1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?

I went to Austin, Tx. I visited friends and family and had a wonderful time.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

Some I did, some I didn’t. I wanted a kitchen remodel and new appliances, which I mostly got. I wanted to save more money and be better with my finances. That didn’t happen. I also wanted to be more organized. I suppose I am a little bit, but not like I’d like to be. I will probably not make any resolutions for 2012. I’m just not good with them.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

No, but I still got a fair amount of baby snuggles in throughout the year.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No, thankfully.

5. What countries did you visit?

I’ve never been outside of the US. My sister is always begging me to get my passport. Someday…

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you didn’t have in 2011?

Besides a baby and a boatload of money? I would really like to have financial stability. Money in my savings account. Bills that are always paid on time and me not living paycheck to paycheck.

7. What dates from 2011 will be etched upon your memory, and why?

I celebrated my 5th wedding anniversary on 8/5/11. That was pretty cool. Other than that, I can’t think of anything.

8. What was your biggest achievement of this year?

Probably all of the work I did on the house. There is still so much more to be done, but I’m happy with what I’ve accomplished so far.

9. What was your biggest failure?

I’d rather not say here.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

I’m happy to say no.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

My new appliances. They make me so happy. I also really dig my iphone and my kindle.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

My sister and my husband are the two people in my life I cannot live without. We don’t always get along, but I could not imagine my life without them. They are supportive and strong and an ear when I need to talk. So I would like to celebrate them. Warts and all.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

The whole Penn State thing comes to mind. And even though I don’t watch reality tv, all of the attention and fame given to the Real Housewives and the Jersey Shores continues to annoy me. But at least the people in my life aren’t bringing me down.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Bills. I took no extravagant trips or bought anything major this year other than my appliances.

15. What did you get really excited about?

The kitchen remodel. Even though it was only a partial remodel, it’s made a world of difference.

16. What song will always remind you of 2011?

I don’t know of just one song, but Adele’s 21 album for sure.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?

Sadder in some ways, happier in others. But probably more sad than happy.
I don’t think I’m fatter, but I’m not thinner. It seems like every time I lose 20 lbs it goes back on slowly.
Poorer for sure. Which adds to the sadness.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Exercise. Saving. Cleaning. I’m really lazy.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Eating. Spending. Watching tv.

20. How will you spend Christmas?

I’ve never not woken up in Texas on Christmas morning. This year will be no different. But due to work schedules and whatnot, we’re staying less than 48 hours. Driving down on Christmas Eve and back on Christmas Day. I won’t get to see all of my family, but I’m doing the best I can.

21. Did you fall in love in 2011?

I was already in love with my husband. I did manage, to fall in love with a lot of material things. Silly me.

22. What was your favorite TV program?

I watched a lot of tv this year on Netflix. Friday Night Lights was probably the best. Although I really enjoyed Damages and I love the new show Revenge.

23. What was the best book you read?

The Help. With the Hunger Games trilogy coming in second.

24. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Listening to country music again after years of not opened up a lot of new favorites for me. Lady Antebellum for sure.

25. What did you want and get?

Appliances, iphone, kindle.

26. What did you want and not get?

Pregnant.

27. What was your favorite film of 2011?

It sure wasn’t Breaking Dawn. Probably The Help.

28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 34. I went back to work after being off almost a week for my Austin trip. But on my actual birthday, nothing fun.

29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Having a baby. And not having all of the plumbing in our house go crazy.

30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept of 2011 ?

Black. And more black. I know I don’t have a great body so I do what I can to hide it without wearing tents. It usually involves layers and cardigans and not much color.

31. What kept you sane?

Am I sane?

32. What political issue stirred you the most?

I’m not political. So nothing comes to mind.

33. Who did you miss?

A friend who one was. And other bloggy friends I wasn’t able to see like Isabel and Sizzle.

34. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.

Don’t flush tampons down the toilet. Your plumber will scold you. And hand you a big bill.

35. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

“My life is like a lemon drop. I’m sucking on the bitter to get to the sweet part. I know there are better days ahead.” – Pistol Annies

Well there it is folks. Sorry if it’s a bit depressing. Maybe next year will be better.

I stole this from MauraLessa who stole it from others and so on and so forth.

While some think that a blogger only displays what is picture perfect on his or her blog, we know we are all filled with imperfections. I don’t feel like I’ve ever painted a false picture here on my blog about who I am, but I know we all leave out some of the worst things about ourselves. Just like how I crop and edit the heck out any photo I dare to use as a profile pic. So lest anyone around here think I have all my ducks in a row, let me knock a few of those ducks down for you.

• I almost never take my clothes out of the dryer as soon as they are done drying. It’s very common for me to leave them in there for almost a whole week, just going in the laundry room and pulling out what I need for that day. I hate putting away laundry. I also never iron. I have a shirt I’ve only worn once because pre-wash was the only time it was ever not wrinkled.
• I pay little or no attention to my dogs. My husband feeds and waters them. They have a dog door so they can come in and out as they please. I will occasionally bathe them myself, but only if I can’t talk my husband into doing it. I don’t like the licking or the barking or the jumping or the peeing where it’s not allowed. Basically, I’m not an animal person.
• I have issues with my ears. Multiple times a day I can found with either a q-tip or a bobby pin in my ear. It’s a little bit OCD. The over-cleaning leads to dry ears which leads to itching which leads to scratching which leads to this vicious cycle I can’t seem to get out of. Sorry if I just grossed you out there.
• My husband and I are not shy when it comes to bodily functions. We burp and fart around each other all the time. And while I do not want an audience while going to the bathroom, I often leave the door open when I’m going number 1. And we sometimes say we’re blowing kisses when we fart at each other. I know, you can go throw up now.
• We have a mail slot in our front door. Sometimes we let the mail pile up on the floor for days before we pick it up and sort through it.
• I don’t flush the toilet when I pee in the middle of the night. I wait until the morning.
• The George Bush turnpike (in Dallas) used to be set up so that you could stop and pay it with money. A couple of years ago they took away the toll booths. So now your only option is to be billed in the mail or use a pike pass. Since I’m an Oklahoma resident this means that they don’t bill me for using it because they don’t have access to my address. So what used to cost me $6 round trip to go from my grandma’s house to IKEA is now FREE! And I do not feel guilty about that at all. No one should have to stop and pay $1 six times for a drive that’s 40 minutes round trip. Not when I can drive the four hours from Tulsa to Dallas paying only one toll of $2.
• Last year someone rear ended me. It was the first time I’ve ever been in an accident. The damage to my bumper was minimal, so instead of getting it fixed, I used the money to go to BlogHer.
• My master bathroom was the first room I chose to makeover last year. The project got abandoned halfway through due to monetary issues. And while I’ve managed to move on and makeover almost every other room in the house, my master bath still sits unfinished. And only the toilet and sink are usable. This is kind of a pattern in my house as all the rooms I’ve managed to makeover have not been completed.
• Sometimes I delete things off the DVR that my husband recorded when it’s starts filling up. And then I pretend that the DVR did it. How many episodes of Hillbilly Handfishin’ does one really need to see?

I think I’ll stop here. I can’t let you know all my secrets.