2012 | Year in Review

If you would've asked me 1, 5 or even 10 years ago if I'd be where I am today, I would have laughed at you...pretty hard actually. I'm not talking about where I am as in where I stand, but where I am with myself. Where I am with my marriage. Where I am with my career. Where I am with my mind. Where I am with my emotions. Where I am with me. 

Here is a small glimpse of what I was fortunate to live out in 2012.

Venice Beach (Venice Beach, CA) | January 2012

Skyping with Brandi While She was in Florence, Italy on a Business Trip | January 2012

Pirelli Supercross Event at Dodger Stadium (Los Angeles, CA) | January 2012

Brandi and I made the Switch from Droid to iPhone (Woodland Hills, CA) | February 2012

29th Birthday Dinner with Brandi (Studio City, CA) | March 2012

Snowboarding in Big Bear (Big Bear, CA) | March 2012

Sanctiond Launch Event (Los Angeles, CA) | March 2012

Formula DRIFT - Round 1: Streets of Long Beach (Long Beach, CA) | April 2012

Brandi's 29th Birthday Dinner (Thousand Oaks, CA) - April 2012

Long Beach Grand Prix - Formula DRIFT (Long Beach, CA) | April 2012

Stagecoach (Coachella Valley, CA) | April 2012

Formula DRIFT - Round 2: Road to the Championship (Atlanta, GA) | May 2012

Calamigos Ranch Lunch Date (Malibu, CA) | May 2012

9 Year Anniversary Dinner with Brandi (Tarzana, CA) | May 2012

Sunday Funday (West Hills, CA) | May 2012

Memorial Day Weekend (Oxnard, CA) | May 2012

Formula DRIFT - Round 3: Invasion (West Palm Beach, FL) - June 2012

Forza Horizon Launch at E3 (Los Angeles, CA) | June 2012

Formula DRIFT - Round 4: The Gauntlet (Wall, NJ) | June 2012

Justin and Samantha Welcome Their New Baby (Los Angeles, CA) | June 2012

Brothers of the Sun Concert (Anaheim, CA) | July 2012

Formula DRIFT - Round 5: Throwdown (Seattle, WA) | July 2012

Touring Seattle with Brandi (Seattle, WA) | July 2012

Tourists In Our Own City (Los Angeles, CA) | August 2012

Forza Horizon Q&A (Los Angeles, CA) | August 2012

Formula DRIFT - Round 6: After Dark (Las Vegas, NV) | August 2012

 1 Year Wedding Anniversary (Malibu, CA) | September 2012

Formula DRIFT Demo at the MavTV Indcar 500 (Fontana, CA) | September 2012

Rascal Flatts Concert (Irvine, CA) | September 2012

Pirelli Miles and Meals Cookbook Launch (Los Angeles, CA) | September 2012

Steve and Jenny Choi's Wedding (Malibu, CA) | September 2012

Formula DRIFT - Round 7: Title Fight (Irwindale, CA) | October 2012

Off to Italy with Brandi (Los Angeles, CA) | October 2012

World Travelers (Lugano, Switzerland) | October 2012

Our Final Dinner in Italy (Florence, Italy) | October 2012

House Hunting in Italy (Florence, Italy) | October 2012

2012 AFSP Out of the Darkness Walk (Culver City, CA) | October 2012

2012 SEMA Show (Las Vegas, NV) | November 2012

2012 SEMA Show - Last Work Trip of the Year (Las Vegas, NV) | November 2012

LA Unbound's 'Best of Unbound' Show (North Hollywood, CA) | November 2012

Friendsgiving at Brett's (Sherman Oaks, CA) | November 2012

RECARO LA Auto Show Event (Los Angeles, CA) | November 2012

2012 Motor4Toys Event (Woodland Hills, CA) | December 2012

Formula DRIFT - Hurricane Sandy Relief Fundraiser (Irwindale, CA) | December 2012

My Beautiful Nieces Nika & Giada (San Jose, CA) | December 2012

 My Brother's 40th Birthday (San Francisco, CA) | December 2012

Stone Family Vacation - Christmas (Palm Springs, CA) | December 2012

With everything I've done this year whether it be personal or work related, I've never felt as proud or as motivated as I am right now. However, I could have never done it alone now would I want to. There is one person who, on a daily basis, pushes me beyond my limits and way beyond what I feel is my potential. She shows me a new light, a new perspective and a fresh way of approaching what life throws at me. She makes me feel unstoppable. Without her, I can honestly tell you that I have no clue or inkling of where I'd be or what I'd be doing. But I know one thing, it wouldn't be this. I've never felt so rich - not financially, but physically, mentally, emotionally. 

Thank to everyone who has been a part of making 2012 one of the best years of my life. Most of all, thank you Brandi for not just allowing me to pursue my dreams, but for pursuing them together. You're a dream come true and I'll love you til the end...

Here's to many more memorable times, experiences and love to share in 2013 and beyond. 

1 Year Anniversary | Staycation

Brandi and I celebrated our 1st wedding anniversary this past weekend and between the laughter, relaxing, eating and drinking that went on,  we managed to take a few pictures to help us remember how amazing it was. Now that our little 'secret' is out and you know we're moving it I T A L Y next year, we wanted to keep this weekend on the inexpensive side but still make it special.

One thing we try to consistently do is think of what we can do and/or where we can go that's different. We rarely visit or eat at the same places just to keep switching things up. Although we're both LA natives since birth, we went to and ate at places we've never been to before all weekend long.

On Saturday (9/1/12), we went to a private beach in Malibu to enjoy some beers, the sun and each others company.

Come Sunday (9/2/12), it was time to hit the road and head down to Newport Beach & Balboa Island. Neither had ever been and this area had B'Squared written all over it. Nice little restaurants, bars and neighborhoods are all you'll find aside from the channel and beach.

Brandi told me once before that we would live somewhere and I've learned to believe her. Let's just say that this whole move to Italy was called out by her back in February. Here we are, just a few months down the road packing up the house! After Italy, I definitely see us living in a nice little community. I mean, we've only been talking about it for the past 9 years.

After some walking around and restaurant hunting, we decided on The Newport Landing for some food and drinks. Considering this area is known for it's wealth, the prices were very reasonable and everything tasted great. 

Once home, it was time for pizza, wine and Breaking Bad! Don't tease us with a good time! 

Moving onto Monday (9/3/12), most everyone was celebrating Labor Day as they rightfully should. Brandi and I had a different day to celebrate...our 1 year wedding anniversary! It's crazy enough to think that we are married but to now be celebrating 1 year as husband and wife? I mean, where has the time gone? 

After breakfast and a little gift exchange, it was time to get our day started. Check out the new wall art! 

Our first stop would be Malibu Wines which is really nice winery in the Malibu canyon area. 

Neither of us had been before and with the exception of the heat, this place was awesome! They had a guy playing live music outside with a bunch of umbrella covered tables scattered throughout the lawn area. They don't charge for parking or for admission but just require that you purchase a bottle of wine per group. They also allow you to bring in your own picnic food which we thought was a great idea! We decided to do a tasting since that would clearly be the best way to decide on which bottle we'd buy.  It was pretty hot out so we opted for the 2011 Saddlerock Pinot Gris ($25). Awesome choice! 

After a few hours of music, wine and some snacking, it was time to pay Calamigo's Ranch a visit exactly 365 days after we said our vows to each other. Every time we go back to Calamigo's we're quickly reminded how fortunate we are to have gotten married there. If you've never been before, you're missing out on a little hidden gem in the canyon that is not the Malibu you imagine. We ate at Malibu Cafe which never disappoints with its delicious food and drink selections. Gimme S'more!

The highlight of our day was going back to our wedding sight to relive our wedding day. One of the benefits of this place is that the venues are always prepared to show a couple what it would like or is actually getting prepared for an upcoming wedding. It was a very surreal feeling to be back there and just think of all the memories that we shared that night. Hands down the best night of my life! 

Once we were done walking throughout the property, we called it a day and headed home. We originally intended to have our traditional homemade sushi night but with as much as we ate throughout the day, we were pretty tapped out and decided to hold that idea for another night. 

However, that doesn't mean we skipped out on eating some wedding cake. The original makers of our cake, A Sweet Design, hooked it up with a fresh top-tier for us to devour. Vanilla cake with bavarian chocolate chips and strawberry jam. Beyond delicious! 

I couldn't have asked for a better 1 year anniversary. There is a million places we could have gone to celebrate but what mattered most was that we were together.  No destination could ever come close to giving me the feeling that being with Brandi gives me. The amount of memories and good times that we shared in just one year is insane and all I can do is smile when I remind myself that I still have a lifetime of this to come. 

Until next time...

Brandon