Best09: Laugh

Laugh. What was your biggest belly laugh of the year?

via vi.sualize.us

I'd like to think I laughed so much this year that I can't pick just one, but I'm not sure that's entirely true -- for one -- and the question asks my biggest -- for two -- so I'll do my best.

My biggest laughs of the year definitely came while house-hunting with Jed and our realtor (the coolest realtor ever). We had so much fun picking fun at random house details, my terminology and the aspects I noted or the ideas I suggested. One day of touring, we stumbled upon a cute raised ranch on a dead-end street. It was the last house on the street, surrounded by woods. Really nice. The kitchen/living room had wood beams running underneath a cathedral ceiling. Gorgeous. We walked down the hall and peeked into a bedroom, then the master, then the bath...

Oh. my. God.

What kind of crazy bathroom is this?!?

I wish I had a picture to share with you, but the picture I snapped was on realtor's camera, and I never got the copies.

The bathroom, we suspected, used to be a bedroom that was converted into a bathroom at some point. It was huge. There was a closet and normal built-in vanity on the left as you walked in, with a half-wall creating an "entry way" of sorts on the right. Behind the half-wall was the toilet. Diagonally from the toilet was a giant jetted, corner tub. We're talking a half dozen people enjoying the bubbles. Finally, in the corner opposite the hot tub, was the stand-up shower -- tiny -- that might fit half of a person.

I looked at the realtor and asked if we were on the set of a rap video. I was waiting for 50 Cent to swagger in any minute with a glass of bubbly and a dozen beautiful girls in skimpy bikinis to hop in the hot tub.

Seriously. Who renovates a bathroom like that? It wasn't even brand new. It was like mid-90's renovation. We're talking soap scum old. Well, my commentary made the realtor laugh, which made me laugh, which made Jed laugh. We were practically rolling out to the street and into the car, with a confused selling agent looking on. LMAO!

Best09: Stationery.

Stationery. When you touch the paper, your heart melts. The ink flows from the pen. What was your stationery find of the year?

I have to say my stationery find of 2009 was these ladybug note cards from Peony Paperie I won from Kristen at K.Law: Inspired. They are adorable and so well made. I can't wait to write lots of notes on them and then order more because I used them all!

Best09: Web tool.

Welcome back to my Best of 2009 series! I've been slacking big time, but there was a little event known as Christmas that kept me quite busy. I'll be, hopefully, doing some catch up this week so I can finish the series by the end of the year!

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.

via about.com

I hope all of you know Google Reader, and if you don't, please go experiment with it. I've only used it to keep track of all your blogs, but I know there are many other uses for it I have yet to discover. I just figured out how to add friends and share your blogs with them with my comments, and I can read what they share as well. How novel!

I love blogging on Blogger, but reading blogs from the Dashboard after I subscribed to more than five got challenging. Reader makes this so much less stressful, and I can file blogs like I do my e-mail (I love Gmail as well).

Best09: Project.

Project. What did you start this year that you're proud of?

My new job! My position was created because of a new project the company is investing in, and I was an initiating member! I love building things, making them strong, promoting them, following through, celebrating success. We have a small team: my manager, me and my UK counterpart, but we are powerful. In six months, we have made such a difference, and I have become so much more confident. I am sitting in conference rooms with executives, answering their questions and presenting to them. I've gained so much knowledge and met so many people -- building my network.

I'm hoping to finish the initial phase of this project next month and start seeking my replacement. I'm great at founding initiatives and giving them wings, but then I like to move on and watch my baby grow from a distance. That is my hope. Not that I am not happy where I am, but I have a career plan, and it's part of my development plan with my manager. I'd love to seek out new projects to challenge myself further. Bring on 2010!

Best09: New person.

New person. She came into your life and turned it upside down. He went out of his way to provide incredible customer service. Who is your unsung hero of 2009?

"accident" by notebookdoodles

My new person of 2009 isn't so much a person, as so many beautiful persons... this Blogger community I stumbled upon and have become a part of. So many of you have touched me, inspired me, helped me, amused me, educated me, entertained me and comforted me through your blogs and your comments. 2009 will be remembered as the year I became a Blogger and made so many Blogger friends.

Best09: Car ride.

Car ride. What did you see? How did it smell? Did you eat anything as you drove there? Who were you with?

This one is easy, as I really only took one road trip this year. Back on October 24, my college roommate got married down in Long Island, NY. I had my cyst removed from my back the week before, so Jed drove. The ride down was slightly painful, and it was raining, but the ride back...

It was warm....

Fall's colors were at their best...

The sun was shining...

And I think I smiled the whole way home...

Snapping pictures along the highway.

Best09: Shop.

Shop. Online or offline, where did you spend most of your mad money this year?

Oh geez, I read this question, and the answer immediately occurred to me. I'm ashamed to admit it...

via

I guess that's what happens when you own a house. You visit The Depot more than the grocery store.

Best09: Word or phrase.

Word or phrase. A word that encapsulates your year. "2009 was _____."

via weheartit

... 2009 was blessed.

It has been a stressful year, but I consider myself so fortunate to have received so many answered prayers. Some of the big ones: Dad receiving a healthy kidney, moving into my own place, finding and getting a great new position at work, being able to work from home, and friends and family expecting babies soon!

Best09: Tea of the year.

Tea of the year. I can taste my favorite tea right now. What's yours?

via bigelowtea.com

I just discovered this tea (I got the decaf so I can drink it at night before bed). It is yum-yum, and I even tried mixing in a little eggnog. Sooooo comforting. Perfect for a chilly, winter night.

Best09: Best packaging.

Best packaging. Did your headphones come in a sweet case? See a bottle of tea in another country that stood off the shelves?

via

I'm cheating a little bit on this one, but I couldn't think of any better packaging than that of Tiffany & Co. It was almost this year that I received my very own blue box wrapped with a white ribbon in an adorable, matching, blue paper bag. Jed gave me a Tiffany necklace for Christmas last year, and it was such a surprise. A pleasant one. There might have been some shrieking involved...

Best09: Rush

Rush. When did you get your best rush of the year?

via vi.sualize.us

My best rush of the year happened early -- in January -- in Bretton Woods, NH, on my annual ski trip. This was the first year I attempted green trails on my own, since there was light, fresh powder on the ground and the going was fairly easy. It was the best! I loved skiing before this, but I was super hooked after that trip. I felt on top of the world, so proud and powerful. It was also so serene, on top of that mountain surrounded by people but so alone. Quiet, cold, peaceful, beautiful. I don't think there is anything else that gives me that same feeling.

I'm a happy girl, looking down a beautiful mountain!

I can't wait to go back this year in January or February. I might even have my own skis this year!

Best09: New food and home changes

I have a little catch-up to play today since I didn't post the Best09 prompt yesterday. It's another crazy weekend, so I'm sorry if this post is short and lacking pictures; I'm about to head off to church (to pray for all those bloggers needing God's strength this holiday season).

New food. You're now in love with Lebanese food and you didn't even know what it was in January of this year.

For yesterday's prompt, I had to really think about what new food I have tried this year (and make me realize I should try more next year!). I came up with grouper. While down in Palm Beach, I was a little hesitant to try all that southern fish since I'm such a spoiled New England seafood girl. Finally, we went to a nice restaurant with a yummy-sounding grouper special, so I took the plunge and enjoyed my swim! It was well-prepared and delicious! I would definitely try it again in another dish.

What's the best change you made to the place you live?

Today's prompt makes up for yesterday's difficulty, but I feel like I'm being redundant. You all know by now that I moved this year into my own house. I don't think that is the best change though; the best change is really showcasing my personality in my new house. My bedroom is my dream, and it is such a calming place for me now (my old bedroom hadn't changed decor since I was 6, and it was very cluttered). My living room is a cozy space to cuddle next to the wood stove, read a book or watch a movie. My kitchen is efficient and updated and organized. So, I didn't just change where I live, but how I live, and that was the best change this year.

Hope you are all having a lovely weekend! Mine is very hectic, chaotic and a tad stressful. I'm actually looking forward to it being over! LOL

Best09: The best place

The best place. A coffee shop? A pub? A retreat center? A cubicle? A nook?

The answer to this question immediately came to me, in my heart, and it surprised me when it reached my mind.

HOME.

via mindibartell.tumblr.com

As I mentioned in my Challenge post, moving out of my home for the last 28 years this year has been difficult. It's been heart-breaking. Therefore, the best place for me this year has been going home to my parents' house. Eating dinner at the kitchen table, watching TV on the couch with Dad, sharing holidays with my family, laying on my old bed (which now feels as hard as concrete since it too is almost 28 years old).

I'm safe and cozy in my new home, but there's something about truly going home that just warms my heart and renews my sense of self.

Best09: Album of the year

Album of the year. What's rocking your world?

This is kinda tough because I haven't really been keeping up on the latest and greatest in the world of music. Phoenix? What's that? Isn't it a city in Arizona???

That being said, I'm going to break this question into two parts: 1. Album of the year released in 2009 and 2. Album that you've been digging this year.

Part 1:

via rollingstone.com

Any year that Rob Thomas or Matchbox 20 releases a new album is a good year for me as they are my all-time favorites, and I don't think anything can ever replace them. I know most left them behind in the 1990's, but they have stayed with me all through this decade, and probably will forever. The lyrics speak to me, and I groove the melodies. Plus, they are great performers. This is the first time in 10 years that Rob Thomas has come to town, and I am not going to the show.

Part 2:

via cmt.com

Ah, Kenny, you are just too dreamy. This album, Kenny's latest, was released last year, and I love it. This, along with his previous half dozen albums or so, has been rocking my world all. year. long. Culminating in seeing him LIVE for the first time in August. A latest dream come true for this girl, who heart was stolen by country four years ago. Kenny's voice, music, lyrics and attitude remind me of a lazy, carefree vacation on a Caribbean island, and there is nowhere I'd rather be when there's snow on the ground and it's 25 degrees here in New England. I'm also discovering his Christmas music, and it is just as fantastic. Christmas with palm trees and white sand. *sigh*

Best09: Challenge

I'm diving into this blog challenge with a challenge theme...

via weheartit.com

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?

This one is actually easy for me since this entire year has been one big challenge: buying a house and moving in with my boyfriend.

Whoa! Two huge steps all at once, especially for a girl who has a hard time adjusting to major changes (read: major bout of depression freshman year of college) and who, with the exception of four years for college (when she went home almost every weekend), has lived with Mom and Dad her entire life. Major upheaval. Major behavior modification. Major adjustment.

Thankfully, there was no major bout of depression. I was really excited about the whole thing, until about two weeks in, it really hit me. I'm a *gasp* grown-up. No one is cleaning for me. No one is cooking for me. No one is taking care of me when I'm sick. No one does my laundry. I think I had an anxiety attack that lasted for months.

Truth be told, I never really wanted a house. Don't get me wrong: I like my house, and I love living with Jed. What I really wanted was my own place and to live with Jed. I'm not all for the house maintenance thing; I'd be just as happy in an apartment where I can call the landlord when something breaks.

However, I like painting the walls the way I want them. As stressful as it was, I loved buying furniture and decorating. I love being able to spruce the place up for Christmas.

I think the biggest adjustment, however, was not living with my parents anymore and living with my boyfriend.

The pros: cable TV (never ever ever had it in my life before), having whatever I want for dinner, sitting on the sofa however I want, running the show the way I want, seeing my boyfriend every day, re-organizing and de-cluttering, having a dog, not fighting with my parents.

The cons: having to figure out what's for dinner and motivating myself to cook, cleaning and laundry that never seems to end, having to compromise on how to run the household with my boyfriend, fighting with my boyfriend, not having that "space" from said boyfriend, leaving MY room, housebreaking the dog, missing my parents.

The upside always has its downside, I suppose. With that, I have learned a lot and grown a lot, though I certainly still have a long way to go.

I'm learning a lot about my relationship with Jed. We're fighting a lot more, but we're figuring out how to compromise more, listen more, communicate more and love more. We're trying really hard to work as a team, instead of against each other. I never realized how much of a spoiled brat I am in that I have MAJOR control and OCD issues. We're talking panic attacks because he left his dirty glass on the coffee table overnight.

I'm also learning to trust that I'm where I'm supposed to be. I've had a lot of good feelings and a lot of negative feelings, but deep down, I know that I had to grow up sometime. I had to move out of Mom and Dad's, even though Mom crying made me cry (and still does). I had to figure out how to do it on my own... and more importantly, with someone else who is not my family.

I've learned how to keep an entire house clean, how to paint, how to keep weeds from growing through mulch, how to build a fire and how to cook. I'm starting to feel safe again, at home again. I can walk into my old home without tearing up. And, when I really miss being a kid again, I can drive a short 40 minutes and have Mom and Dad cook me dinner.

Change has a considerable psychological impact on the human mind. To the fearful it is threatening because it means that things may get worse. To the hopeful it is encouraging because things may get better. To the confident it is inspiring because the challenge exists to make things better.

~ King Whitney Jr.

Society arrives late...

Or just me.

I JUST discovered this month-long blog challenge (you probably are familiar with the 26 Days of Gratitude I did in November), and I think I'm up for it! After a week of not blogging, I'm ready to dive back in with a vengeance.

Please meet...

via The Way I See It

The prompts are below if you feel like joining in... being late to the party with me.

The #best09 Prompts

December 1 Trip. What was your best trip in 2009?

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?

December 3 Article. What's an article that you read that blew you away? That you shared with all your friends. That you Delicious'd and reference throughout the year.

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?

December 5 Night out. Did you have a night out with friends or a loved one that rocked your world? Who was there? What was the highlight of the night?

December 6 Workshop or conference. Was there a conference or workshop you attended that was especially beneficial? Where was it? What did you learn?

December 7 Blog find of the year. That gem of a blog you can't believe you didn't know about until this year.

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?

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?

December 10 Album of the year. What's rocking your world?

December 11 The best place. A coffee shop? A pub? A retreat center? A cubicle? A nook?

December 12 New food. You're now in love with Lebanese food and you didn't even know what it was in January of this year.

December 13 What's the best change you made to the place you live?

December 14 Rush. When did you get your best rush of the year?

December 15 Best packaging. Did your headphones come in a sweet case? See a bottle of tea in another country that stood off the shelves?

December 16 Tea of the year. I can taste my favorite tea right now. What's yours?

December 17 Word or phrase. A word that encapsulates your year. "2009 was _____."

December 18 Shop. Online or offline, where did you spend most of your mad money this year?

December 19 Car ride. What did you see? How did it smell? Did you eat anything as you drove there? Who were you with?

December 20 New person. She came into your life and turned it upside down. He went out of his way to provide incredible customer service. Who is your unsung hero of 2009?

December 21 Project. What did you start this year that you're proud of?

December 22 Startup. What's a business that you found this year that you love? Who thought it up? What makes it special?

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.

December 24 Learning experience. What was a lesson you learned this year that changed you?

December 25 Gift. What's a gift you gave yourself this year that has kept on giving?

December 26 Insight or aha! moment. What was your epiphany of the year?

December 27 Social web moment. Did you meet someone you used to only know from her blog? Did you discover Twitter?

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?

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

December 30 Ad. What advertisement made you think this year?

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