Cheers to a New Year

Happy New Years! This year has literally flown by! I feel like I was just celebrating New Years last year, and I feel like this entire year has been way too quick! That doesn't mean this hasn't been a great year? I thought I'd take the time to reflect on what a great year 2013 has been and how fortunate I am to lead such an amazing life. 

Highlights of the Year

California :: Going to California in March was most definitely my favorite trip of all time. It was amazing and I enjoyed every second of it. California is easily my favorite place in the world and I was so grateful that my parents took me there as an early sixteenth birthday gift. 

Badminton :: It seems like badminton season was so long ago, but honestly it was this year. Like what? I had such an amazing time being on the freshman badminton team. Truthfully, it was nothing but fun. And I was so lucky to have my best friend for a doubles partner! The picture shows Paige and I upset, but the season was a lot better than it shows in the pic. We played second doubles at conference {although we should have played first...} and we didn't do very well, so we were pretty mad.

Kristen's Prom + Graduation :: My sister is a freshman in college now, but in the spring she was a senior in high school so there were some events that spring. Prom--which obviously I didn't go to, but I spent that night making amazing enchiladas with Paige and my cousin, but I'm sure Kristen had a great time at Prom. And her graduation which was a huge event in her life and then obviously pursuing to go to college in the fall.

Dance Camp :: My team and I went to a UDA dance camp over the summer and it was such an amazing experience. It was extremely hard. The dances were super fast, we had to learn them quickly and there was a lot of difficult technique involved, but it was so worth it. Tryouts for drill team the following fall were so easy for me {freshman tryouts were hell} and I managed to make varsity! I didn't take a lot of pictures while I was actually at dance camp, but the picture featured is of my friend Kayla and I on the bus to go!

Badminton Camp :: I was fortunate enough to go to another summer camp; badminton camp! Badminton camp was literally the best camp I've ever been to! This was my fifth time going to an away camp and was the only one that I really had fun at while I was there. Don't get me wrong, I love camp, but dance camp was nothing but work. And the camps I went to when I was younger were fun, I just didn't realize that until I got home from camp. Badminton camp I had such an amazing time and I made a ton of friends and all of the coaches treated everyone like family. Plus, I learned a lot!

Lake Elkhart :: For a family vacation my whole mom's side of the fam headed to Lake Elkhart for a trip. It was initially supposed to honor my grandparent's fiftieth wedding anniversary, but my grandpa died in April. That was another huge thing that happened in 2013, but I didn't think it really went along with the "highlights" topic. My grandpa was such an amazing man--but he died in a peaceful way though and we all miss him so much.

Nautical Events :: One of my favorite things this year was going to the Chicago Yacht Club for a Bar Mitzvah. Literally the best thing ever. Even though I was with a bunch of eighth graders {including my brother--he wasn't too happy I was invited} I had such a blast. Plus, I'm always looking for an excuse to get all dressed up.

Varsity Drill Team :: I was lucky enough to have made varsity drill team this year--even just as a sophomore. Being on varsity is so much better than JV and I absolutely love the team this year. All of the girls on drill are such amazing friends and they support me through anything. I love the entire team and it's been such a blast this entire year.

Sweet Sixteen :: Turning 16 is a big event in anyone's life. I had already celebrated in LA with my parents in March, but as a little celebration they took me and three friends to dinner at Grand Lux--so yummy. It was such a fun night and just a cute little way to celebrate.

Homecoming :: Homecoming this year was so much better than freshman year. Freshman year was just awkward and they played bad music, but I had a blast this year at homecoming. And the pictures were super fun beforehand. Us girls are always ready for a photo.

Vineyard Vines Event :: I'd be lying if I didn't say that I loved going to the Vineyard Vines Event. It was so much fun meeting Shep & Ian and even just going shopping at that store is super fun. I managed to buy a t-shirt from there that I'm already wearing to death. The whole thing was so fun and classy and I just felt really cool to be there, ha ha.

Clearly, life is pretty crazy, but worth every minute. This year has been amazing and all I can hope is to make 2014 even better! I don't even know what's to come in the new year, but I'm excited for it all!

I also wanted to thank all of you readers for supporting this blog {and my previous one}. I'm so lucky to have such loyal readers and I love all of the feedback that I receive on this blog. I love each and everyone of you for reading my blog and I thank you so much for supporting me.

"Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right."

-Oprah Winfrey

XOXO, Kate