I started doing my own Top 9 many years ago because I didn't love the most Instagram-popular selections as much as I did my curated ones! Been spending the week thinking about my favorite 2025 memories, and they include these!

It's always a fun exercise narrowing it down to just nine, and thinking about what was going on behind the scenes--who I was with (almost always good friends and family), and what I was doing that led up to these moments...

1) a chiweenie falling alseep on her back
2) one of those post-hairdo photos 
3) this was taken after my husband managed to put a cute pink hat with glitter and fuzz on the bottom on my dog for her 10th barkday! (this is FabFitFun's Birthday Girl Box Pupbox)
4) from LabsCon's amazing cybercrime gala (cybermeme warfare themed), but I was psyched because I printed out the meme I made myself (and because someone else did the same meme!) I'm wearing a Signal shirt and in a butterfly costume and holding a sign saying "is this a SCIF?" like the butterly meme)
5) headshots at my coworking space after getting my hair done in Tempe, epic bc I needed a new headshot SO BAD
6) picture in downtown Flagstaff of flowers
7) the best dessert at the best DC restaurant, Moon Rabbit, I am obsessed. it is mango boba deliciousness
8) taken at Otsikumi at the Japanese Friendship Garden. it is a baby pomegranate-inspired vase with just the top of a rose and some baby's breathe. i bought a baby pomegranate vase just like it but have yet to put anything in it.
9) last but not least, one of Justin's many amazing drinks at Course... and the one I took the best picture of, probably because it was an earlier drink, haha. it has ketel lone, strawberry, basil, elderflower, feta...
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