2013 in review.

2013 was a wonderful year full of travel, adventures around New York City, and lots and lots of concerts. Here are some of my favorite moments and memories from 2013:

In January we saw Guster perform in Port Chester at the Capital Theater, I took a trip to Tampa to surprise my niece at her seventh birthday party, and my brother in law visited New York City for the first time.

February was a very memorable month. I saw Ben Howard and Mumford & Sons at the Barclays Center, which was an amazing show! We also had our first big blizzard of the year in the city. In the middle of February I packed up my apartment and moved in with Brian! After years of dating it was so fun to finally get to live with my best friend.

After the big move I traveled to Austin, Texas to visit my brother and sister in law. My little sister, Katie, met up with us there and we had a great time exploring the city together! I fell in love with Austin during my visit. While we were there we shopped on South Congress, hiked at Pedernales Falls State Park, sipped cappucinos at Walton's, and indulged in the most delicious donuts at Gourdough's.

In March Brian and I cleaned out my old apartment and rented out a storage unit to accommodate my excess of holiday decorations, suitcases, and off-season clothing. We took several trips to Peter Pan, walked around 5 Pointz, and had a restful weekend at home. Brian and I also had a date night out at Sugar Freak and saw Lone Bellow and Brandi Carlile at the Beacon Theater.

Over spring break I reconnected with the city. I had an amazing lunch at Peels with Danielle, treated myself to macarons, dined at Cafeteria, and walked around the Flatiron District.

At the beginning of April Brian turned 43! The following week I went to Philadelphia with my best friend Lindsey to see Fleetwood Mac. It was our fourth Fleetwood Mac concert together and we had a blast!

The weather warmed up in the middle of the month, so naturally I headed right to Shake Shack for dinner with a friend in Madison Park. My mom also visited for a weekend; we tried several new restaurants, shopped, and gathered plates for my plate wall. Kate's ice cream party was also a highlight in April!

At the end of April I spent time in Florida with my family. It was wonderful for my dad, brother, sister, and I to all be together in the Sunshine State.

Spring was in full swing by May. Emily received her first communion, Brian and I visited the Botanical Gardens, my beloved Ralph's reopened for the year, we strolled the Highline, and I saw The Killers at Madison Square Garden. My little brother Lucas visited at the end of the month and we packed in a ton of sightseeing while he was in town. Over Memorial Weekend we saw Emily march with her Brownie troop in Connecticut and visited several memorials around New York City. At the very end of May we saw Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers at the Beacon Theater- what an awesome show!

In June I attended my friend Joanna's bridal shower, Brian and I hung our kitchen plate wall, and we had a date night downtown to see Donavon Frankenreiter at the Bowery Ballroom. The morning after his concert I hopped on a plane down to Tampa to see Fleetwood Mac again, this time with my sister and brother in law.

In the middle of June I attended my friend Rachel's wedding in upstate New York with a few girlfriends from work. The next week we celebrated our MMV (moment of maximum vacation) on Barry's roof. I became tumor free on June 24th and then had a wonderful date out on the Highline with my girlfriend, Jen, and our cameras at the very end of the month.

Brian, Emily, and I kicked off July with our annual vacation to Acton, Maine. In July I also tried my first cronut (the blackberry was delicious!), my nieces visited New York City for the first time, I spent a week in Minnesota, and saw Ben Howard at Central Park's Summerstage with my friend Rebecca. Brian and I also attended Celebrate Brooklyn and saw Guster, Ben Folds, and Barenaked Ladies perform in Prospect Park.

August was such a fun and exciting month! I met Natalie at the LIC Flea, tried macaron ice cream sandwiches, attended my 10-year high school reunion, and went on vacation with Brian to Cancun, Mexico! My friends Joanna and Dan got married at the end of the month at a beautiful ceremony in New Jersey. On August 28th Brian and I got to see Bear's Den, The Vaccines, and Mumford & Sons at the Forest Hills Stadium.

In September I headed back to school for my sixth year of teaching. I filled my weekends with a trip to the pool at King & Grove, a day at Fete Paradiso on Governors Island, and dim sum and bubble tea in Chinatown. We also attended our fourth Life is Good Festival outside of Boston, MA. At the end of the month we returned to Wilklow Orchards for our annual apple picking adventure.

In October we saw Mildred Fierce on St. Marks Place, I met up with my dad in Redhook, Brooklyn before he departed on a new ship, and we visited the Botanical Gardens. Banksy took over New York City and I loved following his work throughout the month. We also took our last trip to 5 Pointz.

November was our month of visitors. My dad came to the city first, followed by a visit from my mom and step dad in the middle of the month, and then my sister, brother in law, and nieces at the end of the month.

In December Brian and I continued our 12 dates of Christmas tradition, we got lots of snow, and I had an amazing time wandering the city and admiring all the holiday decor.

2013 was an amazing year and I can't wait to see what 2014 brings!