2015: My Year in Review

Happy New Year!!

Holy moly 2015 was a jam packed year for me. I didn't even realize how much I had done until making this blog post. I am so grateful for the places I got to explore and for the amazing people in my life.

Dublin, Ireland
This year I went to visit my good friend Kate in Dublin, Ireland. I stayed with her in her adorable home, hiked along the cliffs, explored Wicklow and downtown Dublin and met her amazing family.
Kates Adorable Home

Alfie, my little cuddle monkey

Ha'penny Bridge

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Howth Cliffs

Wicklow

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St. Eulalia Ibiza
After a week in Dublin, Kate, James (Kates Fiance) Anna (Kates Sister) and Gary (Kates Cousin) went to relax and explore Ibiza for a week.


Me in paradise...

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Sunset bongo drum session..

Old Town Ibiza
I fell in love with this place. The cobblestone walkways and architecture nearly made me cry. It felt like I was on a movie set, I couldn't believe this was a real place.

This restaurant in the heart of Old Town was so romantic

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Cowichen Bay

In the summer Andy and I went to visit my friends Curtis and Ken in Cowichen Bay. They were renting an adorable cabin and we stayed in this boho-chic yurt for a weekend.

The Cabin

The Swimming Hole

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Punta De Mita, Mexico

To end off our year with some relaxation, Andy and I went to Punta De Mita, Mexico to lay by the pool, lay by the beach and get massages...

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New Addition

I finally took the plunge and bought myself a new car!! It's been  few years of transiting everywhere, it was time!!

This year was the first year Andy and I got a christmas tree

I can't forget...

I enjoyed spending the year with my boyfriend and best friend Andy..

And I can't forget Robyn..

And my little man Jesse..

Of course the whole year wasn't a crazy adventure. There were highs and lows as there always are but overall it was a pretty good time. I can't wait to see what 2016 brings, so far nothing planned but turning 30, eek!!

Thank you so much for reading. I may not post five days a week this coming year. It may be more like three times but I'm just going to play it by ear.

I wish you all the best in 2016!!

Xoxo- Michelle

An Irish Send Off

My final day in Dublin Ireland was relaxing and heart warming. We didn't get in from Ibiza until 2am so I slept at Anna's house. (James had been staying at his dads house and I was sharing Kates bed.) I slept about a million hours which felt great!!

Alfie

Alfie is Kate and James dog. He is a total sweetheart and little cuddle muffin. When I first arrived in Dublin he greeted me crying he was so happy to see me. Kate said he was acting as if he missed me even though he had never met me. It's amazing to me how animals can sense a relationship between people and if they know their owners like you, they immediately like you.

 Ibiza Send off Dinner

Kate and Anna's mom made a traditional roast dinner with mushy peas, roasties, mashed potatoes and gravy. It was delicious!!

 Pepper

My little best friend!! Pepper is Kate and Anna's moms dog and she is the most adorable, affectionate dog!! Her and Alfie are good friends but they also compete for attention, especially Pepper. One morning Kate had got up before me to go teach a yoga class and when she opened the bedroom door Alfie came in and spooned right into me. Pepper was behind him though and had to get closer to me then Alfie was so she lay down on my head!!

Ireland Send off Dinner

Kate and Anna's aunt Carol made an amazing lamb feast for Sunday dinner before I left for home, Vancouver Canada. Lamb, veggies, mushy peas and roasties. What a treat!! She is an amazing cook. (Pepper was also present for this dinner, I had to say goodbye.)

The morning I was flying home, James woke up at 5am to make me a proper breakfast (sausage, bacon, egg, tomato, toast) and the taxi driver dropping me off at the airport gave me a bar of chocolate!! Canadians have nothing on the Irish when it comes to making people feel welcome!!

Well that's it for my trip to Dublin Ireland to visit my friend Kate and James and meet Anna and the rest of the family. What a warm group of people. I really do want to move to Dublin. Everyone is so friendly and easy going and its quick and cheap to travel almost anywhere in Europe!! Who knows...

Xoxo- Michelle

Glendalough "The Valley of the Two Lakes"

I have the ultimate Tour Guide with Kate and her sister Anna here in Ireland. Today they took me about an hour drive from Dublin to Glendalough (Gleann Da Loch) a glacial valley in County Wicklow, Ireland, . I got to see my rolling hills, more old churches, a waterfall, an old cemetery and of course my favourite, some pretty houses!!

Wicklow, Ireland

St. Stevens Church

A stone vaulted and roofed church from the 12th century

Whelan's
That same night Anna let us know of an amazing Trad Band "Bonny Boys" playing in Dublin City at Whelan's Pub. (Please excuse my photo, its pretty blurry, that was them though). They played the flute, violin, banjo, guitar, uilleann pipes, bodhran drum, tin whistle and the keyboard. They were amazing!!

Were off to Ibiza next week so I won't be posting anything on my blog probably until I'm home. Maybe one more but thanks for reading and I'll have all the fun from Ibiza to blog about when I'm home.

Xoxo- Michelle