2011 in Review

Happy New Year’s Ever!  I found this at All and Sundry (which by the way, LOVE her blog!), and I decided to participate.  It’s a bit different than the one I did last year, but I wanted to try it.  So here are my answers.

1.       What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?

An hour and a half yoga class that raised money for a student who was battling cancer.  It was incredibly moving experience.

Cooking chicken on the bone with the skin on.

2.       Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

Be the best mother I can be – I have made mistakes, but I try my best by being in the present and practicing kindness.   And that best looks different every day.

More date nights with Harrington – Out of twelve months, I think we made about sixish.  But we did make it to this restaurant that I’ve wanted to try forever.  I know, I know; there is room for improvement. 

Keep on writing and blogging – Check and check.

More yoga – Yes . . . until I had to take a break for physical therapy.

Focusing on the healthy relationships – Yes.

Find more like-minded people who share my values – Affirmative.

Since these all made me feel happy and balanced, I think I am going to stick with these.  But I would like to add meditation, choosing a comment platform for this blog, paying off our debt, and getting ready to move to the list.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

      No.

4.       Did anyone close to you die?

No. . . but I did go to a funeral to support a family friend when she lost her daughter.  She was devastated, and I was at a loss for words.

5.       What countries did you visit?

 I am going to modify the question to say "states".  I travelled to California – twice!  Once to Dana Point with Harrington’s work, and once for BlogHer!  We also travelled together as a family (along with my parents) to DisneyWorld.

And I loved 90 percent of all of it!

6.       What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?

Hmmm, that’s a good question.   I’m not sure.  More homemade Cassata cake and pierogies.  Off the top of my head.

7.       What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

Marie’s 5^th birthday – where the hell did the past five years go?

Marie’s first day of Kindergarten – See above. 

Thomas sleeps in his big boy bed – seriously?!

 The Babes in. Total. Awe of seeing their favorite Disney characters in Disney World – magical.

8.       What was your biggest achievement of the year?

In addition to my continuing efforts to raise good and decent human beings without losing my mind, I feel that I have slowly changed my outlook on life.  I feel more accepting and with all this accepting, I just feel happier.  Not jump from the roof tops and super-smiley happy, more peaceful happy.

Also, I’m pretty proud of waking up at 5:15 a.m. to go workout with my friend three days a week.  This, crazy enough, may be related to the whole peaceful, happy feeling.

Oh, and we can’t forget all the progress I made on my Raw Chicken Dare.

9.       What was your biggest failure?

Anytime I lost my patience with The Babes.

Also, the “gentle” food cleanse that I attempted.

10.   Did you suffer illness or injury?

To make a long story short, my four sessions of physical therapy turned into five months.  I have some nerve damage that occurred during pregnancy and/or carrying my babies on my hips combined with a weak core/sitting incorrectly.  This put stress on my lower back and caused a condition called piriformis syndrome.  Which is just a fancy name for a pain in my ass.

Physical therapy was not fun and a huge inconvenience, but I absolutely loved my therapist.  She is the best, and I miss her. 

11.   What was the best thing you bought?

Park Hopper Passes to Disney World.  Hands down, best purchase Of. The. Year.

12.   Where did most of your money go?

Bills/mortgage, debt, medical expenses, and Disney World.

You can imagine which was the most fun and bought the most magical memories.

13.   What did you get really excited about?

Disney World.  (Geez, I am starting to sound like Marie.  She will talk about Disney World to anyone who will listen.  Or pretend to listen).

BlogHer 11 in San Diego.

My garden that my Dad helped me build.

14.   What song will always remind you of 2011?

I Gotta Feeling by Black Eye Peas - it started off at that charity yoga session to lighten up the mood and raise our energy, and it just stuck.  I have some great memories dancing with Marie to that song in our kitchen after dinner.

15.   Compared to this time last year, are you:

happier or sadder? Definitely happier.

thinner or fatter? Surprisingly thinner, thanks to Zumba, yoga, and a good workout partner.

richer or poorer? Richer, but since we were poorer for a long time, we are soon going to break even.

16.   What do you wish you’d done more of?

Played more with Thomas.

17.   What do you wish you’d done less of?

Cleaning.  I. Hate. Cleaning.  Hate it!

18.   How did you spend Christmas?

Making memories with The Babes.  Seeing how excited Thomas was that Santa brought him train table will forever be etched into my heart.

I also spent it renewing relationships with familyand friends.

Warm fuzzy family memories *and* spending time with loved ones: that is the true meaning of Christmas to me.

19.   What was your favorite TV program?

Modern Family.  Without a doubt.

20.   What were your favorite books of the year?

The Help.

Water for Elephants.

21.   What was your favorite music from this year?

I can’t say it was my favorite by a long shot, but I did listen to a lot of Disney movie music.  A. Lot.

22.   What were your favorite films of the year?

Besides Cars 2?  (One of the three movies that I saw in the theater this year?  The other one being the new Winnie the Pooh movie)?

It would have to be The Help.  And Bridesmaids.

23.   What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

For my 34^th birthday, I ate my favorite pizza, my Mom’s homemade Cassata cake, and toasted with champagne with my family.  Perfection.

24.   What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Hmmm, that’s a tough one.  Less drama, however, I would not have made such strides in keeping my distance if it wasn’t there, right?

25.   How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?

I am emerging from my warm-ups uniform and experimenting with leggings and boots and jeans that fit!  I feel that I am kind of rediscovering what looks good on me yet fits my lifestyle.

26.   What kept you sane?

Blogging, yoga, early morning walks with my friend, and Zumba.

27.   Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.

I learned the importance of listening to the physical cues my body gives me so I can take better care of myself, thanks to five months of physical therapy.  Physical therapy also taught me that I sometimes need to tear it all down so it can be rebuild it correctly.  “It” refers to my body, but I found it transcended to other areas of my life.

I learned that a regular schedule of physical exercise makes me less cranky and more positive.

I learned that when I follow my passion and am open to possibilities instead of forcing my preconceived notion of how things *should* be into existence, life can be full of amazing surprises.

Getting over a paralyzing fear can do incredible things for my self-esteem across the board.

I hope everyone has a wonderful New Year!  Feel free to copy this down and link it up in the comments.  I’d love to hear how your year went!