Goodbye 2010: A Year in Review

I can't believe it's almost 2011.

Honestly, it feels like just last month that I was writing the 2009 year in review post.

2010 has been a crazy wild ride for me.  

It's been amazing to say the least.

For all the pain and heartbreak and suffering I felt in 2009, 

I felt joy and excitement and a newfound love for life this year.

It's amazing how much you can change in a year.

And i like to think that this year was the year I grew up.  I became more independent and learned to live by my own rules.

I'm not saying this year wasn't without it's own set of troubles and sadness.

But, just like I vowed last December, this year was the year I learned to live in the moment, appreciate the good, and not worry so much about what comes my way.

I can honestly say, 100%, this year was the best year of my life so far.

some amazing things happened to me.

These were life changing things.

here's a little year in review:

january

i won my first blog giveaway

i dabbled with red lips, which i loved.

I co-hosted a charity fashion show

february

It snowed.  a lot.  To beat the snow, I went to Key Biscayne, Florida 

I finished an art piece that had taken me forever.

March
I hosted my first giveaway, which was one of the things on my "24 in 12" list.
I got 4 impacted wisdom teeth removed.  And then got an infection. Let's just say i ate a ton of ice cream.
I went to Florida.
I went on my first ever college visit in Pennsylvania.

April
I spent two weeks in Paris, France!  It was one of the most amazing trips in my life.
I went to Semi-Formal with all my friends, wearing one of my favorite dresses ever.

May
I ran my second half-marathon.  It was 90 degrees and very hot, so I was very proud to finish.
I celebrated this blog's one year birthday!
I went to Junior/Senior Prom!
I got bronchitus/ pneumonia.
I found out I got the job I had wanted.

June
I started my new job.
I bought a record player.
I got the best early birthday gift EVER- a car!
I met a cute boy at my new job.
I went to my best friend's graduation.  This was a touching moment for me because I knew in one year that would be me getting my diploma.


July
I went to the Jack Johnson concert
I turned 17.
With this birthday, I got my license.
I competed in my first guard tournament (followed by my first guard party).




August
I went to the John Mayer/ Train concert.
I went on my second college trip.
I got a new camera.
The boy and the best friend left for college, which was really sad and ended in a lot of tears.
I went to Greece and Turkey.

September
 I started my senior year of high school.
I went camping, which ended up being not a good experience.

October
I went to a benefit concert to support the prevention of Domestic Violence.
I celebrated Halloween in a much better way then last year.



November
I volunteered at the Special Olympics.
I went on my first recruiting trip at my dream college.
I applied to 3 colleges.
I started the yoga class for disabled children that had been a dream of mine for a year.



December
I got into my dream college.
I celebrated Christmas in Florida.



As much as I'm sad to see 2010 go, I'm so excited to see what 2011 has to offer for me!
Doing this post made me realize how happy I am I have a blog- I have such a great way to look back at all the memories I have created over the year.
So here's to you, 2010!
For taking me all over the world.
For getting me into college.
For helping me learn to live like there's no tomorrow.

I hope everyone has a very Happy New Year's eve.
I'm hosting a little party here at home for some of my friends and family.

Thanks for being with me during this crazy ride of life.
I'm so blessed to have all of you here reading along.
I love each and every one of you and I actually do consider you all friends!
See you all in 2011!
A whole new decade.
A whole new year of possibilities and adventures.
xoxo

p.s if you're interested, here is 2009 year in review

24 in 12 Review

I know the first post after Christmas is suppose to be a big recap, but that will come on Thursday once I'm back home and have the pictures downloaded!

Since the year is rapidly coming to a close (we only have 3 days left!) I thought I'd take this time to review the 24 things I said I'd do in 12 months.  This was posted in the beginning of January.

1)  start an etsy shop

never happened.  maybe this year?  i don't know.  i know it's super time consuming and the rational approach is that i just don't have enough time right now to commit 100%.

2) go to two amazing concerts

i did!  i went to jack johnson and john mayer over the summer.  they were both outside in the open air and involved corn and lemonade.  they were lovely!

3)  fill up 2 art journals.

i didn't.... but i did start my travel journal with photos and information on all the places I want to go to!

4)  learn to knit.

ehhh.... no.

5)  take more pictures

I did!  I got a new camera, and worked more on my photo wall (pictures soon)

6)  travel

yes!  i went to Florida, Pennsylvania, Boston, France, Greece, and Turkey!  That's the most I've ever traveled!

7)  bake 100 new things

I don't think I've baked 100 new things.  But I have baked a lot of great recipes

8)  paint more.

Sadly, painting took a backseat.  However, I did join AP art and now am working my way up to 12 completed graphite drawings

9)  focus more on my yoga practice.

i'm working on this by trying to fit in one yoga class a week.  I've also started my disabled yoga class... which i think helps with the mental and philanthropic side of being a yogi

10)  make my swimming comeback

yes and yes.  who new, this time last year, that i would sign on to swim division one in college for 2011?

11)  redecorate my room

my florida room turned out gorgeous!  as for my new jersey room, i don't think i'm going to redecorate that.  it just doesn't make sense right now since i'm only going to be here until for 7 more months.

12)  volunteer more

i started my yoga class (see number 9), and joined national honor society.  i helped raise money for several organizations.

13) make someone smile everyday

i like to think i do!

14) sew a wearable garment

that would be a no.  i wasn't crafty at all this year.

15) host my first giveaway

i did! i hosted many actually and i can't wait to host more in 2011!
{if you'd like to sponsor one, shoot me an email!}

16) do something i'm scared to do at least once a week

i do think i've become more brave.  and i do a lot of things i would normally do.  i now try to live in the moment.

17) develop a better sleep pattern

well it's almost 12:30 am and i'm up blogging, so it's not great

18) run another half marathon and do a distance triathlon

i ran another half in May.

I never got to do the distance.  between my surgery last year and the pneumonia/ wisdom teeth surgery this year, i didn't have time to train

19)  get rid of the negative things in my life

i'm working on it.  while it's not possible to 100% get rid of it right now, i can say i'm learning to deal with it better

20)  discover some new indie bands

yes!  and i bought myself that record player i've always wanted

21)  take more pictures with my diana f+

this will be for 2011

22) become a certified lifeguard

yes! and i got a job!

23)  organize organize organize

i'm trying!

24) Buy more handmade/vintage

I did!  a lot, actually :)

i think i did a pretty good job!  

the rest of the week will include my holiday/florida recap, and of course the year in review!

i leave for home tomorrow.  apparently the roads still aren't plowed at home and there's still over 2 feet of snow, so i'm hoping i don't have travel problems.

xo

24 in 12 Part 2

here's the second half of my 24 in 12 post:)

13) make someone smile everyday

making someone else smile will bring a positive change to someone else's life and mine as well!

14) sew a wearable garment

or attempt too....

15) host my first giveaway

not sure when.... either at the one year anniversary of this blog or when i hit a certain amount of followers... maybe 30?  spread the word! ;)

16) do something i'm scared to do at least once a week

i want to become more brave

17) develop a better sleep pattern

and hopefully drink less coffee

18) run another half marathon and do a distance triathlon

19)  get rid of the negative things in my life

that i can control

20)  discover some new indie bands

organize my music

buy a record player

and some records :)

21)  take more pictures with my diana f+

learn how to develop them.... that would help ;)

not a diana.... but you get the picture.... haha.  get it?  

okay i'm corny i know :)

22) become a certified lifeguard

23)  organize organize organize

clear out clutter from my room

organize school stuff

organize recipes

24) Buy more handmade/vintage

thats all for now folks!  this was fun.... i'll keep you updated on the progress :)

to-do for tomorrow:  change music on blog so my readers don't get annoyed with the xmas music.

SORRY!

xoxo

source: we heart it

24 in 12 Part 1

Hi friends.

I hope everyone had an amazing 2nd day of 2010 (promise i wont do that everyday!)

Today and Tomorrow I'm going to share my 24 in 12 goals.  What's that might you ask?

it's 24 things I'd love to do in 12 months.

or, if you really want to use your math skills here, 2 things per month.

here are the first 12 things!

1)  start an etsy shop

i've already expressed my interest in this... but it's something i would love to do!

2) go to two amazing concerts

last year i went to 3, but two of them were in the summer.  my friends and i had a BLAST rocking out to music outside and i can't wait to do it again this year.

3)  fill up 2 art journals.

i started one.... but i never take enough time to work on it.  i'd love to try to fill up two between now and next year.  (maybe one day i'll give you a glimpse of it :))

4)  learn to knit.

i'm tired of spending money on hats.  i know i can make my own.

5)  take more pictures

for my photo wall (see yesterdays post)

6)  travel

in '09 i traveled so much.... hawaii, florida, boston, baltimore, phili, rhode island

some of them were just for the weekend... but overall i had an amazing time seeing the country.

i've already planned my first 2010 trip!  i'm going to paris in april :)

7)  bake 100 new things

i love to back, and this year want to try 100 NEW recipes.

(and yes, that does coincide with my goal of eating healthier.  oh well)

8)  paint more.

my room is filled with paintings i've done... but i'd love to create more!

9)  focus more on my yoga practice.

as in, be able to stand on my head WITHOUT a wall :)

10)  make my swimming comeback

after taking a month off from my 6 day a week, 2 hour intense swim practice because of the surgery, i'm ready to start working hard to lower my times.

and maybe maybe get recruited in the process? :)

11)  redecorate my room

and my florida room.

oh and bestie asked me to re-do hers.

whoa.  i should get started on this....

12)  volunteer more

give back to the community that gives me so much

i'll give you the other 12 tomorrow!

xoxo

source: we heart it