This post will be sappy and cheesy and it will include wedding photos and puppy photos and all the things that have made me smile the hugest in 2015. You’ve been warned. Joy ahead.
When I look back at 2015, I feel so much love. And for that I feel really lucky and grateful and thankful.
CHEESE! (On top of nachos!)This was a big, exciting year. I turned 30! I got married. I went to Africa. I met giraffes. I kissed a few of them with tongue. I got a puppy! I navigated the world of freelance employment. I developed and strengthened relationships with incredible, special people, and distanced myself from less great humans. (“I’m 30, I’m too old for this shit,” remember?) The older and wiser I get, the more I cherish the important, valuable, meaningful relationships in my life, and the less I care about letting go of the lame, less uplifting ones.
I care less about what people think of me and my decisions, while I care deeply about doing what’s best for myself and my family.
More of this in 2016, please.I learned a lot about myself this year. I did some soul searching, which was not always easy. I left my comfort zone on several occasions.
Every year, I keep a constantly-updated list in the back section of my [paper] calendar called “THE BEST OF [INSERT YEAR HERE].” My Best of 2015 list goes on for several pages. (For reference, my Best of 2013 list had like, two things on it, and I think one was “didn’t die of Crohn’s.”)
I took lots of photos this year, and only shared, oh, 4,382 of them with the world. Here’s a look back at some more of my 2015 highlights…
I went for lots of mediocre runs, but saw some really great scenery and had some wonderful company.
Never gets old. For me. Maybe it does for you. I don’t know.
Sometimes the company IS the scenery!
Black and white theme = sheep.We went on a family trip to Washington, D.C. It was great. We got a private tour of the West Wing. So VIP.
And then we saw President Obama coming home from his golf game!I had a super fun bachelorette party, thanks to some awesome bridesmaids and great friends.
Great people. GREAT wine.And then those girls threw me a lovely bridal shower. I felt very special. And a lot like an attention whore! Woo!
Bridesmaids, all of a very similar height!I did a lot of yoga. I completed the 40 Days to Personal Revolution program at Lyons Den Power Yoga early in the year, got Brian to take his first yoga class this summer in Bryant Park, and went on my first yoga retreat. I loved spending so much time on the mat, and appreciated the way my practice changed my life off the mat as well. Such namaste.
Acting “helpful.”Brian and I got married in Central Park.
So natural.
The most special day. Or maybe second most special, because Giraffe Manor was sweet.
Get married in a park. Then you don’t have to decorate!
50 shades of Ali and Brian.And then we had a party on a boat, bopping around New York City. The views were sweet and the dancing was on all the fleeks. It was the funnest party I have ever attended.
Welcome to your wedding! It’s been waiting for you!
TAN LINES. Everywhere.
HAHAHAHA MY SPRAY TAN DIDN’T TAKE!
November Project busts a move.
SO BEAUTIFUL AND TALENTED.
Such amazing dance moves. All night long. The only thing missing was my tap shoes.![In a [chocolate-covered] nutshell.](https://www.https://aliontherunblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Ali-Brian-Wedding-108.png)
![In a [chocolate-covered] nutshell.](https://i0.wp.com/www.https//aliontherunblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Ali-Brian-Wedding-108.png?resize=400%2C265)
In a [chocolate-covered] nutshell.
Lady Libs came to play, too!Then, we headed to Kenya for our honeymoon. It was a life-changing experience. Go.
DON’T EAT ME, LION! LOL!
One of us is a human and one of us is a giraffe! We are both excited to be friends.
I met giraffes this year. I barely mentioned it, though.
This is where I live.I saw a guy in Central Park taking his two pet turtles for a walk. Leashes and everything. New York, you’re crazy! Never change!
Definitely a 2015 highlight.I volunteered at the New York City Marathon, which was somehow just as fun as running.
Got myself a sexy poncho, too!We got a puppy! Brian and I adopted Ellie, a golden mix rescue puppy, in December.
And now she’s six times bigger than this.
Central Park puppy!Brian and I embarked on a tour of New England to celebrate Christmas with our families — and Ellie! It was loud and crazy and we drove a lot and I was super sick the whole time. But it was wonderful and perfect all the same.
Christmas cuddles.
Holiday puppy!
Christmas jammies.
Tyler LOVED Ellie. Best buds.
City girls in the country.
Dogs make nap time so much better.
My favorite things! (Plus 3829 cookies in my belly.)I am so grateful for all of the people who made my year such a special and memorable one. All you need is love. And a puppy.
So thank you, 2015, for bringing me so much joy, happiness, and love. Thank you for keeping me on my toes, and letting me smile every single day.
Thank you for being a part of 2015. Let’s have some fun in 2016, OK?
TIME TO SHARE! What was your TOP moment of 2015? Yeah, pick one.
18 Responses
Happy new year!
Happy New Year, Ali! Your pup is all kind of adorable! My favorite part of 2015 was PR’ing on my half marathon time at 2:20. (I know not impressive but for me it was!) And getting a new car for Christmas to replace the one I had been driving for 7.5 years!
One!? That’s tough because a lot of awesome happened in 2015. I think I will have to pick going to the Tony Awards, because that will probably only be a once (or maybe twice) in a lifetime experience for me.
I’m tempted to say the highlight was winning Hamilton lottery tickets……but I feel like Hamilton is getting an unfair advantage because that was a couple weeks ago and the Tony’s were in June. 🙂
https://www.instagram.com/p/362YPGsRAE/
(but…umm….Hamilton may still be the winner)
Happy New Year!
So hard to choose just one but a big moment for me was taking a leap of faith career-wise. Happy 2016!
Yay 2015!!!
My top moment was finally being diagnosed (Crohn’s, what, what!) and being put on medication that actually started helping 🙂
And then I found your awesome blog! And realized my friend Winnie is in one of your November Project photos! #smallworld
Thanks for sharing your life; it helps so much.
Here’s to 2016!!!
I can’t pick one. The pressure is too much! But, since its your blog, I’ll say one of my top moments of 2015 was discovering Lyons Den Power Yoga with (and thanks to) you!!
Finishing the NYC Marathon, my first full, and pulling out my phone at the finish line to see tons of texts and emails coming in from all the people who were apparently tracking me and feeling so loved. Happy New Year!
My top moment? Finally meeting your hubs IRL? Okay, maybe not top, but it’s up there!
You have had an amazing year that will be tough to top! But I hope that 2016 brings you even more happiness and health, you deserve it!
Top moment: reuniting with old friends!
If anybody could check out my blog that would be super amazing: https://sweetpotatoesrunner.wordpress.com
🙂
You’ve had such an awesome and crazy year! It’s fun following along and hopefully 2016 is just as good to you 🙂
Seeing you become a puppy mom! I loved reading what I could have written myself 7 years ago. 🙂
It has been so much fun following your adventures in 2015 Ali, thank you for sharing it all with us!!! My top moment of 2015 was probably celebrating my Dad’s 70th birthday…I kept calling it an extravaganza, and made him whoop it up for 4 days straight, including seeing a baseball game, family brunch, and a big BBQ at the lake. Wishing you, Brian, Ellie, and all the rest of yours a wonderful New Years to kick off (what will undoubtedly be) a fantastic 2016 🙂
Never thought to keep Best Of List in my paper planner but totally doing this for 2016.
Best moment was walking out of my last of 14 doctors appointment with a nutrioinist who helped solve my stomach problems while helping me lose 28.4 pounds back in April! Now I work to keep off the pounds.
Wishing you, Brian and Ellie a Happy and Healthy 2016!!
Ps. The best of 2016 list she have Ellie with her own Instagram!! Double the Ellie photos!
As a long time reader of your blog, I love seeing how great this year has been for you! My top moment was buying a condo, but that still doesn’t make a me a “real adult” yet.. when do you really become an adult anyway?!
Christina :: Simple and Delish
I don’t know why, but I’ve never though of keeping a “Best of” list for each year! I will definitely be starting that, yes in my paper planner, for 2016!
My top moment of 2015 was getting to visit and talk with some teenagers at St. Jude Children’s Hospital. If you’ve never run a race and raised money, I would highly suggest looking into this! 🙂
Happy 2015, and an even happier 2016 to you!
I have loved reading/seeing all of your fun memories unfold – you & Brian look like you have SO much fun together & I wish you two the best in the future..
My TOP moment of 2015? PR’ing at the Hershey Half Marathon.. my hometown 🙂