My 2016 Highlights

Here we are, already a few days into 2017. To be honest, I wasn't sure if I should post my annual highlights this year. 2016 was just so miserable to so many people. It's been a devastating year for many with countless terror attacks around the world and the ongoing crisis in Syria. Also, Trump?! Seriously, America?! You could have had Bernie! (Don't even get me started, I'm still not over it..)

After thinking about it, I decided to post my highlights of 2016 anyway, just like I've done for the past few years. I would like to keep this diary to look back on in the future to remind myself that 2016 did have some good times, too. On a personal level, 2016 was a great year and I'd like to sit back and reminisce on the past 12 months and think about my highlights and the things I'm most thankful for. If you're interested, let me take you on my 2016 journey.

Snow in Taipei!?

Snow on Yangmingshan in Taipei

It freakin' snowed on the mountains around Taipei City in January, which have NEVER happened during my eight years of living in Taiwan. The Husband and I got up super early that one Sunday morning to take the bus up the mountain and beat the crowds. It was truly a magical scene. The mountain, usually a vision of luscious green trees and plants, was covered in a white blanket. People were dressed like they were heading on an Arctic adventure and children were building snowmen and making snow angels on the ground. As a South African whom have only been in snow a couple of times in my life, it really was a very special experience and I'm glad we got to witness this event in Taipei.

Family Trip to Dubai

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi

For our Chinese New Year break in February, The Husband and I flew to Dubai to visit my brother, sister-in-law and my sister. My mom also flew in from South Africa to spend the week there with us. It was so nice to be there during the winter, as we finally got to (comfortably) do some outdoor activities (usually impossible during the scorching hot summers). I wrote all about our trip, you can read it here. Visiting the majestic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and going on a "desert safari" were big highlights for me.

New Address

The Husband and I were bummed out when our landlord informed us that they sold our apartment and that the new owners wanted to live there. Finding a decent yet affordable apartment in Taipei can be a headache, so it took us about 2 months to find one that was just right. We literally only moved a 15 minutes' walk down the road, and it's much closer to a subway station. I still miss our previous place, but we have made the new apartment our home.

My Dad's Visit to Taiwan

In Taroko Gorge with my dad

In May my dad came to visit us in Taiwan for three weeks. It was his first visit here, and we had a great time. The Husband and I still had to work, but my dad was such a trooper and navigated the city on his own when we were at work. He quickly learned how to use public transportation and shared his adventures with me every evening after I got home. It was so nice to have him here and show him our life in Asia. He absolutely loved it! Maybe we can make this an annual thing, and hopefully also get my mom over here.

Road trip to Taroko Gorge

Exploring Taroko Gorge

While my dad was here, we went on a little road trip to Taroko Gorge. Out of all the things I wanted to share with my dad, the beautiful gorge was at the top of my list. He's also a huge nature lover, so I knew he'd appreciate it. It was a lovely trip and we enjoyed our stay at the stunning Silk's Place Hotel in the middle of the gorge.

Babies, Engagements and Weddings

Not one, not two, but three of our friends announced their pregnancies to us within a week. Damn, people have been getting busy! All of them gave birth to healthy bundles of joy in 2016 and we couldn't be happier for them. Also, close friends of mine from South Africa announced their engagements and I got to attend my friends' wedding here in Taiwan. Love is in the air, that's for sure!

New Job

After working at the same job for six years, I knew that my chapter there was coming to an end. It was hard to say goodbye to everyone there, and I still miss them. That said, I LOVE my new job! My coworkers are wonderful people and we've become really good friends. Also, I can walk to work which is a huge improvement from my previous soul sucking commute.

Our Trip to Penghu

Penghu, Taiwan

In the summer, The Husband and I spent a few days in Penghu, one of the small islands off the coast of Taiwan. It was such a nice week and we really enjoyed the beach, sunshine and relaxation. I wrote all about our trip and you can read it here. A big highlight for me was our scooter trip around the island, it was so much fun.

California Dreaming

Hollywood, Los Angeles

This summer The Husband and I spent one week in LA with my brother and his husband. They've been living there now for a couple of years and we finally had some time to go and see them. They bought a beautiful house and we loved staying with them as they treated us like VIP guests and we enjoyed the quality time together. During our time there, The Husband and I did some touristy things around LA, Santa Monica and Malibu and also got to meet up with one of our friends whom happened to be on vacation there at the same time. It was wonderful catching up with her and spending the day together. I loved Malibu and enjoyed our lunch there at the pier (we even spotted celebrities!) and we met up with friends and watched the sunset together at El Matador Beach. We LOVED our time in California and we're already looking forward to our return this summer.

Back to the South

North Carolina, USA

Before we went to California, we spent two weeks with The Husband's family in North Carolina. I always love going there, as it's absolutely beautiful and his family is so wonderful. We spent a lot of quality time with the fam and especially our nieces and nephews (whom seem to multiply every time we go back for a visit.) During our time there, we also met up with The Husband's friends whom took us out on a boat trip on the lake, which we really enjoyed.

Catching Up with An Old Friend

While we were in North Carolina, I got to meet up with one of my best friends from South Africa. He moved to the States when we were in university and by that point we haven't seen each other in almost 10 years. I got to meet his lovely wife and we spent a day together catching up and reminiscing about our childhood and crazy uni days. It made me so happy to see him and it was like no time had passed, we just picked up from where we left off.

Taiwan Adventures

On the Maokong Gondola ride over the treetops far below.

Every year I tell myself that I should see more of Taiwan and experience more of the things that this island has to offer. To be honest, I could have done more but did manage to make a few day trips and visit places I've never been. My friend and I finally took the time to go on the Maokong Gondola for a cable car ride up the mountain. The view of Taipei from up there was breathtaking and the ride itself over the treetops was exhilarating. The Husband and I also visited Wulai and stayed at the beautiful Pause Landis Hotel for our 2-year wedding anniversary. On a work outing, we went to Jinguashi and visited the Huang Jin (Golden) Waterfalls. I didn't even know this place existed, and it was interesting learning about its history. Other than that we made a day trip to Taichung to visit friends and also did a road trip over the mountains to Taroko Gorge and spent some time in Yilan.

A Table by the Window, please.

Enjoying sweet treats at a cafe in Taipei.

Being a huge fan of food and drinks in general, it was easy for me to develop the hobby of cafe crawling in Taipei City. I loved trying out new cafes and eateries around the city in 2016, especially because SO many fantastic cafes have opened their doors in the past few years. I have made it my Saturday morning tradition to try out new cafes with friends, and have met so many amazing people in the process. I can tell you, it's tough having lattes at different cafes around the city, but someone's gotta do it.

The Last Day of 2016

Taipei101 New Year's Eve fireworks 

This year we decided to go all out for New Year's Eve and attended a rooftop party across the street from Taipei101. During my time living in Taiwan, I've never been this close to the famous countdown and fireworks show at the world's second tallest building. It was truly a highlight ringing in the new year with The Husband and our friends up on that rooftop away from the crowds. It was probably one of the best parties I've ever been to in Taipei!

I hope I'm not forgetting anything. 2016 was such a wild ride and hopefully 2017 will be more smooth sailing for our world. I wish you all a wonderful new year!

HAPPY 2017!

My 2015 Highlights

Au Revoir, 2015! What a year it was, and man, did it whiz past us! (...or does it just feel that way for me because I'm getting older?) Excuse me for being a little sensitive, I celebrated a big birthday this year...

For the past couple of years, I've taken the time to look back at my highlights of each year. This year, for sure, did not disappoint. To refresh my memory, I looked through my Facebook and Instagram photos and I was overwhelmed by all the fantastic things I experienced. I'd love to share some of the high points of my year with you.

Our first wedding anniversary

On February 1st, The Husband and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary. And although we are now nearing our second anniversary already, I still feel like a newlywed, and I'm really not sure if the honeymoon phase will ever fizzle out. I just love this man more and more every single day. 

This year, I also decided to change my last name, which was exciting, but also a pain in the butt when it came to paperwork. Still, I get a major kick out of being called Mrs. Ray.

Our wedding day, February 1st 2014

Honeymoon in Bali

A year after our wedding, we finally went on our honeymoon. We chose Bali, which turned out to be absolutely stunning, and a place I still find myself daydreaming about. I blogged in detail about our trip, and you can read that post here. I'd love to go back one day, and  see even more of this paradise.

Chasing waterfalls in Bali

Healthy family

If there's one thing that really frightens me, it's when a loved one isn't healthy. 2015 was a great year for my family, and I can't even explain to you how thankful I am that every single member of my family is now 100% healthy, and living their best life. 

I filled up my passport

I started traveling in 2008, and managed to fill up my passport with stamps from my travels to almost 30 countries. (Of course, being South African, I also had plenty of visas occupying quite a few pages). This year I got a new passport, and I can't wait to fill this one up as well.

Another adventure awaits

Seeing more of Taiwan

I've lived in Taiwan now for a long time, and this year I really wanted to see more of the island. Even though there are still so many places I want to visit, I still managed to get around this year. The Husband and I went on a hike in an area called Wulai. It was so refreshing to get out of the city and be in nature. It was stunning! I also made a daytrip to Hsinchu, the city where I used to live when I first came to Taiwan, and got to spend some time with old friends. We also took the High Speed Train down to Kaohsiung, a city in the south of Taiwan, for a weekend and to attend a good friend's wedding. (Another highlight!) Other than that, I really enjoyed our hike up Elephant Mountain to watch the stunning sunset over Taipei City.

Sunset over Taipei (Taken from Elephant Mountain)

ELLE Magazine feature

Posting travel, fashion, food and style pictures on Instagram has become one of my favorite hobbies, and I was over the moon when ELLE Magazine South Africa contacted me about featuring me on their website as their "INSTA Crush". What an honor, and such an exciting experience. You can find the link to my interview and feature here.

Featured on ELLE Magazine South Africa

A big birthday

This year I celebrated 30 years of life on this beautiful Earth. So far, I really don't feel any different than 29. Reaching this milestone birthday has definitely made me think about my life so far, what I've achieved and what I still want to achieve in the future. The first 30 years of my life have been incredible, and I can't wait to see what happens next.

Friends and family visits to Taiwan

Just like last year my brother, sister and friend (whom are all flight attendants for Emirates) have all been able to visit us here in Taipei multiple times. Their layovers fly by (awesome pun intended), but we make the most of it by spending quality time together, laughing, eating and catching up on each other's lives. I love their visits, and look forward to it so much! May there be many more in 2016.

Catching up with my The Sister

Scandinavia and Russia cruise

After cruising the Mediterranean 3 years ago, The Husband and I have been itching to go on a cruise again. Together with two of our very good friends, we decided to go on a 2-week cruise of Scandinavia and Russia. It was an unforgettable experience! Once again, cruising with Princess Cruises was fantastic, and I still can't believe all the places that we got to see. During our cruise, we got to visit Denmark, Norway, Germany, Estonia, Russia, Finland and Sweden. Each of these countries blew me away, and I'm so grateful that we were able to have this experience. You can read all about our cruise here.

Sailing out of Copenhagen

Four days in Amsterdam

This Summer, I was finally able to cross Amsterdam off my bucket list. I've wanted to visit Holland for so long, as that's where my ancestors are from. We were so lucky to have perfect weather while we were there, so we got to experience everything that Amsterdam has to offer, and even got to spend two days with our friends from Germany who joined us there. You can read all about our time in Amsterdam and Europe here.

Enjoying the scenery in Amsterdam

Exciting projects and collaborations

Lately, my blog has been taking a backseat to my Instagram. Not that I don't still enjoy blogging, but recently I've been enjoying the photography part more. Instagram has been a great platform for this. Sharing photos are fun, and I enjoy meeting like-minded and creative people from around the world. It has also offered a platform for me to collaborate with some great companies like The Fifth Watches, Byredo TW, Franco Florenzi, Sudio Sweden and many more. I'm so thankful for these companies for reaching out to me, and I can't wait to see what 2016 has in store.

From Russia, with love

I never thought I'd ever get to visit Russia. To me, it may as well be on another planet, and I have always been very curious about it. During our cruise, we got to spend two days in St. Petersburg. It was two loooong, busy days with a jampacked schedule, and we got to see so many interesting places. Learning about Russia's history by visiting the museums and palaces there was surreal. 

Peterhof, Russia

Actually, this list can go on for ages. 2015 was an incredible year and I can't wait to see what 2016 has in store for us. We have many exciting trips lined up already, which will literally take us around the world, so it will surely make next year another one for the books.

Now, please share your biggest highlight of 2015 in the comments.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Weekend Me-Time

Ah, weekend me-time; there are few things quite like it. Because The Husband works for a few hours on a Saturday morning, I make sure to recharge my introvert self by occupying myself with the things that feed my soul; music, photography, books and a relaxing cup of tea.

Current me-time favorites:

- Grown Alchemist Vanilla & Orange Peel hand cream (here)

- KINFOLK Volume 17 (here)

- Sudio KLANG earphones (here) Get 15% off your purchase with code: LIESL15 (until Oct 31, 2015)

- Harrods English Breakfast tea (here)

Do you set aside a time for yourself every week? 

What do you like to do for quality me-time? 

What's on my Perfume Tray?

 How many bottles of perfume are too many bottles of perfume? The other day The Husband pointed out that my collection is getting a little bit out of hand (apart from this tray of current favorites, he sniffed out the rest of my not-so-secret stash from a not-so-secret cupboard..) So is there such a thing? For me, NEVER!

Currently, these perfumes from Jo Malone, Diptyque and Byredo have been on high rotation. It may sound silly, but each of these makes me feel a different way. Maybe it's because of the memory it evokes and how I felt at the time when I used it often, I'm not sure.

Before we went on our trip to Europe, I was thinking about which perfume to take with me. It may sound like an absurd thing to actually spend time thinking about, but I knew that I'd remember our trip every time I used that perfume again in the future; just like I think about my wedding and the days we spent in South Africa when I smell Diptyque's Do Son, or our trip to Paris when I smell Jo Malone's Osmanthus Blossom, or my mom when I smell Estee Lauder's Pleasures.

So, I went to my favorite beauty and fragrance store here in Taipei, 10/10 Apothecary, to sniff around their Diptyque and Byredo collections. I knew I'd find something perfect from these collections, as I already adore Florabellio and Do Son from Diptyque and Blanche from Byredo. And I did! The shop assistant suggested I try Gypsy Water and I fell in love with it! I used it every day while we were traveling, and I know that for years to come, this fragrance will evoke my Summer in Europe memories. 

Diptyque collection at 10/10 Apothecary in Taipei

So yes, I might have quite a few bottles of perfume, but they each represent a place, a person and even a certain feeling. 

Do you remember specific places or people when you get a whiff of a certain fragrance? Or is it just me?

Yay for Summer!

My Summer vacation officially starts tomorrow! Well, kind of... I'm only leaving for Europe in August, but tomorrow I'll be teaching my last classes and then I'm basically free as a bird for a month and a half! I'm super excited for our travels ahead and just know it's going to be one of the best Summers ever!

Yesterday I saw that one of my most loved swimwear designers, Marysia Swim, is having a contest where you can win a $1000 gift voucher to spend on their website. Uh, yes please! Check out their Instagram account for more details on how to enter, and hurry, the contest ends on Friday. Here is my entry, so cross your fingers!

My Summer Beach Essentials:

Follow me on Instagram, @_liesl_

Bikini: Marysia Swim

Hat: J.Crew

Sunglasses: Illesteva

Perfume: Diptyque

What are you all up to this Summer, and what are some of your beach essentials?

That Feeling...

source

Happy Friday, dear friends! Today is my mom's birthday (HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MAMMA!) and while I was writing a "happy birthday" message to her this morning, I couldn't help but think back to my childhood, growing up in a small town and how wonderful and carefree it was. I'm beyond thankful for my wonderful parents and my crazy siblings, and I'm so blessed to have them in my life. There's no feeling better than knowing that I have their unconditional love and support.

That also made me think of some of my other favorite feelings:

That feeling when climbing into my bed after my evening bath or shower, and my bed was just made with clean, fresh white sheets. I'm not sure why, but it must be a mix of scents from my body wash and laundry detergent. I once read that Oprah sleeps in NEW sheet every night. I feel ya, Oprah, I would too if I could!

That feeling when I open the door to our apartment after a long day's work (or even just after I leave the house for 30 seconds to take the trash out) and my fur baby is all over me. His kisses, cuddles and excitement to see me immediately eliminates any negative feelings I might have had that day.

That feeling when I've been walking a lot and finally get to take off my shoes and walk barefoot on soft grass. Unfortunately I don't get to do this much in Taipei (unless I'm at the park), but when I'm at my parents' house in South Africa, I'm constantly outside in the yard just so that I can walk barefoot on the grass.

That feeling when I'm traveling with The Husband and we finally wind down after a busy day of exploring to enjoy a gorgeous sunset together. Preferably with a glass of good wine in hand!

That feeling when I go back to South Africa to visit my family and I walk through the arrivals gate and see their smiling faces waiting there for me. I believe that the Arrivals Hall of an airport is one of the happiest places on Earth.

That feeling when I give to someone and I just know how much it means to them. "There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward." - Kahlil Gibran

That feeling after I've had a good workout, taken a shower and had a healthy breakfast, all before 10am on a Saturday morning. I'm a morning person and this excites me way too much.

That feeling when I've been wanting to buy something online for a while and then suddenly it goes on sale and my size is available. I love online shopping and I love a good deal even more.

That feeling when I'm getting my hair washed at the salon. Oh, sweet mother of good feelings! And not only that, here in Taiwan it's standard for a salon to wash your hair extra long and give you a head and back massage. (Booking your flight to Taiwan as we speak?)

That feeling when I'm at my favorite Indian restaurant here in Taipei, and I take that first bite of butter naan, dipped in creamy butter chicken. *drooling uncontrollably right now*

That feeling when I have absolutely nothing to do, and nowhere to be, and I can lie on my couch, relax and get lost in a good book for hours. Or in general, any time I have nothing that I have to do, or nowhere that I have to be. (I know all you introverts are nodding your head in agreement right now...)

That feeling when I'm in a new country, learning about the culture and exploring interesting places with The Husband. We have a serious case of wanderlust.

That feeling when I'm catching up with friends whom I haven't seen for months or years, and it feels just like the good old days, as if nothing has changed. This is especially true of my friends back in South Africa. We grew up together and I miss them every day. I love that when we get to spend time together now, I'm only more convinced that our special bonds will never break.

That feeling when I think about how lucky I am to have met the love of my life, and that he loves and appreciates me so much. Really, what are the odds of meeting that person whom you want to spend every second of every day with, and who you just can't get enough of. I feel so blessed and grateful that I will have this wonderful person as my companion for the rest of my life.

Please share one of your favorite feelings. Happy Weekend!

Pinning and 'Gramming

Source: @_liesl_

Don't worry, I'm still alive and kicking! I know things have been on the quiet side here on the blog, and I'm sorry. Unfortunately, Pretty.Random.Things. has been treated like the insignificant middle child lately when it comes to my online antics. I know we aren't supposed to have favorites, but recently Instagram and Pinterest have gotten most of my attention.

Over the past few months, I've grown really fond of Instagram. At first it was just a fun platform to share pics of my travels, daily life, exciting purchases and pretty things I love, but it's become so much more than that. Now, it's all about the people! Among the millions of Instagram users, I've found some of the most creative, exciting and inspirational people. I've made countless new online friends from around the world! It's so crazy and wonderful how I've met people on this photo sharing app whom I have so much in common with and would love to meet in real life.

If you want to keep up with me, better hop on over to my Instagram and/or Pinterest, because that's where you'll most likely find me pinning and 'gramming.

Happy Friday! Have a wonderful weekend.

My 2014 Highlights

Good job, 2014! You did not disappoint in the least bit. Here we are at the end of another eventful year, with a lot of ups and unforgettable moments. As I was browsing through my photos from the past 12 months, I just couldn't help but have a huge smile on my face. It has been a very special year for us, and I'd like to share my personal highlights with you.

Our Bachelor/Bachelorette Party

Our "Barbie" themed bachelor/bachelorette party

I have the best friends in the world! No, seriously, I do! They decided to throw The Husband and me a party together in Cape Town, which was perfect because I wanted to celebrate this joyous time with ALL of my friends. The theme was "Barbie" and everyone dressed up. They went above and beyond with the food and decorations, and we had a blast eating, dancing, drinking, talking and taking pictures. My favorite part was catching up with all of my friends, some of whom I haven't seen for three years. That evening was so special to me, and I'll never forget it!

My Bridal Shower

Getting spoiled at my Bridal Shower

My sister and best friend arranged a beautiful bridal shower for me, two days before our wedding. I was blown away by all the effort they had put into it. I hope they know how much I appreciated that. It was such a fun party; the food, setting, champagne, presents, and of course the great company, was perfect and just what the bride needed to relax before the big day.

Our Wedding

The Big Day

Of course, this was a biggie. The most exciting and magical event of the year for me was our wedding in South Africa. I married the love of my life on a beautiful farm outside my home town, and celebrated with our entire family and all of our friends (whom had all made the long journey to the most Southern tip of Africa to share in this joyous occasion with us.) It was even better than I could have imagined, and it still feels like a dream. (You can read my entire recount of our wedding day here.)


Summer Vacation in South Africa

Fun in the sun

The Husband and I spent three weeks in South Africa with our families and it was incredible! The weather was lovely, and we spent many days at the beach soaking up the sun. The In-laws made the long journey from North Carolina, USA as well, and it was the first time our families met. I'll never forget the night my entire family and The Husband's entire family were all under one roof (which is a huge deal considering there are MANY of us, and we live in four different countries); I'll treasure the memory of that night forever. Also, many of our friends flew from all over the world to South Africa for our wedding, and it was so incredible to have them all in my home country, and to have them there to celebrate our wedding with us. Their efforts to make it to our wedding really meant so much to us, and we'll be forever grateful for that. (You can read all about our summer in South Africa here.)

Our New Home

Home Sweet Home

After The Husband and I got back to Taiwan from our vacation in South Africa, we decided that it was time for a new apartment. By that time we had been in the same apartment in Taipei for 4 years. We were so lucky to find a beautiful newly renovated place in a great neighborhood close to a huge park in Taipei City. We've had so much fun these past few months furnishing and decorating our new home.

Another Anniversary

5 wonderful years together

In April, The Husband and I celebrated our 5th anniversary together. It's been 5 years filled with happiness and more love than my heart can possibly handle. I still feel like the luckiest lady to have snatched that one up!

More Wedding Bells

My amazing brother and brother-in-law

Not only did I get to marry my soul mate this year, my brother did the same. It's hard for me to express how incredibly thankful I am that my big brother found the person that brings him this much happiness, and that they can now spend the rest of their lives together. They got hitched in New York City and are now living in sunny California.

Summer Trip to the Desert

Summer in Dubai

On a whim, I made a little trip to the desert to go and visit my sister, brother and sister-in-law (whom all live in Dubai). It just so happened that my mom was also in Dubai at that time. It made me so happy to spend so much quality time with my family, and Dubai is always an interesting and exciting place to visit. (Here's my detailed Dubai Diary.)

Summer in the States

Relaxing days in the South

This past Summer, The Husband and I went to visit the fam in North Carolina for three weeks. It had been 3 years since my last visit, and I couldn't wait to see my nieces and nephews, and of course the entire family. We also made road trips to Charleston, South Carolina and Asheville, North Carolina, which were both amazing places to visit. My best friend from South Africa also joined us there. (She's now dating my brother-in-law! How perfect is that!?).

Adopting Our Fur Baby

On a 10-point scale of cuteness, Toby is about a 15.

This year, we were ready to adopt a fur child. The Husband and I are both dog lovers, and it has been my dream to adopt a dog here in Taiwan. When we moved into our new place, it had to be pet friendly. When we adopted our fur baby, he was about five or six months old and we named him Toby. He is the sweetest, cutest, and most lovable fur ball you'll ever see in your life, and I couldn't possibly love him any more than I already do. (Here's our adoption story.)

Taiwan Road Trip

Sunrise at 10 000 feet

I've been in Taiwan for a loooong time (I first moved here in 2008), and even though I've seen a lot of the island, I've never been to Hehuan Mountain, one of the highest mountains in Taiwan. Together with two of our friends, The Husband and I made a road trip to the mountains. It was a long drive, and it was very cold up there. We had to get up at 4:15am to have enough time to hike up the peak to reach the summit before sunrise. Watching the sunrise from 10 000 feet above sea-level with The Husband was one of the most magical, peaceful and breathtaking experiences of my life.

Friends and Family Announced Engagements, Graduations, Weddings and Little Pink Feet

Lots of celebrations in 2014

Another year filled with births, wedding bells, graduations and ring-finger bling. Every time I see one of these announcements on Facebook, I can't help but feel a warm, fuzzy feeling inside. It's wonderful to see my loved ones so happy! I wish I could attend all of those engagement parties and weddings and celebrations, and I wish I could cuddle all the cute babies, but being in Taiwan, it's just not always possible. I do carry all these people around in my heart every day.

Visitors in Taiwan

Taipei, my home away from home

In February, Emirates started flying to Taipei, which meant my family and friends whom are flight attendants for them had numerous trips to my city. So far, my sister has had three trips to Taipei, my brother one, and one of my friends have been here five times. I love when they visit, as I get to be a tourist in my own city. And even though we only have one day to catch up, I enjoy every second I get to spend with them.

I hope I'm not leaving anything out on the list, and I sincerely hope each one of you had a wonderful 2014. Remember, "Every day may not be good, but there is something good in every day." Of course we are going to have bad days and sad experiences as well, which I choose to learn and grow from. But I encourage you to find the good in every day, and to celebrate and appreciate those moments, things and people that make you smile.

I have so much to be thankful for, and therefore choose to live a life of gratitude and positivity. I choose to build others up and celebrate their successes with them, and I strive to live my life with integrity and acceptance. Taking on (sometimes scary and overwhelming) opportunities that come my way, and creating new experiences to enjoy and to grow from is what I'm aiming to achieve in 2015.

I wish each and every one of you a blessed and joyful 2015!