2019 in 12 Images
DOCUMENT THE HIGHLIGHTS
It’s that time of year again. A time where I like to sit down and force myself to reflect on the year that just passed. And boy did this year pass by faster than ever. It has become something of an annual tradition to record my top 12 “highlights” if you will, because if I don’t, it is sadly all too easy to forget. So here we go, cheers to a year filled with adventure, heart wrenching hurdles and all of the amazing people in my life that are with me through it all.
#1 MOVED APARTMENTS // As this move wasn’t as life altering as the year prior when we packed up from Ohio and moved to California. However, this one was still HUGE for us. When we moved to California we had to pick an apartment online within two weeks of me accepting a new job. And let’s just say, it was very very tiny. Under 500 sq feet tiny. But we loved our neighborhood. So, this year we moved only a few blocks over into a new, slightly larger (thank goodness), place. And as most of you probably know from my Instagram, the sunroom is by far my favorite room I’ve ever had in any place I’ve ever lived. Surrounded by plants, it has become my happy place.
#3 ETSY GROWTH // This year was a big year of growth for my Etsy. Elle.Dot Studio may still be a tiny side hustle endeavor brought to you by yours truly, but I am very proud of the growth I’ve seen in print sales. It’s nothing huge, but to be able to send my female empowerment artwork to dozens of women living all over our country has been a true delight for me. Every time I struggle to get to the post office in time to mail an order, I remember how cool it is that a girl all the way in Washington, DC is going to have my artwork hung up in her home. And if you haven’t checked it out yet, click shop at the top of this website.
#5 ILLUSTRATION PUBLISHED // As I’m sure I don’t need to state this for many of you, I am a huge true crime fan. And because of this a couple years ago I did an illustration of my favorite true crime lady duo, Georgia and Karen, from the now famous My Favorite Murder Podcast! And crazy enough, they reached out and asked if they could publish it in their book as a chapter divider page. So after contemplating if it was a scam, I responded and it became a reality! Very cool, unique opportunity to be featured among the talents and words of others. Hell yes!
#7 ANZA-BORREGO // This year I got to explore a little slice of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. My friend Sarah and I squeezed our way through the Instagram famous slot canyon and then endured a long yet beautiful hike through Hell Hole Canyon. This hike was unlike any I had conquered before. Started with a long desert walk filled with cactus blooms and even a couple large jack rabbits. Before we came across a stream which eventually leads to a palm tree oasis, which climaxed at multiple waterfalls. Seriously, stunning.
#9 ELUM // It is impossible to capture a year at my job in one image. This year has been a huge year of growth for me personally and us as a company. I’ve gotten to strengthen my illustration/painting skills beyond what I ever would have imagined they could be. I have gotten to design on a variety of new product types like, ceramic mugs, tea towels, kitchen tools, candles and even travel products. This image shows a mug I designed for Paper Source, with a message I whole heartedly agree with. A woman’s place is wherever she damn well pleases.
#11 ROTATING FRIENDSHIP DINNERS // Our friend trip to Big Bear, California kickstarted a monthly rotating dinner. And I have to say it has been a true highlight of 2019. It has been quite impressive to me that somehow with everyone’s super busy schedules the group was always able to carve aside 1 night a month to keep this going and I absolutely loved it. It has been a true blessing.
#2 FIRST TRIP TO MEXICO // Now that we live so close to the boarder of Mexico, this was something I had hoped to do this year. And my dear friend Kristen made it possible when she planned a super fun group trip down to Valle De Guadalupe for her birthday. We enjoyed the ocean views as we drove from winery to winery, I ate fresh octopus for the first time and enjoyed the best damn margaritas I’ve ever had.
#4 FIRST TIME SNOWBOARDING // Welp, we can add snowboarding to the list of things I am NOT good at. Ha! All bruised wrists, butt and ego aside our first group trip to the beautiful Big Bear, California was incredibly fun. A friendly caravan up the mountains, lodging in a perfectly rustic cabin and rainy day puzzles made for a trip to never forget. Already have next years trip on the books, I just may watch Danny crush it from the bar below.
#6 ANNIVERSARY OF 6 YEARS // This year Danny and I celebrated our 6 year anniversary, and weirdly enough, we hardly ever get to travel and stay somewhere just the two of us. Usually to save money we go with friends or stay with friends, which is still fun. But for this special anniversary we decided to treat ourselves to a weekend away in Temecula, California, just us. We explored the Wine Country, with its hillside vineyards and even enjoyed a wine tour at Miramonte Winery. One of the coolest part for us was getting to stay at this adorable airbnb cottage house on top of a mountain with amazing panoramic views, chickens, fresh fruit to pick on the hillside and a glorious hammock. Best partner a girl could ask for!
#8 WHALE WATCHING // This year I went whale watching for the first time, and then a second, and a third. I’ve gotten to see grey whales, humpback whales and thousands of dolphins. Experiences that I couldn’t even of dreamed of. Although one trip included the most sea sick I’ve ever been, it still won’t keep me from going again. You never know what a day out on the ocean will bring.
#10 PHOENIX ADVENTURE // Nothing is better than getting to visit your best friend in a beautiful place like Phoenix, Arizona. We may have had more rain than expected but the sun finally shined and we hiked Pinnacle Peak together. Even though I wished we could live in the same city I am so grateful to have gotten time with my favorite girl. So proud of her and the life she has built for herself in Phoenix.
#12 AMELIA // In May of 2019 my God Daughter, Amelia, got very very sick. This little 9 year old fire-cracker battled a severe case of streptococcus pneumonia. It was the scariest couple of weeks. I have never prayed so hard, been so humbled or felt so helpless in my life. Obviously this isn’t a positive highlight. But like I said it is important to remember the good and the bad. To remember your faith and to remember when and how God shows up. As I stood over this brilliant, kind and amazing little girl on a ventilator — I prayed and prayed and prayed. And although those days felt endless, she survived. She improved. She got to have her story continue. And I won’t ever be able to express how beyond grateful I am for that. Spending those days with her in the PICU was everything. Interacting with the other dedicated parents of the children there, the amazing nurses that dedicate their lives to helping and the volunteers of the Ronald McDonalds house. Well let’s just say there are no words. A few months later I got to see Amelia run around a soccer field at our family reunion, happy and healthy. And THAT is the biggest highlight of my entire year.
BONUS HIGHLIGHTS
This year was also the year of visitors! Danny and I hosted A LOT of people who visited us in San Diego this year. So many in fact that I couldn’t fit them in my top 12. So I am adding a little bonus section here to remember all the wonderful times we had with our loved ones in sunny California.
Every year is predictable in the way that it is not predictable. One thing you can always be sure of is knowing there will be good and bad. That’s just a cheesy fact of life. 2010 to 2020 was the craziest, most surprising decade of my life. I made the decision to move away from all the people I love and all I knew to chase a dream, a life of art. And I did it. I attended art school, I graduated art school. A school that set me on a path to all the good in my life. A school that led to me Danny and to a future I am so proud of. And a crazy amount of student debt, but hey it can’t all be good. I started my career. I celebrated promotions and endured layoffs. I moved and moved and moved a few more times. I made friends and buried friends. I experienced medical emergencies. I shattered into anxiety and depression AND clawed my way back out. I’ve gotten to become an Aunt, to climb mountains, road trip the country and most importantly overcome the doubt that life would ever feel “worth it”. That going after your dreams isn’t “stupid” or “reckless” but is literally the only way worth living. Cheers to a decade of surprises. I hope the next one is equally as exciting and fulfilling.