Do you know that I schlepped my DSLR camera all the way to Seattle over Christmas without taking it out of its case even once? Hmm. Guess that goes to show how dependent I’ve become on my iPhone and Instagram. In any case, I spent two weeks at home over the holidays — in Seattle’s Pioneer Square with my folks and in the foothills of Mt. Rainier with my sister and her family. I definitely made the rounds as usual to Zeitgeist Coffee, Maneki, and Pike Place Market. I also discovered Casco Antiguo, where I got my Mexican food fix,  Black Diamond Bakery, and BRGR Bar. I went to as many movies as I could so that I don’t have to wait until they come out in Germany (if they even make it here) — Manchester by the Sea tore my heart out, Jackie was incredible, and Arrival left my head spinning. (Still on my list are Fences, Hidden Figures, Moonlight, Lion, and La La Land.) And to start the year off right, we headed over to Alki Beach and joined in the Polar Bear Swim with a couple hundred other crazies. Altogether, a perfect holiday!

And has your new year gotten off to a good start?