2011: Looking Back

By Amanda

Without a doubt, 2011 has been the craziest (I mean that in the best way possible) year of my life. In sum, I turned 30, planned a wedding, got married, took a honeymoon in Greece, traveled all over the U.S. saying goodbye to friends and family, quit my job, moved to Belgium, started writing professionally and taking French again, made new friends while trying hard to stay in touch with old ones and settled into life as an expat. Wow. When I think back on the year, so many words come to mind to describe the experience: exciting, overwhelming, challenging, stressful, fun, etc., but perhaps the one that best sums it up is new.

I've had my ups and downs with all of it. Planning a big wedding was incredibly stressful, but the actual day was blissfully perfect, making it all worth it. (Well, except for those few grey hairs that sprouted up in the process.) Our Greek honeymoon was surprisingly chilly, but we found such beauty in the scenery, people, culture and food that we plan to go back for our first anniversary. It was really difficult to say goodbye to everyone we love in the U.S., but we're incredibly thankful for all the new friends who have helped to make Brussels start to feel like home. I was so nervous about leaving my cushy government job in D.C., but I've been loving writing again and hope to do even more of it in the new year. Sometimes it's so difficult to live in a place where everything feels so different, but the good days are starting to outweigh the bad and even when I'm missing home, I can't help but admit that it's an incredible adventure.

Here's a look back at the past year; I have a feeling I'll never forget it!

{January: Celebrating my 30th birthday in D.C.}

{Early April: My bridal shower in St. Helena, CA}

{Early April: Wine tasting bachelorette party in Napa, CA}

{Late April: Our rehearsal dinner at D.C.'s D.C. Coast}

April 30: Our wedding day at the beautiful Carnegie Institution of Washington

May: Honeymoon in Santorini, Crete and Athens

{November: Hosting our first Thanksgiving}

{December: Enjoying some mulled wine in Cologne}

{December: Our first Christmas in Brussels}

It's been quite a year! I'm looking forward to a calmer 2012. (Fingers crossed!)

Happy New Year!