I wasn’t going to do this post. Everyone has seemingly done one and at the risk of jumping on the Year in Review Blog Post bandwagon, I am doing it anyway.
Reading so many Best Of posts caused me to reflect back on some of my 2011 Highlights:
Travel
Travel + Photography Workshops
Real Food Styling & Photography Workshop with Matt Armendariz and Adam Pearson
Mexico City with Penny de los Santos
Food & Light in Boulder, Colorado with White on Rice Couple, Jen, and others
Friend Meetups
Intentions & Goals, i.e. Resolutions, and Reflections
7 Links Post including most controversial posts, posts with surprising success, posts that didn’t see enough of the light of day, and more
Moving/House
Told we had to move within 30 days
Moved into a new place two weeks later
Family
My 10 Year Anniversary with Scott
Just being a Mom. Motherhood is my Best Of, period.
Non-food posts I am proud of
Compiling a FAQ Page which is a master list with answers to frequently asked questions that I receive. I also included sections on travel, photography, food questions, and more.
Two Recipes with surprising success
These have both gone gangbusters on Pinterest and Stumble.
Baked Cinnamon Bun Donuts with Vanilla Cream Cheese Glaze
No Bake Vanilla Cake Batter Chocolate Truffles
It’s interesting to me what like and gravitate toward, and what becomes a hit. Don’t get me wrong, although these two recipes are good, I like the following better…
Favorite Desserts
This is hard because I made so many but if I use the “first thing that comes to mind” strategy and think about what I just loved and missed when that dessert was done and gone ( I rarely make something twice when there’s so many new things to try), but the following are what popped into my mind: Two cookie recipes, one brownie recipe, two bars.
When it comes right down to it, simple is good. And so is peanut butter, chocolate, and white chocolate. If nothing else, I am consistent with the flavors and textures I like.
Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
Peanut Butter Oatmeal White Chocolate Chip Cookies
Fudgy Nutella Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting
Marshmallow Peanut Butter Double Chocolate Pillowtop Bars
White Chocolate Vanilla Marshmallow Cake Bars
Questions:
1. What are your highlights from 2011? Personal, work, family, relationship, blogging, food? What comes to mind?
2. Are you setting New Years Resolutions, intentions or goals?
Of course there are small things I am mindful of and would like to work more on, but overall, I’m not setting any huge new goals.
I tend to do that for myself throughout the year but nothing huge comes to mind now so I’ll take that as my cue to keep on, keepin’ on.. status quo.
If you are a resolution setter, I’d love to hear what’s on your mind and your list.
Happy New Year! If you’re celebrating tonight, please be safe!
Sure, the end of year posts get old, but it’s so nice to see what each of us considered our most significant moments. I’m glad you did this round up — so many delicious treats to savor!! Happy 2012, Averie.
Wow, what a year! It sounds like you have done lots of amazing things. I have been reading your blog for a while now and really enjoy it. I hope 2012 is a wonderful year for you and I look forward to your posts!
~Emily~
Great highlights!
I think I will set goals, or intentions …
I’ve been resisting writing a “Best of” post, but I think I might have to now. What a great year you’ve had! It also seems very photogenic.
By the way, I was surfing eBay for a good deal on a stand mixer for you, and they have a bunch over there. You might wanna go check it out? Just a thought! I know for a fact that men are much more likely to buy you things if said things are not very expensive. ;)
Happy New Year!!! 2011 seems to have been as action packed for you as it was for me. What a good year though. I moved states and changed universities AND changed my major as well. Lived on my own again, then moved in with the family again. Had ups and downs on the road to recovery from my eating disorder, but pretty much got it beat now which is super cool. Started my own blog and am just enjoying life.
2012 brings more exciting things and I’m still in the process of writing out my goals/ resolutions. But I know I want to add a bit more muscle to my frame and experiment with new recipes in the kitchen as well. Enjoy your new year’s celebration!!! see you on the flip side :)
Great recap, so many great memories here! All your photography adventures are awesome and I’m jealous of all your friend meetups, hopefully I’ll have more in 2012. :-P
1. Lots of highlights for me completely two half marathons and running the most miles in a year. And surviving a a busy year at work with things picking back up.
2. I have a lot of goals like expanding our garden, saving money, running more miles, and creating more recipes.
your photographs look professionally captured! always! you must be a photographer! happy new year to you! cheers to health, happiness, and peace in 2012! :) PS: i bought a fabulous blender so will need many and frequent vegan smoothie recipes from you! thank you in advance. ;) xxx
those are some gorgeous pics! :)
Looks like a lot of highlights in your year! I appreciate you keeping this post low-key but delicious with photography. Looking forward to hearing your goals for 2012. Just preparing to reflect on my 2011 highlights…
love
Ela
Low key is about all I can muster…ha! Happy 2012 to you my friend!
xo
What a great year and a great post to remind you of all you have accomplished!
I love the end of the year recap! It is a great way to see how exciting your year is and to catch up everyone else too!
I will definitely be making those cake batter truffles when I get back from vacation. Delish!
Happy 2012!
Thanks for making and blogging about so much of my stuff already :)
haha, i knew you wouldn’t be able to resist doing one! you looove reminiscing on past posts, so when you said you weren’t gonna do one, i was actually super shocked! happy new year!
I really had NO intention of it, none, but couldnt resist after seeing everyone’s years in pictures…I was like, well, okay…me too :)
wow what a wonderful year! It all looks delicious :) Highlights – marriage, graduation with a masters, and a new job. I have some ideas that I have started working on and want to continue working on in 2012 – mostly balance and cycling. Happy New Year!
Ditto for me “keep on, keepin’ on.. status quo.” That is how I roll too.
Love seeing your highlights and I am happy that I witnessed all of these virtually as they happened.
Fun to see what a successful year you have had & I bet 2012 will be even brighter.
See you in 2 weeks!! Yay. I always look forward to our meet-ups as well :)
Happy new year!
xo
Soak up the bits of your holiday sun and don’t party too hard tonite…kidding :)
See you soon. Miss you!!
xo
Happy New Year Averie to you and your family. Love seeing your photography grow in 2012. Someday when I get a decent camera I’ll have a dozen questions for you. :-)
Thanks for the compliments on my photography and anytime, ask away!