2016 | a month-by-month recap

Oy was 2016 a tough year with some pretty significant challenges. There were great losses, uncomfortable growth, and I won't get started on the national political landscape...

2017 is already looking up with some amazing travel plans (hello London, Paris and New York to name a few) and opportunities for career advancement, and I look forward to seeing what other opportunities and adventures the coming months will bring.

Here's a look back on what 2016 had to share with me month-by-month.

JANUARY
I moved back to Idaho just in time for New Years and spent most of the first month with friends and family. I explored the surrounding areas with snowshoeing and winter hikes in the hopes of reconnecting with Idaho and enjoying being here again.

FEBRUARY

In February I visited Saleen for the last time. I had no idea when I was down there that it would be my last time seeing her and wish I would have cherished it more. I loved all the time I got to spend with her and I wish I would have had more opportunities to visit this past year. 

MARCH

The beginning of March was really tough for me. I had officially hit 4 months of unemployment and was starting to feel hopeless. I had interviewed for a marketing position with the local library district and each day that went by without an offer got that much more difficult. I made a decision to road trip west and visit family in the Tri Cities and push on to Portland. During my visit with family I received the offer I had been waiting for and the trip turned into one of celebration. Knowing I had a job to go back to brought so much joy and I enjoyed the trip so much more than I ever expected.

APRIL

In April we had a girls trip to Walla Walla for a long weekend and it was so great! We tasted many delicious wines, explored gorgeous vineyards and cellars and laughed a TON. Hopefully we can make this trip a yearly tradition because it was so good for my soul.

MAY

This was a low key month with the focus on family and work. I enjoyed a road trip with my niece to see my parents for the weekend and took advantage of one-on-one time with Joie to show her around some of the highlights of where her dad and I grew up. It was so fun to see her adventurous heart so excited to hike, discover waterfalls, and meet base jumpers parachuting into the canyon. She and I often talk travel and adventures and I love her excitement for it.

JUNE

June took me on a much needed trip back to Portland to see my tribe. Jenni and Brian were celebrating their 10 year wedding anniversary and we partied, caught up, and toasted to the happy couple. It was a wonderful trip full of friends.

JULY

July was a mixed bag. 

It started with an amazing long weekend in Seattle for the 4th of July holiday. The weather could not have been more perfect and I loved every minute of it.

I also took a WONDERFUL trip to northern Idaho with some of my favorite people and enjoyed a long weekend of cabin living on the lake. We played on the paddle boards and kayaks, ate great BBQ, and enjoyed long days of laughter and sunshine. My soul was completely recharged. On the last morning though I received news that Saleen had taken a turn for the worse and was told that I needed to fly down that day if I hoped to say goodbye. That was, by far, the worst text I have ever received.

I decided not to fly down based on wishes Saleen had expressed to me earlier and made arrangements for my mom to fly there. Just 2 days later I got the phone call that she was gone. The following weeks were the most difficult I've ever experienced. We'd known for months the inevitable, but I realized too late that nothing can prepare you for the absolute.

AUGUST

In August I got a wonderful visit from friends in Washington on their way to camp in Yellowstone. I hadn't seen them for about a year and it was so good to catch up, laugh, and talk travel adventures. I have come to absolutely adore those kids and their mom and hope we get to cross paths again soon.

SEPTEMBER

I think I say this every year, but September is my absolute favorite month. Sure it contains my birthday and that's awesome, but there's also something about the changing of seasons and crisp added to the air after a long summer that just feels magical. September 2016 was no different. 

The month included a trip with a good friend and her little to SoCal. We explored Venice Beach, Huntington Beach, Santa Monica, etc. introduced her little to In and Out, and spent a very full and fun day at Disneyland and California Adventure. It was a great trip and a little cathartic to stand in front of Saleen's favorite ride at Disneyland in her sweatshirt.

The month also included a road trip back to Portland for my birthday weekend. It was so great and filled with laughter with some of my favorite people. 

OCTOBER

I finally started to feel like I hit my groove in Idaho. I had many opportunities to spend time with Boise-based friends in October and it was good to realize I'd finally began building my tribe here. I don't feel pulled to return to Portland, but not having close friendships in Boise outside of my family was starting to take a toll on me emotionally. October felt like the beginning of the healing phase.

NOVEMBER

I'm not going to lie, I was dreading Thanksgiving this year. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and I look forward each year to spending it with my extended family. This year though my immediate family was heading to Hawaii to spend the holiday in the sunshine and spread Saleen's ashes. I know, I know, Hawaii - what a rough way to spend the holiday. But really, there are more than a few reasons I wasn't too keen on the idea. However, I sucked it up and stuck with the plan and do not regret it one bit. This trip was so much more cathartic than I ever could have imagined. 

Click here for the full recap on this trip.

DECEMBER

It's been many years since I've really been in the Christmas spirit. Between travel (not complaining) and living in Portland in various apartments (also not complaining) I haven't really felt "homey" around the holidays. This year was different though and I loved it! I actually bought a tree, decorated it, and really enjoyed all the holiday activities the surrounding areas had to offer. Having my niece excited about the magic of Christmas was really fun too. I haven't spent a Christmas morning with her since she was 3, so getting to wake up with her this year was the best Christmas present I could have asked for.

Life Lately: The Past 4 Months (part 1)

I don't even know where to begin, so I guess I'll just start.

A little over 4 months ago (just before the first of the year) I packed up all my belongings, loaded them into a trailer, and drove them east to Idaho. I had made the decision to move back after 4 glorious years living in Portland.

When I first moved to Portland it was a leap of faith, and ironically, so was moving back.

I don't think anyone was more shocked at my decision than myself. Right up until I was pulling into the driveway in Boise, Idaho, I was questioning what I was doing. I felt at peace with everything, but part of me expected to wake up again in SE Portland - just down the road from some of my best friends, and an hour from the coast.

Reality settled in hard over the first few months of the year. Job searching was tough. I've never had trouble finding work before, but the job market had changed drastically in the 4 years I was gone. Not only were jobs hard to come by, but the pay was abysmal. After a few weeks it seemed I would have to figure out how to survive on 50% of the income I was used to.

And before you assume, no, the cost of living is not less in Boise than it was in Portland.

It seems that it should be, but it's not. In fact, in some ways my budget was impacted even more due to sales tax in Idaho. Groceries and gas were hitting me harder than they ever had in Portland.

Luckily my little brother and I were able to help each other out. He and his wife were purchasing their first home at the end of January, but they still had their lease to fulfill for a few months. I was able to move in and keep his landlord happy since someone would be there to watch the property and take care of the utilities, etc. and my brother was able to continue paying the rent - saving my $$ each month while I continued looking for work.

There were a few jobs here and there that I was interested in, but nothing seemed like the right next step.

During all of this I was stressed, but still felt solidly like Boise was where I needed to be. Friends reached out here and there wondering if I was going to move back to Portland, or venture on and try the job market somewhere new altogether. As exciting as a new city seemed though, my heart told me to be patient. That the right job was just around the corner, and that everything would work out.

"Trust God," was what I heard my heart say over and over.

I worked on letting go of the control I thought I had over the situation. I was embarrassed to be in the situation and my ego took a hard hit. I was humbled over a period of 12 weeks and felt, to my core, that the only thing to do was let go.

I had to let go and let God.

More soon...

Life Lately | June in an Instagram

June 2015 was an amazing month.  I traveled to Lake Tahoe for a weekend filled with love and TNT with my cycle family, celebrated Emerson's 2nd birthday, explored downtown Portland in more detail, spent lots of time with friends, and started a new job!

The month had its ups and its down, its challenges and victories, but overall it was amazing and I'm excited to see what July has to share.

Life Lately | An Update with Pictures

Life has been busy lately with lots of travel and exciting things happening!  This past week alone I traveled to and through 3 states and saw tons of friends and family. 

I love traveling, but I think it's made all the more sweeter when I get to come home and sleep in my own bed, shower in my own bathroom and resume a somewhat regular schedule for a little while.

Last Friday I headed off to the land of palm trees, blue skies and sunshine!

It's been almost a year since I last visited Palm Desert and I was well over-do for a visit!  I spent many days down at the pool with this view...

And many evenings on the patio with a glass of wine in my hand and this view...

It wasn't all pool time and sunsets though.  I also went into town and got my hair cut.  I have been contemplating growing it out, but just couldn't take the helmet hair anymore.  As soon as I saw the finished product, I immediately felt 'normal' again and like myself.  I think I'm destined for a life of short hair.

While I was sad to fly back home and leave SoCal, I was super excited to be back in Portland to join Kayla for the Amos Lee concert at the Oregon Zoo Thursday night!  Amos was amazing as usual, and I loved how close we were able to get to the stage with our general admission tickets.

How do I get press passes like those lucky ducks in the front?!  I was KICKING myself for not bringing my real camera.  I was close enough to have gotten some really great photos, but had to settle for iPhone snaps instead.

See?!?!  Look how close!  Sigh...

Early the next morning I was back at PDX to head to Boise for the weekend.

I spent Friday evening with my favorite person.  I just love spending time with this little.  She's such a character.

Sunday morning I was back in Portland again and joined my brunch book club crew at City State for a delicious breakfast and book chat.  It was the perfect temp to sit outside and enjoy a cup of coffee and a chat.

This next week I'm staying in Portland, and looking forward to some down time at home with a regular (or somewhat regular at least) schedule for a little while.

And Suddenly, It's May 20th

Whoa.
Did anybody else just see May FLY BY?!

I mean seriously, wasn't it May 1st just like an hour ago?
Well here's what's been happening the past 20 days...

I joined Snap Chat (find me ---> Motormouthmacey) and became thoroughly addicted.

Traveled to Boise and had the cutest breakfast date with my favorite munchkin.  I don't what she was most excited for: the swivel barstool, the banana pancakes, or her hot chocolate with 'smarshmellows.' Either way, she pretty excited about it all.

Spent lots of time soaking up the Vitamin D and cuteness.

Had my Mom and Aunt come visit for Mother's Day.  We spent the whole weekend at the coast.  It was sunny, beautiful and the perfect way to spend time with two of my favorite role models.

Dipped my toes in the ocean more than once.

Found the best mask ever.

Got mom what she wanted most for Mother's Day - a Burgerville original cheeseburger and fries.  (Ok, it wasn't really her gift, but she was really, really excited for this nostalgic treat!)

Traveled back to Boise again to spread the good word of TNT Boise starting up again!  I got to see old friends, make new friends, and sign up heroes to help me save lives and end cancer!

Got to pop in and visit my family.  A tradition my niece and I have is taking silly selfies... we can't get enough.  And I mean, isn't that last picture just the most flattering one of me yet?!  I think it should be my online dating profile pic, don't ya think?

Blew a kiss to my favorite guy in Boise.

And hung out with a bubble head.

Goodness it's been a FULL month!  It's been a good one though, for sure!  Life doesn't look to be slowing down anytime soon, but that's fine by me.

How is your May going?  Does it seem to be flying by for you too?