2009: My Year in Review

My year in review was going to consist of several posts that would each feature images and descriptions of all that I have seen, accomplished and valued in 2009. However, I have decided to fit everything into a single entry instead. That’s not to say I didn’t do a lot this year, quite the contrary actually.

Events that made my year….

January 2009

Family trip to Iowa, meeting the fabulous Rachael Chatoor for the first time, being a part of Blogger Night at the Opera, hanging out with the Altar Boyz, hosting WordCamp Whistler.

February 2009

Covering Winterfest in Surrey, hosting Vancouver’s Twestival Global, speaking at Northern Voice, visiting Duane in Chilliwack at his new house, interviewing Ellen Muth of Dead Like Me, celebrating 3 years of marriage with my man.

March 2009

Liveblogging from Canucks games, covering the 2009 Juno Awards, interviewing Matthew Barber, interviewing Brett Gaylor of RIP: A Remix Manifesto.

April 2009

Visiting the Developmental Disabilities Association, speaking at the inaugural Tech Valley Social Club meetup, doing my first car (hybrid) review for Earth Day, having an amazing getaway to the Island with Keira (as she brought Jordy home for the first time), meeting Erica Ehm.

May 2009

Starting at the end of April, taking my first Circle Farm Tour in the Harrison/Agassiz region, taking a plane ride with Westcoast Air, going to the SPCA’s Open House (and wished I had a kitty), interviewing producer / director Todd Hallowell, doing candidate interviews for the Provincial election, hosting my first Bard on the Beach contest, going to San Francisco for WordCamp.

June 2009

Going on a yacht cruise with Wantsa, taking on a sailboat trip up Indian Arm, publishing a freelance article for Tourism Vancouver (that has since made it to the NBC Olympics website) going kayaking in Deep Cove and Ziplining on Grouse Mountain, heading to Victoria on a blogger press trip.

To say that I have been blessed in 2009 would be a severe understatement. I got to see more family and spend more time with my husband all while growing my business and traveling to all corners of the province, the continent, and the globe. Through it all, I have been able to share each experience online, with my readers — and that what has helped make 2009 even more special.

More events that made my year….

July 2009

Covering Canada Day in Surrey, going on a Girls Island Getaway with Keira, snooping behind the scenes at the City of Vancouver Archives, flying to New York for two days and meeting Mike Dilorenzo of the NHL, covering the Surrey Fusion Festival, covering the Death Cab for Cutie show, getting t a preview tour of the Canada Line before it opened, hosting Blogathon Vancouver 2009.

August 2009

Waking up in the Dominican Republic, crossing Capilano Suspension Bridge for the first time ever, doing the Peak to Peak gondola in Whistler, dining at Araxi, and visiting the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, traveling to the Island for a tour of the Cowichan region (and meeting baby water buffalo at Fairburn Farm), starting what would become to be one of my most popular segments – the “Then and Now” photo series.

September 2009

Taking my first train ride on the Whistler Mountaineer, hosting Vancouver Twestival Local, chatting with Sean Horlor of OutTV, having a fantastic getaway with my sister at Sonora Resort, hanging out with George Stroumboulopoulos, covering We Day Vancouver 2009, being named the Best Local Blog in Vancouver.

October 2009

Hanging out at BarCamp Vancouver 2009, heading out on a photowalk along the Lions Gate Bridge, covering the Vancouver International Film Festival, being a judge at the Thrill the World zombie dance.

November 2009

Learning more about Movember, going on a fall photowalk, being at the launch of the ABSOLUT Vodka Vancouver bottle in the panorama room atop the Hotel Vancouver, spending almost a week in beautiful, breathtaking and hospitable Switzerland, celebrating the fifth blogaversary of Miss604, being named a finalist for Female Entrepreneur of the Year by the Impact Entrepreneurship Group.

December 2009

Waking up in Punta Cana once again, getting a tour of the YVR Observation Area, meeting Santa at GE Ice Plaza, baking with Keira, sailing across Burrard Inlet on the bridge of the new Seabus on launch day, snowboarding on Seymour with Jenny, John (who learned to ski), James and Sean on Christmas Day.

These are just a small sampling of events that made my 2009 memorable. I am truly thankful for the trips I’ve been able to take, the friends that I have made this year, and the difference Miss604.com has been able to make thanks to my dedicated readers.

I’m proud to say that events I organized in 2009 raised over $10,000 for local causes, I gave away about 60 contest prizes (about $5,000 in swag), I built websites for amazing clients including the Coca-Cola Olympic Torch Run Newsroom, and I wrote a book that will be on store shelves in about two weeks.

I feel as though I’ve worked the hardest in my life but what made it all worthwhile was being able to play hard as well. Here’s to a fantastic 2010 — it’ll be a big one of Olympic proportions for sure and I look forward to sharing it with you. Cheers!