Here we conclude the epic 2012 year in review journey (see here for Part I).

In August I went back to Minneapolis to visit family and I couldn’t wait to get my fill of amazing rooftop restaurant terraces and take advantage of the only time of the year worth visiting Minnesota (just kidding, Mom! Sort of.) It was summery warm without being too humid and there weren’t too many mosquitos so we could all still hang out in the warm evenings. My brother and his fiancé were fast coming up on their wedding in October so we snuck in a few photos.

Airfare Watchdog struck again with another stellar airfare so Jake and I jetted off to Bermuda for a long weekend in September. Seriously, how has Bermuda kept itself such a secret from me for so long?! Maybe it’s more of an East Coast getaway or the people who make it their annual rejuvenation location want to keep it to themselves. Whatever the reason, I’m glad we stumbled upon it. What a paradise! It’s quite possibly the closest to paradise I’ve ever been, moreso even than Hawaii. Such brilliant turquoise water and pristine beaches!

Tucked away in the middle of the Atlantic, the Spanish passed it over as being of the devil – probably owing to the high percentage of ships that wrecked trying to navigate the reef-ridden waters. The British were the first to deem the island a good place to live and since there were no indigenous people, they had it all to themselves. Foreigners aren’t allowed to rent cars but there’s a decent transportation system and we braved the whole driving on the left thing and rented a scooter to toodle around the beaches and towns. You’d think with only 2 or 3 main roads on a long skinny country only about 20 miles long, it would be hard to get lost. Wrong. But that’s part of the fun!

I flew to Minnesota – via Mexico to visit a friend for a few days – for my little brother’s wedding. So crazy that we got married only two month apart! No trip home is complete without a lot of laughing and hangout in my aunt’s backyard.

We spent a good part of December on the Big Island of Hawaii. Ohhh Kona, you hold such a special place in my heart. I spent many months there studying photography, and Jake and I raced our first triathlon there a couple years ago. We couldn’t think of a better place for us to get married on the last date of its kind this century – 12.12.12 – than Kona with our closest family! It was a fun fun fun week of hanging out with family poolside at the amazing vacation home we booked (again, LOVE VRBO!), heading up Mauna Kea for sunset and stargazing, and LOTS of happy hours at Huggo’s on the Rocks. We couldn’t get enough of Huggo’s, I mean how can you go wrong with literally sitting oceanside while digging your toes in the sand and tipping back a nice cold Kona Brew. Ahhh, I could so go back there right now.

Our wedding day was everything we could have imagined! We got married in the morning in the beautiful backyard of the home where we were staying with my brother Adam officiating (ordination via the internet is quite possibly the coolest thing to happen to weddings since big poofy white dresses went out of style). All eight of our guests stood with us and witnessed Jake and I promising our lives to each other and then we celebrated with a mimosa toast and confetti toss. We all ate brunch at our favorite place in Kona before heading up the coast for a little jungly oceany hike/walk thingy at Spencer Beach. Every wonderful day in Kona includes some shave ice so we made a stop downtown to eat some on the seawall just like I’ve done so many times in years past. Ahh, memories…

Dinner was held poolside back at the house, and the image I have in my mind of that evening is of lots of laughter and good food shared with our families, surrounded by flowers and the warm glow of candles and cafe lights. There was even some impromptu dancing!

What Jake and I wanted most on our wedding day was for it to be small and intimate, and to have an amazing time all day long with our closest family who will always be there for us and we them. Those are memories to last a lifetime and I will carry them with me always. I’m so thrilled to have Jake as my life partner, to experience all the ups and downs, adventures, and day-to-day-ness together. I love you, babes!

For more photo goodness from Kona, check out our wedding day as captured by Hugh Forte.

Last year was an epic year in traveling for Jake and I and we had a blast! It was also a year of all or nothing in that work was so crazy for him that it felt like in order to see each other we had to get away. I seriously love to travel and will never complain about that but I’m hoping for a bit more balance in the year to come where we can enjoy each other in the everyday-ness of home. :)

First up in 2012 was a trip to NYC for New Years. If any place in the States felt most like home, New York is it for me. On my first trip there years ago, I really liked it but it was also a bit too much “city” for me at the time. But each trip back it grew on me more and more, and now I can’t help but smile when I first step on the subway because feel like I’ve come home.

Next up in February was a trip to LA/Santa Barbara. We stayed in a suite at this amazing villa overlooking the city with the most amazing warm glowy sunsets. Oh how I love VRBO and AirBnb, sites for booking accommodations from private owners. We’ve stayed in places that are so much better than hotels and met some really cool people to top it off. I highly recommend them if you are the independent traveler-type!

In March we flew to Jordan simply because we found a great deal on airfare (thank you Airfare Watchdog!), we’d heard it was an awesome place, and my brother just so happened to be there during that time as well. Growing up he was soooo annoying but I love spending time with him now and how amazing to explore and photograph together on the far side of the world.

In June we made a last minute trip to “Mexico” and were engaged by the end of the trip! I knew it was coming and every time we walked through a town square I secretly hoped Jake wouldn’t do it there with so many people around. He proposed in a romantic little restaurant lit with lots of little candles and a pianist playing in the background. He told me all the things he loved about me and how he couldn’t imagine life without me to share all the adventures. Of course I said yes :)

Every summer we try to make it down to Oregon’s Willamette wine country and Airlie winery is always at the top of our list. It’s the perfect little boutique winery set in the hills and we always luck out with the most perfect weather. Zoë came along and had so much running around with the other dogs and swimming for the very first time in their pond. She never ceases to make me laugh. So many warm fuzzies from that evening – the perfect weather, beautiful warm evening light, having so much fun with Jake and Zoë, a great bottle of bubbly, the Brazilian band playing – it ranks up there with the top three days of 2012!

Next up is 2012 Part II…