2011, I Give You Two Thumbs up

Allow me to echo Mary... Happy New Year (and happy 2 year anniversary to A Tale of Two Cities)! I'm writing this post from 30,000 feet in the air as I return from a wonderful visit with my family for the holidays. I absolutely love Christmas because it's (usually) the one time a year I get to see all my relatives I love so dearly. It's also one of the very few times  a year I get to spend quality time with my immediate fam (and sweet kitties). I'm returning to LA feeling very loved and rested and blessed.  Such a great way to end a year and start another.

Before diving full force into 2012, I wanted to pay homage to 2011 as well.  I'll be posting my 8:11 highlights from December soon, but I'll mirror Mary's lovely reflection on 2011 now.  :-) 

Highs: Traveling! I'm not quite sure how this happened, but somehow I took at least one trip every month from May to December this year (highlights include Alabama tornado relief trip, Caroline's cuh-razy bachelorette party in Vegas, Outside Lands in SF w/ Mary, a "girls weekend" trip to Santa Fe with Mary and our mothers, and Colorado x 2 - once for family vacay and once for a reunion with my best college friends.)

Lows:  My break up in May, while a good thing, was extremely sad and took a few months to get over. Definitely a low I hope to not experience again ANY time soon.

Mistakes: Not going to the beach more last summer. One of my lifelong dreams growing up was to live “driving distance to a good beach.” Now I do, and I do not take nearly enough advantage of it.  Tsk tsk.

#Winnings: Discovering the amazing fun that is Bootie LA (and making it a monthly occurrence on my calendar). ;-)

Observations and things I learned: I learned a lot from the aforementioned break up, such as: it gets better. I also learned a ton on my trip to Alabama, namely that my “problems” are miniscule compared to those who have lost so much.  It really helped put things in perspective and made me want to help those in need as much as I can.

Other events of note: seeing Mary on 7 different occasions (holla!), being pictured and quoted in the New York Post for my Bachelor watch parties, going on my first work trip, rediscovering reading for enjoyment, my dad being in LA for the first time since 2008, being a leader to one of the best community groups ever, watching my dear brother graduate from OU, and becoming the proud owner of a blue fish. J

I like to make a list of goals for myself on my birthday each year, so as far as resolutions go, I’m going to keep plugging away at that list. But I agree with Mary, there really is something about the dawn of a new year that just feels so fresh and promising. So while I look back and smile at all the great experiences I had in 2011, I dive into 2012 with both feet, excited and expectant of all the great things in store. Cheers to that. 

xoxo, 

Annie.