A Look Back

2013 was a good year. I started January with a list of resolutions as I always do because I love a good list. I didn't do as well as I hoped on this list. BUT. But! We did get a puppy. Check. We did go to a country concert. Check. And I have embraced turning 30, but I'll talk more about that in a later post. I need to work on the take out, exercising, and losing the 30 pounds once and for all. But nothing like a fresh start to give me the motivation I need to accomplish these goals this year!

We took a little weekend getaway to Traverse City to kick off the year! We went wine tasting, explored the city, ate yummy food, and enjoyed quality time together. 

We ended the month celebrating 2 years in our home and celebrating Garth's 31st birthday.

In February I gave an update on my 30 before 30 list and reviewed our five years of marriage. We celebrated our 5 year anniversary at our favorite restaurant, 5ive, and stayed the night at our favorite hotel.

In March I got into quite the cooking phase and was disciplined in my weekly meal planning and was working hard on training for my first 5k. At the end of the month I completed my first 5k and celebrated with a victory beer!

In April I wrote about working on dying daily to my selfish desires, mourned with those affected by the Boston bombing, talked about not being ready for kids yet, and continued meal planning and losing weight.

In May we booked our summer vacation, started feeling the warm weather and planted our first garden, and hit a local bar to watch our co-workers play good music. 

In June we did some serious garage sale shopping, experiment with overnight curls, and I wrote about the journey to becoming comfortable in my own skin.

In July we hosted many backyard gatherings on the deck, found out my brother and SIL were expecting, took a day trip to Grand Haven, enjoyed lazy summer days and trips to the farmers market, and I announced that Garth and I now work for the same company. We enjoyed a great Lugnuts game in downtown Lasing, and I made the best crock pot french onion soup.

In August I turned thirty and celebrated with a vacay with Garth in Grand Rapids and Traverse City. We turned a bookshelf into a bar, went to a Kenny Chesney concert,  and spent a weekend with my SIL's family at their lake house.

In September I read lots of good books while Garth watched a lot of football and we had our first carrots from our garden. I went to my first yoga class, went on a work retreat, went wine tasting after work with Garth, and saw old friends that just moved back from New York.

At the end of September we adopted the sweetest puppy, Manny. Life got a little crazy but we wouldn't have it any other way. I can't imagine life without him.

In October we settled into a routine with Manny, spent a fun weekend in Traverse City with friends, we signed Manny up for obedience school, and I wrote about how I surround myself with people who build me up.

At the end of the month we cheered on my brother, Eric, as he ran the Detroit Marathon. I am such a proud big sister! We ended the month with a fun Halloween party with friends and then hosted our second annual Halloween at our house with friends, beer, chili, bonfire, and trick or treaters.

In November I wrote about the best money I ever spent, continued hosting small group and hanging out with fun friends, and started reading books on dog training. I wrote about how you know you are a puppy parent, enjoyed a low key Thanksgiving and started decorating for Christmas.

My mom and I hosted my SIL's Baby to Bee Shower and found out my SIL is having a baby GIRL! So exciting!!

December wasn't the low key month I had planned, but that is what January is for. We enjoyed a few holiday parties and a few snowed in lazy weekends , a Christmas brunch with my family, a Christmas get together at my cousin's house with my dad's side of the family and then a Christmas get together with my mom's side of the family on Boxing Day. I took time off from blogging too just to soak in all the family fun and enjoy some time without the pressure of what to write.

I took two weeks off from work and enjoyed time to clean, re-organize the house, watch a Sing-Off marathon and hang out with Manny. But the best, sweetest end to this great year is welcoming my beautiful niece, Ella Kay into the world on New Year's Eve! She is just perfect and I'm so in love.

What a great year! I can't wait to see what 2014 brings. Happy New Years friends!!!!