accomplish much?

Today? Not at all.

This year? I think so.

One thing I always strive to get better at is reflection. By reflection, I am not just referring to looking back and seeing what I have done, but how I can better myself from those experiences as well. To tell you the truth, I’m absolutely horrible at reflecting as a person. I tend to rush through life, only stopping when bumps get in the way.

Which is why when I saw others’ reflection posts for 2010, I knew I had to create one myself. The first six months of the year are a blur for me as I only started my blog in June 2010, but I will try hard to recapture the essence which was the first half of 2010 for you the best I can.

January

January was full of changes for me. I entered the year newly engaged with a wedding to plan. I found my wedding dress — the first one I ever tried on. The Husband and I found our very first home and put an offer on it.

February

In February, the Husband and I closed on our house (which took 5 hours by the way) and got to work on renovations immediately! I also began training for my first half marathon which I would run in May.

definitely not the most flattering picture in the world

March

March was full of wedding planning, home renovating, and a much needed spring break. To say that I fully remember this month would be a lie because I really don’t.

April

April was a rough month for me. I was tired, stressed, and run down from all of the activity from the wedding, teaching, home renovating, and marathon training. Facebook helped me to remember how excited I was for a certain event to happen mid month.

My BIL also didn’t let me forget how demanding of a woman I am. This month I also found out I would be transferring schools the upcoming year in a different grade. I was not excited.

May

In May, my students found out I was leaving and held a school wide protest, complete with petitions and staking out in the principal’s office, when they heard I was leaving for another school. I was completely blown away by their love and adoration for their teacher. I also ran my first half marathon on May 16 with a few friends from work.

I also had my first bridal shower and was blown away by how generous my family and friends were.

the gift that keeps on giving

June

School was finally out for the summer! Instead of lounging by the pool every day, this month was filled with yet another bridal shower and more home renovations. Did I mention I started a blog? My very first post is funny to look back on and see how much I have grown as a person and a writer. I also decided to begin training for my second half marathon!

July

I am honestly surprised I survived July. The month began with a road trip to Savannah, Georgia, to pick up my BIL’s children as they were moving up to Chicago.

I started to branch out with my cooking and creating recipes all my own. I celebrated my 23rd birthday and moved into my newly renovated house the very next day (with only 6 days to spare before the wedding).

The next week was filled with wedding madness! Spa day, Rehearsal Dinner, and finally THE BIG DAY! I had the perfect wedding day and left the day Mrs. Husband. I couldn’t have been happier.

August

What I meant to say is I couldn’t have been happier until I went to MEXICO!

The rest of the month was spent getting settled in as a married couple and tricked the Husband for the very first time. I also was disappointed because I could not attend Healthy Living Summit due to a previous arrangement. Bummer! I finally owned up to the levels of stress in my life and promised myself I would take a breather.

September

In the beginning of September, the Husband and I snuck away with some of our family and friends for a much needed R&R weekend in Michigan.

I also ran my second half marathon and setting a PR at 1:58.

October

I ate the best sandwich of my life and created my most popular recipe yet. I also lost myself in the busyness of being a fifth grade teacher. Where October went, I have no clue.

I am pretty sure this is when my pumpkin obsession began as well…

November

I feel like November was a turning point for me as a blogger/writer. I began to channel more creativity into my posts and really develop my own voice as a writer. Some of my favorite November posts include:

$20 Laundry Day

How NOT to Throw a Dinner Party

I’m Dying

Spoon Complex

Individualized Baked Apple French Toast

To add to the month, I also got some time off from work and was bought the best Christmas present EVER!

December

To say that December flew by would be an understatement. I indulged in my fair share of sweet treats and was snowed in for the majority of the weekends (okay in my book!). I went and saw Wicked with my sister, mom, and aunt. I kicked off my winter break with a trip to Karyn’s on Green in Chicago.

We added a baby to the mix as well — a pit-bull/terrier mix named Charlie, who thinks he is a lap dog and enjoys getting dirty multiple times a day just so he can laugh at me when I have to wipe off his paws.

We celebrated Christmas with our family and made the most of the Holidays as well.

Did I forget to mention the best present of my life?

 
All in all, I am absolutely convinced 2010 was one of the most challenging years of my life. Even though I always joke around that I am a 23 year old with the mind of a 35 year old, I really did have to grow up a lot. Becoming an active member of this community has not only changed me for the better, but it has inspired me to be a better person and to challenge myself every single day.

With all that I have accomplished in 2010, there’s one thing I know for sure. My greatest accomplishment of 2010 was today in the form of hummus.

7 containers = 14 cents. If you want to know how I did that, I can’t tell you. I’m just magical like that.

One thing I’m still unsure of though is if the year is twenty ten or two thousand and ten. I guess it’s too late for that one.

Question: What was your most memorable experience of 2010?

Tagged as: 2010, new year's eve, recap, reflection