2023 Review, A Year For New Beginnings

This year was full of highs and lows but it was a time to learn new things and be open to change, to embrace things and make the best out of it. It was a great milestone because the blog was launched and I grew a lot in my professional career, besides I also had a lot of time to travel and share with family and friends. Even though there were not a lot of renovations, each project was really special from start to finish, and I’m trying to focus on the quality and not the quantity of it.  At the end of the day I just wanted to prioritize my relationships, my home and my health, and be thankful for all of these. So here’s a little 2023 review of what happened this year:

January 

We started the guest bathroom renovation and I was working behind the scenes to get the blog up and running by August. I also started a new job a couple weeks before that so I was adapting to the new company and stretching my schedule. We bought some essentials for our pets too.

February 

We finally did our garage makeover and tackled all the organization after we purged all the excess by hosting our garage sale. We were crazy enough to go camping during winter; it was really pretty but we won’t repeat it at the same time of the year.

March

We fixed our foundation which was really due and it needed attention but it was a big undertaking. Along with leveling the foundation came some plumbing issues which we also got fixed. We went to a Blue October concert in Dallas and visited some longtime friends in Washington DC.

April 

Once the weather started getting warmer we cleared out our backyard and put several hours into it a couple times a week. It’s a really big space so we’re still not actually done, but the space is functional now and we can use it.

May

We went to the Renaissance Fair, Picnic Symphony with Harry Potter music, Monster Trucks event and went to see Ed Sheeran (the highlight of the month).

June

We organized our closet, it was Andrew’s birthday and we went to this amazing steak house, and bought some tools to continue doing our DIY projects. We also organized the pantry to make much better use of that space.

July 

We finished the garage, bought a chest freezer for some food storage and added more pegboard to hang some tools, on top of another round of purging because every couple of months we organize it. We like to stay on top of it and not let it become our toss room.

August 

I finally launched the blog after almost one year of work behind the scenes and I also made a trip to Miami to celebrate a bachelorette party for one of my friends.

September

I visited Waco for the first time after living more than two years in Texas, and we finished the fence in the backyard just in time for the amazing weather in fall and making some bonfires. We also went and visited the Texas motor speedway.

October 

We had a trip to Ecuador to celebrate a beautiful wedding and later on we went to Colombia to visit our family. We also finished a gallery wall project in the dining room.

November 

We celebrated Thanksgiving doing nothing and eating a lot. We prepared for Christmas by putting up the tree and lights, and prepared for the holidays by buying presents and getting firewood ready.

December 

We celebrated Christmas in Breckenridge, Colorado in a beautiful cabin. While there, we spent a lot of time with family, and rested a lot to prepare for the new year. We have SO much planned that we’re gonna need all the energy we can get.

This year was a rollercoaster of learning and growth. We tackled challenges head-on, picked up new skills, and emerged stronger. From overcoming obstacles to celebrating successes, it’s been a wild ride. Let’s take the lessons and victories with us into the next chapter, using them as stepping stones for future success and a lot of DIY projects.