Year in Review 2014

Year in Review Challenge

Here are the assignments:

December 1 Trip. What was your best trip in 2014? We went to California to see my sister's family and had a blast at the beach, seeing all the small towns near where they live, taking over the Officer's Club and dancing to the jukebox, spending hours at the beach and going to Legoland.  We can't wait to go back!  

December 2 Restaurant moment. Share the best restaurant experience you had this year. Who was there? What made it amazing? What taste stands out in your mind?

There was this one pizza place I went to this summer that had a tomato alfredo pasta dish with a skillet cookie and ice cream on top.  I was in love and plan on going back to that restaurant.

December 3 Article. What's an article that you read that blew you away? That you shared with all your friends. I read this year about the interlinked conspiracy theories of the PIXAR movies.  It was fun to imagine.  

December 4 Book. What book - fiction or non - touched you? Where were you when you read it? Have you bought and given away multiple copies?
My favorite book this year is Princesses Don't Wear Black by Shannon Hale.  I wish I would have thought to write it first.

December 5 Night out. Did you have a night out with friends or a loved one?  What was the highlight of the night?
Doug took me and my brother and sister in law to see Jim Gaffigan, the comedian, when he came to Utah.  We started by going out to dinner at Brio which was amazing.  I still dream about the bruschetta.  Then we had great seats at the show and laughed until we cried.  

December 6 Workshop or conference. Was there a conference or workshop you attended that was especially beneficial? Where was it? What did you learn?
I presented again at the Utah Council of the International Reading Association about the influence of speaking and listening Common Core Standards on literacy.  It was a good conference with some excellent keynote speakers this year.  

December 7 Blog find of the year. That gem of a blog you can't believe you didn't know about until this year. I've joined Instagram and Twitter this year and discovered the whole30 movement with healthy recipes and supportive weightloss stories.  

December 8 Moment of peace. An hour or a day or a week of solitude. What was the quality of your breath? The state of your mind? How did you get there?
My moment of peace happens in the temple.  I got to go a few times this year and can regroup.  I also love road trips because it really clears my mind when we are driving and are far away from home.  

December 9 Challenge. Something that really made you grow this year. That made you go to your edge and then some. What made it the best challenge of the year for you?
The biggest challenge for me this year was supporting Doug through eight months of unemployment.  It is so stressful to keep a household running when things are tight.  When he got a job, an older couple in our ward came up and said, "So, I guess the lean times are over."  That pretty much sums it up.  

December 10 Album of the year.
I'm in love with the PIXAR instrumental soundtracks ever since we saw the Utah Symphony perform them all.  I can't decide if I love the instrumentals from Ratatouille more, Incredibles more, or Toy Story.

December 11 The best place. 
The best place I visited this year was the beach in California.  If I could have a beach house I would.  The ocean invigorates me. When I'm a millionaire, I'll have my own place on the water.  

December 12 New food.

I've been trying all sorts of cultural foods and my favorite was when I was up at school in Logan and I ate at an El Salvador restaurant.  It was the first time I'd tried that food and it was awesome! I also love Indian food now, and want to try more Mediterranean.

December 13 What's the best change you made to the place you live?We haven't fixed all the broken things yet but did manage to get a garden in and keep the lawn looking nice all summer.  Oh...getting the A/C fixed was a big deal too.

December 14 Rush. When did you get your best rush of the year?I get a rush at the beginning of a movie at the movie theater.  We don't go very often, but when we do, the show is worth it and it's exciting.  "Lights A-Dimmin!"  

December 15 Best packaging. 
This question just reminds me that we wrap all our birthday gifts in towels because it's easier and I'm not patient enough to wrap things nicely.  

December 16 Tea of the year. I don't drink tea of any sort.

December 17 Word or phrase. A word that encapsulates your year. "2014 was _____."A challenge

December 18 Shop. Online or offline, where did you spend most of your mad money this year?
On amazon for books and textbooks.  

December 19 Car ride. What did you see? How did it smell? Did you eat anything as you drove there? Who were you with?
The car rides I've enjoyed have been for family night to check on the status of the temples being built by my house.  

December 20 New person. 
A new person I met this year would have to be some of the big name reading researchers at some of the conferences I've helped with or attended like David Pearson, Timothy Shanahan, Doug Fisher and Maureen McLaughlin.  They have multiple books, are engaged in the field of reading and were friendly and encouraging in my PhD work.  The problem with being around brilliant people a lot is that you feel more stupid than ever.  

December 21 Project. What did you start this year that you're proud of?
I finished and published my grandmother's history on the day of her 100th birthday.  It took seven years to transcribe.  

December 22 Startup. What's a business that you found this year that you love? Who thought it up? What makes it special?
I was introduced to Jamberry this year which I love for my toes.  They make me happy and I wish I had a lot more.  

December 23 Web tool. It came into your work flow this year and now you couldn't live without it. It has simplified or improved your online experience.
I can only think that I am grateful for my laptop and for shops that fix them.  My laptop got spilled on while on vacation and MacTraders in SLC saved all my doctoral work.  Phew!

December 24 Learning experience. What was a lesson you learned this year that changed you?
To trust in God and He will take care of the details. 

December 25 Gift. What's a gift you gave yourself this year that has kept on giving?
A fun double-sided waffle  iron for breakfasts at our house.  

December 26 Insight or aha! moment. What was your epiphany of the year?
My insight this year became a motto of sorts... "Just ask."  I have used that in my school work when wanting a class to open up, or in my jobs for more opportunities, and so on.  I may come off pushy but I hope it looks more like I'm taking initiative.  

December 27 Social web moment. Did you meet someone you used to only know from her blog? 
I like to follow a lot of blogs and really enjoy one about a family in Arizona who is living in China right now.  

December 28 Stationery. When you touch the paper, your heart melts. The ink flows from the pen. What was your stationery find of the year?
I used to love stationery for my birthday or Christmas.  I miss that.  I do love to pick out cards for events though.  

December 29 Laugh. What was your biggest belly laugh of the year?
Jim Gaffigan

December 30 Ad. What advertisement made you think this year? I saw a Nike ad about running that I loved.  See  HERE

December 31 Resolution you wish you'd stuck with. (You know, there's always next year...)

More healthy lifestyle and ways to deal with stress.