It’s Thanksgiving week, which means I’m compelled to reflect on the past year and consider the most wonderful events I’ve experienced. With some recent life changes, I’m reminded of the importance to stay true to yourself and focus on what makes you happiest. For me, that includes hiking a mountain, laughing and enjoying beers with friends, traveling to new (and old) favorite cities, and, of course, cooking up a storm. Below are a few photo representations of my most thankful 2014 moments:

Great Blue Heron at Greenlake, Seattle, WA

Mt. Hood from Coyote Wall

Elowah Falls

Crater Lake

See what white speck on the right side? Yup, it’s a mountain goat! Goat Rocks Wilderness, Gifford Pinchot National Park

Sausage and Veggie pasta in creamy tomato vodka cream sauce

Chia seed fruit cobbler

Hood to Coast

Tom, Dick and Harry

Sundog

Hamilton Mountain

Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe

Goat Rocks Wilderness in Gifford Pinchot

Muir Woods

Mt. Tamalpais, Marin County, CA

On the way to Goat Lake

Triple Falls

Mt. Adams, Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Rainier

Kona, Hawaii

Frozen waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge