Looking Back: 2012 in Review

From my husband's broken shoulder to the devastation of losing my Nana to advanced cancer, 2012 was in many ways the most difficult year of my life to date. Still, even in light of the tough times this year brought, it also had its positive moments, including my completion of graduate school and our fabulous fall trip to Hawaii in celebration of my in-laws' 40th anniversary. Here, a New Year’s Eve look back at the good, the bad and the ugly of 2012.

January

-- Began my final semester of graduate school

-- Joined the ROW80 writing challenge as I got serious about working on my first novel, which is still in progress

-- Celebrated Stephen’s 29th birthday, plus the one-year anniversary of our adopting Molly and Twix

February

-- Saw my article on 2012 wedding trends published via The Favour Shoppe Blog

-- Attended the Kennedy Center lecture Budapest, Prague, and Vienna: Where the Coffee House Influenced the Opera House

March

-- Attended a Washington National Opera performance of Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte 

-- Viewed a special 70th anniversary showing of Casablanca at a local movie theater

-- Took a sushi-making class, where Stephen and I learned how to create delicious California and spicy tuna rolls

-- Toured DC's gorgeous cherry blossoms in honor of the blooms' 100th anniversary

April

-- Sadly discovered that my 80-year-old Nana had been diagnosed with terminal cancer 

-- Rushed to the ER the very next day after Stephen fell down and broke his shoulder while trying to rescue a stray dog in the street
-- Helped create wedding-related infographics and blog content while working as a Taiolred.co editorial consultant

-- Watched the space shuttle Discovery fly above DC en route to its new home at the Air and Space Museum

May

-- Took the first in a series of trips out to California in order to spend as much time as possible with Nana and my family

-- Completed my two-year term as secretary of the board for Wish Upon a Wedding DC

-- Graduated from The George Washington University with my master's in publishing

June

-- Breathed a huge sigh of relief when Stephen's shoulder was declared fully healed

-- Saw my article on wedding photography and videography trends published in Inspire Smart Success Magazine

-- Returned to California to celebrate my grandparents’ 60th wedding anniversary, their last together

July

-- Attended The George Washington University’s annual publishing conference

-- Celebrated with friends and former classmates at our summer graduation party

-- Attended a tasty BBQ at Vintage Ridge Vineyards, my favorite Northern Virginia winery

August

-- Channeled my inner teen at the American Idol concert 
-- Celebrated Molly's second birthday

-- Took another trip out to California for more family time

-- Traveled to Seattle, where I explored the city with friends and spent an adventurous weekend hiking in Mt. Rainier National Park

September

-- Welcomed the final year of my 20s
-- Celebrated Twix's second birthday

-- Attended a Kennedy Center lecture on the symbolism behind Mozart’s Don Giovanni

-- As Nana’s health declined, returned to California once again in order to be with her during the final weeks of her life

October

-- Said my last goodbyes to Nana as she left this world behind following a courageous six-month stand against her disease
-- Celebrated Stephen’s acceptance into USC’s 2013 distance-learning astronautics graduate program

-- Took part in the White House's Fall Garden Tour

November

-- Attended The George Washington University’s annual publishing career night

-- Volunteered with a friend to help drive voters to the polls on Election Day

-- Spent a glorious week in Hawaii celebrating my in-laws’ 40th wedding anniversary

-- Attended a Thanksgiving weekend performance of Jekyll & Hyde at the Kennedy Center

December

-- Attended a Kennedy Center performance of JUBA: Masters of Tap and Percussive Dance 

-- Spent a week in California enjoying pre-Christmas festivities with family and friends

-- Returned to the Kennedy Center yet again for a holiday performance of the opera Hansel and Gretel

-- Celebrated Christmas in DC by enjoying a delicious dinner with a friend and her family 

Happy New Year's Eve, everyone! Since Stephen will be working overtime tomorrow, we'll likely keep things low-key here at home with homemade pizza, a glass of wine, and maybe even an extra helping of champagne as the night wears on. Do you have any special plans, or will you also be ringing in a quiet New Year? Either way, here's looking ahead to a fabulous 2013!