Hi guys, welcome to my 2025 blog outlook + goals!

Photo credit: Pixabay

This past year was a whirlwind of a year. You can out my 2024 Year in Review to see what I accomplished!

I plan on achieving more in 2025 and there are actually two things below that I am finally accomplishing after 2 – 4 years of talking about it! Of course, the fun part of the blog is where I will be traveling to, which I saved for last! I try and achieve as much as I can but obviously, the plan can change sometimes.

Enjoy! 🙂

My Health is Still Not 100% Improved

I just want to get the bad part out of the way first. As you guys know, in 2023 I took a cruise to Mexico and came back with Mal de Debarquement Syndrome (MdDS) which unfortunately, I am still trying to recover from almost 2 years later! I still can’t believe how long I have had this despite doing a gazillion different types of treatment! I would say maybe I am 85% improved but it’s really hard to tell. Most of the symptoms are gone except the 24/7 internal bobbing/swaying sensations that also match what I see out of my eyes.

Trust me, every day I wake up and I do not understand why I still have this or why it is taking so long! Nonetheless, I am going to try my damnedest to resolve this thing this year. I am going to try a couple other treatments additional soon and we’ll see what happens.

Photo credit: SeaHelp

More Trails to Hike + More 5Ks

You guys know I love hiking and fell in love with it at the end of 2023. In 2024, I hiked 33 trails that were easy or moderate level and plan on doing more in 2025. The main trails I have down so far are Malibu Creek State Park, Solstice Canyon, Big Dalton and the Bridge to Nowhere (the last 2 are currently closed because part of the trail got destroyed during the Bridge Fire).

Photo credit: Visit California

For 5Ks, I am signed up to do the 5K at the Runway in Ontario in February and Rosenthal Wine Run 5K in March (UPDATE: this one got canceled due to the Palisades Fire that destroyed the winery). I also plan on doing Spacerock Trail Race at Vasquez Rocks (featured in star Trek) in October and the Rose Bowl Turkey Trot in November. I don’t run but power walk, LOL! A 5K (3 miles) can take me under an hour to complete.

Photo credit: LA County Parks

Content Creation + The Future of TikTok

I think you guys may have noticed with the exception of the travel blogs that I am writing a lot shorter content and embedding more TikTok and Instagram videos instead. I just feel like this is the future of where everything is going. However, it is going to be very interesting to see what happens with this proposed TikTok ban in the U.S. on Jan. 19.

The good news is all of my TikToks are also on Instagram, so they are archived and also on a USB drive. I found a lot more success on TikTok so I am hoping something can be worked out with the federal government, but stay tuned I guess!

Also…last year I launched my website, kateriwozny.com, if you want to go and read some of my past and current news stories or view my content creation pieces!

Seeing The Weeknd in Concert!

UPDATE: I am now seeing him in June 2025 at SoFi Stadium. He canceled the Rose Bowl concert due to the Eaton Fire and also because fire personnel were using the Rose Bowl as a Command Center.

For years, I have wanted to see The Weeknd in concert and I am finally seeing him perform for a special one night concert at the Rose Bowl on Jan. 25! I haven’t been to a huge concert in years (I think the last time was Katy Perry in 2014), so I am super excited! Plus, the Rose Bowl is a 10 minute drive from my house, so super easy!

I have an upper level ticket that cost $250 (my budget was $300) because that was all that was available by the time Ticketmaster let me into the purchase room, LOL! Luckily, the concert is in the round so I will be able to see it from all angles. I will definitely make content regarding this!

Photo credit: Billboard

California Wine Appellation Specialist Certification

Guess what? After 4 years of talking about this, I am FINALLY going to obtain my California Wine Appellation Specialist certification from the San Francisco Wine School at the end of January that runs until the end of March!

As you know, I have worked part time in the liquor industry for 21 years as a brand ambassador/account manager and although I have learned a ton about wine, especially California wines, sometimes having a certification gives you another boost in knowledge. I considered the WSET Level II certification that talks about wines from around the world but the California Wine Appellation Specialist narrows in a bit more of what I want to specialize in. Plus, I am just more passionate about California wines!

It is a rigorous program but I am up for the challenge. Besides weekly quizzes, tasting summaries and the discussion board, I have to take a 100 multiple choice exam within an hour at the end of March. I will also write a blog about this in case you are considering obtaining this certification. Wish me luck! 🙂

Photo credit: Travel + Leisure

Pasadena Birthday Daycation

For my birthday this year (July 6), I am FINALLY going to do a daycation day (basically a day at the pool) at The Langham Huntington (5-Star hotel)! This is another thing I have talked about doing over the last couple of years and I am reserved a date through ResortPass for Monday, July 7. I can’t do the weekends because ResortPass doesn’t offer weekend dates, plus it is the 4th of July Weekend and it will probably be a bit busier anyway.

I am super excited, stay tuned!

Photo credit: ResortPass

Christmas Weekend Getaway

As you guys know, I always do a Christmas getaway somewhere locally and this year I am aiming for Palm Springs or Las Vegas. Palm Springs also has a couple different trails I want to hike but I would also love to see all of the Vegas hotels decked out for the holidays.

Stay tuned!

Photo credit: Palm Springs Preferred Small Hotels

Photo credit: USA Today

Traveling: Southern New Mexico, Minneapolis + Upstate New York

Alright, the fun part of the blog! My goal in April is to visit Southern New Mexico and see the Carlsbad Caverns National Park, White Sands National Park, Roswell (home of the alien sitings), Smokey Bear Historical Park and other areas. I would fly into El Paso, TX.

My backup is to head up to Northern California and finish driving the coast between San Francisco and Mendocino. So I am not quite sure which spring vacation route I am going to take yet but I do know I will need a head break after studying for the California Wine Appellation Specialist certification!

Photo credit: Visit Northern California

I also need to head back to my hometown of Minneapolis in July/August to attend a friend’s wedding. I haven’t been there since my parents moved to Florida in 2014 so I am excited to go back and visit some people!

Photo credit: Fifty Grande

For my fall trip, I decided to visit Upstate New York to tour the different cities and see the fall foliage. I originally wanted to go to Italy for a couple weeks but I am still really enjoying exploring the U.S.

Photo credit: TimeOut

And those are my big goals for 2025! I feel like my list is a lot smaller compared to other years but it also means I have accomplished most of my lifetime goals!

What goals do you have for 2025? 🙂