Once in a while, bloggers like to write “year in review” posts, but not only for our readers. Often, we do it for our own benefit. It’s a reference point for the future. To see where we’ve been and who we worked with.
So, here’s my year in review.
It was a busy year for me. I was still adjusting from having 4 kids in my home down to 3. My oldest joined the Army and the other three kids continued having me run around. My son (3rd of the four), caused most of my running around with his soccer schedule. Which led to stressful meal prep. I’m always looking for easy and fun meals. I wrote about some of them.
Recipes:
Bread and Egg Casserole
Banana Bread
French Toast
Suvie Kitchen Robot
Bagels with H&H
Meatloaf recipe
Even though I’ve drifted more towards travel writing, I still occasionally share parenting stories.
I provided tips for men getting a vasectomy.
I asked AI to write a dad blog post to see what it came up with.
I took my 17-year-old daughter to a Depeche Mode concert.
Had a beer with my oldest son.
As I said, I’m moving into the traveling blogging world. I’ll still occasionally share a parenting story or advice. The majority of my stories in 2023 were about where I’ve been and what I did.
Here are the travel stories of 2023:
England:
Visiting Westminster Abbey
Lost on a Ghost Tour with my Son
Attending a Chelsea Match with My Son and Missing My Other Son
Walking in Shakespeare’s Footsteps: A Father/Son Story
3 Day Itinerary for Visiting Shakespeare’s England
Climbing Over the O2 Arena in London
Flying on The Thames in a Speedboat
Visiting the Warner Brothers Harry Potter Tour in London
I traveled around Ireland:
Touched by a Ghost in Leap Castle
Taking a Black Taxi Tour of Belfast
Visiting the Aran Islands and the Cliffs of Moher
Visiting the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin
2 days in Dublin
I wrote about napping in Marie Antoinete’s backyard.
I shared my favorite places to stay in Mont Tremblant.
Escaped to the Kartite Indoor Water park in Upstate New York.
Upgraded my car rental for self-care.
Visited a rum distillery in the British Virgin Islands.
Hugged sloths in Honduras.
During the Covid times, I started sharing cocktails on my blog. I continued to do that in 2023. Here are some cocktails I mixed up.
Pumpkin-Spiced Margarita
Pumpkin-Spiced Old Fashioned
Barbie Cocktail
Presbyterian Cocktail
Dublin Spider Highball
Continuing my influencer side, I continued to work with brands in 2023. Here are some brands I worked with:
Suvie Kitchen Robot, Fresh Direct, Venta Humidifier, Flaviar Whiskey Subscription, Healthy Heights, Joy Organics, Sunnydaze Raised Garden Beads, Force of Nature cleaning products, Name Bubbles, Hawaiian Shaved Ice maker, M Drive Protein Shakes, and Ninja Coffee Maker.
Some of the most positive feedback I received this year was after sharing mental health struggles. More and more men are sharing what it’s like living with depression and anxiety.
Finding Joy in the Small Things
Feeling Hopeless in 2023
Mental health apps.
Movie reviews continued to help with my stats and something that I’ll continue to do in 2024.
I decided in 2023 that I needed more live music in my life. I took my daughter to a Depeche Mode concert and saw my favorite band of all time, Green Day. I also frequented Arlene’s Grocery in NYC.
Speaking of New York City, I continued to write about my favorite city in the world. That is something that will always be a focus on my blog.
I’ve been blogging for a long time and my blog has always covered a wide range of topics. That will continue throughout 2024. I have a few big trips and a few small trips lined up for 2024. I’m extremely excited about where my travels will take me.
I’m also writing a book and hopefully I can finish that before the end of 2024. Finding time to write my book, travel, cover blog topics, and my everyday life will be a challenge. I turn 50 in 2024, so there’s a lot that I want to do before that big day.
Follow me on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook to see the things and topics that I don’t share on my blog.
I also have an Instagram account devoted to my fitness journey.
Thank you for reading my blog throughout the year. I hope you have a peaceful and joyful 2024.