Tuesday, February 7, 2017

2016: a year to remember


   Ever since 2016 started I said it was going to be my year. And it definitely was! I got to do things I ALWAYS wanted to do, go places I always dreamed of and get married to the love of my life! What could be better?

1. The biggest event of the year was the day I dressed in white and I married the love of my life, Oliver, on the 14th of May:) I wasn't nervous or stressed at all. I was exactly like I always wanted: super relaxed, enjoying every moment of that magical, fairy tale day. To this I have to say a HUGE thank you to my maid of honour and to my bridesmaids! They really helped a lot! 


2. Masterchef inspired me to cook a lot of new dishes and I even started my own cooking blog. It just came naturally after posting tons of dish photos on instagram and realizing I should separate my cooking passion from my everyday life. Now "Once apron a kitchen" brings me great joy! :)


3. Talking about cooking, in 2016 I personally met Adrian Hadean and I cooked one of my favorite desserts for him! :) I went to his book release in Cluj and I talked to him. I was so nervous! It was a huge moment for me since I really admire him as a chef and as a person! I'm so happy I could meet him!


4. I travelled to places I always dreamed of seeing: Venice for my bachelorette getaway, Tuscany and Cinque Terre. And the honeymoon continued around Bella Italia and beautiful Switzerland.


5. We took my family to Switzerland for the first time ever. This was their first time abroad as well. We had perfect weather and all around a perfect week in the little, gorgeous village of Kandersteg:)


6. We found the perfect getaway place in Romania as well: hotel Roman in Maramures! Heaven on Earth! 

7. I started paintiiiiiiiiiiing! I never ever thought I would paint. Like ever. During the Art classes in school I always thought I'm not cut for this but I guess deep down I might have had the bug in me. A book I read (Paris is always a good idea by Nicolas Barreau) gave me the feeling that I HAVE to paint! So I tried it out and I LOVED it! :D I also went to a painting workshop and I made my first professional painting that ended up looking very good even though I was quite stressed not to make mistakes :D



8. Art related, I also had my first henna tattoo in 2016. I really liked the whole experience, choosing my own design and wearing it. 


9. I also started gardening, another activity I never thought I would do. That's because all my previous plants had a rather short life. But travelling during honeymoon I saw so many beautiful pots and gardens (including a gardens of the world museum exhibition) that I really wanted to try it at home, on my own balcony. This time I was more careful and I enjoyed my very own beautiful garden till winter came around :)


10. Not only that Oliver and I got married in 2016, but we also got to be wedding godparents for the first time for our dear Brian and Iuliana :) 


11. And guess what? I also got the chance to organize that wedding as a wedding planner (another first in my life).A lot of firsts, huh? It was exciting, challenging but also very rewarding. Now I'm really considering this as an alternative future job :) 



12. I kept the tradition of making Advent calendars alive this past year and I even made a Cheese one for Oliver :) He really enjoyed it!


13. I started another 365 photographic project but I stopped writing because of the busy schedule and no time left for it. I realized that there's a right time for everything and this project was great when I had more time but now I couldn't keep doing it at the level I would want to. I kept writing my thoughts and ideas but didn't end up putting them online because of lack of time. That doesn't mean I'll stop writing and leaving "footprints" behind me. I'll just do it in a different way I guess :) 


14. Another first: I spent my first Christmas abroad in Canada and I got the chance to decorate it completely. And we had a white Christmas!!! Finally, after so many years!


15. While in Canada I also tried Cross country skiing (another first!:D) I LOOOOOOVED IT! I don't like regular skiing, but this was awesoooome! 


16. And last, but not least: This year I learned that I have to listen more and talk less, that I have to heal myself first before being able to heal the others. I really wanted to get at peace with myself and I had that chance by meeting amazing people! I'm so thankful!


   Therefore, 16 reasons that made 2016 MY year, the year I reached absolute love, happiness and peace, the year I travelled and tried so many new things! :) I definitely fell in love with this year! 

Next year's desire: Carpe diem! Life's short, so enjoy it to the fullest!