1. What did you do in 2012 that you’d never done before?
We went to MakerFaire. That was awesome. We built a treehouse bed. I also fired a client. Very freeing.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Didn’t do too well with keeping them, but I will make more.
- running: sub 2 hr half marathon, 800 miles for the year – hahahaha no. I ran one half marathon, it was not under 2 hrs by any stretch of the imagination. I took over a month off from running and never really got back into the habit of logging my miles. I’m on a better track with running, but I am sure I’m nowhere near 800 miles.
- organization: whip my forever-messy “office” into usable shape – I worked on it and it’s better, but still a work in progress.
- stick to our enlarged grocery budget and be in the black on our overall budget – I had a hard time even staying on top of our finances this year but in overall budget we did OK. Grocery not so much.
- complete my cookbook challenge – I did a few months OK but ended up giving it up. Too impractical.
- have a REAL date with Matt once a month – We did pretty well with this. Not sure it was once a month but we tried out new restaurants and had new adventures.
- have more fun family outings on the weekends – We did OK with this. We did a lot of camping and other travel, but on the weekends when we weren’t traveling, it was a lot of the boring shopping and organizing – but of course that made it possible for us to travel!
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
One of my good friends from childhood had a baby girl in early December.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
We lost a good family friend to cancer way too young.
5. What countries did you visit?
Stuck close to the USA again this year. Next year we have plans to visit Canada and after that … who knows?
6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you didn’t have in 2012?
More patience with my family. A less hectic schedule.
7. What dates from 2012 will be etched upon your memory, and why?
August 13th and August 14th, the days the kids started school.
8. What was your biggest achievement of this year?
Keeping it all going. Work has been busier for both Matt and myself and the kids new schedule has been a big adjustment. I’m not going to say it was perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but it was overall pretty free of drama and scramble.
9. What was your biggest failure?
The healthy eating thing. It’s been bad.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
We were pretty fortunate overall. We just had the routine colds and flu and such. Tabby did have a weird night in the ER with not-appendicitis, but that was it.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
We love our Roku box. That thing has been invaluable.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Lots of people! My kids make me damn proud, my family and friends give me great support and without Matt’s buy-in, our hectic family life would be chaos.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
I’m sure someone’s did, but it’s probably not worth dwelling upon.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage. Childcare. Food.
15. What did you get really excited about?
Our trip to MakerFaire. And it was great.
16. What song will always remind you of 2012?
Lonely Boy, and the dance one of my friends at the gym does whenever it comes on.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?
A) Happier or about the same. B) A bit fatter, apparently … ski pants aren’t fitting so great. Think I need to probably do something about that. C) A bit richer and we’re very grateful.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
I wish I’d done a bit more running. I wish I’d done a bit more sleeping.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Yelling at the kids … I’ve really improved this in the past couple of months, learning to manage my reactions instead of “letting” them get me riled up, but it is always a challenge.
20. How will/did you spend Christmas?
We spent Christmas with our lovely families and friends … some before, some during, some after. We’re very lucky to have such great people in our lives.
21. What was your favorite TV program?
Big Bang Theory.
22. What was the best book you read?
I did a whole post on reading, so see that. But if I reflect on this year in reading compared to others, I don’t particularly feel like I read any books that I would consider to be “one of the best books I’ve ever read.” They were good, very enjoyable or edifying, but just not long-term keepers.
23. What did you want and get?
My wants were pretty simple this year.
24. What did you want and not get?
These days my needs are pretty simple and I don’t think there was anything I wanted and didn’t get. I’m truly lucky. As far as intangibles go, I always want more time!
25. What was your favorite film of 2012?
I didn’t see too many new films, but I really enjoyed Wreck-it-Ralph.
26. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 32 this year and it just so happened we were having a Girls’ Weekend in Steamboat so I had a relaxing day, a lovely dinner with some of my best girlfriends and a few too many free drinks.
27. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
More time.
28. How would you describe your personal fashion concept of 2012?
Hahahahahhahaha. No, but seriously, I’m not much of a fashion girl.
29. What kept you sane?
The great people in my life. Running/workouts.
30. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012.
Confidence <> competence.