICINE.
Spent a weekend being an LA tourist with my aunt and cousin.
Learned how to make the perfect old fashioned and aperol spritz. Yum.
Threw a 4-year-old birthday party for Griffy at the Little Farm in Berkeley.
Took a spoon carving class that I have had on my wish list forever.
Our book club got VERY into the Court of Thorns and Roses series. VERY spicey. You’re welcome for the smut.
Took our annual photo booth photos with Griff for his birthday. We are making this our tradition, it is such a fun keepsake.
Spent a wild bachelorette weekend in Cabo for Naazak’s last fling.
Got the best fire fighting videos of my dad from his summer driving a water truck for Cal Fire. I live for his content.
Introduced my Jackie to all of my family, friends and Griffy. Not surprisingly, it went over swimmingly. She’s just the best.
Emily Henry and Kristin Hannah’s books. Couldn’t put them down.
Changed my own turn indicator light that was out on the Jeep. LIKE A BOSS.
Jackie got a new Bronco and I like to ride shotgun in it.
Went down to Long Beach to see my favorite people and make them stand around while I got a tattoo. Love you twins and Dan.
Spent a weekend in Fresno with my cousin and aunt. Griffy had the best time being on “vacation”.
Met my little niece Eleanor for the first time (you know, because covid). I just want to hold her for the rest of forever but she wouldn’t like that.
Went to Mendocino with Jack for our first weekend away together. We went glamping at Mendicino Grove where I have always wanted to stay.
My brother got engaged to the love of his life! He proposed using our mom’s wedding ring and it is just so perfect. I cried.
Had a crazy amazing seven course dinner with Laurie in Oakland at Hi Felicia.
Took a trip to Texas to meet Jackie’s dad. I was the winner of the fishing trip even though he will never admit it.
Celebrated little Lucy’s first birthday! What a year it has been little one.
Went to the Exploritorium with Auntie Ray Ray for Griffy’s birthday present.
Got my bestie, Naazak, married to the man of her dreams!
Met allllllllll the cute dogs this year. Nothing brings me more joy.
Started a photo club! I am excited to see what we create next year.
Spent the weekend exploring Lassen State Park with my dad. Kayaking, hiking and doing all the things.
Took Ralph on his first vacation ever to Tahoe! He was the goodest boi. We stayed at the Coachman.
Had our first photo club meeting at Chinatown in SF.
Poppy took Griff on a fishing trip on the American River and it was the cutest thing ever to watch my brothers and dad teach him their favorite pastime.
Bought myself a new bad ass camera.
Expanded my photography portfolio. It felt good to stretch and learn new things.
Had 52 therapy sessions. Therapy rocks.
Spent an epic Halloween night with the Kiefer’s in Danville getting ALL the candy. Griff, Jack, and I dressed up as Sonic the Hedgehog characters.
Got a VERY exciting call that I can’t share the details of quite yet.
Friendsgiving. It is always one of the highlights of my year.
Got a second VERY exciting announcement a week later. More on that next year.
Showed up so many times to find that Jackie was wearing the same exact outfit as I was. Something to get used to in wlw relationships ha!
Saw Fletcher in concert at the Fox Theater in Oakland. I’ve always wanted to see a concert there.
Griffy learned to ride a big boy bike!
Went on our annual visit to Glowfari at the Oakland Zoo with Auntie Yell, Jack and Sarah. We had the best time chasing bubbles and running after the kids.
Took Jack to see the Christmas decorations in New York and visit my little sister Andie. She was an amazing tour guide to show Jack the city for the first time.
SAW THE CHRISTMAS TREE AT ROCKEFELLER CENTER. CORE MEMORY.
Booked a trip to Morocco for next year! It has been at the top of my travel list forEVER.
Learned how to do my own nails. Game changer. I’m never going to the salon again. (Just kidding - Jackie really just does them for me, bless her).
Had our annual gingerbread build and xmas movie marathon with Auntie Yell.
Spent a very rowdy night in Lafayette with Rachel, which I blame completely on her and the thizz dance.
Took a fun stop-motion video class. Still getting the hang of it, but it is fun to create new things.
Griff met Santa. Hated every second of it.
Took Jack to Point Reyes to celebrate her birthday for a fun overnight at Nick’s Cove. (Ralph came along on that vacation too, he is just a traveling boi now).
Started doing some freelance work with a couple of brands that I love.
A few visits to Scribe are always a must each year.
Spent quite a few mornings at the SF Flower Mart or foraging for pretty things. This is my favorite pastime.
Got ‘ahloo’ tattooed on my finger. When Griffy was learning to talk he would sound out ‘ahhhh looo’ instead of saying ‘i love you’. I never want to forget that, it was so very cute.
BOUGHT AN EICHLER IN WALNUT CREEK WITH JACK.
Spent an insane amount of hours researching, planning, decorating, and picking paint colors for said house.
Enjoyed the ‘dead week’ between Christmas and New Year’s. Took the liberty to allow myself to do NOTHING. So luxurious.
Am ringing in the New Year tomorrow with Rach and Jack at my favorite wine bar. What could be better?
Bring it on 2023.
xoxo,
Kelsey
