Year in Review & Preview.

And just like that 2013 is over.

It seems like just yesterday I was celebrating my birthday, and yet it is, again, just a week away (hint, hint).

And yet, alas, time always goes by so fast. I found yet with each year it goes by faster and faster. 

As I reflect on the past year I have to say overall it was a pretty good year. 

Of course it is sprinkled with ups and downs. 

Challenges and good times. 

Faith growing experiences. 

Tears. Laughs. 

Reunions and friendships. 

Fights and fall-outs. 

Lets review the year. Because the more I think about it the more I realize a lot of big things happened this year. 

September was most definitely my biggest month yet. I decided to do something that I had been wanting for such a long time. I went with my whole family to the Manti Temple to receive my own endowment. This has definitely been one of the best decisions I have made. I am so happy it was something special and something just for me. Moments I will always remember and cherish. 

The very next day I completed a marathon. I loved this not only for my medal {which I do LOVE} but because it was a goal I had set, worked hard for and achieved. I was so so scared. But I overcame that fear and did it. And I couldn't not have been more happy. 

In August, I moved to a new house in Sugarhouse. I packed up all of my belongs and moved in about 4 hours. I have new roommates which I adore. 

I hit my one year mark at my job in October. Which means one year of the Utah life. I have taken on more responsibility and love the feeling of confidence I have at my job. 

I travled a bit. I went home about 4 times. Went on a great vacation to Disneyland. Off to STG for Spring Break. San Francisco in January with the Lanai crew for Amy's wedding. Left the country and traveled Mexico during Fall Break. And went to Ogden a lot :)

I lounged 7 Peaks. Found a great quesadilla truck. Gone to the Temple almost every week and have visited lots of temples since my endowment. 

Rudy moved to Utah in February, after a couple of rocky months, I couldn't be happier he is here.
I went to a Muse concert in September. Celebrated the Robins Rendezvous in July. Ran two other half marathons and a 10k Mud Run.
 I definitely had my low moments and I am ever grateful for a loving Heavenly Father that pulled me through them.
All in all, it was a really great year. I don't think I could have asked for anything more.

Now it is time to look forward to 2014. 

At church a few weeks ago, we discussed New Year's Resolutions, shocking. Afterwards, a girl bore her testimony and referenced a talk given by Elder Holland on Lot's Wife. Which of course we know she turned to salt after looking back at Sodom and Gomorrah.
Which definitely put my future into perspective for me, especially after my last post.
Elder Holland said, "Apparently what was wrong with Lot's wife was that she wasn't just looking back, in her heart she wanted to go back."
This is such an important reminder, especially as a new year and a new start is upon us.
I loved this. Especially as I sometimes longingly and emotional look back on the past.
On how things use to be, my group of friends, my lifestyle, the beach, the dodgers, my ward, my weekend activities.
Instead I need to look forward. I need to cherish and appreciate the blessings that have been given me and that life that I have now.

 "And when we have learned what need to have learned and brought with us the best that we have experienced, then we look ahead, we remember that faith is always pointed toward the future." 

So this year I will have the faith that is needed. I will try to cherish the beautiful snow and appreciate a new experience and a new lifestyle. I will love my new friends even more and become a really big Salt Lake Bees fan.
This year I just hope to be a little kinder, strengthen my relationship with my family, read my scriptures more and do a lot of really fun things. 

2012 in review.

Another year down. I dont think I really need to emphasis again how fast this year went by. And I think lots of people would agree. 

I'll be honest, this was a tough year. 

I guess not every year is full of roses and vacations like years past. 

But nonetheless, this was a big year in my life.

Lots of changes, which I think is one of the reasons why it was pretty tough. 

Here's the breakdown...

January. I started off the year celebrating a quarter of a century.

In the news: The cruise ship Costa Concordia capsized off the coast of Italy, killing 32 passengers. Beyonce and Jay-Z had a baby!

February. I officially started dating my best friend Rudy! It came to no surprise to our friends who saw it coming for months {perhaps years prior}

In the news: The death of 17 year old Trayvon Martin captured and saddened the nation. Whitney Houston was found dead in a hotel bathroom as a result of {shocking} drugs. 

March. Enjoyed the beach with Miss Letta, started going to CrossFit a lot, Celebrated Chaser's birthday.

In the News: The Hunger Games came out on the big screen!!! One Direction hit the charts, giving all of us the boy band we have been missing since N'Sync. 

April.  Took a short trip to Utah for my niece Ella's baptism. My sisters and I rocked So Cal Ragnar with the best team, Ragnizzle Fo' Shizzle!  

In the news: The 100th Anniversary of the sinking of Titanic. Tupac showed up at Coachella. 

May. Had an amazing reunion weekend with Amy, Allie and Nick for the Coldplay Concert! Moved to a new So Cal location as I became an official resident of the Westside. Sadly moved wards and stopped being a Sunday School teacher. Dodger games began to take over my life. 

In the news: The Super Moon! Making the moon look insanely large. Junior Seau of the Chargers was found dead in his home. The ending of my {second} favorite show of all time...Desperate Housewives. 

June.  Kelly and the kids came to visit for a week! This meant less work, lots of pool time and a trip to the beach {on a cold, overcast day}

In the news: Obamacare was upheld by the Supreme Court. Katie Holmes filed for divorce from Tom Cruise.

July. Celebrated the 4th at the Rose Bowl with Rudy for the first time. Went on mini getaways to San Diego to see Nick and Newport with the fam. 

In the news: Summer Olympics kicked off in London; America won 106 medals. Tragic Colorado shooting at the movie theater during the premiere of the Dark Knight. 

August. My Uncle Bob passed away, my family and I went to Utah for his funeral. I came back early to attend the California YSA Conference with my friends. Rudy helped me train for my upcoming half. Became unemployed at the end of the month. 

In the news: Mitt Romney appoints Paul Ryan as his GOP running mate. Lance Armstrong stripped of his 7 Tour de France titles. Spice Girls reunite at Olympics!!

September. This was a BIG month. Half Marathon. Trip to Utah--shocking job interview, and then job offer. Trip to D.C and North Carolina. Ran second Ragnar of the year. Finally let the cat out of the bag that I was moving to Utah. Really, really hard to say goodbye. Moved. 

In the news: The iPhone 5 was released, although not seen as that impressive. 

October. I started my new job and got a promotion in the same month! Went to General Conference. Went to my first BYU football game in FOUR years!! yikes. Rudy came to visit and we explored Salt Lake City. 

In the news: Hurricane Sandy surprised and devastated the East Coast. Killed more than 100 people, left thousands without power for weeks and even homeless. Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel got married!!!

November: Experienced my first snow storm in 3 years! Went home for Thanksgiving. 

In the news: President Obama was {sadly} re-elected for a second term. 

December. Went on a road trip to Cedar City/ St. George with Annie and Monica. Monica joined me as a new employee at APA. Went home for Christmas, celebrated NYE with my friends and for the third year in a row, pulled an all-nighter at the Rose Parade.

In the news: The world almost came to an end.  PSY's "Gangnam Style" hit one billion views on YouTube. One of the saddest school shootings for our Nation, twenty children and six adults were killed in Newtown, CT. 

{by the numbers in 2012 I also...}
ran approximately 300 miles
read only 2 books
traveled to a new city and state
moved three times


{my 2013 goals...}
get my reading back on. Read 5 church books and 25 historical/ fun books
run two half marathons, a new Ragnar
find 5 new family names for temple work
do an active of service once a week
and to have a really fun year. 

Kudos to those that read the whole thing! Needless to say I did not expect to end the year in the freezing depths of Utah. But here's to the adventures that 2013 will bring!!

2011 in review.

seriously. how does this keep happening.

how does the year go by so fast!? 

I guess the statement is true, that as you get older the years goes by faster. 

I feel as if I didnt accomplish many of my goals stated in my last year in review post, but....

 in general, 2011 was a great year.

 It was the first time {since high school} that I have lived in California for an entire year. 

First time I have spent an entire year working. full time. all day every day. 

It was a lot less stressful than last year. I freaked out less about my life plans. 

I didnt move out, but I loved living at home, and close to my family. 

I love all of my friends I have made. 

I didnt find love, but learned more lessons from the douche bags I continue to date. 

And I didnt get my heartbroken nearly as bad as last year, so thats an improvement. 

However there was a change of entering more into the "adulthood" thing. 

And with that, here is how I was living the LA life, all year long...

January. 

I rang in the new year by camping out at the Rose Parade with my friends. Was very blessed with a full time job offer that literally fell into my lap. I went to Utah and endured the cold to have a reunion with Annie, Christina, Taylor, Whitney, Cortney and Chanel. I turned the big 2-4 and had about 3 parties to celebrate. 

current events of the month: violence and revolt took over Egypt following the example of the Tunisian Revolt. Tragic shooting of House Representative Gabrielle Giffords in Arizona. 

February. 

My best friend Alyssa got married in the Los Angeles temple. Slowly my Bachelor viewing parties grew larger and larger (much to the dismay of my mother) as more girls came over each week to watch my favorite show. As this progressed I made more girlfriends and became greater friends with the girls in the ward. 

current events: Egyptian President Mubarak steps down. Violence in Libya begins now following the example of both Tunsinia and Egypt. 

March. 

My tween dreams came true by getting to meet Lance Bass! Was forced to go on a camping trip to Joshua Tree, despite my disdain for camping. Slowly started going on more and more dates. 

current events: An 8.9 earthquake rocks Japan, creating a tsunami and devastating the country in the aftermath. Charlie Sheen goes crazy!!

April. 

Went to Utah {again} for a quick trip to see friends and attend General Conference. 

current events: William and Kate get married!!

May. 

Went to Catalina Island with Christina and suffered from third degree burns. not really. but kinda. More dates ensued throughout the month. Finally get more in the Dodger spirit.

current events: Osama bin Laden is killed by the U.S. Navy Seals

June. 

The beginning of summer! and became super bummed with the first time not really having a summer break and getting super annoyed with the unemployed boys im friends with that partied all summer long. Went to Lake Arrowhead with my friends. Spent a weekend showing M'Kynzi around all the beauty of LA. I got to add another douche bag to my list of boys dated. I had a Lanai reunion in Temecula for Ronnie's wedding and got to see all of my fave Lanai friends. Dodger games. 

current events: Drug violence in Mexico continues, 17 people killed in Monterey in one shooting. 

July. 

My parents went to Europe for two weeks! and I had a party at the house each night they were gone. Kidding. {or am I!?} Laura and I brought out our inner tween and went to the NKOTBSB concert! seriously, best concert ever. I went to Utah {third time this year!} for a Robins family reunion, a Katy Perry concert and to spend time in North Ogden with Kelly. Dodger games.

current events: Carmeggedon threatened to shut down LA but was actually a bust. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II opens and grosses $91 million in the first weekend! Casey Anthony is found not guilty. 

August. 

Kelly and the kids come to visit for a week! I took off work and got to go to a dodger game, the beach and lots of time at the pool. Taylor got a job in West Hollywood. Meaning we got to meet up for dinner during the week and celebrate his birthday.

current events: A 5.8 magnitude earthquake hits Washington, D.C. shocking the DC area and damaging the Washington Monument. Steve Jobs resigns as Apple CEO.

September. 

My life starts to get real crazy and stays that way for the rest of the year, as I literally go out of town every weekend. The best part of the month was going on a 7 day cruise to MEXICO. I tanned at the pool. Snorkled and parasailed in Cabo. Zip lining in Puerto Vallarta. seriously best week of my life. The next weekend I ran in the Ragnar Relay Series in Napa Valley!! Surprisingly loved it so much!  After not seeing each other for over a year, got lots of reunions with the King of Lanai, Nick! I feel in love with my new baby niece, Lyla Robyn. 

current events: The 10 year anniversary of the 9.11 terrorist attacks. Occupy Wall Street begins by taking over Zuccotti Park. 

October. 

Two Robyn concerts with Taylor! Went to Sacramento, Vegas and Phoenix. Had a reunion with my DC roomie Jessica. I had to have a teary farewell with my best friend Chanel as she was leaving to go on a mission. A Las Vegas fling ends as he is also added to the growing DB list. 

current events:  There was a crazy finish to the baseball season. The St. Louis Cardinals win the World Series. President Muammar Gaddafi is killed by Libyan troops. Steve Jobs shockingly passes away. 

November.

Kelly and the kids make another visit! We go to Universal Studios {I have a seasons pass if anyone wants to come with me!} and celebrate Seth's 10th birthday. Another road trip to Las Vegas. Which sends me into a little mid mid life crisis. My family and I attend the horse races on Thanksgiving for the 2nd annual time. running and running after a ragnar hiatus. 

current events: Frank McCourt agrees to sell the Dodgers! HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Allie and Roberto break up. Dr. Conrad Murray is found guilty in the MJ trial. 

December.

 I ran my first 10k race!! Christmas parties, looking at Christmas lights, Christmas gift exchanges. I attended three work parties, does this mean im an adult?? And still to come: a Lanai NYE reunion at Lake Arrowhead and Disneyland.

current events: Chris Paul gets traded to the Clippers, an uprising of Clipper Nation. The leader of North Korea dies. 

This was definitely a different year than last year. 

I definitely far exceeded my 2010 goal of "have more fun."

I enjoyed making great friendships and strengthening the ones I already had. 

I feel like this year I truly enjoyed my life. This year was consumed with lots of funthings {like go on a cruise with just my girlfriends, run TWO races! and go on lots of weekend trips} as I took a breather, wasnt so stressed and had a job.

however, is it bad that Im going to have the same goals as last year??

I want to move out. 

I want to find love and not date douche bags. 

I want to go on more trips. 

I want to run more. 

2011 was definitely a good year. 

And Im excited for the adventures of 2012.