It’s been a very busy start to 2017 for me but it has all been SO positive. And I’ve got some big and exciting things happening that I wanted to share.

INDIA!That’s right – me and my mom are going on a 2-week trip to India and we leave tonight! It’s going to be quite an adventure and I’m so grateful to be able to have the time to travel right now and to go on this trip with my mom. We’re going to spend a few days in the “Golden Triangle” of New Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. We’ll tour the Taj Mahal at sunrise, see historic sites and spend a day with elephants where we’ll get to bathe, feed and ride them. Next we spend a couple of nights in a treehouse in Ranthambore National Park where we’ll go on canter safari to look for Bengal tigers and other wildlife. The last leg of the trip has us flying south of Mumbai to the Kerala region where we’ll take a cooking class with a family in Cochin and do on a houseboat cruise in Alleppy. I’ll have more report once we get back. 🙂

NEW CAR!The Golden Nuggett (my 2007 yellow Chevy Cobalt coupe) has been with me a long time. 10 years. But it was time for something new and after many months of talking, trying out cars and saving money, I am SO grateful to have been able to pay cash for our new 2014 Ford Escape. I took a lot of risks last year that had financial implications and I’m very proud of how everything worked out.

(Oh and we still have the Cobalt so if someone’s interested in buying it, let me know!)

NEW JOB OPPORTUNITY!I can’t give details yet because it’s not 100% complete, but something great and big is in the works. I interviewed like crazy after my contract role with Havas + Coke ended on January 31st and I ended up having to TURN DOWN several roles. So very grateful to be in that position and be able to choose what I really want and what’s best for our family.

MORE TRAVEL!Can’t stop, won’t stop. And have to pack it all in before I start a new job. Headed to Florida two days after I get back from India to see Sean’s friends Sean and Caitlin tie the knot. I’m then off the Outer Banks of North Carolina the day after I get back from Florida to see my brother and sister-in-law’s new place on Manteo since they both got jobs at the Outer Banks Hospital and are moving from Ohio on March 19th. This has been their dream for YEARS and I’m in awe of how they made it happen. 

Seriously, you guys. All the good things. It’s been busy, hectic, stressful and overwhelming at times but I’m managing it by reminding myself daily that it’s all so positive. And I’m grateful.