Year 2014 Recap!

Hello everyone!

I haven't done a year-in-recap kind of a post, but this year has been such an incredible year filled with so many adventures that I thought it deserved a recap post.

It's hard to believe that I was at Rice studying earlier this year. I mean, I feel like I've been in Boston, studying at BU for years!  But apparently, that is not the case and I was, in fact, at Rice celebrating Mr. Lin's birthday with my lovely Rice studio just earlier this year!   aww, I do miss these lovely faces  =)

oh, and there's nothing like pictures of the Rodeo to remind you that you were very much so not in Boston when these were taken... haha

2014 was also the first year David and I competed in open level ballroom/latin competition!  Well, David had competed at that level before, but it was a totally new experience for me  =)  It was really fun, and I hope we get to do more of it in the future!

May of 2014 was a bitter sweet month as I prepared to graduate with my Master's degree from Rice - Shepherd School of Music.  I was uber excited to move to Boston and start a new chapter of my life there, but also, I knew I would miss all of the awesome friends I had made in Houston.

It was an incredible 2 years in Houston though, and I'm glad I got to know so many amazing peeps during my time there  ;)

But wait!  Before I could move to Boston and start my Doctorate degree, I took a few 'detours' during the summer.  First, to Korea,

Then, to Taiwan,

Then, to Virginia (Garth Newel Music Center) with the Meadowlark Trio,

Then, to Cali, meeting so many awesome people along the way.

oh, and sometime during all of that, I turned quarter of a century!  I am so blessed to have had incredible friends who threw me a surprise birthday party, as well as having this guy in my life who took me out to Uchi for a birthday dinner  =)    Quarter of a century has been good to me, and have I mentioned just how incredibly blessed I am?

After that wirlwind of a summer, I finally got myself to Boston.

a new home, new school, new friends  =)  all so exciting!

I'm so happy I found these girls to share the beautiful apartment that we call home.   

and for the roomy adventures that we take together  =)   Oh, one of my roomies, Shawn, also has a blog, so check her out here  =)

In November, David and I took a little trip to Cancun, Mexico, to celebrate D & D's wedding as well as our 2 year anniversary!  It was such a memorable trip, and I hope that we can go back there someday  =)

we stayed at Nizuc Resort and Spa during our stay there, and we absolutely loved it!  =)

David and I have been doing this long distance relationship thing this year, and though I don't have the best track record for doing long distance, it's been going well so far!  I think it works because we get to see each other every month or two, and We were so happy to spend Thanksgiving together this year  =)

A weekend full of wonderful food and company!  check out some of the posts here and here!

I am so incredibly lucky to have had so many amazing people in my life, like Bayla, my quirky and amazing teacher at BU.  She has made my transition to Boston so easy, and she has been a lifesaver in so many ways.  I'm so excited to spend the next 3 or so years with her learning and improving my craft  =)

2014, you have been good  =)

I'm so thankful for my family and my friends in all different parts of the world, and I can't wait to see what 2015 has in store!

Hope you all had a wonderful 2014, and hope your 2015 is filled with endless happiness, love, blessings, and peace!  =)

Thanks for stopping by, and Happy New Year!

--Janny

A short film :: Alina Cojocaru

Hello everyone!

I hope you are all having a wonderful start of the week!
Just a quick post to share a short film about my favorite ballerina of today, Alina Cojocaru, made by her partner on stage and off, Johan Kobborg.  =)

I have been obsessed with ballet for as long as I can remember, and she's been my favorite since,,, 2007?  such a wonderful dancer, and a beautiful look into all of the hard work, joys, and tears that go into being a ballerina.

Hope you enjoy!

Happy Monday!
--Janny

Happy Birthday McKinley!!

Hello everyone!

Today is the little man's birthday!!  I can't believe he is 12...
Such a happy lil pup  ;)

to celebrate, we went on a little walk to our backyard park/forest/hills  =)

man... I just can't get over how beautiful our neighborhood is.  Though I love living in Boston, I just have such a sweet spot in my heart for the Pacific North West, and I hope to live here at some point when I'm all grown up   haha  ;)

Everyone thinks it rains all the time in Seattle, but that's not actually true.  I mean, yes, it rains quite a bit, but no more than it snows in other places in the winter.  It is, however, rare to see a sunny day in the winter, so it was nice to have that for our outing  =)

Though he is 12, he could still outrun most other puppies  ;)

the one nice thing about him aging is that he is a lot better trained now  haha  well, I'm not really sure that it's being better trained as much as him getting mellowed out, but either way, he's much more manageable  ;)  If you would have known him when he was an actual pup...  man, he was a piece of work...  haha

hehe with my parents.  so cute  =)

my bebe!!  he'll always be my lil man  =)

It was such a fun outing, and I hope we get to do some more while I'm here!

Happy birthday lil man, we love you, and we hope you live for many many many years to come!  =)

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!

--Janny

Merry Christmas!!!

Hello everyone!

I hope you are all having a wonderful day with your loved ones!  It's been... a whole year since my family has been together (3 kids in college will do that to ya) and we've been loving spending our time as a family of 5!  

We don't have a Christmas tree this year, but we still gathered together by the fireplace to enjoy each other's company and to open gifts!  =)  It was bright and early (I think 8 ish?) and I'm pretty sure this was the first time this break the boys were up before noon..  haha

mommy began the festivities,

closely followed by daddy,  and then we all took turns opening gifts  =)

Chang's shoe size vs dad's 

don't mind the cray hairdo, it's just enjoying itself in its natural habitat...  did I mention this was at 8 in the morning?  haha

haha my dad's fashion sense makes me laugh  haha.  but I think the dress shoes I got him will be put to good use =)

and my beanie collection grows!

and baby bro, who has yet to really have facial hair, gets aftershave  ><

at least it smells really nice!

chang's dress shoes!  he recently had a minor surgery on the other foot, so he couldn't put on both, but it's gonna look real nice with his grey suit!  ;)

and baby bro's shoes   =)   What can I say, I was obsessed with men's dress shoes this year..

of course, Christmas isn't about gifts, and other material things, but opening presents is a tradition that brings my whole family together every Christmas morning for lots of love and laughter, and I hope it's a tradition we get to continue for many years to come  =)

I hope you are all enjoying this day with your family, and thanks for stopping by!

Merry Christmas!!

--Janny