- For our week-long vacation this year we rented a house in the southern Outer Banks and spent a week doing absolutely nothing but enjoying all the OBX has to offer. It was the most relaxing vacation we've ever been on.
- Soon after our OBX trip we took a weekend and went to Florida to see Nick's cousin, Emily, get married. Such a sweet wedding! It was great seeing the Reinke side of the family as well. We are going to make Michigan a priority in 2012.
- June 9th Nick turned 27!
- After our May trips focus turned to one of my best and oldest friend's wedding. Shannon and Josh got married 9/10/11 and I was a bridesmaid. I spent a lot of time being there for her and just doing whatever she needed help with (must say -- best bridesmaid ever!). We had a bachelorette weekend in Charlotte and had a blast! Nick went to Josh's bachelor party the same weekend in the NC mountains and seemed to have an equally great time. Again, another good wedding.
- Unfortunately, the same weekend that Shannon and Josh got married my Grandfather passed away after a long fight with Leukemia. He was in his 80's We made a quick trip to Ohio for the funeral. What an amazing man! He'll be missed by all he touched.
- October brought about another wedding, Nick's friend from work, Kellan, married Susan. They've both become great friends and we had so much fun at this wedding. Probably one of my favorite weddings ever! You could tell the marriage was important to them and it wasn't about the actual wedding celebration/ceremony.
- October 29th I turned 28!
- November brought along Thanksgiving which we celebrated with our families.
- December 8th we celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary! I can't believe we've been married 4 years.
- Christmas was amazing and celebrated with our families once again! The holidays are always a busy but joyous time for us.
- I lost just over 27 lbs. this year. All of that was lost July-December. I was really motivated and working hard on weight loss May-October of 2010 but then lost motivation during the last part of 2010 and the first half of 2011, I was able to maintain but then in June I got frustrated with going to the gym every day and not seeing results. I've learned that it take working out and tracking my food in order for me to lose so the last week of June I got on the bandwagon again, I did a 9-day cleanse and lost 14lbs in that 9 days. I've been going strong ever since. Of course I could eat better but I find that if I deprive myself of what I really want then I just go off the deep end so I try and indulge in moderation. Things are moving slowly but in the right direction :)
- I have become extremely committed to my pre-work workouts. I have also started weight training and core strengthening classes. Since starting these I've gotten compliments from almost everyone about my weight loss. I think it's more toning than anything (someone told me it looked like I had lost 75 lbs. definitely not! only just over 27 this year and about 50 overall). I have also learned that cross training for cardio works for me. Since I'm taking classes for strength and core I manage to get a good change up in those classes from class to class (especially if I go to different instructors classes every once and awhile) but I was only doing the elliptical for cardio. I have recently (since October) started alternating between elliptical, running and biking. it's amazing how they target different muscle groups and make you feel different.
- I have done several home improvement projects this year with the help of my hubs and dad :)
- I started a square foot garden early this spring and had fresh veggies to eat, fresh tomatoes are AWESOME. Dad and mom helped me build the square foot garden frame.
- My mother-in-law put up a white tile back splash in our kitchen for my Christmas present last year. This year she came and painted my kitchen to make the back splash pop! Love it.
- The painting of the kitchen led Nick and I to install vertical blinds on our sliding glass door.
- Eventually all of that led me me getting a new light fixture over the eating area in the kitchen (which Nick installed). I also got a new kitchen sink (stainless steel) which my dad helped me install.
- Just recently (after Christmas) Nick and I re-arranged our living room. Which led to us painting a wall because some how the wall behind the couch got really dirty. Today we got new blinds for the living room and installed them, we also put up curtains in the living room. This feels like a completely different room! LOVE IT
- I have a love for my job. Honestly, at the end of last year I thought I would have moved on by now, I really wasn't happy in my job. New year and turnover brought on big structural changes and I really enjoy most of my days at work.
- I have made some really special friendships this year that I treasure!
- I would like to speed up the weight loss! I would love to loose 50 lbs. this year but I would be happy with just loosing more than I did last year. Starting the year off right with a 9-day cleanse on January 1.
- I hope to do 2 cleanses this year, at least. I'm thinking one at the beginning of the year and then one maybe mid-year.
- Become physically stronger and more athletic. I really like this new side of my life and hope to keep it going and trying new physically challenging things.
- Run at least a 5k this year. I could do that now but I would like to run it in under 40 minutes. If I could run a 10k that would be AWESOME! But I'm going to stay realistic and since I've never ran anything I'm going to keep my hopes low :) Something is better than nothing.
- Volunteer more! I did some volunteer work last year but hope to increase it this year. It really does make you feel good.
- Travel! This is always a hope for me. Past years we've been on the go constantly so in 2011 we kind of took a break and saved some money and stayed close to home. Hopefully 2012 will lead to the following trips:
- Tour of the North East! At the least we would like to go to Boston this year. But we are thinking about flying to Boston and then getting in as much as we can while we are north. We have some friends that moved to New Hampshire in May and seeing them is a priority this year!
- Ireland. If we leave the country this year we will be going to Ireland, I think that is already decided. It's probably the one place I've wanted to visit my whole life, let's face it, I'll fit right in :)
- California. Neither Nick nor I have been there and it's some place we would like to go.
- Canada. Montreal, Toronto...who cares. They love hockey and we want to be there!
- Let's follow the last bullet up by saying that it will be a priority to travel some where in 2012 with the specific purpose of seeing my 'Canes play an away game. Problem is; I don't like cold, hockey is played in winter and most of the hockey teams reside north of Raleigh.
- Nickell family reunion in July. Not sure where this is but I think the plan is for it to be in Bradenton. I would love to take Nick to where I was born and spent the first half of my childhood.
- I know all of this won't happen in the coming year as our purse strings (and time off work) won't allow it but if only 3 of the above mentioned trips happened I'll be happy!
- Blog more! I'm such a horrible blogger! I hope to better this in 2012.
- Oh! This has nothing to do with me but I would LOVE to become an aunt in 2012 :) No, I am not asking my brother, Chris to have a kid by any means. I have some very close friends who would love to be parents and becoming Auntie Laura to their baby in 2012 would be a dream come true for them (and me! I need a kid to spoil and I'm not having one).
