2012

Happy new year! I will have a big update post on my extra long holiday break soon, but I wanted to make sure that I did a little reflecting on the year before it's suddenly February! Rather then going through my goals and getting upset over the ones I didn't achieve, I'm choosing to focus on the positive! 2012 was an AMAZING year. Here are some highlights:

I traveled:

From the CN Tower in Toronto

Notre Dame Basilica in Montreal

Burlington Beer Festival, Burlington VT

Cape Cod

In front of the White House, Washington DC

Glacier hiking in Iceland

Brew festival in Killington, VT

Niagara Falls

I had fun in my city:

24th birthday celebration

Red Sox games

Chicken Nuggets big trivia win!

Pints & Paint at Urban Art Bar

The view from the Blue Hills summit

Yelp event at PARK

Yelp event at SkyZone Everett

Yelp event at Avenue One Terrace

Out on the town

Kayaking on the Charles River

Out in Dorchester

Boston Beer Summit

Harpoon Brewery

Blue Angels on the Fourth of July

Museum of Science movie & reception

Harbor cruise

Color run in Amesbury, MA

On the boat to the Harbor Islands

Oyster shuckers at the Boston Fish Festival

The Last Bison at Brighton Music Hall

St. Paddy's Day Parade

Great Urban Race

Volunteering at the Harpoon 5 Miler

Pumpkin Festival at Cambridge Brewing Company

I planned a year of events at work:

2012 GreenLight Gala

2012 Emerald Evening

2012 Golf Tournament

I spent time with family and old friends:

My best friend since kindergarten

Reunited with study abroad friends in NYC

Little Laura's sweet 16

Chris Ann and Jeremy's wedding

Cousins on Thanksgiving

Sisters on Christmas Eve

College friends

I ate like a queen:

Mini BLTs for Tom's roofdeck party

Oysters at Legal Harborside

My first foie gras at Menton

Tune in rose water at Toque

Crawfish boil

Nutella and banana crepe in Montreal

Homemade antipasta

Brunch at Mike's City Diner

Breakfast in Burlington, VT

Meat lover's bloody mary in Burlington, VT

Homemade tacos

Pumpkin inspired burger at Cambridge Brewing Company

Lobster bake at the Boston Fish Festival

Oysters at the Boston Fish Festival

Sushi in Southie

Italian sub from American Provisions

Short rib and mac n' cheese at Lincoln

Brisket melt at Junior's in Brooklyn

Homemade perogies

The soup that ruined all soup, Iceland

Iceland cuisine sampler

Short rib poutine, Toronto

Fries at Saus

"Dessert tasting" at Whisk

I fell in love with the most wonderful man:

I read, and read and read!

1- Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter- Tom Franklin

2- A Stolen Life- Jaycee Lee Dugard

3- The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks- Rebecca Skloot

4- The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo- Steig Larsson

5- The Girl Who Played With Fire- Steig Larsson

6- The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest- Steig Larsson

7- The Maze Runner- James Dashner

8- The Scorch Trials- James Dashner

9- The Death Cure- James Dashner

10- Rena's Promise: Two Sisters in Auschwitz- Gelissen, Rena Kornreich, Heather Dune Macadam

11- The Knife of Never Letting Go- Patrick Ness

12- The Ask and the Answer- Patrick Ness

13- Monsters of Men- Patrick Ness

14- Shanghai Girls- Lisa Lee

15- The Collectibles- James Kaufman

16- Divergent- Veronica Roth

17- Insurgent- Veronica Roth

18- Dreams of Joy- Lisa Lee

19- Graceling- Kristin Cashore

20- The Fault in Our Stars- John Green

21- In the Midnight Rain- Barbara Samuel

22- The Hangman's Daughter- Oliver Potzsch

23- Unbroken: a World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption- Laura Hillenbrand

24- Kings of Colorado- David Hilton

25- The Moon, My butt and other round things- Carolyn Mackler

26- The Paris Wife- Paula Mclain

27- The Wildwater Walking Club- Claire Cook

28- Await Your Reply- Dan Chaon

29- Auschwitz- Miklos Nyiszli

30- The Guernsey Litererary and Potato Peel Pie Society- Mary Ann Shaffer

31- The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes- Diane Chamberlain

32- Defending Jacob- William Landay

33- I Know This Much Is True- Wally Lamb

I have to admit, this year was seriously successful and fun and eye opening. Of course it had its hiccups, but what would life be if we didn't have to hold our breath sometimes as the tough moments pass? I can't wait to see what this year brings. Cheers to 2013!