Sunday 7: Best of 2012

I swear this is my last post on 2012.

But man... it was quite the year.

I moved downtown, ran a marathon, got engaged...so many firsts!

I usually use Sunday Seven to catch you up on my happenings from the week, what I read on the internet, what's happening in the world- real and virtual and whatever things were on my 'it' list.

This week, I'm giving you my 'it' list for all of 2012. Last January, I did a post on the Best of 2011 and I think it's going to start being an annual thing.

So without further adieu, here is a little special Sunday Seven just for you:

1. BEST TRIP
I had a great time in Nashville with my grandma, spending time in Frederick seeing T's stomping grounds, and hanging out in KCMO-  but I think its obvious what my favorite weekend was....
Minneapolis!!

I ran my first marathon...

And I got engaged to the love of my life!!

It was an amazing way to celebrate 3 wonderful years together!

You can read more about our trips in posts here and here.

 

 

2. BEST CONCERT

We went to a lot of awesome shows this year, none quite as big as last year- but still some really awesome shows.

I think my favorite has to got to be Greg Laswell and Ingrid Michaelson.

 

It was a great summer date night.

We've seen Greg before, but this is the first time we've seen Ingrid Michaelson. And the show was so great.

 

Read about all our concerts here:

Summer Music

NeedtoBreathe

 

3. BEST BOOK

There were a couple books I read this year that had a profound impact on me.

If you haven't read The Power of Habit  by Charles Duhigg- you are missing out. Seriously.

This book changed my life.

 

 

By understanding the habit loop- cue-> routine -> reward- I learned how I can create new habits and also how to quit old ones.

I normally hate these kinds of books (self-help), but I found the psychiatry and sociology behind it fascinating. Especially the way we think and how being told we 'can't' do something just makes us want to do it more. I had so many light bulbs going off when reading this book.

 

Also, I wrote an entire blog post about Confessions of an Amateur Believer. A book I would also highly recommend.

And...if you want to see what I'm reading- you can friend me on Goodreads.

 

4. BEST ALBUM

Hands down.

 

 

I love every song. I sing along LOUDLY in the car.

We listened to this album our entire trip up to Minnesota.

Even now, I can't stop listening.

 

5. BEST RACE

This is also pretty much a no brainer.

My first marathon!!

 

I couldn't be more proud of that moment. Seriously. It took a lot of hard work and it was super rewarding to say I worked really hard for something and succeeded.
Every time I see this picture I almost cry all over again!
I can say with 100% certainty- this is not my last race.

Read about the other races I ran here.

6. BEST SONG
In my post about music, I talked a lot about the Imagine Dragons show.
My favorite song they played is called, 'It's Time.'

Here are the lyrics:

So this is what you meant
When you said that you were spent
And now it's time to build from the bottom of the pit
Right to the top
Don't hold back
Packing my bags and giving the academy a rain check

I don't ever wanna let you down
I don't ever wanna leave this town
'Cause after all
This city never sleeps at night

It's time to begin, isn't it?
I get a little bit bigger, but then I'll admit
I'm just the same as I was
Now don't you understand
That I'm never changing who I am

So this is where you fell
And I am left to sail
The path to heaven runs through miles of clouded hell
Right to the top
Don't look back
Turning the rags and giving the commodities a rain check

I don't ever wanna let you down
I don't ever wanna leave this town
'Cause after all
This city never sleeps at night

It's time to begin, isn't it?
I get a little bit bigger but then I'll admit
I'm just the same as I was
Now don't you understand
That I'm never changing who I am

It's time to begin, isn't it?
I get a little bit bigger, but then I'll admit
I'm just the same as I was
Now don't you understand
That I'm never changing who I am

This road never looked so lonely
This house doesn't burn down slowly
To ashes, to ashes

It's time to begin, isn't it?
I get a little bit bigger, but then I'll admit
I'm just the same as I was
Now don't you understand
That I'm never changing who I am

It's time to begin, isn't it?
I get a little bit bigger, but then I'll admit
I'm just the same as I was
Now don't you understand
That I'm never changing who I am

 

It was just getting big right before I went to Nashville.

I listened to this song on repeat before my race.

I've never felt so pumped up.

It's my new anthem.

 

Favorite line?

I don't ever wanna let you down
I don't ever wanna leave this town

 

The band is actually from Vegas and he's singing about his city, but when I sing it- I'm singing about mine. :)

 

7. BEST VERSE

I don't think it's heresy to say there is a best verse, but I did have a verse that spoke to me this year:

 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

-Hebrews 12:1

 

I don't know if it's possible to one verse apply to your life...I think verses have seasons for each and every one of us...but if there was to be just one for me- this might just be it.

 

 

So there you have it, my 'Best of' for 2012. What is yours?

 



 

 

 



Best of 2011

2011 was a magnificent year for me.
In this past year, I feel like I really came into my own (as cheesy as that sounds). Things started to click together and I have a vision for my life. It feels good to be in my skin these days.

Anyway, in admiring the remarkable year that was 2011, I wanted note those things that stood out as the 'best' for me:

BEST TRIP
I loved our overnight in Kansas City and our long weekend in Colorado, but my favorite trip of 2011 was our road trip to Minnesota.

We drove up to see U2 play at TCF bank stadium

It was a mind-boggling show. U2 is an amazing band whose music spans the decades and remains relevant year after year.

We also visited Ikea (Luuuuuv!) and tried out the famous Juicy Lucy.

We had so much fun and got to do so much in just a couple of days!
To read all about our trips:

Minnesota Trip
Kansas City Trip
Denver Trip and here and here


BEST CONCERTIn 2011, we went to ~18concerts. We saw infamous artists at big venues (U2 at TCF Bank Stadium) and local artists at street shows (Envy Corps at Gaslamp). Picking just one as the BEST is pretty much impossible.
So I picked a few

Best out of town show
Since U2 already got a mention, I have to go with Foo Fighters in Council Bluffs. Hands down- my favorite HUGE name show of 2011.

Best local show
Jack's Mannequin at People's. I just got into JM this year and this concert was awesome. People's is one of my favorite venues- it was perfect for this artist.

Best outdoor show
Matt Nathanson played the Simon Estes Amphitheater this summer. His new album had just come out and it was perfect for a nice, hot summer evening.

Best local artist show
Gaslamp Pumpkin Bash: Envy Corps, Bright Giant, Dick Prall, Poison Control Center and a couple others. Need I say more?


BEST BOOK
This year I read Jane Eyre for the very first time. I know it's not new at all, but it was new to me and fantastic.

As for a current read...it's a toss up between Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert and The Adults by Alison Espach.
I loved Committed so much- I actually wrote an entire blog post about it. You can read it here.
I really connected with The Adults because it's about this girl and her life from middle/high school into adulthood. It's all about her growth into an adult by watching her parents and other adults around her, while also experiencing it herself. It's so true to life in the ways people really are all just screwed up....I loved it. :)

BEST ALBUMS
Anyone who knows me knows that I love music. Which is why this category got more than a few mentions...I actually had to narrow it down to four.
Needtobreathe- The Reckoning


I absolutely love this album. There are multiple stand out songs and the flow from one song to the next is perfect. 'Able', 'Wanted Man' and 'Learn to Love' are my favorites.

Foo Fighters- Wasting Light


I'll be honest...never have been a huge Foo Fighters fan. When this album came out, T kept telling me how amazing it was and burned me a copy.
I couldn't agree more. I actually ran a couple races listening to only this album. It's fast-paced, lyrically sound and will rock your socks off. Favorite songs are 'Arlandria' and 'Walk.'

Switchfoot- Vice Verses


I knew a few Switchfoot songs before this album came out, notably 'Needle in Haystack Life' and I was curious about this album. It's a double disc with 11 live tracks. It has faster paced songs 'Afterlife,' 'Dark Horses' and also some soul-searching numbers like 'Vice Verses' and 'Thrive.' My favorite song on the album is 'Thrive.' Love it.

Augustana- self-titled


This was Augustana's 4th full album, but they were brand new to me. :) I love this album from beginning to end. It's full of heartfelt songs about love. It makes me happy every time I listen to it.

BEST RACE
This was easy.
Dam to Dam.
I ran it with my favorite people.
And I set a PR - 20K 1:56:07

So there you have it- my 'Bests' of 2011.
I'm looking forward to another year filled with great memories!!

What were your 'bests' of 2011?