Year in Review | Lavender Parking

Tomorow, at the stroke of midnight, as the ball drops surrounded by some very cold and very hungry people in Times Square, everyone starts fresh. We have a new year and a new chance to be the best versions of ourselves. Obviously we have this chance every day. But this symbolic stroke of midnight gives us the time to reflect on the year past and look forward to the year ahead. I always like to close out the year with a look back at all of the wonderful and sometimes not so wonderful events that have happened before storing them happily in my memory as I embark on new challenges and new adventures.

2012 By the Numbers:

Number of races: 11

5-k’s: 4

10-k’s: 1

10 miler’s: 1

Half Marathons:3

Marathons: 1

Number of age group awards: 4

Number of miles covered: No clue. My goal is to track my mileage this year (maybe I’ll actually post on dailymile!). On my Garmin alone I ran 802 miles which obviously doesn’t include treadmill miles/miles run sans Garmin.

Number of states visited: 5 (Arizona, Michigan, Colorado, Texas, Illinois).

Number of road trips: 4

Number of awesome blogger friends I got to meet: 3 (Whitney, Laura, and Jac).

Number of movies seen in the theater: 1. Sad to admit that I paid full price for Magic Mike.

Number of times cried during the Olympics: 2. Both were because of Miss Gaby Douglas. Such a wonderful role model for little girls.

Number of cancelled highly anticipated concerts: 1. Fun. (The band, not the situation).

Number of Instagram photos: 78

Number of times I hiked up a mountain: 2

Number of Super Bowl wins by the New York Football Giants:1. Gotta live that up since it won’t be repeated in 2013.

Number of years in wedded bliss: 3

Number of presidential elections (and nasty political ad seasons) survived:1

Number of successful freestyle swimming strokes: 5. We’re going for 6 this upcoming year!

Number of Times I heard Call Me Maybe: 100,000,000,000.

Number of books read: 9

Number of colds successfully fought off: 1

Number of colds unsuccessfully fought off: 2

Number of art museums visited: 2

Number of train rides: 1

Number of boat rides: 2

Number of gingerbread houses made: 1

Number of walks along the beach: 1

Number of weddings attended: 3

Number of funerals attended: 2

Number of new babies met: 2

Number of times I got to sit behind gold medalist Sanya Richards Ross after watching her run: 1

Number of times we won Albuquerque’s Great Bus Race: 1

Number of races I got to run with members of my family: 5

Number of times Giuseppe has hijacked my photos/blog posts/facebook statuses: at least 200

Number of times of woken up grateful for my wonderful husband, puppy, family, friends, health, and life: 366

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While the world had a pretty eventful year, we had a pretty quiet year here in Casa de Lavender. While Aaron did change positions at work slightly altering his work schedule, our daily life is pretty much the same as it was one year ago. This turned out to be ideal for reaching athletic goals. With little drama to deal with, I was able to focus and train hard over the summer. The Chicago Marathon is easily the highlight of my year. Not only because it brought us to Chicago which is a magnificent city, but also because crossing that finish line gave me more confidence in myself than anything else ever has.

When I look back at 2012, the marathon will be the event that stands out most in my life. And possibly Call Me Maybe. Because that song was everywhere.

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From our family to yours, we wish you a fun New Year’s Eve and a wonderful 2013! I’m so happy to have shared a bit of my life with you in 2012!

For as long as I can remember, I’ve done a formal, written out year in review. I remember doing this as early as 7. I was a weird child.

Sometimes my review listed accomplishments (age 8: learned to ride a bike). Sometimes I would list which singers I thought had the best voice (age 11: Celine Dion). Sometimes I just apologized to people for being antisocial (age 22: quarter life crisis).

2011 was a pretty crazy year in the world. So many extreme and destructive natural disasters happened all over, many in places where those types of things don’t happen. Here in New Mexico we saw record-breaking cold, the a huge wildfire, and earthquakes.

Three of the world’s most controversial leaders were killed. Governments were overthrown. Economies crashed. Thousands of people sold their belongings, convinced that the world was going to end.

In the celebrity world, Charlie Sheen went nuts, Kim K ended her marriage after 72 days, Ashton cheated on his super gorgeous wife with a bimbo looking blonde, and LiLo was in jail? Out of jail? Who knows anymore.

My life was much less dramatic. Still at the same job, still married to the same person, still living in the same city. But looking back, I think I had a pretty great year, did some pretty fun things, and realized that anything I accomplish or don’t accomplish is a direct result of my actions. I’m not so sure I ever really believed that before.

So…here it is….2011 according to Amy

January

*Rang in the New Year at a secluded cabin somewhere near Las Vegas (NM…not NV). Aside from the pipes freezing, it was a lovely start to 2011.

*Watched CNN as Egypt started a grassroots revolution. No multi-billion dollar war, just the will of the people to do something about their basic human rights.

February

* Endured one of the coldest few days in New Mexico history. Made me wonder why I wasn’t living in Chicago if we had worse weather than them.

* As a result of this cold weather, resolved with 4 other couples to go to Jamaica.

* Got the worst fever I’ve ever had accompanied by a sinus infection that made food taste terrible for several days…lost weight due to this!

* In trooper style, got dressed up and had a lovely Valentine’s Day dinner despite being sicker than a dog.

March

* Started this here blog. So far, it has been a really fun way to write and connect with peeps from all over the place.

* Woke up to the news of a terrible earthquake in Japan, and watched in horror as a giant tsunami took out entire villages in seconds. The picture of the tsunami hitting San Francisco is haunting.

April

* Kissed my dreams goodbye as I watched Prince William marry my BFF Kate at 3 a.m.

* After 3 years, FINALLY lost every last pound of the 15 I gained when I started my first big girl job and first started dating Aaron (and thought I could eat as much as him).

May

* Watched completely engrossed as Harold Camping and the end of the world people waited for the world to end…I admit….I took a deep sigh of relief at 6:00 pm MST when it didn’t.

* Went to JAMAICA! Enjoyed a week of fun, lounging on the beach, drinking tropical drinks, and hanging out with friends. Overcame my intense fear of snorkeling.

June

* Giuseppe. Our lives have been forever changed. Yes, I know I talk about him like he is my child. Sometimes I really think he is.

* Signed up for my first half marathon. I was scared.

July

* House trained Giuseppe. HUGE accomplishment for 2011.

* Professionally, organized a large veteran Job Fair. Proudest moment as an event coordinator and probably the most I’ve worked in 1 week ever.

* Mourned the death of my favorite modern day musician, Amy Winehouse.

* Watched in sadness as Casey Anthony was found not guilty. While I think the jury came up with the right verdict based on the evidence, I find it hard to believe that she didn’t do it.

* Finally saw a production of La Boheme. Puccini is my musical soul mate.

August

* Watched as the overhyped Hurricane Irene caused lots of damage but not as much as predicted.

September:

* Turned 27, and still haven’t accepted it. Sometimes I feel unaccomplished (both the facebook dude and the new dictator in North Korea are my age), sometimes I just feel plain old (people born in the 90′s can now buy liquor????).

* Helped Casa Rodena winery harvest grapes for wine. If the 2011 Serenade tastes bad…it isn’t my fault.

* Went to a Broncos game and a Rockies game.

* Went to Denver’s Oktoberfest (one of the top 10 in the country) and ate brats and pretzels.

October

* Continued my time honored tradition of going to the Balloon Fiesta at the crack of dawn.

* Ran my first (and best) Half Marathon at the Duke City Half. An obsession was born.

November

* Spent a few days in San Francisco and remembered why I love that city SO MUCH.

* Took my first actual walk down Lombard Street.

* Ran my second (and worst) half marathon at the U.S. Half. Immediately signed up for Rock and Roll Arizona to make up for it.

* Celebrated our 2 Year Anniversary by eating at a fancy restaurant that requires a password for entry. (Still crazy about the guy too by the way).

December

* Finished the gingerbread house project for the first time since 2007.

* Got a fancy camera that I don’t yet know how to use.

* Did lots of Christmasy things.