2012

1. What did you do in 2012 that you’d never done before?
Stephen and I moved in to our own apartment at The Aspens. I left a stagnant workplace in Napa Rose to join a vibrant, passionate team to open Carthay Circle Restaurant as a trainer, one of 92 Sommeliers, and (the restaurant's only) Cicerone. I let Megan walk out of our relationship and didn't chase her. I cooked a lot of homemade meals and am continually trying to make new things. I baked a LOT - for my friends, family, for Stephen's family... Lots of really good looking cookies this year. Stephen asked me to marry him, and we're planning lots of incredible things!

2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Document my life a bit better.
Make more art.
Take a design course, take some cooking courses.
Get the Cicerone program up and running before summer.
Lose 60lbs -- get my BMI to an ideal range (18.5-24.9)
Maintain friendships better.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Two former Tour Guides, a server from Napa, Joy had her baby as DCA was re-opening. Lots and lots of engagements this year!

4. Did anyone close to you die?
A bartender from Carthay Circle.

5. What countries did you visit?
No new countries, but Stephen and I went to Big Bear with Ryan and Amber, Chicago for Sam and Kevin's wedding and Denver/South Fork, Colorado as a Christmas gift from Mom and Dad.

6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
More days off with Stephen, more little adventures. A WDW trip, at long last. Sprinkles ice cream.

7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
August 18th - Our engagement day!
September 8th - Our engagement fiesta!
June 15th - Reopening of DCA, public opening of Carthay Circle.
October 31st - I left Ch1.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Making our engagement party invitations, getting hired to open Carthay, becoming Cicerone and Bar Smarts certified, finding The Sidecar. Being made a trainer, no application or interview process needed. That I was/am relied on as an expert by my Cast. I was chosen by management to serve The Resort's big figureheads and in turn, George Kalogridis personally requested that I serve Tom Staggs and his executive party. Organizing and executing a Haunted Mansion walk-through for my Cast.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Leaving Ch1 without warning, indecision about what to do about Megan and how much time I spend thinking about it.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I still have all sorts of weird dental issues, they think they cracked the tooth I had a root canal on. I made the appointment to get checked out again regarding the more serious health scare but no-showed because I'm afraid to hear bad news. Absolutely stupid, I know. I'll go soon.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
A trip to Chicago for Sam and Kevin's wedding, a trip to Denver to go brewery hopping, Marco's Coal Fired Pizza & limoncello marinated chicken wings. Rent for our perfect little apartment, sour beers (Duchess de Bourgone, Rodenbach Grand Cru, La Folie). Pagosa Hot Springs sessions for my family. Boraso, a stupidly cheap unbelievably good Spanish Grenache. Kerrygold Irish Cheddar.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Stephen, always. Jeff Warta, Holly Lee, Liz Gilette, CJ Sullivan, David Nguyen. Sam & Kevin Craft.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Megan Rabone, Trat servers.

16. What song will always remind you of 2012?
Gotye - Somebody That I Used to Know
Lumineers - Dead Sea

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? So, so happy. Thrilled about everything this year will hold!
b) thinner or fatter? Same, but a wedding shape up is right around the corner.
c) richer or poorer? Richer in every way.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Exercising, eating well, reading, making art. Shopping for food at Farmer's Markets. Using fresh foods more quickly. I feel like I threw away a whole lot of food.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Drinking soda. Staying up too late and sleeping in too long.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
We did Christmas morning at the Langtons, then drove to home to San Clemente where Grandma was out for the holidays. Stephen got to open gifts with us and then had to continue down to San Diego for work. Good naps and feasts, then we went to Harrison's to play cards with Rebecca, Daniel and his girlfriend.

21. Did you fall in love in 2011?
Even more so.

22. How many one-night stands?
None.

23. What was your favorite TV program?
Kept up with Gossip Girl, Glee and SNL. The loss of Kristen Wiig is sorely felt. Blazed through Mad Men on Netflix.

24. What was the best book you read?
Dinner: A Love Story, Questions to Ask Before You Get Married, The 5 Languages of Love. I need to read more and Pinterest less.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The Lumineers I guess, but Ho Hey is miserably overplayed. Macklemore. I got weirdly back into Maroon 5. Lots of good Pandora stations, but not a whole lot of stand out new discoveries.

26. What did you want and get?
A fantastic new job, a passionate team of crazy coworkers. Lots of fantastic new wine and beer. The go-ahead for the Cicerone program. Cast Activity planning. A life-long partner in crime. Fifteen diamonds. To see one of my best friends marry her perfect match in Chicago at Salvage One. A perfect retirement dinner for my dad. An iPad, my computer fixed. Cicerone & Bar Smarts certified.

27. What did you want and not get?
Resolution with Megan. Motivation to hit the gym. Ohmygod any progress in wedding planning. So overwhelming to try to 'define yourself as a couple' and blahblahblah. How ridiculous, no? We just want a hell of a party.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
Les Miserables, obligatory.

29. What did you do on your birthday?
Had a low key dinner at Pizza Port and fun little things throughout the week.

31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Stephen working closer to home. 60 less lbs.

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?
Jeans. Sweatshirts. Work clothes. Lots of plaid.

33. What kept you sane?
Stephen, baking, little notebooks, late nights at Haven with Carthay people...literally three nights out of the week.

37. What political issue stirred you the most?
Obama's reelection, women's reproductive rights.

36. Who did you miss?
Ethan, Chelsea Hansen. Brittany Donlon.The News Team. Megan.

37. Who was the best new person you met?
Holly Lee, Liz Gilette, Allison Crawford, CJ Sullivan, D2, Ashley Berns, Jay Svoboda, Maggie Derthick, Julie Joe and the Trader Sam's girls. David Nguyen, Cory Fierro,

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012?
Be wholly open in communicating with others. Give and receive.

39. What are you drinking?
Sour beers, Spanish wines, Sidecars and mojitos. Homemade vodka infusions.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:

"Like the Dead Sea
You told me I was like the Dead Sea
You'll never sink when you are with me
Oh, Lord, I'm your Dead Sea

Whoa, I'm like the Dead Sea
The nicest words you ever said to me
Honey can't you see
I was born to be, be your dead sea." - Dead Sea; Lumineers