Hi guys, happy 2023! 🙂
Photo credit: Vector4Free
Like I do every year, I am doing another blog outlook and what you can expect to see. I just want to make it clear that these are goals and sometimes plans change.
For example, last year I was so determined about getting a car and staying at The Langham, a 5-star resort in Pasadena, to give a review. What ended up happening was The Langham wanted a minimum of 2 nights and the pricing even with the SoCal resident discount was outrageous.
With the new car…I am not sure what I am going to do still. I know the future is EV and I respect and support that, but realistically, it’s too expensive! I could still get a gas car at a better price. So I am holding off on it for now. My car did turn 100,000 in December and although it’s still functioning very well, it’s going to start depreciating even more with the mileage. That’s why I was so gung ho on getting rid of it, but with inflation and high interests rates (I could still afford a payment with a gas vehicle but the rates are so dumb right now), it just wasn’t worth it. I decided to look at this again at a later date. Right now I am looking at Mazdas, Nissans and even Chevys again!
I tried to put as much down as a I could but a lot is TBD! 🙂 Last year was a very crazy year for goals and this year I see as being a bit more relaxed. I really have achieved most of my goals as I mentioned in my reflection blog about living in SoCal for 12 years. Goals are either ongoing and the only major one would be to purchase property in the future.
Enjoy!
Rose Parade
I will be doing another blog and TikTok about the Rose Parade this year. As I previously mentioned, I literally live 1 block from the route! From where I will be standing it will take about 2 hours. I actually wrote a story about a couple of the floats being tested for Pasadena Weekly, so I am excited to see the turnout this year! I also posted a TikTok a few days prior about the preparations/set-up of everything, so make sure you check that out as well!
Travel
This is always the section people love to see: where am I going to travel in 2023?
After doing a ton of research and back and forth, I decided on a Carnival Mexico Cruise in February, the Palouse Scenic Byway in Washington State in early summer (plus stops at Leavenworth and the Walla Walla wine region), and New Zealand in the fall (it’s springtime for them).
Photo credit: USA Today
Photo credit: Washington State Tourism
Photo credit: Hotels.com
I wanted to originally go to Italy/Greece on a cruise but I think I am going to push it off for another year or two. The main reason is inflation, even New Zealand was cheaper!
Hair Growth
This is more so a personal goal than a goal for the blog, lol! I have been struggling to grow my hair out and I decided to get it cut once a quarter instead of every month (it gets dry at the ends easily). I really want to grow it out to my chest and I am hoping it can get there by the summer!
WSET Level II/California Wine Specialist Certifications
This is also another personal goal I have is to get the Wine and Spirit Education Trust Level II certification in wine and the California Wine Specialist certification from the San Francisco Wine School. I am not sure when or if I am going to do it this year or not?
As you know, I have worked part time in the liquor industry for 20 years as a brand ambassador/account manager and although I have learned a ton about wine, sometimes having a certification gives you another boost in knowledge. The WSET Level II certification talks about wines from around the world and the California Wine Specialist narrows in a bit more of what you want to specialize in.
To get both of them done, it would be equivalent to a semester at a university (or I can split it out for a year). Part of me is burnt out from when I got my master’s degree in communication. It’s just another TBD section but I will definitely keep you posted!
Springtime Gardens/Tea Rooms
San Gabriel Valley where I live has a ton of tea rooms and gardens more so than the rest of the LA County area, it’s what makes us cool! 🙂 You have seen a blog from a few years ago comparing Descanso Gardens and Huntington Gardens but they are going to be more TikTok videos now. The tea rooms, however, will be a combo of a blog post and a TikTok! I think there are about 3-5 tea rooms I will visit? We shall see!
Speaking of TikTok…
I think it’s pretty apparent that I have been filming more TikTok videos than blogging. I feel like TikTok/YouTube Shorts/Instagram Reels are the way of the future and I aim to make one video daily, whether it’s a “Come Along With Me” video (my series I created) or a silly trend/filter. I still haven’t fully dove into YouTube Shorts and I don’t know if I will. With Instagram Reels, I just usually upload my TikTok video that I made, I don’t have time to do 2 separate videos. I still don’t have fancy video editing software or lighting at this time and I am not sure if I am going to dive into that or not. Remember that I have a full time job and 2 freelance careers!
I will still keep the blog ongoing for what I see as relevant (especially with travel), but please also follow me on Instagram @kitkatwozny and TikTok @kitkatw0706. I feel like TikTok is doing better in terms of views/likes than Instagram and that’s fine. I am just happy with 100+ views and having fun!
Central Coast/Paso Robles Holiday Lights
This year I really want to make an effort to visit the Cambria Christmas Market, Hearst Castle Holiday Twilight Tour and Sensorio in Paso Robles, which is a field of lights.
Photo credit: Hearst Castle
Photo credit: Sensorio
I have been wanting to do the Christmas Market for 5 years and I had to cancel it twice, once due to the Thomas Fire in 2017 and this year I was supposed to be up that direction for a work meeting in December, but unfortunately, it got moved to October instead. I will probably take a few days off to accomplish this, plus there is a ton I can film while I am there!
Photo credit: Cambria Christmas Market
I also might hop over to Morro Bay to shoot the famous rock again. They are all close to one another so I am excited to make this a goal for next year!
Photo credit: Wikipedia
Overall
That’s all I really have for now, LOL! Like I said, stay tuned! I am sure there will be events I can go to and whatnot. For now, I am just taking it day by day.
Happy New Year! 🙂
