2012: in a nutshell

Whoosh.  There goes 2012.

Here in my year-in-review.  It's my third time summing up the year in this way (2010, 2011, respectively).  Consider posting one of your own - it's nice to cover the year in one post, in a neat package.

January:  "This quote has gotten me through many rough days."  The quote in question was about quiet courage.  I needed courage this year, especially during this past semester, as work & faith challenged and grew me in new ways.

February:  "It isn't a secret that I like to cook."  It's still one of my favorite hobbies!  Honestly, this year I've really gotten into watching shows on Food Network, and it's grown my cooking skills.  Plus, for Christmas, I got both the Smitten Kitchen cookbook and Joy the Baker!  Goodies galore!

March:  "Blogging serves all sort of purposes."  To be perfectly honest, I've fallen a little out of love with blogging this year.  I've debated on more than one occasion to just shut it down.  Yet, I continue to come back.  Sometimes, inspiration comes slowly, and I need to be okay with that.  I can't hold myself to a quota of blogging or posting, because it won't make me happy.

April:  "When I drink my coffee hot, I like it extra hot with lots of milk."  Look no further than my coffee tours to confirm that yep, coffee and I are bosom buddies.

May:  "Throughout this past weekend, I've found myself thinking a lot about true beauty."  (This was actually the second post of May, not the first.)  This was the catalyst for the fashion blog I have with friends and sisters - Phenotype Fabulous.  PhenoFab is still finding its feet; it hasn't quite settled on what it wants to be.  I haven't settled on what I want it to be yet.  I'd like to include more of a community, more discussions on what beauty means and looks like, but I don't have the time!  Maybe my 2013 review will include something along those lines...

June:  "I've been wanting to write a post featuring Milwaukee for some time now, but I couldn't figure out how to organize it."  And this post was the catalyst for this post, where I recognize that Milwaukee is my home.  Spoken like a true Wisconsinite!

July:  "It's over!"  My month-long sugar challenge!  It seems so long ago.  It was tough, but so necessary.  I still feel the repercussions, as I've changed my mindset.  I've tried to continually seek to make healthier, sound food choices.

August:  "So, I kind of ended up with three new pairs of shoes for my birthday (which was last Friday)."  Actually, I only got one new (thrifted, so new to me) pair of shoes since my birthday, so I'm doing pretty good overall on the shoe front!

September:  "Still summer-time warm (83!), but the breezes are cool."  There was still plenty of summer to be had when I wrote that sentence.  Also, one of the delights of fall - Fall Fashion Week!

October:  "Somewhere in the brou-haha that was Fashion Week, my 500th post came and went."  It's sentences like that, and reviews like this, that help me view how I've developed as a writer throughout my 500 and some posts.  I often don't consider blogging as writing, but it is.  I can see how my writing voice has changed, and moreover, matured.   I'm grateful for a space where I can look back, and see the common themes and threads in the years of my early 20's.

November:  "Iced caramel macchiato?"  I had an awkward time transitioning between seasons this year, but it meant that I accepted Christmas with open arms!  I had a great time celebrating with my family, friends and students.  I even got excited during the first snowfall!  Wonder of wonders.

December:  "There isn't much I enjoy about cold weather."  As I stated above, it hasn't bothered me as much this year.

Happy New Year!