Looking back on 2011
Here is my giant recap of 2011! Last year, I split it up into four posts for each season, but I didn't like it as much. In 2009, I did a huge recap and it's just so fun to go back and see an entire year in a recap. So, here we go. I tried my hardest to cut it down and only include my favorite memories... but this truly has been a great year so this was a challenge. If you have a slow connection, I don't blame you for backing out now!
January
In January, Brett and I took a trip out to Crane's Pie Pantry. Later in the month, we did a wintry photo session with photographers, Bryan and Mae. It was freezing, but so much fun.
February
In February, Elizabeth and I put together the first INDIE e-conference. This was by far my favorite INDIE. One of my favorite memories of the entire year was when a bunch of us in INDIE were all in a chat-room, all watching Old Gregg and cracking up together. I also hosted the Michigan blogger meetup! We had a wonderful turn-out and I really enjoyed meeting so many girls from the state.
Brett and I went to Ann Arbor for the first time to shop, eat and search out a vintage photobooth.
March
In March, we launched the Delightful Dozen blog with a huge launch party. It was so fun and we were trending #1 on Bloglovin's Up & Coming list. It's been a great year with those girls and I'm excited for 2012 with them.
I was so lucky to meet Vanessa of The Velvet Bird. She was traveling with her husband's band through Grand Rapids. We ate dinner together and talked for a long time at a coffee shop. I love this girl!
Brett and I attended the Antwerp Fashion Show in Grand Rapids. Later in the month, we went on a quest to find both Sable Point lighthouses. The smaller one was in Shelby and the larger one was an adventure in Ludington.
April
Brett and I took a crazy, random, spontaneous trip to The Gateway City! We spent all weekend there. We had a blast at City Museum, laying under the arch, dining at the coolest diner ever and enjoying 80 degree temperatures when Michigan was having 30 degree temperatures!
Our band also started recording our first EP, All These Things.
May
In May, I headed out to Chicago to meet up with Andrea and Veronika! I loved meeting Veronika for the first time. She's become a really great friend this year. We went to the Randolph blogger meet up and fair. Good times!
I was so honored to model for Megan Nielsen's SS2011 line. It was such a dreamy line of clothing designed by the sweetest girl ever.
June
Veronika and I drove out to East Lansing to meet Maria of Lulu Letty! We ate lunch, took outfit photos and shopped together. Such a great day. A sad day in May was when we said goodbye to Tall Ships at their last show. If you aren't familiar, Tall Ships was my husband's band... and a huge part of our lives for a few years. I miss it like crazy!
I went on a city-wide scavenger hunt with my company. Some of my favorite memories included exploring the old, abandoned public museum, going to the top of the JW Marriott and giggling over our zumba dance.
July
In July, Brett and I took a long weekend to Northern Michigan. We stopped to Kaleva to visit the world-famous bottle house, visited Point Betsie Lighthouse and had a blast at Sleeping Bear Dunes. My favorite memory of this was when Brett ate too much pizza and drank a couple too many, ran down the biggest dune I've ever seen in my life, took an hour to get back up and puked when he reached the top. Hahaha!
I loved South Manitou island more than anything. This is one of my favorite photos of me. Plus, historic fish town was so amazing. I can't wait to go back.
We had the wonderful opportunity to stay at Black Star Farms. My favorite memory of this was sitting out on the front patio with Brett, drinking and star-gazing with the fountain in the background. Love.
To end our trip, we went to Cherry Festival - which was my first time. We sipped cherry rootbeers, ate cherries, explored Traverse City and rode rides until we felt sick. Haha!
When we got back home, we took our scooters out to the city for 4th of July with friends. My favorite memory of this was that all of our friends were on scooters, all riding double in downtown GR. Maybe my favorite memory of the year.
August
My band, Circle Maybe, recorded our music video and launched our first EP! I was also featured in the September Issue of Lucky magazine. Yes, I screamed when I saw my name in print.
Every August is our annual Coast Guard festival. All of our friends came out to the city to ride rides, eat carnival food and watch fireworks. We also got a little too crazy at our house afterwards and yelled things at people from our rooftop. So. much. fun.
Brett got me a Michigan trips book for my 25th birthday, so we had to check out Fallasburg Village. It was a ghost town with a covered bridge! It was so hot and we ended up swinging on a rope and peeking into windows and calling it a day to go get some ice-cream.
September
In September, I celebrated my two-year blogiversary. Then, I headed out to New York with Andrea for fashion week! It was a great week filled with a ton of memories with good friends. I love that city.
It was surreal attending the Lucky blogger breakfast at their headquarters. I was so excited! I felt like I was in a movie.
One of my favorite events from the week was definitely the ModCloth swap.
Afterwards, we darted straight to Bloggers Night Out - which was also a lot of fun and gave me the opportunity to meet some of my now-favorite bloggers!
The stylish picnic in Central Park was just what I needed to end the trip. My favorite memory from this was when I took a second to grab a homemade ice-cream by myself from a food truck and just sit and enjoy the beautiful view, sunshine and sounds of Central Park.
When I returned home from New York, Brett and I went to the Chicago Renegade craft fair where I had the opportunity to meet Rachel and Elsie of Red Velvet! Both of them are a huge inspiration to me and were so sweet in person.
At the end of the month, I was able to meet and photograph Mindy of States' outfit. I loved watching their show - such a good band.
October
In October, we took two of our closest friends, Jesse and Taylor, up to Gravity Hill where we rolled backwards down a hill. It was crazy. Then, we drove up to Sleeping Bear Dunes!
On a crazy 70-degree day in October, Brett and I took our final scoot trip of the season up to White River Lighthouse. Amazing day. My favorite memory was when we were on the back winding roads by the blockhouse on our scooters.
And this was by far the most beautiful autumn I've ever seen in Michigan.
Brett and I took a big trip up to the upper peninsula to see Porcupine State Mountain Park! My favorite spot was Lake of the Clouds. It was breathtaking.
We traveled to a few different waterfalls. Bond Falls and Overlooked Falls were two of our favorites. My favorite memory of this trip was going to see the Paulding Light. It's a mysterious light that's haunted. It was so creepy at the time... and so much fun.
To end October, I had the craziest Halloween weekend ever. Let's just say, I rarely drink... and this weekend, I drank way too much. Brett was in Florida at a music festival and I went a little overboard. Haha!
November
In November, Brett and I had a relaxing month after a few months of craziness. We explored the Ada Covered Bridge. I was also surprise-featured in the January issue of Lucky Magazine! My first time ever having a photo in a huge print magazine! So exciting. I bought five copies.
December
In December, we hosted our 5th annual Christmas Party for all of our friends. This was also an amazing year at my job. I became really close to my friend and co-worker, Sharisa. (We're known together as Sharieka!)
We enjoyed the holidays with our families...
And I can't wait to see what 2012 will bring! I'll be posting soon on my 2012 New Years resolutions. I have a huge list. I need a year of crazy productivity and I feel like 25/26 is the perfect year to do it. (If you survived to this point, bravo to you. You seriously deserve a piece of confetti cake with rainbow chip frosting.)