Resolutions for a New (& better) Year

2009 was a year of change for me & many around me. Although some of the change I went through did not initially seem like it was for the better, each of these events allowed me to learn something new about myself. Learning is growing and I feel like I matured more than ever this year. As for the positive highlights & major events this year -- I moved to a new place, was promoted to a new position within my company, soaked up some sun with my bf in Miami/Fort Lauderdale, dove through the Great Barrier Reef, took a ferry ride through the Sydney Harbour in Australia, ran my 2nd half marathon with my sisters & the corporate challenge with my coworkers - memorable moments that I will keep with me forever.

I don't know exactly what 2010 will bring, but I have high expectations & plan on it being spectacular. Perhaps my new year's resolutions will be a great way to push it in that direction.

During this new year, I resolve to...

• resurrect the SF museum & sightseeing mission
  
• continue to exercise my brain by reading, writing, blogging, etc.
  
• complete as many items on The Big Eat SF: 100 Things to Try Before You Die list as I can
• take one domestic vacation
• take one international vacation
• give back to my community/ volunteer my time for those in need
• spend less time doing mindless stuff online (ie. facebook)
• master the acoustic guitar
• run another half marathon, maybe a 10k - the point is to continue to be active
  
• be a better daughter, sister, girlfriend, employee, friend & independent.
• exude more positivity (by surrounding myself with more of it & less negativity)
  

Check back and watch me while I make every one of these things happen.

SF Dine About Town

It's baaaaack. A foodie favorite event - Dine About Town aka Taste SF!

From January 15-31, you can indulge in 2 to 3 course lunches/dinners at some of San Francisco's best restaurants for under $40.

Book your reservations asap, spots fill up fast.

http://www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com/taste/dineabouttown/

MOM & DAD

My parents are/ were such a stunning duo. Circa 1970? If only my mom saved all of her clothes. Fashion almost always repeats itself.

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you and your family a wonderful holiday season filled with lots of love, laughs & tasty treats!

Christmas Came Early

She says it's not technically a Christmas gift, but a few days ago, I received the most thoughtful package in the mail from Angelique, a notebook with the word "Wanderlust" on the cover. It was spotted at a craft fair in Portland and it's now in my possession ready for travel adventures to fill it from corner to corner.

What's great is, I know I'll definitely put this to use. Whenever I travel, I ALWAYS keep track of my day to day adventures. It makes for simple photobook/ scrapbook making. Without a travel journal, I'd be sitting there for hours trying to figure out the name of every lake, building, and bar that I went to.

THANK YOU
THANK YOU
THANK YOU

To Miss Angelique for thinking of me! I absolutely LOVE it.

Winter Wonderland

It's not technically winter yet, but with the temperature at very low numbers (lower than I'm used to) it sure feels like it. Despite the coldness in the air, I still made it out for ice skating at Justin Herman Plaza last week for the Google customer appreciation holiday event. Good thing I did, otherwise I would have never discovered my love for Parmesan mac & cheese w/ white truffle oil (yum!).

This was my first time ice skating since high school and it's pretty much like riding a bike. After a few laps around the rink, it wasn't so cold anymore...

Farewell, Australia!

Sydney the 2nd Time Around...

We're back in Sydney for one last day/night before we fly back to San Francisco and we spend our last day doing the following...

Strolling through the Botanical Garden.


Then we headed to the Opera House and stumbled upon the sound check for Australian Idol's season finale. Guess who we found!!?? Michael Buble!!! He's one of the host and got there a little early to meet & greet fans.



We stopped to take another picture in front of the Harbour Bridge.

Saw live music at the Opera Bar.

Had a few drinks & canapes in the executive lounge at our hotel (btw, an awesome perk if you have business discounts). With the extra hour we had before dinner, we took a few glasses of wine to our room and took advantage of the plush robes hanging in the closet.

Then, we got ready & went out for a group dinner at the Meat & Wine Co. in Darling Harbour.

After dinner, we had a few drinks at Zachary's with the group, then headed to Panghaus (I think that's what the bar/club we went to was called).

Made new friends.

Danced the night away at Kings Cross.


...and that was the day!

Didgeridoo

The Didgeridoo is an instrument that was developed by the Aborigine people of Australia. I wish I could describe the sound it makes because it's a funny one :). This group of men played it to techno sounding music at the Circular Quay on the daily. Then there's me - pretending I know how to play it.

Last night in Cairns

Our last night in Cairns, Allison & I were exhausted from all of the adventures we embarked on over the last few days so we decided to have a chill night. We had dinner, took a stroll around town for souvenirs and headed back to the hostel to pack. I figured we'd want to go big on our last night in Sydney that we'll save our energy til we reunite with the rest of the group.

We almost watched the premiere of New Moon, but we decided to have a nice dinner instead. Check out the line in the mall - it's popular everywhere!

Street Signs

This first one is just another street sign, but this one below - soo random.

Herbal Essence Photoshoot

My dreams of being an Herbal Essence model came true in Australia (note: sarcasm) because Brad made us all do the hair flick that made those commercials unforgettable. Okay, so he didn't really have to pull our arms because we thought it would be fun - check out our best out of 3 haha. On a serious note, this place is actually the location where the actual waterfall Herbal Essence commercial was set. Remember it?

Chasing Waterfalls

Millaa Millaa Falls is one of the most photographed waterfalls. In aborigine, Millaa means water. Queensland hasn't had much rainfall in the past year, so the waterfall doesn't look as beautiful as it normally does in pictures. Though, there's still quite a bit of water - you just can't really see how much it actually is from afar.

[Below: Dinner Falls]

Volcanic Craters & More Locals

[Mount Hypipamee Crater]

[Lake Eacham - volcanic crater turned lake]

Jamie jumping in.

Scrub Turkey.


Turtle.


Sea Dragon.

[Lake Barrine - volcanic crater turned lake]

The Rainforest & Cathedral Fig Tree

[I forgot what this is called, but it's deadly haha]

[strangler trees]

The Cathedral Fig tree is home to many animals. I was a little scared to try climbing on the branches, because in case you didn't know, I am not a fan of spiders and rodents and according to cousin Brad, this tree is filled with them. Luckily for me, they usually don't come out during the day. The only animal life you can see or hear in this tree are the annoying cockatoos that inhabit much of Cairns trees.

Many of the tour groups offer night hikes through the rainforests and they're recommended if you're really looking to see animals, but strolling through during the day is just fine with me. I definitely don't doubt that it's awesome though - I'm just a chicken when it comes to creepy crawlers. Just ask Allison, she's half my size and I was using her to guard me anytime I heard or saw anything.