Year in Review

I can't help but feel nostalgic at the end of the year. and even crazier, this time around, it's the end of an entire decade! Wowza! I know I've shared before my feelings of inadequacy and feeling "good enough" and dammit if those thoughts and feelings are intensified around the damn holidays. Ammirite? This year has been a big one for us, and yes we've accomplished a lot, but many other years I've felt like I've had nothing to show for it. So I thought maybe I'd share some "highlights" and encourage you to think of your own highlight reel too! Ready?

We moved. Across. The Country! Eddie and his Dad, Doug, drove our belongings through snow, sleet, rain and even tornadoes (not kidding) while I cozied away at my parent's house in Grand Haven, Michigan. Peanut and I hunkered down and got through our first weeks of winter weather while waiting for Eddie to arrive and then we trailed the whole caravan up to Traverse City.  Yes, we've been planning the move for a couple years, and then actually acting on the move for a year. So when it was actually happening it felt like it was something I should be used to already. but it's still a move! and moving is hard whether it's across town or around the world. Can you think of something you did that was "planned ahead of time" but still a big deal and pretty stressful? Pat yourself on the back! You did that thing!

We paid off all of our debt. Inspired by my parents and their steadfast savings and love of Dave Ramsey, we joined the band wagon and got ourself out of massive debt.  Although I couldn't help but feel like we "cheated" because selling our condo in San Francisco allowed us to pay it all off at once instead of doing the debt snowball.  Hmmm...but I also seem to remember attending the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University for 9 Sunday nights in a row. and we sacrificed summer time weekend relaxation and cut weekend getaways short to attend and that's still putting in time. and in paying off our debt, I drastically changed the way I spend, how much I spend and how much I think of giving to others. What have you done this year that maybe happened quickly but you managed to keep up the work? You did a really good job!

I lost 40 pounds! Yes, of course many lifestyle choices were made and changed. Because of the convenience of amazon delivering everything in San Francisco, we ordered a lot of food.  and once we were in the zone of open houses and living in and out of the pet friendly hotel, we were essentially kitchen-less and used that as an excuse to order in for every meal, practically. We we're so pumped about having a kitchen again when we moved into our apartment in Traverse City, and it was HUGE! We also shopped the local farmer's markets and got to know our local growers, farmers, and makers and ate better foods at the same time. I also spent a ton of time at our salt water pool and gym. When we moved into our house we lost the use of our pool and gym but traded for walks, yard work,  and basking in our hot tub.  So maybe I wasn't working as hard or starving myself as much as those on the biggest loser or anything like that. but I still made changes and they paid off.  What small changes have you made that impacted your life more than you thought they would? You tried new things and made changes. You rock!

I made time for creativity. Being creative is so much more important to me than I talk about. It's the reason for starting my blog! I wanted to create a space for myself, and others, to come together and be ourselves and create a space where we are safe to talk to one another and feel some camaraderie.  Of course writing blog posts exercises my creative juices. Maybe I didn't make the best batch of paper houses or I didn't decorate my dollhouse for every holiday (I'm freakin crazy) but I did do some things and I made big efforts in order to do those things. After a fantastic trip to Disney World with my Momma, I made 4 videos on the computer, using super tricky software that I have never used before (thanks to Eddie for all of your help!) I created a video slide show for each of the parks and set it to themed music as a Mother's Day gift for my Mom and a way to say thank you.  I also bought a few "build them yourself" 3D models in Disney World that I attempted to put together. I say attempted because, omg, the Haunted Mansion I made was TERRIBLE! It was lopsided and glued together and some of the pieces were upside down. I had to laugh! but I worked on it every night for 2 weeks, no matter how frustrating. and I did in-fact make some paper houses this year. We're they as glittery and detailed as my first batch in 2013? Not even close. but I made them and was able to gift some and put some others under our tree with our model train for Christmas-time.  What's something you did this year that you also do every other year but you still did it because it's good for you? You keep doing those things! Don't ever stop!

We visited Grand Haven, Michigan

We went to Chicago

I went to Disney World

We enjoyed our new hometown of Traverse City, Michigan

We visited and enjoyed Detroit, Michigan