Sunday, January 15, 2012

2011 in review

I've been terrible about blogging lately. But before we get too far into 2012, I thought I'd do a quick wrap-up of 2011. Not quite as detailed as my wrap-up of 2010, though!

I would say the highlights of last year include four main things:

1) ALA Midwinter in San Diego
2) My trip to Australia and New Zealand in May (I blogged about it here, here, here, and here.)
3) My promotion to Editorial Director
4) And last but not least...getting engaged!

Of course there were a lot of other things that happened last year: trips taken; movies watched; books read, acquired, edited, and published; food eaten; Karaoke sung; and more! But work did tend to dominate my life, even more than usual. Let's see if I can adjust that balance a bit this year.

Also, I'd like to take a quick look at how I did with my New Year's Resolutions for last year. Results in blue.:


-Don't buy any new clothes for myself (excluding accessories and necessities, for example: underwear, socks, jewelry, shoes, etc.)
I did end up buying three items of clothing--two dresses (one was for the Nation Book Awards) and one T-shirt (bought at the US Open). But overall, I did pretty well here!
-Maintain current weight (or lose)
I think I gained a few pounds...
-Save an average of XX a month (I'm keeping the actual amount private)
Yes!
-Read average of 1.5 published books per month. Read at least three adult books this year.
Yes! I read a lot this year, including quite a few adult books, including: Just Kids by Patti Smith, A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan, Bossypants by Tina Fey, The Broken Kingdoms by N.K. Jemison, and Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling.
-Do more cultural activities (shows, concerts, museums)--at least 10 a year
I think I failed at this. I went to one show (Book of Mormon) and to the Met once. Although I did do some cultural activities while traveling in Australia and New Zealand...but that wouldn't bring me up to ten, I don't think...
-Eat candy no more than once a month, on average
I didn't overdo this, but I did fall off the wagon between Halloween and Christmas.
-Get 4,000 followers on Twitter
Yes! I exceeded 5,000 followers.
-Post on bloomabilities at least once a month (I resolve to do this every year. I'm really going to do it this year!)
Uh...FAIL!
-Clean my apt. at least a little bit once a week
Yes, "a little" being the key phrase.
-De-clutter and fully set-up the apt (there are still unresolved corners left over from my move in June)
Not really, but better!
-Go horseback riding
Yes! In Australia.
-Dress up for Halloween
Yes! I dressed as Madrigal from Daughter of Smoke and Bone.
-Get my golf game down to 70 for 9 holes (or, at least, to the level where I can actually count my shots accurately!)
I actually did this twice! Once scored 68 for 9 holes, scored 70 another time. And I am at the point where I can accurately keep count. Amazing.
-Exercise at least 120 times
I think so...
-Run at least a half marathon
Nope.
-Go on at least two long bike rides
Yes!
-Schedule at least one night a week for unscheduled time (you get what I mean...) 
Nope.

I'll keep my personal resolutions for 2012 short and sweet.
-Get rid of at least 365 items (includes clothes, books, etc.) (I borrowed this resolution from Libby.) -Exercise at least three times a week
-Have fun at my wedding and don’t stress too much about the planning -Buy no more than one new item of clothing a month on average.
-No candy, except for gifts and “experiences” (and on my birthday)
-Do at least 5 cultural things this year (museums, plays, etc.)
-Go on at least one pure vacation (no work!). Honeymoon counts!
-Work on improving my posture!
-Dress up for Halloween (I figure this is an easy one to achieve each year...)

And now, onwards and upwards for 2012!

4 comments:

Linda C. said...

I'd emailed you my congratulations about your promotion, but congrats again! I just read The Daughter of Smoke and Bone and absolutely loved it. I first noticed Laini Taylor's book when I visited England several months ago--there were ads for it in the tube station! My goal for 2012 is to get a book signed by Laini Taylor, lol.

Best,
Linda C.

Linda C. said...

And congrats on your engagement as well!


http://bklovin.blogspot.com/

Dawn Kurtagich said...

I think you did pretty good in 2011! I achieved maybe 6 out of 14 goals, but I have a very good excuse!

As for 2012, you'll be glad you went light, as the year of your wedding is just mad and wonderful and blissful and—you will have the best time of your life!

One piece of (useful) advice I got about my wedding ay: Take a moment (or more) to step away and experience what is happening to you. It goes by so fast.

Kerry O Cerra said...

I'm right there with you. I def need to work on my posture this year. My dad used to tell me he was going to stick a board down the back of my pants. I almost wish he had. lol

Best of luck with your wedding. Rememberl, whatever might go wrong the day of, enjoy it anyway. My cake looked like someone threw spinach on top of it. It was so ugly we still laugh about it today. But it tasted super-yummy anyway.

Enjoy!