It's A New Year 2013

I began this "A Year in Review" last year, thanks to a friend from college who posted this on her blog. I love this questionnaire, because it's sort of like a New-Yearbook, for grownups. Too bad it doesn't have all our pictures in it and there's nowhere to sign our names or leave messages. If you feel so inclined - leave me a yearbook message in the comments section below!

1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?
Celebrated a year of marriage, hosted a baby shower, became an Auntie, turned 27, hosted family holiday celebrations, traveled to Greece, became a "small business owner," attended a Jewish wedding.

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Here were the goals I made last year...

1. Buy local, Cook more, Eat better.
2. Save money instead of Spending money.
3. Study a foreign language.
4. Watch less TV/movies and Read more books.
5. Regain active lifestyle and be dedicated about strength training.
6. Journal more.
7. Plan honeymoon trip to Greece and actually Go.
8. Finish furnishing our guest room and then keep it consistently full of guests!
9. Try new things instead of falling into habits.
10. Laugh more, Stay positive, Stop calling myself "old."

From the list above, the first five (probably the priorities, actually) really didn't get much attention. Numbers 1-4 will just stay on the list for 2013, because we really made zero changes. I did, from February-May meet with a personal trainer. I lost 10 lbs, and felt better than I have - maybe since high school. Then I quit my job, got a little broke, and had to downsize on my spending. Starting on January 3rd, I'm back at it with my trusty trainer! The items in bold, I did accomplish, but would like to keep on the list for the new year. They are basic standards that I feel I should always work on. Here's the revised list for 2013:

1. Buy local, Cook more, Eat better.
2. Save money instead of Spending money: pay off debt.
3. Study a foreign language.
4. Watch less TV, Read more books, and Journal/Blog regularly.
5. Maintain active lifestyle and be dedicated about strength training.
6. Work hard at building my business, and plan for the future.
7. Visit Susanna & Nathan in Scotland (tour the UK).
8. Organize my life, my data storage, my business, and get rid of everything we don't need!
9. Try new things instead of falling into habits.
10. STRESS LESS.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My sister: I'm an Auntie!

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, thankfully.

5. What countries did you visit?
Greece.

6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
Freedom from debt. More friends in Austin.

7. What date from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
May 17, 2012 - the birth of my nephew.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Quitting my job and becoming self-employed.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not trusting my husband completely. He has more faith in me, than I do.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Not really! Yay us!

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Our tickets to Greece, and three chickens.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
So many terrific 2012 Olympians who competed in the London Olympics - despite tremendous obstacles - and brought honor to their countries.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The shooter behind the Sandy Hook massacre.

14. Where did most of your money go?
To travel & food. Not surprised one bit by that.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Our trip to Greece, my new nephew Samson, Tim's promotion.

16. What song will always remind you of 2012?
Ho Hey, by the Lumineers.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
I. happier or sadder?
Happier!

II. thinner or fatter?
About the same, but fatter than I should be.

III. richer or poorer?
Richer.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Spent time outside.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worried, Whined, and Watched TV.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
With both families spread out over a full week! Christmas in Gonzales with Linda, in New Braunfels with the Greens/Kingtons, and in Austin at Kelli's.

21. Who had the biggest influence on your life in 2012?
My Mentor! (who shall be nameless, but knows who she is.)

22. Did you fall in love in 2012?
Just a little more, every day....

23. How many one-night stands?
None.

24. What was your favorite TV program?
Homeland & Downton Abbey.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Just more politicians....

26. What was the best book you read?
The Paris Wife, by Paula McLain.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The Lumineers.

28. What did you want and get?
A trip to Greece. See here for trip details, and here and here for pictures.

29. What did you want and not get?
A book club.

30. Best movies this year?
The Hunger Games & Skyfall 007.
But there are so many we haven't seen this year that I know are going to be good when I finally do: Moonrise Kingdom, Life of Pi, Argo, Anna Karenina, Lincoln, Les Mix, Django Unchained.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
My birthday pretty much got skipped this year, but I got the best present ever! A nephew! It was pretty exciting. I turned 27, my sister made me a funfetti cake, Tim gave me a label-maker, and we sunned by the pool.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Not having such a long recovery period after LASIK surgery.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?
Quality over quantity. Simple, sophisticated, with a hint of vintage-Western.

34. What kept you sane?
Lady-wife chats with Danielle.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Daniel Craig. uh huh, uh huh.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
It's hard for me to be stirred by politics, unless you mean Homeland. So I will just say - I was stirred by the fact that Tim voted for the first time in his life, and we got to go to the polls together.

37. Who did you miss?
Sooz and Nate in Scotland.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Can I say re-met? Christina Prentice-Starey. We were friends during our highschool years, lost contact during college years, and have become good friends since moving back to Austin. We have regular coffee dates! AND Christos, the owner of our Santorini Hotel.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012:

When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us. 

- Alexander Graham-Bell

40. One word or sentence to describe how you feel about 2012:
Doors were closed and doors were opened.

Happy 2013 from My Family to Yours,

Love, Laurel