Every time I feel like I’m stagnating in my life, I have to remember that this year has been absolutely fabulous – trying as all hell, but fabulous nonetheless. For those of you who have been on the crazy train with us during this past year I would like to give you a wholehearted THANK YOU for not only supporting us through comments and cheers but for helping us achieve our dreams through visiting the blog, buying things at our new store, and well – just being freaking awesome.
So as this year is coming to a close, I thought I would give a little bit of perspective on went on these past 12 months with some of the major highlights during our 2013 wrap up.
- We brought in the New Year in Cedar Key, Florida with friends and got to experience HASHING.
- We raised $125 for the Cupid Undie Run and ran in our underwear while it was raining in February.
- Shaun got to head out to Snowcial at Tahoe to get some snowboarding in at an awesome tech conference.
- We fell head over heels in love with Berlin, Germany AND got to see the Hoff at the Berlin Wall.
- After heading to Guatemala (for the third time) we got to experience a really rad boat-sitting gig in Rio Dulce.
- And even though we zipped through Belize (for our second time!), we got to experience much needed luxury during our trip at Chaa Creek in San Ignacio.
- After eating tacos al pastor for 2 weeks straight, we fell in love with Playa del Carmen – which had treated us pretty badly the last time we had come through.
- I got to have a girlie weekend in Plano, Texas. Champagne, The Drybar, and shopping!
- We fell head over heels with Regional Burns (Burning Man in smaller communities around the world). While I hope to go back to the playa one day, the playa near home has been so good to us.
- We tried our best at Aerial Silks. I suck – but it was a good attempt.
- We started FOOD TRUCK FRIDAY.
- I got to head out and experience the rad side of Silicon Valley.
- Which was followed up by an incredibly awesome trip to Portland. I finally got to see my favorite tree at the Portland Japanese Garden.
- Shaun raised $510 for Movember in honor of his dad.
- A much needed vacation was taken in Costa Rica via #GiftOfHappiness and I fell in love with the ocean all over again.
- We planned and constructed a 9 foot electric jellyfish made of fiber optics. Why? Because we can.
- We are working our asses off and have made a HUGE dent in our credit cards! As soon as they are paid off we can head out into the wild blue yonder again.
A few things you guys missed that I didn’t cover in the posts over the past year is how incredibly devastating and difficult it is to reintegrate after traveling for a couple of years. When the time comes that I can process what has been happening to me, I’ll make sure to talk about it. I don’t think I’m ready yet.
But when you reach rock bottom, there is only one way up, right? We’re currently getting the hang of the work/travel schedule that we want to have in our lives right now. So here are some of our prospective plans for 2014.
- Participate in more Regional Burns (big surprise).
- Go to Mexico (again).
- It is Shaun’s turn to pick our next big trip and he has chosen… SEOUL, KOREA (yes, to feed his insane appetite for all things Starcraft but I think it will still be AMAZEBALLS!)
- At some point make it out to Big Bend National Park and Terlingua, Texas.
- I’m cooking up something awesome that I can’t yet talk about but will make a big announcement about it as soon as plans are solidified!
- The rest of the year is left to life delegating where we should be. Hell, half of these plans can probably change.
- Also, we are turning FOUR YEARS OLD in March. Yay us!
And a couple of random goodies:
- Our Most Popular Post: Teufelsberg: A Graffiti Paradise at an Abandoned Spy Station.
- Runners up: A Slice of Heaven at Chaa Creek, Belize and Drifting Away in Cozumel.
- This past year we had a quarter of a million unique visitors on our blog! HOWDY Y’ALL!
- Most popular Instagram Post:
Followed by:
- Most popular video from 2013:
- Most popular picture from 2013 on flickr – Burning Flipside:
And just for you guys being so supportive and amazing, we have a little something for YOU! As a Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays/Festivus for the Rest of Us, I made some wallpapers just for you.
WALL PAPERS OF AWESOMENESS!!!!!!!!!
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Again, thank you for an outstanding year and we hope to see you tag along into 2014!
But one FABULOUS thing happened to you in Playa del Carmen. You met us!
Wow guys, this year has been amazing and busy for you I see. So many great adventures! You guys keep being awesome and we wish you more travel adventures in 2014 <3! Hope to meet you on our travels one day!
Sounds like you guys had an amazing year and have a lot to look forward to in the coming year. Happy Holidays!
Umm you forgot the most important trip of all!!!
Yes please come down to Mexico and hang out with us and eat tacos al pastor every day.
HA! Yes, I got to meet some of the most amazing people in the world. I’m sorry that you’re not hallmarked. 😛 xoxoxoxo
Thank you Agness! <3 We're always trying to make the best of things. Cheers!
Thanks lady! Happy holidays to you as well. Let’s rock 2014 together!
Okay, well, right now we are looking for rentals that Shaun can get for work so we can have a place in Sayulita. The unfortunate side is that there are like 200 properties there and I don’t want to be on top of Gringo Hill. Regardless, after Freezerburn he is calculating his vacation so we can see how many days we can spend with you. We will let you know by the end of January! <3
Wow! It seems you guys have been busy! 🙂 Love your jellyfish although I don’t understand why you built it (because you can :D) and can’t wait to cross paths again soon!
To an amazing 2014!
Ahh, Gringo Hill isn’t so bad – when Sayulita is crazy busy like it is Nov-Feb, you don’t get all the bar noise like you would if you were down in the town itself. 🙂
How did I miss your Iceland dive video? Seems you had a lot better vis than most people I know who have done Silfa!
<3 Thanks Inma! I look forward to seeing you again one day!
But it requires GOING UP A HILL. ew.
Really?! I thought this was normal! lol. It was one of my favorite dives, albeit a bit cold.
What a big year with so much diversity and so much achieved, Good on you both and looking forward to mix with you more. Take care, Regards, Paula and Gordon
Love the Iceland diving video! I can’t imagine how hard it must’ve been coming back to the US after being abroad for so long. Hopefully it’s getting easier. That giant jellyfish is AWESOME!
looks like a great year. Here’s to 2014!
Thanks guys! <3 We hope to see you around here more often. ;)
It is getting easier every day but the hardest part is realizing your ethics have changed through travel. THAT part is hard. (And thanks on the jelly- I LOVE IT.)
Hell yeah! Now when are we finally going to grab a drink together?
What an AWESOME year, you guys!
Wishing the new year is filled with many more adventures. Keep on spreading the positive vibes! 🙂
Yay! Great roundup! Here’s to an awesome upcoming 2014.
Aww love your round-up post. Sounds like you had a great year and looking forward to hearing about your 2014 trips & plans! Korea sounds like a good time 🙂
YES, SEOUL!! You are going to have so much fun. Seoul is an insane city. Here’s to 2014! 😉 x
Totally rad blog! How am I just discovering you two? Either way, love the graffiti feel to everything and the attitude of the blog. Looks like you had one helluva year! I’ve just finally broken free from the US to travel and now figuring out what the hell to do to sustain it in Thailand, but in all do time things will be figured out. I’ll be adding you two to my “Hall of Gnarly Travel Blogs” when I get my broken computer working again, but in the meantime rock on and here’s to the New Year!
Aww thanks Zara! Here is to an awesome 2014!
*high five*
Here is to hoping! Shaun just got his vacation breakdown for 2014 and I think we’ve already spent it all!
Good. Because I need a little but of insanity in my life. xoxo
HAI RYAN! Welcome to our little bit of chaotic heaven. Hope we can keep up with you over the next year and thanks for dropping by to say hello! <3 (If you ever happen to drop by Austin let us know so we can grab a beer!)
Amazing year guys! we can only imagine how it feels heading back home for a while after all of the exciting travels! We’ll be experiencing it soon ourselves. Love the giant jelly fish! We’ll get to Burning Man one day! Perhaps on our road trip through the US? We REALLY love your instagram shot! It is Beauuuuuuuutiful! Have a great 2014, and maybe we’ll see you on the road!
Happy new year! Loved reading your roundup. I am really looking forward to reading your posts about reintegration, when you are ready to write them.
What a year!!! I know all about re-enry and getting back into life in the States. It’s tough. Glad you are working through it and going to share it!
Whoaaaa, what a year!
I absolutely loved the spy station post:)
And that most popular instagram is superb!
You have gotten me curious about your secret plan though…
Will carefully follow this…:D
Have a great 2014 guys!
If you ever need an ear, let me know. It is really freaking hard.
I’m still at a loss for words and a little crazy right now so I’m not sure when I’ll write them. I need a more objective view. But I think people need to know nonetheless. I just hate writing downer posts.
ha! I will let you know about my secret plan as soon as its hashed out for sure.
I know they can be painful to write, but I find the process is sometimes cathartic! And god knows people love to read them… my most popular posts are on breakups, weight gain, and whale slaughter. Ha.
Cathartic and then I feel guilty for writing them. *sigh*
I see 2013 was a busy, colorfully diverse year!
I wish 2014 be the same to all travel writers! 😉
Great round-up! Seems you’ve had an amazing year, hope 2014 will be even better!
Great round up Erica! Yeah, you guys were busy and you got to do a lot of really different things which is cool. That jellyfish is bad ass!
Thanks JB!