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Seattle, I love you forever.

On my first morning back in Washington, I woke up to snow! It was the most magical welcome home present I could ever ask for.

We're the three best friends that anyone could have :) Finally reunited at our (postponed) 7th annual Friends Thanksgiving!

Kitty Purry and Chariman Meow, I miss you so much already.

Meghan's birthday brunch at the world's best breakfast locale: Portage Bay Café!

My mom and stepdad just moved to Arizona, so after spending a week in Seattle with my dad & lovely friends, I flew down to visit them for a week of desert sunshine!

Chihuly exhibit at the Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix.

Prickly pear margaritas at the Montelucia Resort & Spa in Scottsdale.

My first In-N-Out Burger fix since July!

Working off our In-N-Out burgers by hiking through the desert.

Soaking up as much American goodness as possible with manis/pedis and Coffee Bean on my last day in Arizona.

I had a wonderful two weeks back in the States for Christmas, and while I do miss some of the creature comforts of home (ahem, Whole Foods), it feels really good to be back in Madrid. My current case of incapacitating jet lag was well worth it. 

I halfway expected to dread coming back to Spain after going home for Christmas, but in a way, Madrid feels a lot like home too. As much as I loved being back in Seattle for a short while, a part of me also felt like I almost didn't belong there anymore. Is it possible that I've outgrown it? Of course I miss my parents like crazy, as well as my friends, my house, my neighborhood and my cats. Washington will always be my home in the truest sense of the word, but being here in Madrid feels so right too. 

That said, two weeks of spending quality time with my parents, hanging out with my friends, cuddling with my cats, drinking chardonnay and mimosas, watching lots of 49ers games, shopping at Nordstrom & J.Crew, and eating tons of kale and P.F. Chang's was the perfect way to spend my Christmas break.

2013 Highlights

I can't believe that 2013 is already over. The year started off on a particularly rough note, but the challenges at the beginning of the year prompted a lot of hard work and self growth - all of which paid off in the latter half of this year. While the first three months of 2013 were arguably some of the most difficult of my life, the past six months have undoubtedly been some of the most fun. I turned 23, adjusted to life as a college graduate, welcomed new additions to my family, moved to a new country (and a new continent for that matter), started my first "real" job, and met some pretty amazing people along the way. 

2013 was a monumental year, but I feel confident that this year will be just as epic. On the horizon for 2014: Amsterdam, Budapest, Lille, Prague, Vienna, Munich, Greece and much more! Not to mention countless adventures in Spain, of course.

Overall, I have a really good feeling about 2014. Happy New Year!

Christmastime in Madrid

Madrid is particularly stunning during the Christmas season, and I can't seem to get enough of how festive the city looks right now. Various Christmas markets have taken over plazas, colorful lights adorn the city streets, and sparkling Christmas trees are scattered throughout the city. 

In the past two weeks I've gone on countless adventures to seek out the most festive spots in the city. Some of my favorite places right now include the charming carousel next to the Royal Palace, Plaza Mayor, and the "Dulce Navidad" market in Plaza de Isabel II that exclusively sells candy and other sweet treats. 

While I'm soaking up Christmas in Madrid and loving every minute of it, I'm also getting incredibly excited to come back home to the States for Christmas. Christmas markets are great and all, but nothing quite beats spending the holidays with family and friends. See you in one week, Seattle!