I can happily say that 2010 has been the absolute best year of my life. It certainly got a head start in 2009 (Ironman, then meeting Joe, then buying a house, then filming Shark Tank...) but 2010 is where it all paid off. I've been a bit remiss in blogging this year, but I think it would be a shame not to reflect upon one hell of an amazing year.
January: SHARK TANK AIRED!!! GMW TOOK OFF!!!! Tim & I started one heck of an insane ride, and it's been such an amazing experience ever since. By the way, I was so touched at our official watch party at the Cedar Door - over 120 friends showed up to share the moment with us. There just aren't words to express that support. Oh, and perks like being the number one search on Google weren't so bad, either.
March: I got to attend ExpoWest, which was essentially the "Academy Awards" trade show of the natural products industry. Long story short, I ended up at the show thanks to my mentor & now dear friend Nat (who I met through a post Shark Tank email), and I had the learning experience of a lifetime. As an added treat, Rachel drove to Anaheim to meet me & I got to share some of the experience with her. (BTW, Rachel & I have been friends since we were kids at camp and I am so proud to see how her business has grown in 2010, too!)
April: I finished remodeling my house & moved in. Honestly, it's crazy to think back about the experience and realize "I built a house." Who would have thought. Below is my favorite housewarming gift - a homemade robot named Bert. (Yeah, my bf is pretty damn awesome.) Bert matches my house, by the way.
May: Joe & I went on our first trip together to the breathtaking city of Seattle. I fell in love with the city, had an absolutely amazing time and confirmed that Joe & I travel together quite nicely. By the way, I still do want to live in Seattle one day... that dream is not dead. ;)
June: I turned 30, had my housewarming/birthday party, and shared the experience with my dad who was also celebrating his birthday. It was a fantastic party that represented many months of blood, sweat & tears. Okay, not really - but it was so much fun to show off what I'd been working on for the past seven months to all of my friends & family.
August: Shark Tank wanted to film a follow-up for Season II at Interbike, so I headed out to Las Vegas for my third Interbike... How times have changed! Not only where we being filmed for national television, but we had an actual location at the expo thanks to our distribution contract!
October: It has been called, "the trip of a lifetime." Which I certainly agree, however that doesn't mean I don't intend to have hundreds more of them! Joe & I went to Europe for 2 weeks, visiting Brussels, Brugges, Amsterdam, Dublin and much of West & South Ireland. I keep meaning to blog about that trip, but again I'm not sure I have the words to describe it. What I will say is that the trip served to water a seed that had been planted many months earlier... find a way to live in Europe. :)
November: Almost as soon as we returned home, the search for Sammer's sister was on. Luckily Joe drank the German Shepard kool-aid... and welcomed Juneau to the crew. Oh my gosh she is such an amazing wonderful dog!
Also in November, I got to host my very first Thanksgiving! My aunt, grandpa and parents came to Austin to celebrate... I was honored to host them and spend the holiday with my family. Dad & I even completed our 7th Turkey Trot together!
December: Upon learning that my best friend since I was 9 years old was pregnant, I decided it was time to finally visit Jenna in Atlanta before baby Noodlebean is born. Luckily, I merged the trip with a visit to Birmingham to meet Annie... which meant a college reunion with two of my closest long-time friends.
There's been so much more, but I think this covers some main points. I'm so blessed to have such an amazing family, wonderful friends and an awesome boyfriend. ;)
Even with its various ups and downs, 2010 has truly been the best.
Cheers & happy 2011 to all!
