A few days late, but here’s my 2025 recap!! 🙂

Vacations

Our weekly big trip was to Cape Cod! I’ve lived in New England my entire life and hadn’t been to the Cape yet; we had such a great time that we’re going back again this year and staying in the same Airbnb!

Here’s a list of recaps for the days:

• Day 1
• Day 2
• Day 3
• Day 4
• Day 5
• Day 6

And, of course, we went to Maine!! It’s my favorite part of the summer. We went up three times: July, August (part 1 and part 2), and September.

Day Trips + Adventures

I went to a new-to-me cat cafe twice—and didn’t take home any of the kittens! I first went with Josh in the spring and then went back with my friend, Alex, who loves cats as much as I do. You can reserve your spot for 50 minutes, and you get to go into the room and just hang out with the cats. All of them are up for adoption, and this is a great way to give them a safe place to live and also socialize with people.

I celebrated my 31st birthday! (boo!) Josh and I took an afternoon trip down to Mystic to go to the aquarium and then go out to dinner. The same weekend, we went over my parents’ house to celebrate my and my mom’s birthday.

Josh and I did our month-long fun fall activities! It’s one of my favorite times of the year.

I did what middle school me could only dream of: seeing the Jonas Brothers in concert! After buying tickets in March, I was counting down the days until the concert, and I’m so glad I spent the money. I scream sang for two hours, and there’s just something healing about singing “Lovebug” at the top of your lungs.

Sports

From top left to lower right: I caught a baseball at a Hartford Yard Goats game (and saw my life flash before my eyes); Sanford Mainers collegiate baseball game in Sanford, Maine; Portland Sea Dogs game in August; and the view from Josh’s work’s suite at the Yard Goats.

Josh and I did the every-other-year tradition of testing our relationship by going to a Giants/Pats game. This time it was in Foxborough, and Josh’s dad and brother came along with us. It was very cold, and the Giants lost. That’s all you need to know.

Movement

The majority of my movement for the year was either running or taking my weekly dance class. According to my Nike Run app, I ran just over 90 miles, which is my lowest mileage since I started running back in 2018, but the miles still count. I didn’t have as many dance classes as I did in 2024 (because of scheduling and life), but I still really enjoy going.

I walked one 5K race and ran two others, all of which I had done before. The picture on the left is from the Hartford Marathon 5K, where I ran to support the local dog rescue that I started volunteering with, and the picture on the right is from my fifth running of the 5K race to honor my friend/co-worker’s uncle.

Other Highlights

• I became an “aunt”! Josh’s sister had a baby girl in March. Since I’m an only child, the only way I could have nieces and nephews is from a significant other’s siblings—and since Josh and I aren’t married, that’s why I’m saying “aunt” in quotes (haha). She’s already ten months old, and it was exciting to celebrate her first Christmas. Josh and I plan to teach her all of the bad stuff 😉
• My parents and I lost our sweetest girl, Maggie, back in October. She was 13 years old, and we gave her the best life possible, but we still miss her tons. I got a tattoo of her ears on my left arm to honor her.
• I started volunteering with a local dog rescue (as mentioned above in the Movement recap) as part of their IT team. I was able to help them with the migration of their new website, and it was perfect timing that they were also a charity for the Hartford Marathon, and I could help raise money for them.
• I read a total of 82 books! My yearly goal was 60, which I reached in September, but then I just kept reading. My all-time record is 84 in 2020 (OG COVID), and I was hoping to spend my winter break reading to tie or exceed 84, but then I got sick. Still, 82 books are a lot of books.