I can honestly say, that for someone who love the past, I hate my own. And because of this I rarely look back. Additionally, I’m not a person who looks at a New Year as a fresh start. To me, a fresh starts only come when you move, begin a new job, start at a new school, or something significant happens in your life. Many times New Years was just another turn of the calendar page for me. But with the move we made this year, I really finally feel like I have a bit of a fresh start for once. And maybe it’s that that has me feeling a look back at 2014 may be fun to do.

As 2014 began, I attended the annual Fur and Feathers luncheon, which I am terribly sad to be missing, as it is in just a few weeks. It was such a lovely time to dress up and socialize with fellow vintage lovers.

I also attended my second Wizard World Comic Con, which I will be missing as well. Thankfully Wizard World has cons all over the country, and hopefully a con close by is in my future, plus San Diego Comic Con is super close! That is if we ever were to get our hands on tickets, as I hear they are difficult to get a hold of. At the 2014 Portland Wizard World I met Adam West, Bruce Campbell, Billy Dee Williams and made a new friend who has turned into one of my closest pals.

In February I was invited to write about preserving the past. Portland saw some snow when we went out to see (rather disappointing) The Monuments Men. I also shared some organizational tips with vintage stocking boxes and tips for selling vintage clothing.

March was a busy month, where my dad, Patrick and I drove down to California for Patrick’s annual business trip in Palm Springs. We went to where gold was first discovered in California. My dad and I drove out to the Salton Sea (a place I am eager to return to) and I made my first visit to Joshua Tree, where I fell in love with its beautiful and other worldly surroundings, as well as the Joshua Tree Inn for our Gram Parsons pilgrimage. And I’m super excited as Patrick and I will be staying at the Joshua Tree Inn (in the room where Parsons passed away) come my birthday!

My dad and I also took the road less traveled along a forgotten portion of historic Route 66.

We also swung into LA for a bit of morbid tourism by visiting where Elizabeth Short’s body was found, as well as a cemetery that is where the likes of Marilyn Monroe and Bettie Page are laid to rest.

And on the way home we stopped by the Walt Disney Family Museum.

In April I met Laurence and Sylvain of Lost in the 50s. I received a beautiful squash blossom necklace from Patrick for my birthday. We also bought our first car together.

As May arrived I set my foot on east coast soil for the first time since 2001, as I tagged along on another one of Patrick’s business trips, and I shared images from St. Augustine and Fernadina Beach.

As the weather warmed up in June we went to the 99W drive-in a ton as we finally had our own car.

And in July Patrick and I even made the cover of a magazine  that was writing about drive-ins.

I went to San Diego for the first time ever, once again because I tagged along on a business trip of Patrick’s, and got to experience so much (Old Town, The Del, of course shopping, California’s first mission, the beautiful Balboa Park and tiki drinks at Bali Hai with Suzanne of Sweetie Suz), as well as meet Carla of Tiny Angry Crafter!

In August Patrick and I went on our first road trip together by ourselves for our top secret mission, which was apartment hunting! On the way we stopped by James Dean’s crash site.

We of course went to Disneyland too! Where after signing our lease we exchanged our three day tickets for annual passes!

On the way back to Oregon we stopped at Mission San Juan Bautista and Treasure Island.

And of course I made the big announcement that we were moving to California!

We said goodbye to Portland in September, including have a going-away bash at Hale Pele.

Shortly after arriving in our new home, we attended Tiki Day at Disneyland.

As we settled into our new home we attended several other events at Disneyland throughout October. Including Mahaloween, the Halloween themed tour, the Marc Davis book signing, and Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party.

We began to explore California a bit more in November, including a visit to The Huntington Library.

We went out to Joshua Tree, a place I’m sure you’ll see lots of in the future.

As 2014 came to a close, I shared with you my blogging space, we took the Christmas tour at Disneyland, Patrick and I celebrated our fourth wedding anniversary at Hicksville, and visited Pioneertown.

Our Christmas was a little different this year, with it just being us, and we spent the holiday at Disneyland. But not before snapping our Christmas photo that I mailed out to friends and family, though failed to share with you all! So here it is!

For New Years, Patrick and I are contemplating celebrating at Disneyland. I have been to Disneyland for New Years before, and it is quite possibly their busiest day, reaching capacity and it is difficult to move about the park, but I honestly can’t think of another place I would want to ring in the New Year.

As I look ahead to 2015, I’m both terrified and excited. These last few months in California have been ones of joy, but also thrown me for a loop. I have to re-think how I do a lot of things, from the day-to-day to how communicate with my family and friends we left in Oregon. And I know that I just need to figure out what is my new norm. But I am excited to visit all of the places I have on my long list, and of course eager to share them with you. Thank you, dear readers for helping make 2014 such a unique year, your comments, e-mails and interactions have been a joy, and are something I look forward to each and every day. And here is wishing you the happiest of new years!