2011 was a pretty amazing year. I saw so many new places, met some great new people, read more than ever and consistently filled my weekends with fun. There was some sadness too– some wonderful people passed away, whose presences I really missed over the holidays back home in Kamloops. I’m trying to put some wheels in motion for 2012 and if all goes to plan, then things could be more adventerous than ever. Here’s to the future!

January

A lot of beer and oysters at my house in Kamloops, noodles in soup at Deer Garden, finally buying myself the 1908 Louise Homer poster, amature wrestling, karaoke in Victoria and Vancouver, a trip to Kamloops for a last visit with Papa Schmidt.

February

Jordan and I go to Portland for our birthdays and eat at a lot of good places with Anja, Kevin comes to visit in Vancouver and we put on dumb wigs and play Family Feud (best party board game ever), brunch at Aliya’s, Karen B. and I go to see monk chanting and singing, Xine comes to visit and we take her to Victoria and laugh at everything, I become obsessed with Rock Ladies, we return to Kamloops for a funeral of a close family friend.

March

We visit Avatar Grove in Port Renfrew, KB visits Victoria and we see Sheezer (an all ladies Weezer cover band), Clarence House hosts Crystal Visions (a ladies of rock party), spring starts showing up

April

I make pirahi with Auntie Jeannie and cousin Tamara, I’m blown away by my friends’ production of Jesus Christ Super Star, Mr. Schmidt passes away, I take a million photos of lil Rupert, the sun starts shining and we start hanging out in backyards.

May

Anja comes for a visit, work goes on an awesome field trip and I love working in Tourism, I purchase the Lady Caprice (a cute vintage bike) and with that bike riding season starts, Jordy and I learn the meaning of chuby over a nearly 3 week trip to Honduras where we spend a lot of time in hammocks, on the beach, exploring ruins, being terrified of bus rides and staying with Maribel’s family in Tegucigalpa, I sing with the Victoria Doukhobor Choir at Doukhobor Festival in Castlegar.

June

I take some engagement photos, Island Chefs’ Collaborative Foodfest is an amazing day of biking, drinking and eating, garage sales in Oak Bay.

July

Houseboating on the Shuswap for Kim’s stagette,  goodbye to Julia and hello to another year with Tourism BC, a crazy Vancouver weekend of concerts, photo seminars and backyard BBQs, playing with Rupert and silkscreening cabin t-shirts, THE CABIN (oh god, so many more photos to share from this!), hiking at Sun Peaks.

August

Kim and Luke’s amazing summery wedding, Jordan and I hit the road on a USA southwest road trip.

September

An epic weekend of beaches, the PNE and seafood feasts in Vancouver, we run a bannock stand at Metchosin Day, backyard BBQs and Beerfest, lazy weekends in Victoria and the summer’s last beach days.

October

Jordan and I celebrate 10 years together, epic Thanksgiving pizza party, me and Kim head up to Tofino where I try surfing for the first time, I fulfill a longtime dream and go as Sailormoon for Hallowe’en.

November

Birthday brunches at Oak Bay Marina, male exotic dancers and autumn bike rides, DISNEYLAAAAND and my cousin Erin’s wedding.

December

I sing with the Kingsgate Chorus at the Little Mountain Gallery for a Christmas concert, Laura and I host a most excellent Clarence Christmas Party, Jordan, Jeremy and I head to Kamloops for Christmas where we drink, eat and play with Pika and Natalie, the cutest lil cats in the whole entire world.

Here is a mix of some of my favourite songs from 2011.