A Year in Review

I do this every year, and it's my favorite thing about the year end. It's neat to see what I've done, the big and small, the things that I may have forgotten, and reminisce on the things that my kids have accomplished. I really did do a lot this year, so grab a cup of coffee and pee before you sit down. This could take a while.

January - I posted more than a few recipes, including this soup that is one of my two very favorites. Hmm - I haven't made it since then. Maybe I'll make it this week. My girls made a cake together. We all pondered the concept of balance. I was sent on a blogging trip to Campbell's soup headquarters, where I was stricken with one of the most horrific migraines of my life. And right before I left my debit card was compromised, leaving me stranded on a trip with no card and no money. I'd forgotten that!

February - ah, February is always my worst month, and this year really just took the cake. I was sick for the third time in three weeks. I became a Facebook addict. My hubby made me a heart of peanut butter and one of juice. I was sent a forward that I should re read every week. I tore my calf muscle. Thanks to massive and intense non stop pain and multiple gigantic issues, I worked my way into a nervous breakdown that I didn't blog about but emailed a post to lots of you. I was given a boot to wear and crutches to use for 16 weeks.

In March I had a moment of peace with my easily irritable daughter. I was sentenced to another month in the boot but was able to give away the crutches. I interviewed Emma. I wrote a day in my life. I discovered BIG LOVE.I gave my daughter the heebie-jeebies when a man tried to pick me up.

April sent me to Mexico with my husband.  I got a horrible spray tan in prep for the trip. I took a shower in full view of half of Mexico. I had my paypal hacked to the tune of $2500. I quit my out of the home job.  I started working for Diets In Review. I took a media trip to Busch Gardens with my family to see the new Sesame Street area. I started physical therapy.

In May, Nik turned 17.  I was finally able to return to martial arts a little bit early. I took a trip to the Stouffer's headquarters. A doxycycline stuck in my throat, dissolved there and created two ulcers, necessitating a trip to the ER and to a gastro, and more than a week of no food. I went to my niece's wedding after getting pulled over for speeding.  My son was confirmed. I hosted the Hebrew National Picnic with a Purpose. I suffered a miscarriage.  

In June I opened the floor to question time. I pondered the purpose of my blog. School ended. We did an awful lot of swimming and I answered questions almost all month. (June was, apparently, a slow month...)

July saw me debating the merits of public vs private for my kids over and over in multiple posts. Emma turned 7.  I gave myself a black eye on July 4th and got to explain it to family. I went to Chicago for Blogher!! I discovered Lush and my showering will never be the same. I did my first ever endurance round for Muay Thai. 

August. Ah, heat and humidity. I made cold pressed coffee. I was nominated for a Love this Site! award. I discussed if I was going to get a job - oh, how I did discuss this. My husband bought his dreaded SHOES OF INFAMY. Mackenzie turned 12. I went to New York for a media trip for the Smart Choices program. 
My kids went back to their old schools.

September saw me in NYC again - my favorite city! - for the kitchen Ninja launch, a gadget that I love and use allll the time - where I was reminded, once again, that I am a nobody. I met with my potential agent, who ultimately declined the right to publishing my book. I also met with my Diets In Review bosses. I separated my girls bedroom into two halves. Allegra had her worst day ever. We are invited to a black tie event.

In October, I faced the terror of the dryer dying. Answered the ABC's of me, a meme that really answers everything you'd ever want to know about me. I let my kids create their own grocery list, with comical results. Emma cut her own bangs again. I realized that I CAN, indeed, do the flex arm hang.  Gabriel turned 10. 

November is always my favorite month, with Thanksgiving and this year, my 40th birthday. I created the Mom to Mom Newsletter for Diets In Review- if you haven't signed up, what are you waiting for? My CO2 detectors both malfunctioned at the same time and I had the distinct pleasure of calling the fire department. Mackenzie collapsed in the middle of a soccer game from asthma. The Department of Defense scared me with a late evening phone call. I went to Busch Gardens for a media event to open the new Christmas Towne exhibit.

In December, Allegra turned fifteen and Riley turned six. We celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary. My husband weed whacked his love onto our fence. I posted our holiday letter. I made Boeuf Bourguignon a la Julia child. I had a few very emotional days. 

Wow. What a year. Lots of very high ups - trips, birthdays, parties - and lots of very steep downs - not going to list them YET AGAIN. One thing I failed to include were all of the columns I wrote for Zwaggle and Diets In Review, the amazing give aways I had on my review blog, the wonderful opportunities I had for reviewing incredible products, and how many, many friends I was able to see in real life. I love my job and can't imagine doing anything else.

I wish all of you a safe, happy, healthy New Year, and come back tomorrow where we can chat about New Years Resolutions!

Comments

[Kalisa]

Happy New Year, C! Can't wait to see you in Nashvegas in February!! xoxox

[Tammy/Photosy by Tammy]

Happy New Year Carmen! You should have seen my hubby's face when I told him a trip to NYC would be an awesome 40th bday celebration. lol

[desiree]

Great post....At least February is the shortest month....You gotta look for the silver lining. Right??? And, I as well love Lush! Seriously one of the best things for me at Blogher. Happy New Year Carmen. Hope to see you in 2010.

[Liz in Seattle]

Oh yeah, love them giveaways, she typed from her giveaway ;-)

Blessings for you and yours this New Year!

[sabz]

Happy New Year C--! Happiness & Health to you & your family,
Cheers,
Sabz

[kyooty]

Happy New Year!

[Nicki]

Happy New Year, Carmen!

[beth]

Hope you a blessed New Year Carmen!

[Karen Sugarpants]

I love this post. aaaand I got to spend quality time with you in July. Bonus!

[Lin]

I'm just delurking to tell you that this past year, your blog really mattered to me.

I'm a mother of five who has been reading and feeling a little less alone. When it turned out that some of my children were a bit more special needs than we thought. (Autism spectrum). When trying to work outside the home and realizing that it didn't work at all. The unexpected pregnancy, the miscarriage and the emotions that came with both.

To me, reading your blog and your thoughts about it all, made me feel a little less alone. Even though I live in a different part of the world than you. (Scandinavia)

So thank you for sharing a large family life that I can actually recognize my own in. For being brave enough to share both the ups and downs instead of presenting a glossy version of it.

And happy new year to you. I hope you have a great one.

[Jennifer]

Wow! What a year. I just realized that 3 of our kids are the same ages, 12, 10 & 7! Anyway, Happy New Year. I love reading your blog. You rock.