43 favorite moments

Yesterday was my birthday. Another year around the sun. If you’ve been around this corner of the Internet for a while, you know I am all about celebrating birthdays and being thankful for all the wonderful moments that each year has to offer. Is it always perfect? No. But I choose to focus on the good things. Always.

So, I decided to use the same format as last year to look back and share my favorite – big and small – moments with you, in no particular order. 

(as always) moments spend with this guy


cycling class on Tuesday mornings

a slice of fresh European bread (ftw!)


cycling with Tanja


a hot cup of tea

the big smile after a successful run

being back home for one of my best friend’s wedding


reuniting with our dear family friend Ingrid


phone dates with my family

finishing a project task at work

lazy mornings in our backyard


seeing my gym buddies every week

eating fresh, hot crêpes


putting on a new pair of running tights

going to NKOTB’s Mix Tape Tour


getting pork fried rice takeout

meeting another URL friend IRL

finishing the Davis Moo-nlight 5k Run with Jon 


being home for Tom’s first communion


finding a card from a friend in the mailbox

having a break-through moment

surprising my parents for their birthdays


Ventura Beach sunsets


getting comments from sweet friends here on my blog

German potato pancakes (made by Mama)


closing out the month in YNAB

finishing another knitting project


sunrises on J Street

meeting up with East Coast friends in Napa


girl time with Susi

reading in bed


BBQ in our back yard

running the SF half marathon again


finding time to do something creative

dinner with friends

a slice of homemade apple cake


grocery shopping at Trader Joe’s

coffee from a new mug


long runs along the river

skiing at Tahoe


walks to the park with Jon


writing in my planner

hugging a friend that I haven’t seen in a long time

  1. What a fabulous list! Happy belated birthday, San!

  2. Belated happy birthday. Such happy photos, too!

  3. Happy birthday again! I love this way of looking back at your year, it sure looks like it was a good one!

    1. If you look back, you always realize there are more happy moments than you might have thought ;)

  4. Happy belated birthday!!
    You share a birthday with my late father.
    You forgot to mention in your post:
    Helping and inspiring a URL friend to run her first HalfMarathon! :)

    1. Aww, is that so? I love that :)

  5. Love this list!
    Your life is full of family, good friends and healthy activities. The best way to be happy.
    Cheers on another great year ahead!

    1. Thanks so much, Catrina!

  6. Happy Fantastic Birthday! I love this idea for a post. It sounds like you’ve had a lot of great moments – big and small – this past year.

    1. Yes, lots of good moments indeed. Thank you, Lauren!

  7. I hope you had a lovely birthday, San! So many great memories to look back on. <3 I gasped out loud at that last picture! Gorgeous. You should frame that!

    1. Thank you, Stephany! And yes, I love that last picture… a total snapshot, but so beautiful!

  8. Happy belated birthday, San! I hope you had a fabulous day! This is such a wonderful list full of moments both big and small. I am with in celebrating birthdays and focusing on the positive. Entering a new year of life is such a gift for each of us! No, life is not perfect, but there’s so much good if we choose to focus on it!

    I have been wondering how your parents/family are doing? The virus is 1-2 weeks ahead of us in Europe so I hope they are staying safe and healthy!!

    1. Thank you, Lisa. I agree, every year is a gift!

      Thanks for asking about my parents/family. They are ok and I just found out that all schools will be closed until Easter. I think it’s a good step in the right direction (although my sister is trying to figure out childcare, as she – as a teacher – is, for now, required to be at the school (for whatever reason?!).

  9. Wait, wait, wait….. we have the SAME BIRTHDAY!!! That’s probably why we’re both so awesome! ;)

  10. Oh, i love love love your list so very much ❤️ I hope you had a very happy birthday my sweet friend! These photos are all so lovely. Your runs, your delicious eats (authentic german potato pancakes, apple cake, and that delicious bread!!), time with friends and your hubby, your backyard, and park 😊 here’s to another fun spin around the sun. Xoxo

    1. Thanks friend, I appreciate it! <3 It's been a good year.

  11. Just reading this list made me smile. I can see how all those moments made you happy. Here is to another trip around the sun and many more happy moments.

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