2013: Make an Investment

2012 was my year of getting used to things. Getting used to a full time job. Getting used to no longer being a college student. Getting used to a new neighborhood. Getting used to a new relationship. I spent a lot of time struggling to find the balance between these things. As the year came to a close, I felt like I was finally in a good place. I had prioritized the different aspects of my life in such a way that I was comfortable and happy. Great. So what's next?

This year I want to elevate that comfort and happiness by making real investments in those things most important to me. I want to invest in my career, in my relationships, and in my self. I've set some guidelines and specific goals for the year, knowing that making progress and change does not start and stop on a certain day. I am very aware that I likely will not achieve everything I put on this list, but it's equally as important for me to just recognize that these things are a priority. Even a small step is a step in the right direction.

in·vest  

/inˈvest/

Verb Devote (one's time, effort, or energy) to a particular undertaking with the expectation of a worthwhile result.

Professional Investments

- Develop my professional network

- Attend more networking events: once every other month

- Look into nonprofit board membership

- Find an organization outside of work to get involved in

- Volunteer: once every other month, reissue Boston Cares membership

- Be more vocal and confident at work, in general

Social Investments

- Make time for old friends and family: schedule monthly/every other month phone calls and visits to NY

- Continue trying to make new [REAL] friendships

- See college friends in Boston at least every other week

- Allow endings

- Continue focusing on open communication in all relationships

- Show gratitude for the people I love

Personal Investments

- Focus on diminishing one bad habit: pen chewing, gross I know

- Get serious about my skin: consider topical/oral medication, stop getting frustrated, see a dermatologist

- Make travel plans (near and far)

- Read 30 books
- Write 100 yelp reviews

- Run the Tufts 10K in around the same time at 2010 (66 minutes)

- Run at least 5 races

- Develop a food shopping plan and stick to it

- Make monthly person goals

- Lose weight (still considering my plan for this, but this is a major 2013 goal for me)

- Unplug more often: keep my work e-mail off my phone unless necessary, read before bed instead of watching TV

- Discover or rediscover a fitness activity I enjoy (zumba?!)

- Continue to write in this blog!

I'm excited about this year. Yay!

Refreshed

I had such an amazing past few weeks. I feel totally refreshed and happy. Yay!

My last day of work was December 21st and I took a nice, long, unplugged break. I went home to NY and spent lots of time with my family and friends. The holidays were filled with wonderful food as usual and I got myself some awesome gifts. Some foodie highlights were: a silpat mat, a salad chopper, TWO water infusers (pitcher and bottle), an avocado slicer, and an immersion blender! I can't wait to use all my new things :) Here's some photos from the Christmas Eve and Christmas:

Cookies & milk for Santa, tomatoes for the reindeer...ha!

While in NY I met up with two of my good friends from my semester abroad. My friends live in Chicago and LA so I haven't seen them since South Africa -- so crazy! We met up in NYC to go to EATALY!!! I've been wanting to go to Eataly since the second I read about it's opening and finally got my chance. Eataly, created by Mario Batali (WHO TWEETED AT ME!!), is a gigantic indoor Italian market on Fifth Avenue. Within the market are a few restaurants, all of which use the ingredients sold in house for their dishes.

Everything is super high quality and just plain a-maaazing. We had lunch at the pizza & pasta restaurant. I ordered an incredible housemade tagliatelle and short rib dish.

We also spent some time at the rooftop bar drinking house-brewed ales. Yum.

 

We couldn't resist grabbing some gelato on the way out, even though it was like 20 degrees outside!

After Eataly we walked over to Rockefeller Center to see the tree and visit the NBC store. I'm happy I got to see the tree even though it was after Christmas. Still fun!

I came back to Boston on the 29th for my roommate's birthday and New Years Eve. A bunch of my friends from college came to visit and the whole weekend was just really amazing. I was so happy to see everyone.

Side note: I am very pleased with my hair in this photo!

We had a party at my apartment for NYE and it was such a success! I was in charge of food (with TONS of help from a few friends) and I think it all came out great!! On the menu was: Greek salad cucumber bites, bacon wrapped dates stuffed with bleu cheese, pigs in a blanket, tabouli, hummus and guacamole, shrimp cocktail, buffalo chicken dip, cheese and peperoni flatbread pizza squares, and cookies and mini cupcakes for dessert. The party itself was so fun -- it was easily the best NYE I've had. Tom and I were beer pong champions and I was soo happy my sister and her boyfriend decided to come to Boston for the party! The only thing I would have changed is to have taken some pictures!! Here are the few I have:

Greek salad bites

up close

My sister stayed in Boston the next day and we all went out to Island Creek Oyster Bar for dinner. Too good.

Now that the extra indulgent holidays are over I'm trying to incorporate the health back into my life. Starting with today:

Big salad for lunch

Salmon over TJ's 4-grain blend with spinach and tomatoes for dinner

That's it for now. I'll be back soon with some goals for the year!!

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!