My Dearest Blog Readers,
I hope this letter finds you in excellent health and with a joyful spirit!
What an unforgettable year 2010 has been for me. I should have known it was going to be as I stood on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janiero, Brasil and ushered in the new decade with three million others all dressed in white under a sky of fireworks. In that moment I wished with all of my heart for my best year yet and my wish certainly came true.
After my time in Rio, I continued on to the Amazon Rainforest where I trekked through one of the most magical places in the world. To say it was life changing is an understatement. This was my first solo trip in a country where I did not speak the language. Several months later, I completed a lifelong dream of visiting India. Ever since I was a little girl I had dreamed of visiting the country and when I finally found myself standing in front of the Taj Mahal it was one of the most surreal moments of my life. Another incredible experience I had while I was there was riding an elephant through an ancient fort. Soon after returning from India, I made a last minute decision to return to Brasil to see my then-boyfriend, Lucas. We stayed in the seaside village of Buzios, which is not only one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen, but is also where we got engaged! Then I completed another lifelong dream of traveling with my brother. I told him for his High School graduation present I would take him anywhere in the world and he chose the Netherlands and Spain. This was such a special experience to share with him before he left for College and I will always cherish the memories we created there together.
Planning an international wedding has been one of the most challenging projects I have ever undertaken. Thankfully, I have a lot of help and I am confident that it will be a spectacular affair. It will take place May 14th, 2011 in Buenos Aires, Argentina; the city where Lucas and I met and fell in love in almost six years ago. I just returned from a visit there (my 8th time) and I was able to spend ten lovely days with Lucas wedding planning, as well as enjoy a quick escape to Uruguay for a relaxing couple of days in between. Before I arrived in Argentina, I took another solo trip, this time to Chile. A highlight was surfing and diving in the most remote island in the world, Easter Island.
My Chinese Medicine clinic underwent big changes. I am now the sole-owner and switched locations. While these changes were unexpected at first, they ended up being for the best, as my clinic has become quite successful and continues to steadily grow. It is such an empowering feeling to love my job and to provide people help with their health and wellness.
Another exciting thing is that I have grown My Beautiful Adventures into a labor of love that I am very proud of. I am averaging around 60,000 page views a month! I have many exciting plans for the future of the website that I will be unveiling in the new year.
As you are reading this, I am in the midst of celebrating Christmas at home with my precious family and then a trip to the Bahamas for New Year’s Eve with my brother and father. I will be celebrating on the beach in Paradise Island, which is like a second home to me, and I will of course be thinking about all of you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking time to read my blog. It truly means the world to me!
Happy Holidays!!! May 2011 be a year of PEACE for you and for all around the world.
With love,
Wow! Hope u’r havin nice Xmas with ur family and all ur dreams come true in 2011! Especially wish u happy marriage 😀
I’m glad you had such a great year. I hope next year is even better 🙂 Chinese medicine – I’ve always been interested in that. It seems like the Chinese know a lot more than American doctors frequently.
Merry Christmas to my Gorgeous Friend across the Atlantic. Hope you have a wonderful day & Santa is good to you! Much love xxx
Sounds like a truly remarkable year, Andi!
Merry Christmas!
Happy Christmas, dear you! I’m so glad this year has been so beautiful for you, and I wish you SO much happiness in the year to come. 🙂
Merry Christmas, Andi!! It’s great to know that you had such a wonderful 2010. Here’s to an amazing 2011!
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You are truly amazing Andi. I have no doubt that 2011 has more great things in store for you!
What a fantastic year! So many great trips, and getting engaged during one of them – the icing on the cake! With your wedding in May and a honeymoon, 2011 will be just as fabulous if not even better 🙂 Merry Christmas to you too, and enjoy your time on the Bahamas!
You’re so awesome Andi! You have made my first 6 months of blogging amazing, as has the blogging community! I am so happy to hear that you have had such an amazing year and am so glad that I got to read all about it! I can’t wait to keep reading and see what 2011 brings you!
Merry Christmas to you!!
Merry Christmas Andi, hope you have a lovely time with your dad and brother in Bahamas!
My darling friend – I am SOOO happy that 2010 has been such an awesome year for you in the end and I know that 2011 will be even better because you will be GETTING MARRIED and starting a life with a man who has proven his love for you!!!!! Most of all, I am SOOOO excited that 2010 helped us to become friends!!!! Congratulations on your site being such a success and I can’t wait to see what happens with it in 2011!!!
Merry Christmas to you, Andi, and thanks for all of your great comments throughout the year. 🙂 Happy travels and happy wedding planning!! <3
Aww Andi, congrats on all your success and happiness. 60,000 pageview is a lot. That’s a great job you’re doing. Enjoy ur new year with your family in the paradise island (I haven’t even been there yet). I know there will be more pretty pictures.
Happy holidays to you as well! I’m so glad that you had such a GREAT 2010 and come on, 2011 is going to be AMAZING for you as well! It was nice to see you in India as well!
Feliz navidad Andi, so hoping we can meet in person in 2011!
Congratulations on an exciting year. And 2011 sounds even more amazing with the wedding and your business. All the best to you!
Awesome post Andi… You’ve had an amazing year and congratulations on your upcoming wedding!
what a year andi! love how you’ve shared your gratitude for it here- such a great reminder of how you can dream big and make it happen. india’s on my list for 2011! 🙂 felicitaciones on all your success and your upcoming wedding in BA! francisco’s from BA, we’ve been a bunch & it’s so romantic. i’m sure your day will be magical there. happy new year wishes your way! 🙂
Happy holidays! Sounds like you’ve had a fantastic year! I’m glad I discovered your blog and look forward to your 2011 adventures. I’m sure your wedding will be amazing 🙂
What an incredible year for you – personally, professionally and travel-wise! Just imagine what 2011 will bring! Happy holidays!
Merry Christmas Andi! Good luck with your “labor of love”!
looking wonderful as always!!! feliz navidad a ti!!
Happy Holidays!
I was going to say how you’re so sweet, and it’s amazing to see how much amazing stuff you’ve done this year, but then I saw the picture at the end. And now all I can think is how pretty you are 🙂 Love you, here’s to an even better 2011!
Merry Christmas! I know you’ll have an amazing 2011. Thank you for all of the inspiring posts throughout the year 🙂
Wow sounds like an amazing year – hope 2011 brings just as many wonderful things for you! And looking forwards to all your future posts!
Congratulations on everything! Have an amazing 2011!
Merry Christmas, Andi. What a year it’s been for you! I know 2011 is going to be equally as fantastic for you too. This time next year, you’ll be celebrating Navidad with your husband. 😀
What an incredibly exciting year you’ve had! I’m so happy to have found your blog. Can’t wait to see what it’s in store for 2011!
Happy Holidays to you to Andi! I wish for you another amazing year and a beautiful wedding! Lots of love and happiness for you and Lucas!
Keep your great job with your website, I love to read you!
Sincerely,
AudreyDez
Merry Christmas Andi! Your year sounds fabulous. One of my friends asked me if 2010 was my best year of my life, and I told her, “No, it’s just my best year SO FAR.” Wishing the same for you. 🙂
A hectic and fruitful year you have. Hoping for another prosperous year for you Andi!
Happy Holidays!!!!!
Hello! I’ve been reading your blog for a couple of months now (came across it randomly when looking for something related in Casas Brancas in Buzios, one of my favorite places ever!), and adore it! Anyway, just now getting around to posting a comment, but wanted to wish you a wonderful new year – can’t wait to keep reading about your adventures in 2011!
Happy Holidays! Your blogs arouse my interests in travelling !
Merry Christmas to you Andi! It was a pleasure discovering your blog and ‘meeting’ you this year! 2011 is going to be quite the year for you!
What a lovely letter, Andi. I’m confident that 2011 will hold lots of exciting and beautiful adventures for you. Hugs from Argentina! Happy New Year!
Happy Holidays!!!!!!!!!!
Your blog is super interesting. I love your quality that you put into your work. Please do continue with more like this.
Have an incredible 2011!!!!!!!!!!!
Happy Holidays!
Leaving my first ever comment because I just realized we were in the very same country on New Year’s Eve. I was on a liveaboard diving boat that took out from Nassau so I spent actual NYE in Eluethera but had some fun at Paradise Island on the way back! Happy 2011!
I wish you an amazing 2011!!!
Happy Holidays Andi!!!!!!!!!
Motivating angle in this post and very well written! Included you to my favorites and tweeted to my 2000 subscribers.