100 Things That Made My Year.

Journal

Dec 30

The new year is always a time of looking forward. My mom is a big believer in resolutions, and talk of our new year challenges starts in about October. But, it’s also a time of reflection on the year past.

A couple of years ago, my mom and I found Austin Kleon’s list of 100 Things That Made My Year. It was such a nice exercise to take inventory of all the things that made up a year, so we decided to make our own lists. We’ve noticed over the past couple years that it’s always the littlest things that make the list. Lunch with a friend, a card in the mail, a quiet morning with coffee & a family member. Especially in the end of year shopping madness, it’s a nice reminder that it’s not the stuff. It’s the people and the experiences.

So without further ado, as we close out 2023, here are 100 things that made my year.

Starting the year with a diner breakfast with my oldest friends.
Finally purchasing a pink coat after years of searching for the perfect one.
A cozy night in making fresh pasta with Griffy, Kelsey, Jackie, Mom, and Katie.
A week in Joshua Tree with work friends turned real friends.
A week in Tucson, Arizona with family. And a lot of movies in bed with my Aunt Lisa.
My new roommate Ashley moving in. We’ve had the best time living together.
A last-minute weekend in Nashville to babysit Archie (my canine best friend).
A LOT of Taylor Swift spin classes at SoulCycle.
Finding a vintage alarm clock on EBay with Madeline on it. It brought me inexplicable joy.
Bagels & coffee & long walks to the boathouse in Prospect Park. Usually listening to Every Single Album.
Finally finding the perfect cowboy boots in Nashville.
Starting a monthly book club in Brooklyn - Cookies & Bookies. Such a fun thing to look forward to every month.
A Titanic-themed birthday party for my bestie Taylor.
A film negative I found in my Grandma’s things of her and my dad as a baby.
A Valentine’s night out in Manhattan with Taylor and Priya.
A Mardi Gras dinner at the Carter-Kramer household.
A museum day with Nicki in Long Island City.
A long overdue snow in NYC on Feburary 28.
An impromptu ticket to see Maggie Rogers in Oakland with Mom & Carolyn.
A couple weeks of babysitting & baby time with my grumpy bulldog friend Ralph.
A trip up to Seattle to spend a few days with my 94 year old grandfather.
A weekend skiing in Steamboat Springs with Jack, Katie, Mom & Amelia.
Getting bangs. This might be the best thing that happened to me this year. It’s the haircut I was always meant to have.
Finally meeting my dear friend Anna’s new baby, Magnolia.
A bachelorette weekend in Malibu celebrating my best friend Lily.
Spring blossoms in Brooklyn.
My best friend Phoebe visited me in Brooklyn! And she talked me into a gorgeous quilted jacket at the Brooklyn Flea.
Flower hauls from Trader Joe’s.
Cooking dinners at home with friends.
Events at the 92nd Street Y.
Mom, Amelia, Jack, and Aunt Lisa visiting me in NYC.
A wild night on the Lobster Boat with the aforementioned family members.
Also, just the Lobster Boat in general.
A visit from an old Australian friend.
Reading a whole string of pink books over the summer.
4 weeks in Europe with my mom, Aunt Lisa, and sister.
A quiet night at Palazzo Daniele in Gagliano del Capo, Italy.
A very very quiet week on Île-de-Ré.
We lost my Grandpa Jim this year, but it was such a gift to trade photos of him in the family group chat. We all miss him.
Seeing my Aunt Sabina & Uncle Brad’s new home in Neuchâtel, Switzerland.
Seeing my French host mom Emmeline for the first time since 2020.
Seeing Harry Styles in Paris with my mom, sister, and Aunt Lisa. And seeing Aunt Lisa become a bigger Harry fan than any of us.
A visit from my Grandma & Grandpa in NYC.
A fluffy new bathrobe.
Seeing boygenius in Queens with Madeline & Nicki.
A day upstate at Storm King for Madeline’s birthday.
Many many many summer beach days in NYC.
A hot shower and dinner out after a long day at the beach.
Running for cover at the Rockaway Hotel during a Fourth of July storm.
Yet another night on the Lobster Boat for Rob’s birthday.
Speak Now (Taylor’s Version).
The happiest weekend ever watching my best friend Lily marry her love Jonny. It was such an honor to stand beside her on her wedding day.
A rowdy night of twenty-something women watching the new season of The Summer I Turned Pretty.
Seeing Barbie with Madeline, Chardon & Ava. Hi Barbie!
Two weeks at the beach house doing absolutely nothing.
Sparbenheimer with the family in Olympia: Oppenheimer, brunch at the Spar, and Barbie.
Making friendship bracelets in preparation for The Eras Tour.
My dad making my grandpa’s famous pancake recipe.
Two nights at the Château Marmont with Mom & Katie.
Dinner at the Château with Mom, Lily, and Katie for my birthday.
Floor seats for the last night of the Eras Tour on my birthday. I’ve peaked. It’s all downhill from here.
Taylor announcing 1989 (Taylor’s Version) at our show and playing New Romantics & New Year’s Day.
A very rainy Jonas Brothers show at Yankee Stadium with Nicki.
A week upstate in Hudson with Mom, Terri, and India.
A tipsy night seeing The National at MSG with Jules.
Another visit from Phoebe in Brooklyn!
Slovers [sleepovers] with Jules at my house.
Starting a Taylor Swift podcast with my bestie Nicki.
Yet another night on the Lobster Boat for Julia’s birthday.
A cozy summer weekend in Maine with Brad, Jules, and Jordan.
A visit from Kelsey & Jackie in NYC, and lots of pasta dinners out.
I was laid off this year, and it was very painful. But I am so grateful for my work friends who supported me and have remained dear friends in real life.
A week at home with my parents recovering from my job loss. It sucked, but I’m so grateful for them.
A weekend at Disney World with my high school friends.
Matching t-shirts that Maddy made for all of us to wear at Epcot.
Seeing The Eras Tour movie on opening night with Nicki, Emily, and Calla.
A lovely, long overdue coffee with my friend Abby.
A weekend in Martha’s Vineyard with my dear friend Megan. We love Martha, we love L’Étoile, and we especially love fall spice lattes.
The freshest dahlias from Moonshot Farm.
A night out at the 24 Hour Plays with Nicki, followed by late night pizza.
Seeing Colbert with Nicki to continue our series of Adventures of the Unemployed.
1989 (Taylor’s Version).
Taylor & I finally being Sharpay & Gabriella for Halloween.
10 days in Nashville with Meg & Archie [the dog].
Hosting Friendsgiving at my apartment for the second year in a row.
Seeing The Eras Tour movie again with Frankie, Sarah, Mom, and Katie. The Swift City group chat IRL.
My dad bought a new house, and he got custom monogrammed mugs for each member of his family. This made me want to weep.
Thanksgiving on the beach in Olympia.
Seeing my little cousin and best friend Isabella. She lives in Australia, so seeing her is always a highlight of my year.
Jimbopalooza. The whole Furber family went to the Apple Cup to watch UW beat WSU and celebrate my grandpa’s life. He would’ve loved it.
Shooting some friends’ maternity photos. It was such an honor to be asked!
My cousin Jenn and my friends Ashley & Alex had babies this year! I love you already, Olivia, August & Dean.
A long walk & talk with my old boss and good pal Joy Caroline. And a brunch in NYC with all my charity: water friends.
Buying myself a Christmas tree for my apartment in NYC. It was so small, and so cute.
Finally launching my Print Shop! It was a long time coming.
A Christmas-y elfy weekend in NYC with Mom, Katie, Jack, and Amelia.
Sending out Christmas cards to all my loved ones.
Taylor Swift as TIME’s Person of the Year.
Starting my new job at Faherty Brand!
Cozy Christmas festivities at home: Annual Cerda Gingerbread Party, drinks at the Claremont with Kelsey, Jackie, and Sarah, and happening upon a Christmas village in Sonoma with my mom.