In With The New!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

Here's to a 2014 full of wonder, magic, and a whole lot of adventure!

Ring out the old, ring in the new,

Ring, happy bells, across the snow:

The year is going, let him go;

Ring out the false, ring in the true!

[Alfred Tennyson]

A New Years HodgePodge

What better way to ring in 2013 than with a HodgePodge?

1. How did you ring in the New Year?

I was down in Mass., with an old friend,

her lawyer friends, her fiancee, and his police friends.

I was probably in the safest NYE local ever.

2. One thing you're looking forward to in 2013?

Hopefully starting my PhD.

3. Are we the same person at the New Year?

That Spielburg quote is interesting.

I think we have who we are at our core,

but I do think we change a little day by day,

because we are changed by our experiences, right?

It's like how you look at yourself yesterday,

and you get that person;

but when you look at yourself a year ago:

where you were, what you were doing, etc,

you are amazed at where you are now.

So, Spielburg, I sorta agree with you, dude.

4. What about Emerald?

I love emerald - gemstone and color.

The dark green is so rich.

I'd love to have more of it in my wardrobe and life.

5. Favorite Gemstone?

Sapphires.

So, so, so pretty.

Mine? Peridot.

It's okay, I guess ;)

6. Favorite Book from 2012?

either: A Discovery of Witches

or

The Night Circus

Fortunately for you,

I've reviewed both of them right here on the blog!

So you can see for yourself how awesome they were. 

7. New Years Advice to yourself?

Be open to experiences: new and old.

8. Random Thought

My friend, 

in real life,

since second grade,

(the one whose sister got married in october)

Kristen,

of ladybug-blessings,

is revamping my blog,

(she's amazing, mind you)

and oh my word

be prepared for some awesomeness!

Obligatory NYE Post

Source: mardiwinen.blogspot.com via Cameron on Pinterest

Happy New Years Eve Everyone!

I hope tonight, 

and the entirety of 2013, 

are amazing, sparkly, full of love and fun,

and the best time of your life so far!

Source: scubapaola.tumblr.com via Lindsey on Pinterest

I'm not making any resolutions this year, I think.

I just want to spend each day of 2013 becoming a better version of myself.

I want to keep this in mind:

"What will you do today that will make you proud in a year?"

What about you?

Any fun plans?

Any New Years Resolutions I should consider? 

"let each new year find you a better man"

Be always at war with your vices,

at peace with your neighbors,

and let each new year find you a better man.

[Benjamin Franklin]

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Since my New Year's Eve won't look like this:

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...I'm going to be chilling at home with my mom (and dad by phone since he has to work!) in my PJ's. A nice relaxing beginning to the new year? That sounds amazing to me. I really hope 2012 follows suit on the amazing department.

Because, really?

2011 was pretty sweet.

I rounded out my two years living in Europe

(and, yes, miss it like crazy)

I went to:

- Madrid to eat

- Venice for Carnival

I presented a paper at a conference at Cambridge University,

then visited Dublin,

and London,

both with good friends!

I GRADUATED WITH MY MASTER'S DEGREE

(and realized I NEVER WROTE A POST ABOUT IT!

SILLY COURTNEY!)

I traveled to Poland and Prague with my family

(and still need to write about those too, oops!)

I worked at camp again.

And LOVED it.

I celebrated my 26th Birthday,

and recounted 26 lessons for 26 years.

I took an impromptu trip to Boulder, CO & Washington DC

Basically? 2011 was pretty cool to me,

and I hope it was to you too.

In closing:

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Keep those you love closer to you than ever.

Remind those you love that you love them often.

Have meaningful relationships.

Smile.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Obligatory NYE Post :)

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Happy Last Day of 2010 Everyone!

I'm knee-deep in writing a paper that's due the 3rd,

(which is also one of the reasons for my absence! sorry)

so this post will be short.

2010 was awesome,

but I hope that

2011 will be even better!

And a little thing I've realized today

(if you follow me on twitter, this isn't news to you)

My life seems to take a drastic change every four years:

2003:

graduate high school

move to North Carolina

start college

2007:

graduate college

get first real job

2011:

graduate from grad school

(then I'll be Master Courtney!)

___________!

I cannot wait to see where 2011 takes me,

but if my 4-year-cycle

has set any precedent,

it's certain to be amazing.

And I want to wish that

amazingness to you all as well!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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