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:

Elowah Falls

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

Kona, Hawaii

Sausage and Veggie pasta in creamy tomato vodka cream sauce

On the way to Goat Lake

Triple Falls

Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe

Chia seed fruit cobbler

Muir Woods

Hamilton Mountain

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

Tom, Dick and Harry

Frozen waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge

Mt. Tamalpais, Marin County, CA

Sundog

Mt. Hood from Coyote Wall

Great Blue Heron at Greenlake, Seattle, WA

Goat Rocks Wilderness in Gifford Pinchot

Crater Lake

Hood to Coast