Buh Bye 2011

I wasn't planning to do a 2011 year in review. I feel like the entire news and blog world is buzzing with reviews, roundups, best of's, and goodbyes to the year. These kinds of posts and articles simultaneously make me feel happy and sad, but such is life I suppose. Happy to think back on fun times, but sad to know that another year has come and gone.

But when I thought about all that has happened over the last year, I thought it was worth taking one more look back at it. It was a good year!

I ate delicious pancakes...

I did a lot (and I mean, a lot!) of cooking...

I made the ugliest cake ever...

Shaun and I went to Atlanta, where we ate amazing food, attended a Falcons-Packers playoff game and drank ourselves into a sugar coma at the Coke museum...

I made a lot of cupcakes...like this Banana Cupcake with Nutella Frosting...mmmm

and these Malted Chocolate Cupcakes

I ate a lot of whipped cream

I fell in love with smoothies...

...and made some delicious Irish eats...

I helped Lindsey make 350 chocolate truffles for her engagement party...

 

I told you all about how Shaun and I met and fell in love...

...and all the details of our dream destination wedding in Aruba

 

 I went crazy with this Chocolate Cookie Peepza Pie

We took a trip to Madrid...

..and Zurich & Zug

Kimberly graduated from law school...and passed the Bar!

I made some delish summery dishes

I made some amazing bar desserts...

like these pretzel crusted brownies with buttercream

pineapple coconut dream bars...

and layered Oreo cake bars

We celebrated our 3rd anniversary

took a trip to Aruba

I started a new blog with my sisters. If you haven't seen it yet, please check out The Peach & The Pit! Some big changes happening with that in the coming days...

We took a trip to New Mexico to celebrate my cousin's wedding...

Hosted a virtual cookie swap with some A-mazing bloggers!

and baked a whole lotta cookies and holiday goodies

had a wonderful Christmas with my family...

and overall a healthy and wonderful 2011! This year I posted 84 recipes on the blog...wowza! I just tallied it up and can't believe that number. My project for this weekend is to work on updating the recipe page for you!

I hope that you all have a wonderful and safe new year's eve tonight! Have a blast!

Cheers!

Rachel

My Love/Hate Relationship with New Year's

I have a love/hate relationship with New Year’s.

My sister once told me that she loves January 1 because it’s a starting point. A chance to begin anew. I simply look at it as a way to measure time.

While January 1 marks the beginning of a shiny, brand new year, it’s also the end of another one, which always leaves me a little sad. After all, it has been a good year.

Some Great Things in 2010 {big and small}:

• It marked a full year at my ‘new’ job - which isn’t so new anymore

• I went on 3 (that’s right, 3!) vacations...

Our Antiguan Long Weekend Getaway

Our Yearly (and 2nd Anniversary) Family Trip to ArubaYellowstone National Park with Shaun's parents

• Shaun and I purchased our first home, which we adore

• We spent lots of time with friends and family at various dinners, parties and other gatherings

• We leased a new car that we love - a Prius! Yep, we’re that couple

• I realized that groceries can be delivered (and my life was forever changed)

• I got really good at painting my own nails

• I made a whole lotta cupcakes

Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes

Autumn Apple Cupcakes + Cinnamon Frosting

Chocolate Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream

• One of which was featured in many spots around the blogosphere

Dexter Season Premiere Cupcakes

• I learned how to make my Grandma Mary's famous apple pie, complete with homemade crust

• I devoured said apple pie 

• Friends got married and engaged

• I started The Avid Appetite, found lots of fantastic blogs, and made lots of blog buddies in the process!

Not to shabby, huh? And with all of these great things behind me, I have a bit of anxiety over a whole new year ahead. What will it bring? Good things? Bad things? It’s anyone’s guess. In case you don’t already know me, that little lurker Change and I are not good friends. I’m not sure why, other than...well...it seems as though I just don’t like him. I’m feeling my heart rate increase just a little by simply thinking about it.

And don’t even get me started on the whole ‘getting older’ thing. That’s not lost on me either. I received 4 different age-defying moisturizers in my Christmas stocking this year, with a smile and a “It’s time girls!” from Mom.

Though at least my younger sister was included in the ‘girls’ reference. (And by the way Mom, after trying them out, I really do love each of them so thanks!)

So with this great year almost behind me and with some anxiety on my shoulders (that’s where I hold my stress ;)) there are some things that I’m absolutely looking forward to for 2011.

• Good skin (see above)

• The Avid Appetite’s 1 Year Birthday (coming in a few weeks!)

• Traveling - back to Aruba, New Mexico and ????

• Working to get our new home painted and fully furnished

• Spending lots of time with my favorite guy

• Getting back on track with exercising and shedding a few pounds

• Enjoying fresh popcorn at a moment’s notice (though I guess that won't aid in the above)

• Continuing to cook, eat and write avidly...and making more wonderful blog friends in the process!

So there it is. All of my feelings on New Year's. What do you think? How do you feel about the impending January 1?