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:

Sausage and Veggie pasta in creamy tomato vodka cream sauce

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

Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe

Great Blue Heron at Greenlake, Seattle, WA

Tom, Dick and Harry

Triple Falls

Chia seed fruit cobbler

Muir Woods

On the way to Goat Lake

Hood to Coast

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

Goat Rocks Wilderness in Gifford Pinchot

Kona, Hawaii

Hamilton Mountain

Crater Lake

Elowah Falls

Mt. Hood from Coyote Wall

Sundog

Frozen waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge

Mt. Tamalpais, Marin County, CA