My Year In Review 2013

So I may have forgotten to post this... and you know, finish it BEFORE 2014 hit.  Oops!

My year in review 2013

You can check out 2012 here.


1. What did you do in 2013 that you'd never done before?

I went to a concert by myself.  Like a REAL concert...  

I felt the need to clarify that since I did go see William Tell play at ASU (2008).  But since it was just on the sidewalk, in the middle of school and FREE I don't count it as a real concert.

I saw Jimmy Eat World (in September) and stood 1 person away from the stage barrier gate.  Gold star and a cookie for me!

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I didn't make any resolutions for '13 and wont' for '14.  

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes, my niece Elizabeth gave birth to my great-nephew Hunter... who is currently the love of my life.

4. Did anyone close to you die? 

Yes, after 19 years I finally had to put Parker down. 

Most traumatic experience ever... you know, right up there with finding Cyrus dead last year.  I never wrote about it but although it was traumatic, I can laugh about it and it was so completely Parker the way it went down.  

She was the BEST. DAMN. CAT!

5. What countries did you visit?

A big ol' whopping zero.

6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?

I'd like more adventure and whatever that entails.

7. What date from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? 

I will always remember my last morning with Parker.

And, as always, for whatever reason, we remember where we were or what we were doing when a famous person passes away (such a weird term) in a shocking manner so I think I'll always remember where I was when I first heard of Paul Walker dying.  

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

I think I've stepped out of my comfort zone a bit more.  I actually like sitting and just drinking in bars now.  I don't need the hustle & flow of a club to feel comfortable in a bar anymore.  Now, do I think that's an achievement, no, but it is a step into "growing up".

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not knowing what to put for this question.  Would that maybe be self reflection then?

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Nothing worth mentioning.

11. What was the best thing you bought?!
New tires (4)?  Not exciting but they definitely made a dent and were needed.  

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

I will say Karie's and that's all I'm going to say about that. 

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all...

14. Where did most of your money go?
Bills, always always bills.  And Happy Hour.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Karie's & my overnight adventure when we went to Casa Grande to see Jimmy Eat World in May.  It was our first just us girls trip.  

16. What song will always remind you of 2013?
Even with a little perspective on 2013 I can't come up with an answer for this.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

i. happier or sadder?
Sadder??  Somehow.  On some days.

ii. Thinner or fatter? 
The same.

iii. Richer or poorer? 
Poorer.  

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Saved money.  Dated.  Worked out.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
I wish I'd put less time & energy into people who apparently didn't want it and therefore didn't really deserve it to begin with. 

20. How will you be spending Christmas?

I spent Christmas with my family in the morning, hung with Crystal & the girls for a bit and then met Karie & her (adult) family for a movie & Christmas dinner afterwards.

21. Did you fall in love in 2013? 
Yes!  Completely fell in love with Hunter.  He is absolutely the cutest thing EVER!!  I am biases but that doesn't make it any less true.

22. How many one-night stands?

Zero.  I have standards.  This will never change.

23. What was your favorite TV program?

The Walking Dead. 
Chicago Fire
(only listed new favorites)

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.

25. What was the best book you read?

Although I actually checked out books at the library, seriously this is a major thing since I really only go there to get movies to watch, I can't think of one that would stand out as the best book.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?

The 88.

Atlas Genius.

Barcelona.

Twin Forks.

And although they are not new, and have been one of my music loves since the early 90's, Toad the Wet Sprocket officially rebanded (is that a real word?) and released their first album in 16 years.  I think New Constellation can go down as my great musical (re)discovery of 2013.

27. What did you want and get?

 A bicycle. 

28. What did you want and not get?

I wanted a stupid part-time, seasonal job and somehow managed to "fail" the test so I couldn't get hired (Spirit Halloween).  Although, that didn't stop me form working there anyway just for fun and for FREE.  The shit one does when bored and when one can hang with their best friend & nephew.  

29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Thor: Dark World was pretty awesome.  

I can't remember anything else I've seen at the moment.  This is what happens when you don't watch TV at home & can really only watch movies while there.  You watch way too many and can't remember what you've actually seen.

30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I was 35 though I spent most of the year telling people I was 36 because I apparently hate myself.  I know I took the day off and I'm sure I spent it with Karie but as to what we actually did, I do not remember.

There is a theme happening here... Alzheimer's may be setting in.

31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

More margaritas?!

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?

I don't think my personal fashion concept has changed much in the last few year.  I like what I like.

33. What kept you sane?
Any sanity I have left I thank Karie for. 

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I just finished up a John Cusack marathon so I'll say him because he took up a lot of my time.  I rewatched movies of his I have and watched what I could from the library on what I didn't.

35. What political issue stirred you the most?
I didn't feel very political this year, nor have my political interests changed over the years.

36. Who did you miss?

Parker.  After 19 years of togetherness it took some time getting used to her not being around.  Having only 1 cat is an adjustment, and an experience I haven't had in like 13 years.  I still miss Cyrus.  And I miss a few people who were an integral part of my life last year but who, for whatever reason, aren't this year.

37. Who was the best new person you met?

Hunter.  Hands down.

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013:  
I've got nothing.  At least not that I can put into words right now.

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:

 This question has stumped me since I first started filling this stupid thing out.  Even 8 days into the new year I can't come up with an answer for this.  Not being able to answer a question about music or music lyrics always frustrates me because I should be able to answer this.

Tee Time

So I was chosen to do another Old Navy Sample Share as part of the Old Navy Style Council via Crowdtap.  The coupons were for 2 FREE Women's Best Tees for me and 2 FREE Women's Best Tees for a friend.

Old Navy Style Council via Crowdtap

Usually I choose who I take with me by their "need" for the item, and since this sample share was for tees it seemed like everyone was in need new tees.  So I did the "logical" thing... I decided to picked 3 people and we'd all get 1 FREE tee.  I chose my trusty side kick, the BFF Karie, my sister (still rebuilding her closet since gaining some much needed weight from when she stopped smoking) and my niece who was pregnant.  It pretty much worked out well because Karie was more available for shopping/photo time, while my sister & niece weren't.  My sister was in a pretty bad car accident (a couple weeks before the coupons were active) where she fractured a vertebrae in her back & messed up her ribs and my niece was about to give birth (she had the baby about a week prior to the coupon's expiring).  

It wasn't the best timing for a sample share ever, nor did I necessarily pick the "best" candidates to go shopping, but they all deserved a new tee and it all worked out.

Of course the day Karie and I went shopping was the day that the Old Navy we went to was PACKED.  Like a crazy, insane, madhouse of activity.  The shelves were a mess, there wasn't many choices size-wise and we waited in line to try things on for 20 - 30 minutes each the two times we dared to go to the dressing rooms.  We did the best we could with what we had and both ended up with a shirt we liked.   

Karie & I both in Women's Perfect Henleys.
Secret Cove & Bright Nite

My sister, Georgie, was set to meet me after work to get her & my nieces tees on the last day before the coupon expired but had to opt out because her back was bothering her too badly so she sent my niece to stop by & gab them instead.  Between the new baby (my great nephew Hunter... who is a complete stud!) and her husband being in town for "maternity leave" (he's in the Navy) she didn't have a lot of time but we managed to find a shirt she liked and between the two of us figured out what size, style & color to get my sister.  And as a bonus Elizabeth was kind enough to throw on her shirt (over her clothes) and let me snap a picture of her in the parking lot of her in her new shirt.

Elizabeth in her black stripped Women's Perfect Crew Tee

We got my sister a Perfect Henley, as well, but in Sea Turtle.  Although I don't have a photo of her in her's... she loves it.

I think the Perfect Henley's are my favorite Old Navy tee.  I have a lot of their Henley tanks (which I can't find on their website).  I guess there's just something about little buttons that make them stand out more.  So cute!

For the BEST Tee sample share we had the Perfect Tees and the Vintage style (no prints) tees to choose from.  The sizing on the Vintage was a bit off (at least for my...unique frame) and there wasn't a lot of the crew/v-neck Perfect tees in my size to try on.  Here are some of the tees Karie & I tried on but didn't choose...

Woman's Vintage Style V-Neck

Woman's Vintage Style V-Neck

Woman's Perfect Henley

Woman's Perfect Henley

Woman's Perfect Henley

Woman's Perfect Henley

Woman's Perfect Henley

Women's Ruffled Slub-Knit Henleys

I think it's hilarious how differen't the EXACT same shirt looks on both Karie & I.  

Thanks Old Navy Style Council & Crowdtap!!

Oh, and BONUS photo of Hunter...

STUD!!

Join Crowdtap here

Woolite Washed In-Home Boutique

Saturday I had the opportunity to host a Woolite Washed In-Home Boutique...which is really a fancy word for (clothing) swap party.  I've heard of swap parties before and always thought they sounded cool but I was always too lazy to figure out how to organize one.  At least until Crowdtap & Woolite prompted me to.  When working with Woolite on Crowdtap you are called a Wooliteer and I think it's a super adorable name.  Silly but true fact.  

Anyway, all I had to do was invite people to bring a few gently loved articles of clothing and/or accessories they were willing to swap for new to them items.  In the process have fun and pass out samples of Woolite.  Didn't sound too hard when they put it that way.  Of course, life is always different in reality than in theory.  

After a few bumps with scheduling and my party pack not arriving on time I was able to have my party.  The turn out of attendees wasn't what I had hoped for but we had a great time and we all got a couple of "new" items so it was a success.  Plus, we all got more than one sample of Woolite to use.  Bonus in my book.

The set up (back end)...

Refreshments
Highlights:
BLT Salad
Chocolate Pie (I MADE)
Fruits & Veggies
Chips & Salsa

All the ingredients came in a box but I had to hand make the crust and that's about as homemade as you get with me!
I totally screwed up my measuring when doing the whipped cream topping so I had to improvise by getting real whipping cream and hand making whipped cream.
It's not as easy as the 6'5" Irish hottie made it look.
It didn't whip like the internet said it would but it was the right(ish) consistency & tasted fine so whatever.
Whipped cream mastery: Not achieved.

I even made cucumber water.  
WHAT?!
I know.  Who am I?!

Seriously.  
I even printed FREE printables and labeled stuff...

Pinterest use at it's finest!
I would like to point out... it's all fun and games until someone goes and actually does a Pinterest inspired pin.
It stops being fun when you actively have to do it.
Don't squint at me... 
you know it's true. 

The Setup (boutique end)...

Jewelry

Shoes & whatnot

Shoes continued...
I tried to convince everyone that the cat (Remington) was part of the swap
but nobody wanted to swap for a velociraptor/cat.

The clothes & scarves

Jewelry/Photo prop table

Mirror

Woolite table & "shopping" bags

Some of the items we chose... 

Nicole & her new shirt.  Possibly to use for her family's pictures (colors are black & white).
Score!

Karie in her new skirt (I swear it never looked that good on me!) and Debi with  her new scarf.

Me & my new "muumuu" dress.
Nicole brought it & described it as muu muuish, she wasn't wrong.
I added a belt I had to it.
Fixed!
Neither the dress nor I photo'd well here but I think I'd be remiss if I didn't show
one of my items...
I mean, it was my party.  

We were a small swap gang
but we were a fun & successful swap gang

Woolite samples

THANK YOU, WOOLITE & CROWDTAP!

 Photo boothing...

Me & Karie
Not gonna lie...
we were super excited to bust out
our "Laughlin" hats for the occasion.

Karie

Debi & Rylee

Me, Nicole & Rylee

The Gang

Karie, Debi, Nicole & me.

2 things:
1) Prop placement is hard.
2) I made these.  Printed, cut & taped them to straws.
Pinterest achievement level: Leveled Up

Me & Nicole
Her necklace is also an item she grabbed.

Debi & I

Miss Rylee...
Our group photographer for the evening
Besides asking for photo participation
she received a
bracelet & tiara as payment

 

Join the fun:

Tap In

It may sound like it but this is not a paid post...

For the first time in my life I'm actively on a diet.  Although I'm not actually ON a diet.  I mean, I'm still basically eating the same things as I was, I just watch what I'm actually eating and how much I'm actually putting into my mouth.  If that's a diet, then I'm on a diet... but I really don't feel like I'm on a diet.  

MyFitnessPal

I'm using an app called MyFitnessPal.  A friend of mine has been using it since the beginning of the year and has lost a lot of weight and has had nothing but good things to say about the whole experience.  Since it wasn't a diet (really, it's a dirty word) and it was FREE to download I figured there wasn't anything to lose to try it.  So I did.  And since February 18th I've lost about 8 pounds.  I say about because I have a lame scale that's not digital so it's not 100% accurate.  I set me goal to lose 20 lbs.   So I'm almost half way there.  

                                                Created by MyFitnessPal - Free Weight Loss Tools

It's a pretty easy app to use, plus you can also log in online.  You tell it your weight, your goal and a few other minor details and it tells you your calories for the day.  Then you go about tracking what you eat while it counts down the remaining calories for the day.  If you add in exercise it adds more calories for the day.  That's my favorite part.  I get to eat more then.

I like it because it forces me to acknowledge all the food I'm sticking into my mouth.  When you're tracking what you eat you tend to graze less.  Or at least I do.  As a snacker, I loved to graze.  I get bored, I graze.  Emotional turmoil = graze.  There's just one food item left... I better eat it.  While I'm not severely overweight I do have some pounds I could lose.  

Since the app tracks and tallys everything for me it's sort of ends up being a game I play.  Can I beat it today?  Did I do better than yesterday?  Some days you are over your calorie goal.  Some days you're under.  And others you manage to figure it out and are even. Too many days under your calorie goal and it sort of yells at you... okay, it reminds you that you could be starving yourself.  When you end up going over your goal for the day you end up seeing that if you keep it up you may never get down to the weight you want.  It totally checks and balances you.

Plus, you can connect with friends who also have the app.  It's nice to have someone motivate you... either by comments or just by seeing how well they themselves are doing, how much they've lost to date or how they kicked butt in their last workout.

I ended up coming down with a horrible head cold (?) the middle of last week and was out of commission for almost 5 days.  I didn't log in to MFP for those days and missed my weekly weigh in so I'm a bit off track.  Since starting all of this, that's the first time I haven't logged in for that length of time.  Some times on the weekend I may skip a day because it's "impossible" to figure out the calories of a meal or I know I'm sooooo over my calorie limit I don't even bother to record that day but I do notice what I'm eating, how much and if I'm doing my part to make sure I lose weight and really that's what I love about this app.

If you're already on MyFitnessPal, feel free to friend me.  I know a lot of people feel their weight loss is a personal journey so I've been shy about who I have friended already, especially since I'm not a die hard user but I don't mind having more people to help motivate me if y'all don't.

Update Dump

There are so many things I feel like I've been kicking ass at lately.  Unfortunately, keeping up with things on here isn't one of them.  I still have a few hang ups I need to get over when it comes to journaling... or blogging... All I can say is it's still a work in progress.

1) I guess I should start with an update on how donating all my Crowdtap points to TWLOHA is going.  Since my last update on the subject I've earned some 96,000+ points doing stuff on/for Crowdtap.  I've been able to donate 80,000 pts ($40).  That's double what I was hoping/thinking.  I've almost got enough to donate another 20,000 ($20) but we'll see if I make it there before things change or not.  The ebb and flow of things to do on Crowdtap lately has been a bit wonky, at least with what I "qualify" for.

I'm pretty happy that since learning about TWLOHA I've been able to donate (if my calculations are correct) 210,000 points ($105).  It doesn't seem like nearly enough, considering why and who I'm doing it for, but when you think about what I've done to get these points (and I only had to click a button to spend them on a monetary donation) it really is a little insane that I've been able to donate that much.

Through a bloggy "friend" I've come across a charity event that I will be donating to once I get paid on the 1st (it won't be much but it will be something).  It's the Out of the Darkness Overnight Walk (put on by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention or AFSP) and will be taking place June 1-2 in Washington, DC.  I'll be helping a walker named Janice, who is walking in honor of her brother who committed suicide, reach her goal... which is to raise $700.  To hear it in her words (from my bloggy "friends" post) you can go here.

I've been extremely lucky that I have not lost a brother to suicide but Nathan was, at times, like a brother...was definitely like family and he was (is) a brother to people I care deeply about.  He was my friend and donating in his memory is the least I can do, especially if it helps other people, people like Janice, raise money and awareness for the prevention of suicide.

I'm not trying to be all "Hey, look at how great I am...I'm donating!" and I hope it doesn't come off that way.  I'm just trying to get the word out there and talking about who and what I'm donating to is one of the small things I can do to help this cause.

2) I received my last exchange package from Shabby Apple... and the third time was the charm. Not only do I love the belt & shoes I picked but they fit!

RipRap 

I've yet to wear either of them but I hope to soon and I hope to get some sort of documentation.  Because they are THAT cute!

3) It's been a month since I opened my Kitsy Lane boutique, KittyKerri's Jewelry Box (yes, I changed the name to match my email & blog [I, guess])... thankfully, you get a grace period to make changes like that.  Anyway, I'm definitely not rolling in the money yet but I do feel like I'm making some progress on getting my name out there to customers.  I've made 2 sales that are not from myself.  I've got 18 customers signed up and as of right now my KKJB FB page,  has 48 "Like's",  and it's only 2 weeks old.  

So far I really love being a boutique owner (you can become one too here).  I like that there are several new items every day and that there is always a new sale or deal going on.  

I'm still waiting for a shipment to come in of stuff I've purchased.  I'm not sure exactly if I'll be keeping all of what I bought for myself (selfish, I know) or if I'll be using some as giveaway prizes. I guess it all depends on how hard I fall in love with the pieces once I get my hands on them.

I purchased the Ariel ring for the simple pleasure of I LOVED it. Thank God I had no intention of giving it away because it would have never happened.  I've worn it every day for the past 16 days. It's so pretty, delicate, and easily stackable with my other everyday favorite rings.

I love the packaging!

I mean, come on!  Seriously!!

She's so pretty, isn't she?!

4) And just because this actually happened TODAY and I would be a horrible aunt if I didn't post about this... My great nephew, Hunter Austin, was born this morning.  Healthy, happy, 6 lbs 12 oz 19 3/4 inches and soooo cute!!

Posted to Instagram this morning:

Always the bridesmaid, never the bride...

*blah, blah, blah 

(*had real words here but they are redundant at this point)

He's my 9th great nephew/niece, I have 8 nieces/nephews and yes, babies still scare me.  LOL.

So that's it for now.  Until next time... where I will probably update dump about Andrew McMahon, dieting, and dating...or lack there of.  Oh, and bras.  I know, ya'll can't wait!