Best Of: 2013 Edition

It's the last day of 2013, which means every blog in the land is going to have a "year-end review" or a "recap" or "reflection" post today. This is no different. I posted a "Best Of" list last year because 2012 was a very good year for me and I wanted to remember that later when I have really awful years.

But I kind of like the "Best Of" concept. I think it's a better thing to reminisce on all the good things that happened in a year than focus on all the horrible ones, so maybe this will become an annual deal.

This year I realized that being a single, gainfully employed adult could be a very good thing. I traveled a lot (for me, anyway) and read a lot of books and saw a lot of movies. I like to see the creativity people have and how they put it forth for the masses. So there might be a lot more creative-type entertainment-things on this list than say, personal things.

Without further explanation or hesitation, here is my Best Of: 2013 Edition

Books

• The Boys of My Youth by Jo Ann Beard
• Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick
•  Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
•   The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
• The Girl's Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank
• In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
• The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

Music

• Lorde -  Pure Heroine
• Justin Timberlake - The 20/20 Experience Part 1 (mostly) & Part 2 (mostly)
•  The Hunger Games: Catching Fire soundtrack
• The Secret Life of Walter Mitty soundtrack
• The Great Gatsby soundtrack
• A Great Big World (feat. Christina Aguilera) - Say Something (single)
• Jay Z featuring Justin Timberlake - Holy Grail (single)
• Emeli Sandé - Next to Me (single)

Movies

• The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
• The Way Way Back
• The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
• Girl Most Likely
• Star Trek Into Darkness
• American Hustle   
• About Time
• Iron Man 3

Food

• Pain au chocolat from Bosie Tea Parlor
• Artichoke crusted filet medallions from Brio
• Goat cheese and spinach quiche from Bosie
• Lobster bisque from Legal's Sea Food
• Lobster roll from Dairy Keen
• P.B.L.T.A tacos from Taqueria 27

Moments

• Mastering the New York subway system/navigating the Times Square station by myself and not asking anyone how to get to my train
• Being in Fenway Park for Big Papi's grand slam in the 8th inning of Game 2 of the ALCS 
• Rosie sitting on my lap while I watched Man of Steel on demand (notice it is NOT on the Movies list)
• Jennifer Lawrence winning an Oscar
• Forcing myself to stay at Sarah Lawrence for the writers seminar
• Maggie running into the living room saying "Sarah!" in her 19 month-old vernacular
• Lawrence Weschler telling me my book would get published and there'd be a book tour
• Utah football beating BYU for the fourth straight year and then beating #5 Stanford
• Sitting on the rooftop of Jane Hotel with Nick and the super moon, talking about life and plans at 2 a.m. while looking at the lights on the Hudson
•   Kate's face when I took her to the Taylor Swift concert and Taylor appeared on stage and started singing
• Picking up Thomas and him giving me a hug
• Claire showing me her loot from her other grandma and Zack's reaction to Batman mittens
• AJ playing his cello in church
• Realizing I have a life plan

Photos

Rosie

In the West Village, NYC

Fenway Park, ALCS Game 2

Walden Pond - don't worry, I know those guys

Newport Beach

On the main drag in Lexington, Mass

 



















I bid 2013 adieu and welcome 2014 and all it's unknown with hope and courage and a little preemptive heartbreak. May 2014 bring you all such good luck.

xoxo