I’ve already been home for 2 months! While I miss the excitement of ship life, it’s been really great to have time with my family.

The first couple weeks were mostly spent catching up on sleep! I also joined my mom for bi-weekly workouts and had coffee dates with a couple friends. Most of my friends were busy with “The Nutcracker”, and I was able to go to 2 performances and 2 fashion shows to support them.

Big welcome from Bella

One of the best things about being home is having time with my baby, Bella. She’s a beautiful little beagle that became my companion 6.5 years ago when I was living in Fort Worth. She had to move in with my parents when I went to San Francisco, but I still think of her as my dog.

Christmas Road Trip 2014

Mom and I took on the 18-hour drive from Texas to Virginia so Bella could join us for Christmas. Rain and heavy truck traffic (lots of FedEx trucks!) slowed our progress, but we still made it to our house in Virginia around sunset the second day.

Road Trip Day 2

Family and friends were coming and going the entire 2 weeks we were in Virginia. One sister and her husband, my aunt and uncle, and my brother in law’s parents joined my parents and me for Christmas. My other sister, her husband, and a young couple they are friends with kept us company for New Years. After spending last Christmas on the other side of the world, it was great to be surrounded by family this holiday season!

Christmas

New Years

In addition to decorating, wrapping gifts, and cooking, I spent my time in Virginia exploring trails at Sugar Hollow and Walnut Creek Park with Bella, beer tasting at Three Notch’d Brewing Company, wine tasting at Pippin Hill and Michael Shaps Winery, taking a couple yoga classes from my sister, and watching UVA basketball. It was a great two weeks!

Sugar Hollow

Since returning to Texas, I’ve been working out with Mom and have been stealing her car to go to ballet classes at Contemporary Ballet Dallas. It takes about 40 minutes to get to the studio, but it’s well worth the drive! For much of my adult life, I’ve taken 2 dance classes a day, so getting back into the studio has been amazing for my physical and mental health. I’ve also been experimenting with adapting some Gyrotonic exercises to do with normal gym equipment while Mom plays tennis.

After yoga

I have a couple short trips lined up, but am looking forward to my remaining time here. There really is no place like home!

Pippin Hill

Coming soon… Details about my girls’ weekend in New York, and 2 weeks in the Caribbean with my beau!