Northern California Nesties
andrea3122
member
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Feeling reflective today
It's a rainy, dreary day here today and since we're almost at the end of 2010 and about to start fresh with a new year, I've been thinking about the past year and reflecting on where I was at the beginning and where I am now. Does anyone want to join me?
What was the best part of the year for you?
What accomplishment/event are you most proud of?
What was the hardest thing that you had to face? Do you think it made you stronger?
What was the best trip that you took? Why?
If you had a list of goals, how did you do? Did you accomplish what you wanted to?
How do you feel about your life today versus where you were in January?
Anything else you are feeling?
Re: Feeling reflective today
What was the best part of the year for you? Getting to know H.
What accomplishment/event are you most proud of? Being a Mom.
What was the hardest thing that you had to face? Do you think it made you stronger? The balance of being a new Mom, working full time and trying to maintain friendships and a good marriage is no small potatoes. I've learned that priorities may not be fun all of the time, but that's just the way it goes. Oh...and that the human body doesn't need NEARLY as much sleep to function as I once thought it did.
What was the best trip that you took? Why? This whole survey is about my kid, lol. Taking him home for the first time to meet everyone was AMAZING.
If you had a list of goals, how did you do? Did you accomplish what you wanted to? Well, I'm not pregnant anymore..so, check, had the baby. I was hoping to move this year, but looks like it isn't happening yet. Work is going well...time to push for that promotion. I lost ALL the baby weight plus a handful...still have a few handfuls to go, but I'm actually ok with where I'm at and that's something new for me.
How do you feel about your life today versus where you were in January? Wow, what a difference...I miss sleep and free time...but wouldn't change it for a second.
Anything else you are feeling? Actually, I'm feeling nostalgic. I'm missing family and friends that are gone and wishing they were here to share the holiday's with. I'm also a little nervous about the future...the generations are changing in our family and my parents are now the older generation...which scares me.
What was the best part of the year for you? I had two- my niece being born and celebrating our 2nd anniversary!
What accomplishment/event are you most proud of?I have to say completing my half marathon. Never in a million years would I have said I did that!
What was the hardest thing that you had to face? Do you think it made you stronger?It would have to be our IF issues. Having to go through test after test after test only to find out your DH has the (possible) issue was heartbreaking. Also, having to see "not pregnant" or "negative" sign every month is just as heartbreaking. It definitely has made me stronger as a women and made our marriage stronger b/c we are both dealing this and we are both on the same page.
What was the best trip that you took? Why?Our anniversary trip to Tahoe. We had the best time of gambling, drinking, eating and just having FUN. It was great to enjoy the beautiful weather and scenery with my hubby.
If you had a list of goals, how did you do? Did you accomplish what you wanted to? Well, I did run a 1/2 marathon (my #1 goal of 2010). I did not become a mom but I became an auntie (yay!!!). We are still not homeowners but we do continue to put more $$ in our DP!!! I took my certification test but I will not know until later this month.
How do you feel about your life today versus where you were in January?A little better. While not everything happened as planned or hoped (does it ever?). I am happy to have my health, my job, my husband and my family.
Anything else you are feeling? 2011 is a year of weddings again. We have three weddings to go to already. Two are in September and one is in November. I really hope our IF journey will end with a BFP announcement in 2011 as well.
What was the best part of the year for you?
What accomplishment/event are you most proud of? I have really accomplished a lot this year. I managed to keep my job in a bad economy, did well in school, and cut back on a lot of our debt.
What was the hardest thing that you had to face? Do you think it made you stronger? My dad being ill over the last few months has been really hard. I think I still had the image of him never deteriorating, and being around forever. Also, DH & I had some rough times this year, but we managed to work through them.
I certainly think I am stronger for my experiences. I have learned not to take people for granted as much as I had in the past.
What was the best trip that you took? Why? DH & I spent Memorial Day weekend in Seattle. We really had time to relax and reconnect, something we don't do often with all the other stuff going on in our lives.
If you had a list of goals, how did you do? Did you accomplish what you wanted to? I wanted to become more healthy in my eating and around the house. We have certainly well with that. I cook most things from scratch & we have done a lot to reduce our footprint.
How do you feel about your life today versus where you were in January? I am confident that the future holds good things. I think I am in a better place mentally this year than last year.
Anything else you are feeling? I turn 30 next year, and that is really causing a lot of anxiety for me. I think my 30's will be great, but it still scares me that I am actually at the end of another decade.
What was the best part of the year for you?One of my best friends getting engaged and being asked to be a bridesmaid (my first friend to get married).
What accomplishment/event are you most proud of? Getting a promotion.
What was the hardest thing that you had to face? Do you think it made you stronger? Something family-related. I don't know if it has made me stronger, it's still new...
What was the best trip that you took? Why?Jamaica. It allowed dh and I to spend real time together, just us two. I didn't realize how mundane day to day life can get. We forget to make creative date nights, love notes, and all that jazz. This trip helped us remember who we are as a couple. CHEEEEEESY.
If you had a list of goals, how did you do? Did you accomplish what you wanted to? I didn't really have any goals besides a promotion, which I got!
How do you feel about your life today versus where you were in January?I feel older, like I am ready to cross some things off of my newly created "30 before 30" list.
Anything else you are feeling? Like I wish it was Friday?
What accomplishment/event are you most proud of? I'm probably most proud of how much progress I've made with photography. I didn't even have a dslr at the beginning of the year and now I can't imagine life without one. I'm proud of sticking with it and having some pretty pictures to show for it.
What was the hardest thing that you had to face? Do you think it made you stronger? My dad dying. No, it didn't make me stronger.
What was the best trip that you took? Why? Definitely China. Lots of once-in-a-lifetime kind of memories, and a big dream of DH's that was finally realized.
If you had a list of goals, how did you do? Did you accomplish what you wanted to? I didn't really have any goals, but even if I had I don't think I would have accomplished them. Life was bizarrely stagnated and all over the place. I wasn't even at home for a total of almost 4 months of the year.
How do you feel about your life today versus where you were in January? Strangely, I feel more content somehow, even though some of my biggest fears have been realized. I spent the first half of the year tirelessly hoping for the best for my dad, constantly dreading and waiting. Same with waiting for DH's deployment. Now those things have come, and even though it's scary and painful to deal with, I'm glad to not be in that state of constant dread anymore.
Anything else you are feeling? Overall in life, I feel a general mix of sadness, hope, freedom and loss. It all adds up to a general mellow, sort of passive and pensive emotional state. I feel like most of this year was like standing on the edge of a diving board, and I'm now sort of beginning the free-fall. I'm scared and sometimes exhilarated, and I think this coming year is going to be jam-packed with a lot of self-discovery. We shall see what happens!
What was the best part of the year for you? The first month or two of the year, when we had purchase and moved in to our new home.
What accomplishment/event are you most proud of? Buying our first home in January.
What was the hardest thing that you had to face? Do you think it made you stronger? About 6 months ago I went through something in my personal life that was emotionally devastating. I am still working through all of it, and not entirely sure how everything will end up for me. However, I absolutely believe it has made me stronger, wiser and more mature.
What was the best trip that you took? Why? DH and I went on a 10-day cruise to Alaska (round trip from SF) for our 2 year anniversary. It was insanely beautiful, and really good to just get away and relax for a while.
If you had a list of goals, how did you do? Did you accomplish what you wanted to? I had started a "30 before 30" list, about 6 months before my 30th birthday. However, not long after, life turned upside down for me, so it got abandoned. I'm not even sure what I did with the list!
How do you feel about your life today versus where you were in January? It's hard to say. In some ways it's worse... but maybe that's because I was "blissfully" unaware of things that were happening back then. In other ways it's better, but only because now I have a clearer picture of what my life was actually like in January so that I can now actually make things in my life better than they truly were back then. And some of those changes have already been taking place, and I'm not so sure I'd want to go back to how things were before.
Anything else you are feeling? I am really thankful that this year is coming to an end. I'm hoping that next year will bring much better things... particularly since I've had two very, very difficult years in a row.
What was the best part of the year for you? T and I really found our stride together this year. We've been together for almost 10 years and married for 2 and a half and this year, we had so much fun together. We traveled, we connected in new ways and he has truly been my greatest supporter and best friend. I feel so lucky to have him in my life.
What accomplishment/event are you most proud of? I am most proud of my fitness goals. I wanted to do a half marathon and I realized that it wasn't in the cards this year, but I did 2 10k's which was an amazing feeling. Just gaining the discipline to train for them was a big thing for me and I think that has helped me in life. And I know that running a half will be at the top of my list for next year.
What was the hardest thing that you had to face? Do you think it made you stronger? My family issues this year took a lot out of me emotionally. I remember finding out that my sister was pregnant last NYE and it broke my heart. It has been a rough ride this year trying to deal with that and all of the emotions that went along with it. But I think I'm coming to terms with it. And it feels good to be able to finally release a lot of it.
What was the best trip that you took? Why? New Orleans was such a a blast. It was a low stress trip, didn't plan anything, we just had a spontaneous adventure.
If you had a list of goals, how did you do? Did you accomplish what you wanted to? I did pretty well on my list. I checked off the biggest things and a lot of them were long term goals and I feel like I've made a great start on some of those.
How do you feel about your life today versus where you were in January? I feel about a million times better about things now. The discipline I gained with running has helped me feel mentally stong and capable of handling the tough times. My yoga practice, while still new, is helping me feel calm and peaceful about the things I cannot control. I feel so different from the me last year who was crying on NYE because I felt like my family was falling apart.
Anything else you are feeling? I am also feeling nostalgic this year. I'm thinking about those close to me who have passed and even though I'm looking forward to the holidays here in NY with our friends and family, I'm also missing my friends and family back home. I'm also feeling really loved and lucky to have not only my family, but so many amazing friends that are like family to me.
What was the best part of the year for you? Realizing that I have the most amazing friends and family. Realizing that I'm going to be OK and that my life doesn't just stop because I am no longer married. In fact, I'd say I'm happy and this divorce was just a test of that.
What accomplishment/event are you most proud of? Being able to help out my BFF in her inagural "Run to Remember" marathon group in memory of her husband and his fellow soliders killed in their year long delployment. I helped get t-shirts, was part of the support crew on the day of, and took some awesome photos. Her event has become so successful that she will be in Runners World in February.
What was the hardest thing that you had to face? Do you think it made you stronger? Divorce. It sucked. Yes, without a doubt it's made me stronger and made me realize how strong I really am.
What was the best trip that you took? Why? Hawaii. See my latest blog entry.
If you had a list of goals, how did you do? Did you accomplish what you wanted to? I did have a list of goals...
1. Start a cooking blog. I started a blog about my divorce, so I'd consider that a sucess still
2. Volunteering once a quarter- yes. I'm a part of 2 organzations that helped me do this.
3. Go to church once a month. -Once every other month? Still pretty decent.
4. Run a race with DH. -well, consdering we're divorcing...and he never wanted to anyways. Fail. Oh well.
5. Run 2 half marathons. Fail. I trained for 1, but it happened a week after my divorce started...so fail there. I have 2 on the plate for next year.
How do you feel about your life today versus where you were in January?
Wow...huge difference and I really didn't think I'd be where I am. Nor did I think I'd come out of it OK, given the circumstances. How do I feel about it? Most of the time I'm OK, I'd say 90% of the time I'm just fine. Alot less stressed out. 10% of the time, I almost feel behind, like I have to start all over again and the kids things won't be happening for a long time, if ever. That's a scary feeling, but normal.
Learning to start all over again... Blog
What was the best part of the year for you? Finding a new apt with more room
What accomplishment/event are you most proud of? I guess starting over in San Jose
What was the hardest thing that you had to face? Do you think it made you stronger? Getting laid off. Someday it may but at this point I think it was just a set back. Many have said that it happened because I wasn't meant to stay in that school/district.
What was the best trip that you took? Why? Going to Mendocino was great for our anniversary. We'd never been there and it was beautiful and relaxing.
If you had a list of goals, how did you do? Did you accomplish what you wanted to? I didn't have one, no.
How do you feel about your life today versus where you were in January? I guess I've just been reminded of what's important since FIL got colon cancer about a year ago. A year ago I expected to still be teaching in San Leandro but now will be moving again in a year for DH to further pursue comedy. I guess there are still some adventures left to experience.
Donate to My Pancreatic Cancer Research Page
What was the best part of the year for you?
my trip to yosemite in june with my sisters/brothers/sil/neices/nephews. it was completely awesome!
What accomplishment/event are you most proud of?
that i've been working on my book and making progress not only in completing it, but in becoming a better writer.
What was the hardest thing that you had to face? Do you think it made you stronger?
the death of my nephew, devin, in january. i don't think it made me stronger. there was and is absolutely nothing redeeming about it. it just sucks.
What was the best trip that you took? Why?
see #1 for the trip. as to why, it meant so much to spend time with the people i love best, especially after devin died and the last time i saw most of them was at his funeral. losing him so young makes me appreciate the people i love who are still here.
If you had a list of goals, how did you do? Did you accomplish what you wanted to?
i'm getting there. i've become less of a goal maker as i've gotten older. mostly i just didn't want to completely lose my mind this year.
How do you feel about your life today versus where you were in January?
much better, but anything would be better than january was.
Anything else you are feeling?
i just realized yesterday that today would be december 1st. i spent most of this year wishing it would be over. now that december is here i am surprised that the year is almost over. funny how that works.