Year of living dangerously: 9 personal highlights of 2016

 2016 is going down in history as one of the more brutal years we’ve endured in recent memory. Shootings become part of a less sensational and more common vernacular in our every day life. The world saw an election unlike none ever seen before. Lastly, 2016 endured what felt like endless worldwide mourning in the entertainment industry. We saw shocking deaths from legends including the most recent passing of Carrie Fisher at only 60 years old. All this pain and resentment has touched many, including an impassioned John Oliver who ended his show’s season, not with highlights of 2016, but a plea begging the jerky year to just fucking end already. I happen to agree with the sentiment. The only thing is I have a secret I must confess. Although the world saw much turmoil, turmoil that cannot go ignored, there were parts of 2016 that didn’t suck. In fact, on a purely personal level, some of it was pretty darn amazing. Life is short, and while crucial to be aware of what’s going on around us, we can’t forget to cherish our own, precious moments. Life around the world may be challenging right now, but we can still take pleasure in recounting some of our own personal highlights of 2016. Here are a few of mine.

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1. I got engaged. Technically, I got engaged December 22nd of 2015, but in 2016 I found myself in the best state anyone can find themselves in; engagement. When you’re married, no one cares about you, and when you’re single, no one cares about you. But the state of being engaged is a precarious one. You find yourself at the center of positivity, and lots of attentiveness and focus. Everyone wants a piece of you, and for as long as it lasts, you’re almost in a floating state. Not really a person, but just someone inhabiting a body until you cross over into the next chapter. Except in this case, it’s not heaven, but the eternal state of marriage. I’m ready to move forward. Read about my proposal and all it’s fabulous casualness over at Glass House Girls.

2. I found a blogger wife and close friend. New friends are a rare find in your thirties. They’re also a rare find in this industry, especially when you filter it down further to the island of Manhattan. Though a fabulous place, it’s not always perfectly conducive to finding the right people to let into your life. But sometimes you can stumble upon a rare find, and if you do, don’t throw them back. Because a good, loyal friend is a hard catch no matter who you are.

 3. Won my mini moon with Hard Rock Cafe. Which we’ll be taking the day after we get hitched at the end of January.

 4. Did NYC as a tourist on a fun filled weekend with Allianz insurance.  I started the year with Allianz touring NYC as a pretend tourist, including a staycation and a dinner with top travel bloggers Johnny Jet and Lee Abbamonte.

5. Met one of my favorite authors, went to the first ID con and the first Panorama Festival. 

6. Started revealing the horror side of my writing. At the urging of my partner, I stopped hiding behind my passion, and started expressing it instead. 2016 saw my quiet foray into topics I’m more personally passionate about including movies, and even more specifically, horror movies. Pieces for Bloody Disgusting, and more recently Fright Feed will only grow as we head into 2017.

7. Ate quite well. From rose petaled, macaron inspired ice cream to churro ice cream hybrids, plus a first time trying Robertas Pizza the year wasn’t always so easy to swallow but it was quite delicious all the same.

8. Went to the dreamy land of Rosewood Mayakoba. Hubby to be’s work took us to the beautiful Rosewood Mayakoba in Rivera Maya, Mexico where we dined on fresh fish tacos, and basked in our private rooftop pool.

9. Travelled to Nashville for the first time for my Bachelorette party. 

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