My 2023 Wrapped

Every year when my Spotify wrapped comes out at the end of the year, I have two epiphanies: 1.) I really need to start listening to singers besides Taylor Swift and Cascada and 2.) I should recap a year in my life sometime in the same way. So in my last entry of 2023 (crazy, right), I thought I’d take a look back on all I’ve done this year so that I can remember what a riot 2024 should be if it has to build off this one. I constantly find myself saying that each year is more unexpected than the last, which I think is the key to building a happy life. If you never know what the new year may bring, then the only thing you spend time controlling are the friends and family you take with you on the journey. Which I think is the perfect way to capture the best moments, let go of the worst moments, and make more moments – all in one.

THIS year, I…..

January

1.)    Spent NYE downtown for my first legal experience in Chicago

2.)    Flew to Seattle with my best friend, Donna, to show her my new home

3.)    Tried Hotpot for the first time in Bellevue, WA

4.)    Took a road trip to Leavenworth, WA with Donna, staying in a spa resort and hot tubbing in a blizzard

5.)    Took a deadly drive up to Kerry Park (would not recommend doing this in a non-SUV)

6.)    Drove up Chuckanut drive to the stunning Bellingham, WA

7.)    Ate at Dreamland Diner, the trippiest dining experience near Seattle

February

8.)    Enjoyed highly addictive soup dumplings at Din Tai Fung (multiple times)

9.)     Did a wine tasting in the wine country of Woodinville, WA

10.) Gave the Ballard breweries another shot (still dislike beer & I don’t think that’s changing at this point)

11.) Celebrated the ultimate half-birthday with a half broken (on purpose) cake topper and broken conveyer belt sushi

12.) Visited the Bellevue Botanical gardens and got the world’s greatest facial @ All Star Spa

13.)  Finally tried the West Coast’s best pasties at Flower Box

14.)  Received my new car - named Midnights, because of course

March

15.)  Adventured Deception Pass State Park (one time of hundreds)

16.)  Took a work trip to Denver, CO (did you know their airport is haunted?)

17.)  Rented a party bus with all my coworkers

18.)  Vacationed in Charleston, SC, reuniting with my study abroad friends

19.)  Saw the sights in Charleston, from the pineapple fountain to Rainbow row, with plenty of time for fried green tomatoes and other surprises wink, wink

20.)  Relished the Seattle Cherry Blossoms at the University of WA

21.)  Hiked St. Edwards State Park

April

22.) Walked the tulip fields at the Annual WA Tulip Festival in La Conner, WA

23.)  Took a weekend trip to Portland, Oregon with a close friend (SO Amy!)

24.)  Visited Powell’s Books, the world’s largest independent bookstore

25.)  Walked around the Volunteer Park Conservatory in Cap Hill

26.)  Shivered up Mount Rainier

27.)  Took pictures outside Whatcom Falls in Bellingham, WA

May

28.)  Saw Shrek 2: orchestra version (?!) at Benaroya HALL

29.)  Hiked Wallace Falls, all three waterfalls

30.)  Took an Alaskan cruise with my dad!

31.)  Landed on Juneau’s Mendenhall glacier via HELICOPTER

32.)  Got to go real life dog sledding

33.)  Was in the vicinity of baby huskies and met my new best friend, Teddy the husky

34.)  Had a real life Titanic photoshoot crossing Glacier Bay, Alaska

35.)  Rode the world’s tallest zipline

36.)  Went rafting with whales and sea otters in Sitka, AK

37.)  Got a taste of Russian history in Sitka as well

38.)  Went ATV’ing in Ketchikan, followed by a delicious fresh-caught crab dinner

39.)  Ran around Victoria on a ghost tour

June

40.)  Hiked Poo Poo Point trail (a toughie but a goodie)

41.)  Took a tour of the Amazon Spheres

42.)  Went on a whacko shopping spree at the local Archie McPhee

43.)  Hosted my own booth at my very first shipper show

44.)  Tried PINK Momo Dumplings at Wallingford Farmers Market

45.)  Walked across the High Steele Bridge (WA’s highest bridge)

46.)  Watched a Mariners Game (we won!)

47.)  Attended the summer solstice parade

48.)  Picked pounds of delicious strawberries

49.)  Listened to Taylor Swift with the family at a DJ event

50.)  Relaxed at a True Rest Float Spa

51.)  Watched a world cup at Soldier Field

52.)  Visited Chicago’s OPO for a work trip, simultaneously with Joe Biden

53.)  Got cocktails at the rooftop of the Mountaineering Club

54.)  Visited Pike Place with Serena, stopping at fan favorites like the gum wall and fish market

July

55.)  Hiked Blue Lake in North Cascades National Park with Serena

56.)  Whale watched on Orcas Island – and actually saw one!

57.)  Enjoyed the 4th of July firework display at Gas Works Park with 70,000 people

58.)  Saw The Tempest at Seattle’s Shakespeare in the Park

59.)  Show Daniella around Seattle, from Din Tai Fung to Kerry Park and the UW

60.)  Watched Mamma Mia for the first time with Sydney

61.)  Jammed to live music at the Sunset Tavern

62.)  Shared a bottle of wine with Sydney at the Chateau St. Michelle

63.)  Hiked Rattlesnake Ledge with Sydney and Mollie

64.)  Partied in the Rhino Room

65.)  SAW TAYLOR SWIFT LIVE IN CONCERT (top moment of the year?)

66.)  Enjoyed Golden Gardens beach

67.)  Visited Irvine, CA for a work trip, sailing on Newport Beach

68.)  Visited Milwaukee, WI for yet ANOTHER work trip

69.)  Dined at Mader’s German restaurant, where A-list celebrities and politicians have dined

70.)  Saw Ed Sheeran in concert

71.)  Watched the new Barbie movie with my best friends

72.)  Visited Miami for work trip #3 of the month

August

73.) Watched Clueless as part of “Movies at the Maral”, underneath the Space Needle

74.)  Took a ferry to Port Townsend, WA

75.)  Counted down to 22 at Violet and Unicorn

76.)  Completed Mt. Rainier’s Paradise Trail

77.)  Walked around Reflection Lake in North Cascades

78.)  Grabbed a drink at the Seattle Starbucks Reserve Roastery

79.)  Spent a week at home with my cousins <3

September

80.)  Hiked Mt. Rainier’s Skyline Trail (gold star for 2023’s best hiking experience)

81.)  Went to my first drag brunch experience at Unicorn in Cap Hill

82.)  Took a road trip to Vancouver, BC – poutine, Canadian live music, suspension bridges, and more!

83.)  Climbed to the top of Heybrooke Lookout

84.)  Made it through yet another AOP season

85.)  Hung out with deer at Point Defiance State Park in Tacoma, WA

October

86.) Embarked on a quest to see Seattle’s highlights, all of my favorite things mentioned and not mentioned above😊- one day at a time

87.)  Watched a dazzling display of dancers with Derek Hough @ The Paramount

88.)  Dined at my first ever (successful) conveyer belt sushi place

89.)  Picked apples at Swan Lake Farms

90.)  Went on a creepy ghost tour of the city of Seattle

91.)  Watched my first improv show in Seattle underneath Pike Place Market (Unexpected Productions)

92.)  Take a ferry to Bainbridge Island

93.)  Check out the University of WA’s Reading Room, which inspired Harry Potter

94.)  Experienced a Broadway musical – Hadestown- at the Seattle Paramount

November

95.)  Tried raw oyster’s at Elliott’s Oyster House on the water

96.)  Visited Donna at HER home in Syracuse, NY

97.)  Spent a lot of time with Donna’s cat, but also at the mall buying my first ever COACH BAG

98.)  GOT A NEW JOB!! YAYYYY (a promotion is always good news)

99.)  Cooked a delicious Thanksgiving turkey and host with my family

100.)                  Spend Black Friday with my friends in downtown Chicago

December  

101.) Took one last trip to Anacortes and La Conner, WA for their annual Christmas tree lighting

102.) Enjoyed Astro Lumina, Seattle’s ultimate light show

103.) Toured the Boeing Future of Flight facility in Everett, WA

104.) MOVED HOME!!

105.) Took a trip to the Dominican Republic with my family

106.) Typed out this LAST blog of 2023

Year-Long:

107.)                 Went to Trivia at least 20 times (including at least one trivia per neighborhood in Seattle)

108.)                 Partied at not one, not two, but THREE broadway raves

109.)                 Kept up with a podcast and blog

110.)                  Many rain showers and happy hours

111.)                 Hiked some pretty magnificent landmarks, including TWO national parks

112.)                 Had many cute kitty café visits- in Seattle, Charleston, & Syracuse

113.)                  Enjoyed MANY visits to Seattle’s many parks and attractions, including Gas Works and Wings over WA

114.)                   Showed SEVEN friends around Seattle

115.)                 Watched another incredible year go by

Now that I’m back from vacation, I’m relaxed, rejuvenated, and ready – for whatever awaits me in 2024! I look forward to another year of publishing blogs and enjoying the surprises that come with being a confused 20-something, now back in Chicago. Happy new year!

For the last time this year….

Sincerely,

Sharon