Celebrating Success: My 2019 Year In Review

As 2019 comes to a close, I thought I would focus on the positives of the past year, highlighting some of my personal and professional wins as I head into 2020! From new author bylines in dream publications, to winning awards, to experiencing amazing adventures abroad, these are the big (and little) wins that I feel proud to share.

Adding Awards To My Accolades

This was my first year winning awards (and hopefully not my last!). First, I won 3rd place for a photo that I shared of the Train Wreck Hike in Whistler, and then I took 1st place for a story I wrote on the food scene in Barbados!

Breaking Into New Bylines

As a travel writer, I’ve been so proud to add some big-name publications to my list of bylines this year. Here are the ones that I’m especially proud to have added to my resume in 2019:

The Globe & Mail – After persistently pitching the travel editor throughout the year, she reached out with a story assignment that was so fun to write. Hoping this is only the beginning for my bylines in this publication!

Chatelaine Magazine – I was pleasantly surprised when my editor accepted the first pitch that I submitted, and enjoyed sharing my personal story about being a writer of colour with the readers of this Canadian staple.

WestJet Magazine – It was a big goal for me this year to publish a story in an in-flight magazine, and I was so pleased to have not one, but two back-to-back pitches accepted. Stay tuned for my story on Indigenous wine coming soon in the January issue.

Montecristo Magazine – This luxury publication has also been on my wish list, and I was so excited to have been invited to attend a press trip to Bend, Oregon for my first assignment for them. Stay tuned for my print story on my moonlit canoe adventure, coming soon in the March issue.

NUVO – I was also pleased to have had two stories accepted for this publication and hope to share more stories with their readers in 2020.

Roadtrippers – I had a blast sharing my story on Mystery Castle in Phoenix with the readers of this fun American publication, and look forward to sharing more stories on road trip destinations in the US with them soon.

Taking On A New Title

After just over two years with WestCoast Families magazine – the go-to resource for urban, active West Coast families in BC (available in print at over 600 locations) as the Assistant Editor, I was so excited to have been promoted to the role of Editor last month.

Venturing To New Bucket List Spots

This year I travelled to a record number of travel destinations (14 in total including local cities), and all were amazing, but these spots in particular were once-in-a-lifetime experiences that I’m super excited to be able to check off my travel bucket list this year:

• Galapagos Islands
• Bermuda
• Arizona
• New York

Planning My 2020 Travel Bucket List

In the new year, I’ve set a few goals for myself to stay focused, including less solo travels (this one will be tough but my time away by myself has been tough on my family), more published articles, and more travels with the whole family! On my wish list for 2020 are these travel destinations:

• Europe – I’m already planning a family trip to the South of France so I’m off to a great start! Also hoping for visits to Switzerland, Greece, and Macedonia in the coming years).
• Costa Rica – I’ve had my eye on this destination for awhile now and would love to enjoy a family getaway to this Central American country.
• The Bahamas – After an amazing presentation by the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism this year, I have my eye on a few hidden spots that I’d love to explore.
• Jamaica – This is another Caribbean destination that I’ve been wanting to visit for awhile, especially after exploring Barbados at the end of last year.
• BC/Canada – I would love to see more of my own province/country, something that I’ve been wanting to do for a long time!

As the year comes to a close, I think it’s important to pat ourselves on the back for the accomplishments that we’ve achieved after a year of hard work. I encourage you to do the same!