2017 Wrap -Up: Another Yet IncRedIble Year!

by: Mhe-anne L. Ojeda

"A key to happiness lies in understanding what destinations truly matter - and then spending our time, effort, and attention on the things that constitute a sure way to arrive there" - Elder M. Russel Ballard

Like Ecuador, 2017 is all about being "stationed" in one place
and enjoying both worlds!!!

 After jumping from one place to the next and hitting 12 Travel Highs in 2016, I decided to be more "stationed" in 2017, if I could just find that one place in the US where I can have a "pura vida" lifestyle I experienced in Costa Rica in December 2016. And I found it here in Southern California! 

My 2017 Goals Are Inc-Red-Ible!

INC - - business and work goals (1) Go Global; (2) Push Boundaries; 

(3) Bar Exams; (4) Take Care of Business; 

RED -- things to do with hubby (1) Travel to Four Countries;(2) Do Things Together; 

(3) Be One - Have Another One; (4) Get Our Financial Act Together - Save; 

IBLE - - personal improvement goals (1) Attend Temple Often; (2) Eat Healthy - Learn How To Cook, 

Eat fruits and veggies at every meal; (3) Get More Sleep; (4) Lose Weight

Costa Mesa in Orange County, California is everything I asked for to make 2017 my INC - RED - IBLE year, or a year to achieve some of my goals in business (INC), marriage (RED --nickname of hubby!) and personal improvements (IBLE -- able; ability). 

Located in between Los Angeles and San Diego, which is home to many Filipinos, it was an easy decision to have a long term rental and a branch of my law office in Costa Mesa while continuing to travel around South & Central America and work in the Philippines. It is also just 42 miles away from the Philippine Consulate, where most of my legal work for my clients have to be done, and take off for my flights at the Los Angeles International Airport. In terms of touristy sights, Costa Mesa is just a mile from the coast, and a short drive to world-famous beach towns of Huntington Beach, Newport Beach and Laguna Beach.

"Life is for enjoying all of the incredible places 

on this earth!"

With that said, 2017 is an incredible year in terms of travel both for work and for pleasure, celebrations, for self improvement, 

January - California (New Year's Eve at Marina del Rey, Costa Mesa,  

As you know we have welcomed 2017 while in Marina del Rey, CA and will be saying goodbye to this incredible year here in Santa Ana, CA with a Third Eye Blind concert at the OC Conservatory.

February - California (Valentines Day in Southern California); Philippines


March - Philippines


April - Philippines


May - Philippines (Cagayan de Oro, Pampanga, Baguio), California (Los Angeles)

Monserrate in Bogota, Colombia

June - California (Palm Spring with my best friend Dearie), Texas (Fortsworth), Colombia (Bogota)

BOGOTA is the capital and the largest city of COLOMBIA, where we chose to celebrate ourfourth engagement anniversary last June 12, 2017! 

Tijuana Arc in Tijuana, Mexico

July - California, Fourth of July, Red's Birthday Tijuana (Mexico)

TIJUANA is the largest city in Baja California and the border town between MEXICO and the United States. I feel I really belong in this city because I could see both of my surnames "Isidro" and "Ojeda" all over the place! In fact, we used the San Isidro Pedestrian Facility, the busiest land border crossing in the world for our first ever border crossing on foot! 

August - California, Solar Eclipse

September - California (Newport Beach Cruise Anniversary)

We celebrated our Fourth Wedding Anniversary  this year and so this year brought us to four (4) cities in four ( 4) countries. 

October - California (Malibu Beach Birthday), Philippines

November - Philippines (Cagayan de Oro), California (Panorama City)

December - Panama City, Ecuador, Christmas Day in California (Big Bear)