What Happened in 2014 to Dani California Cooks?

It was a couple of days after we transitioned to 2015 and Nate and I were in Hong Kong, and we both were like “we haven’t even REGISTERED that 2014 is over yet!” The crazy amount of travels - then flying straight to the East Coast from China for work and being thrown in with some serious deadlines right away - I felt like I haven’t fully looked back on my previous year and set my intentions for the year ahead. I know I set some New Years resolutions, but now they seem kind of lame. Especially since in my personal journal I made like 20 more resolutions.

So now that I have a second to breathe (headed to DC for the weekend to catch up with old friends!) I really want to take a step back on my previous year and share all that happened with you. Especially since this blog was created far into 2014! Check out my top “14” that happened in 2014.

1. I traveled…a lot. All over DC/VA/MD, Los Angeles, San Francisco, all over the state of Washington, Dallas, New York Citayyy, Charleston, Mexico, Turkey, Israel, Cambodia, China.
2. I moved…a lot. I have had like 5 different addresses this year (if you include the months in which I was couch crashing with my extremely accommodating DC friends!)
3. I transitioned from my company’s DC office to their San Francisco location, bringing this California gal back to the west coast.
4. I got to know Nate’s immediate and extended family!
5. Nate left for an indefinite amount of world travel in June. And is returning in March! (If all goes as planned..of course)
6. I got promoted! Hello fancy “Consultant” from “Analyst” title. And on a similar note…
7. I had a roller coaster ride at work. Good feedback and scary feedback. Inspirational people to work with and times that were tough. I learned a TON in 2014 about consulting, about my working style, and about working with other people.
8. I made spending time with my 92 year old grandparents (both of them, opposite sides of the family) a priority once moving back to California.
9. My parents became my roommates!
10. My best friend Chelsea left for 2 1/2 years of the Peace Corps in Zambia. Check out her beautifully written blog!
11. I started coming to terms with my disordered eating - more on that at another time.
12. I became passionate about the local, organic, and slow food movement.
13. I turned 25! No longer can “x” the 18-24 category in surveys.
14. And last but not least…I threatened all summer to do this, but I started my very own food blog!

Check out just a of my favorite non-food related photos from 2014 below. Hard to choose just these, and in no particular order!

Snow days in DC with Paige!

Multiple “generations” of my sorority family

Hanging with chickens on Paradox Farms

Enjoying a sunny lunch with my grandparents

Sipping on lemonade on a hot summer day with Lauren

Playing dress up in Istanbul

Taking artsy shots in Israel

Beach weekend getaways with Little Alice and Abby

Selfies in Shanghaia with my family and Nate

Hong Kong activities

PDA in Charlottesville

Family in Mexico

Office views in DC

Hiking in LA with old friends

It's only fair to share...