Since I’ve finally finished with holiday photos (ha!), I thought I’d get to my favorites from this past year. (I found it hard to really reflect about 2011 when it was still 2011.)
There’s a range……
1. A young adult book that’s going to be the next big thing.
Divergent. (Thanks Katie Lynn and Allison!) It’s fab. I swear. Gave me glimmers of the excitement I got from The Hunger Games. The second in the trilogy – Insurgent – comes out this spring. Plenty of time to get caught up!
2. Most over-hyped product that’s worth the hype.
Lululemon Wunder Under Pants. I resisted for a while. They are HOW much? But too many girlfriends raved about them. I got a pair. Now I rarely take them off. Good for running, yoga, and just lounging.
3. Weirdest dessert that’s the most popular thing on my blog.
These pink peanut butter hugs (also known as pink zebra cookies) have been the most popular post on my blog. I’d also say they are perfect Valentine’s Day treats. It’s funny because I made them around this time last year. A friend was over and I think he was a bit startled by how BRIGHT they were, but underneath it’s all peanut butter and chocolate, which is NEVER a bad combo.
4. Strangest thing I had for dinner.
5. Freak out moment that turned into the best thing I ever did.
I freaked out for the first few weeks I got Merlin. I read his pity story on Craigslist, and immediately took him home without thinking much about it. However, it took us a while to bond. My parent’s can vouch for Skype dates of me crying. What was I thinking? This is a big responsibility. Would we mesh? What’s his personality? He has fleas, worms, AND ear mites…. whhhhat?! (First vet appointment.) In the end, he’s so worth it. What a great companion. And he’s getting so handsome.
6. Coolest Vermont hangout.
Vergennes Laundry. So beautiful I want to live in it.
7. Best buns.
Morning buns. Orange zest, brown sugar, and cinnamon rolled up in croissant dough. I will never forget them.
8. Movie so good it made me crazy.
Like Crazy. I went to see this four times at the movie theatre. No lie. Anton and Felicity are so incredible.
9. TV show so good it’s making me obsessed.
Okay, I just discovered Downton Abbey, but it aired last year.
10. Drugstore lip gloss that I can’t get enough of.
Over the holidays, I’m talking to my uncle. I see my sister on the opposite end of the room, staring at me and shaking with laughter.
I roll my eyes, “Um, Kim do you have something to say to me?”
“YOU NEED LIPSTICK!! Your lips disappear when you talk!” she trills out, practically hyperventilating with laughter.
Later that week, as I was about to go on a run, Kim also sweetly tells me I have really short legs.
“I do?”
My mom peeks her head out of the kitchen, “Oh, you must get that from dad’s side of the family.”
“What? I really have short legs?! I’m 5’6”. That’s not that short.”
They both look at me, nod their heads in agreement and say, “Yeah, they’re short.”
After too many hours watching Real Housewives shows on Bravo over break and admiring their perfect glossed lips, I found out that those ladies like L’Oreal Infallible #406. A subtle, shimmery peach that lasts for 6 hours. Now I do too. I wish there was a drugstore buy that would elongate my legs. Sniff.
11. Best destination spot for those looking for something off the beaten path.
Northern Wales. I swear it was like I was on another planet.
12. Best destination spot for those looking to never sleep.
Edinburgh in August. Otherwise known as festival time. We….didn’t sleep. And I don’t think anyone else did either. This is what the place looked like in the afternoon…
This is what we looked like when we left.
13. Best destination spot for solo travelers or romantic couples.
Paris. I went alone. My French was pathetic, but I walked all around the city, ate delicious food, and met nice people. It rocked.
14. Best overall city.
Tie between Edinburgh and London. I liked them both for such very different reasons. Laney and I felt like we fell into a fairy tale in Edinburgh. (Um, there really is a mountain with a castle on it.) London is just grand. I mean it. There’s nothing like it.
15. Most amazing 30th birthday party.
Ashley and Dave’s combined birthday at a remote camp in Northern Vermont. The most beautiful birthday party weekend I’ve ever been to in my entire life.
16. Best use of technology at a party.
Apple Pie Bake-off. We voted via texting.
17. Most inspiring blog videos.
Everyday Musings. Seriously, can’t get enough of Olivia’s pics, videos, and desserts. The Paris video (above) did it for me. Check out her other videos on Vimeo. All gorgeous!
18. Most hilarious moment.
Dragging my parents to pick apples in hurricane like weather
19. Warm and fuzzy moment.
Seeing the Pacific Ocean for the second time ever.
20. Favorite race. Ever.
New Orleans Half-Marathon. Oysters. Beer. Krispy Kremes. Jazz Bands. People dressed up. Totally FLAT course. It couldn’t get much better.
21. Songs that made me really happy this year.
A lot of them are old…tells you how behind I am in the music scene.
Modern Man by Arcade Fire
Bach Cello Suite No. 1 by Mischa Maisky
Good Feeling by Flo Rida
Century by The Mary Onettes
Cosmic Love by Florence + The Machine
Scythian Empire by Andrew Bird
22. What took me so long to buy these?
Over the ear headphones.
23. What took me so long to eat this?
I had my first Pinkberry experience:
24. My first winning photo.
I’m so jealous of all your travels, ugh, I feel so tethered by work lately. I totally went through what you did with Merlin with Libby. Kittens are like teenagers, they just go their own way, and you could be on the moon for all they care. Then they start to come around, you “earn” their respect and it’s the best feeling in the world! Totally worth the 5 years it took with Libby…
It was a good year for traveling. I did most of the traveling after the program I worked on in London. It was much needed. London is fantastic, but living with college students for 30 days was a bit intense. Ha!
And all of my friends move away from Vermont – drives me nuts! – so to see them I have to fly.
P.S. Merlin is still in the teenage phase! So true. I cherish the moments he curls up next to me.
I feel such longing for Vermont and for travel! This is a great post. I LOVE re-reading your adventures in Paris. It studies abroad there, and it hold a cozy place in my heart.
Terrific compendium of great events, memories, and ideas! I love the picture from the apple-picking adventure most of all: it’s got heart, it’s got happiness, *and* it’s a wonderful photograph in and of itself. Yay!
Thanks! That photo is really hilarious. I laugh out loud every time I see it.