year in review

2012 in Review

kristyLeave a comment

January

2012, y’all!
I rang in the new year in Chihuahua, which is possibly the only city where pines and palm trees grow side by side.
My niece and I got acquainted.

February

In February, I got to go to a Harlem Globetrotters game thanks to my cousin Josh. SO. MUCH. FUN!
This was the “stroller parking” at the Globetrotters game. SO. MANY. BABIES!
I finally convinced Devin to come with me to a yoga class. He liked it!

March

My birthday falls on February 28, which was a Tuesday, so I started March with a birthday party. I had so much fun, and our tiny apartment was filled with friends, food, and flowers. Thanks for coming, friends!
I started taking advantage of cool events in New York, like a free screening of the premiere episode of Mad Men season 5 held at this cool theater.
Also in March, Devin and I met up at Grand Central to attend a fancy function sponsored by our alma mater. Thanks, college!

April

The little apartment I had with my friends kept getting cuter!
I loved Spring in New York. Tasha and I took the East River Ferry and got to see the Williamsburg Bridge up close. To me, she looks like a cousin of the Eiffel Tower.
Also in April I got to visit a publishing house and the NPR New York headquarters. I even got free books and free tote bags!


May

Nolan and Anakaren got married!
I got to revisit Portland for the first time since moving away.
It was so fun to see Melissa.


June

Roommate breakfast. Marika’s plate is empty because she is gluten-free…and she got so excited about her gluten-free donut that she ate it before I could take this shot.
I discovered the joys of Central Park by spending time there and reading this incredible book, which helped me understand the history of New York City and its iconic park.
Issy came to visit, and we had adventures.

July

In July, I got to go to Portland (again!), this time with my mom. We stayed in a beautiful house decorated by a former art teacher.
After a week of seeing PBR advertised everywhere, my mom decided to try it.
Bonus: Devin happened to be in Portland, too! Unfortunately, we weren’t terribly photogenic in July…

August

In August, I swam almost every day at the free pool in my neighborhood.
Devin finally returned to the East Coast, and we got to spend a few days in Philadelphia with his mom and grandmother!
Oh, and did I mention we got to see Ira Glass live and from the third row? Must’ve slipped my mind… ; )

September

Devin’s birthday!
I discovered a beautiful bookstore.
My friends from the restaurant where I worked gave me the nicest farewell.

October

In mid-October, Hurricane Sandy seemed like no big deal. One of our friends even carved a “Franken-storm” pumpkin.
After Sandy, I spent a lot of time feeling sad, anxious, and frustrated about global warming; so it was nice to see that at least the storm left beautiful leaf piles.
And for Halloween, Devin and I dressed up like city mouse, country mouse!

November

I felt like a certified adult at my job, which might be an apt description, actually.
Devin and I biked up a mountain in Connecticut.
I got the sweetest card from someone saying she liked my blog! It was possibly my proudest moment of 2012, especially because last year I wrote a thank-you note and sent a little gift to a blogger I admire. Full-circle moment, y’all.

December

This picture of my family playing Scattergories perfectly sums up Christmas for me. Have I mentioned I love love love love my family? …I know, but can I say it again?
Sightseeing with Vanessa and Josh was the perfect way to start the holiday season!
I decorated a little tree and wrapped presents in Park Slope, where I lived in an apartment with a fireplace!

My favorite posts of the year:
Funny thoughts on feminism
Devin’s first milkshake review
Homes of Portland
Borders


I hereby declare 2012, also known as My Year of Instagram, over for time and all eternity!

Gallery

2011 in review

kristy, , , , 2 Comments

Hi, everyone! I’m still visiting my family in Mexico. Today is Día de Reyes, the last day of the holiday season here, which means I absolutely have to post my year-in-review post and stop listening to Christmas carols riiiiight now.

January

The year started with my cousin Carol’s wedding!
I got to help teach kindergarteners about Martin Luther King, Jr. and social justice.
Devin and I dressed up as ‘American Gothic’ in sepia for a costume party.

February

My housemates and I took family pictures thanks to our fearless leader Hallie!
We’ve never been a Valentine’s Day couple, but this year Devin surprised me with my favorite cake! Here we are making a toast: Dev is holding my little glass of soymilk, and I’m holding his giant bottle of local organic cow’s milk. (We are a caricature. And how!)
I celebrated my birthday with brunch at The Nines.

 March

March was a hard month because my grandmother passed away. I felt fortunate to be able to fly home and see my family, but it was hard.

When I was little my grandmother would take me to Mass and out for ice cream afterward. I told Devin about our tradition, and he took me to do just that in memory of my Abbita.
I had to spend Spring Break in the library working on my thesis.
…but I did get to go skiing on Mt. Hood!
I almost ruined Anda’s surprise birthday party. Thank goodness I didn’t! It was in our old dorm, and the pizza was delicious, and her sister baked a cake.

April

In April, I finished doing the fieldwork for my thesis. Doing fieldwork was fun and rewarding, but it meant I had to spend a lot of time waiting at bus stops in the rain (totally worth it).
When I wasn’t doing fieldwork, I was in the library. Devin was a dear. He brought me like a million library dinners.
This is my favorite picture from April. Nate’s glasses were foggy.

May

I finally finished my thesis!
My dream of sharing Portland with my mom (again) and my two aunts (for the first time) came true! Here are the mamis and me at my favorite coffee shop! 
Dev & my mom got me a new computer for graduation! 
Before we parted ways, Melissa & Anda & I gathered for one final brunch. It was yummy, but I am still baffled: why didn’t we go to our usual spot?

June

At my first grown-up job in downtown Portland, I discovered the joys of the grown-up lunch break!
The best show I saw all summer was the Rock ‘n Roll Camp For Girls Spring Showcase.
In Wisconsin I discovered a breathtakingly beautiful bakery. The walls were covered with vintage recipe cards! 

July

July was a big month, so brace yourself for lots of pictures!

Fourth of July was so much fun! The weather finally turned summery, and I feel like I hung out with fifty-three friends the whole weekend! Also, my hair looks like Cocker Spaniel ears in this picture.
I got to live with my friend Nora all summer! Her birthday party was Kreayshawn-themed. This is one of my favorite pictures ever for the following reasons: a) Nora rules, b) it showcases our perfectly 90s kitchen, & c) you can see all our spices because the cabinet door fell off its hinges.
Dev & I had a going-away party where everything was local (we even made sure our guests were real-life, actual Portlanders!).
Devin & I gave each other watches to mark our engagement!
I had to say bye to Devin AND the kristy dreambike (they took a train to the East Coast).

August

Before I left Portland, I discovered what an artichoke in bloom looks like.
Then, I went to Texas to do fun Texas things, by which I mean I went to the mall with my mom. A lot.
I bid farewell to my summer hair at Shampoo before moving to New York.

 September

This was our building in Park Slope. It was pretty, but Anda, Marika, & I had to share a one-bedroom with an enormous pitbull who only ate raw chicken.
When my mom made me evacuate New York for September 11th, I found a brunch place that matched my dress.
Seriously, it matched my dress perfectly!

October

I fell head-over-heels in love with my new Subway stop!
Grand Central & I started to feel like pals.
This was my favorite sign at Occupy Wall Street.

November

I spent most of the month taking care of my mom post-surgery. The best part of the day was sharing breakfast in her bed.
I also spent a lot of time with Laisha.
I was going to have to skip Thanksgiving, but thanks to the genius of Dev & the East Coast’s adequate train infrastructure (rest of the States, get with it!), I flew to Baltimore & reached Philadelphia by train just in time for dinner with Devin’s family. Here we are with Grandma Pat!

December

I marched for Voting Rights!
My first Christmastime in the cityyyyy! (You cannot imagine how many times I sang that one. Quietly. To myself. Alone. I’m not that annoying.)
Then, I spent Christmas with my whole family, where I had so much fun that I forgot to take pictures. This one of some wimyn, a girl, & THE baby in the family comes to us courtesy of my cousin.

2011, thank you for the lessons & good times. You are dismissed.

2011 in review