The 2011 blog recap

I have years where I set resolutions, and I have years where I tell resolutions to suck it, and this year is the former.  At heart I’m a goal setter, an organizer, a lover of things clean and fresh.  I can’t wait to sit down and fully detail what I’d love to make happen in 2012.

I checked a lot of things off my Life List in 2011, and I plan to do even more in 2012.

But let’s start off with a quick recap of 2011 first, shall we?

January –

I started the year off right with my first black eye acquired skiing at Park City with my daredevil/wild child 6-year-old boy.  And showed you how to look less tired with makeup.  Win.

February –

While I was out of town for business for 3 days, Viktor remodeled an old craft room and turned it into an office.  I wanted to marry him all over again.  I taught you how to wax your eyebrows at home, and you all laughed every time I winced in pain.  Thanks you guys, thanks a lot.  I also became Jennifer Garner‘s best friend in February, whatevs.

March –

We officially decided to go to Europe as a family.  We bought plane tickets + train passes, and I asked you guys what to pack.  You were totally helpful; you always are.  I showed you how to apply liquid eyeliner, and you didn’t laugh at me.  Way to go guys, you know how to make a girl feel good.

April –

April was kind of boring.  I’m not sure why, I really have nothing against April, but April 2011 was kind of lame.  Except!  Except Kate & William got married, and I was almost spot on with her wedding style.  I won’t lie, I totally got up in the middle of the night to watch the wedding.  Shut up.  I also showed you my secret how to manicure at home.  Listen, we were all broke in 2011, someone had to do it.

May –

May was busy, yo.  Really busy.  I cemented my status as BFF of Jennifer Garner, talked a lot about luggage and travel with an impending trip to Europe, and I survived the worst haircut in history while we gallivanted around Eastern Europe.

June –

We talked about how to roll your clothes to pack a suitcase because, well, after spending a month in Europe I had to do a little consolidating on the way home.  Rolling totally works, by the way.  I went to a flea market in Warsaw and came home empty handed.  I don’t want to talk about it.  At the end of it all though, after fulfilling a lifelong dream to travel to Europe with my family, I came home with at least 25 things I learned by taking a month off blogging and traveling to Europe.  Wise I am now.

July –

I spent most of July wishing I was back in Europe, but it wasn’t all bad.  In fact July was pretty chill.  There was a lot of pool time, a lot of sprinklers on the trampoline, a lot of barbecues and reading good books.  A new baby horse was born at the pasture, I participated in a series called What I wore Wednesday, and Charming taught me all about the ingredients for a happy summer.  They’re remarkably simple, as you might imagine.

August –

August is always bittersweet, isn’t it?  End of summer, back to school and all that.  I became obsessed with found pinterest and waxed poetic about what you should be buying at the $1 store.

September –

I got a little personal in September.  Maybe it was the newly crisp Fall air, or the kids being out of the house for 8 hours a day.  You guys were the most supportive ever though, and I’m very grateful for you.  Viktor made some ridiculously simple wood shutters, and I made some citrus scrub.

WE’RE ALMOST AT THE END!

October –

We learned how to make a pumpkin face mask, because that’s what one does when pumpkin goes on sale at the grocery store.  I reminisced about traveling across Europe by train which made me happy and sad at the same time.  Train travel is the bees knees, the wonderland, the best of the best.

November –

Viktor had surgery and made me deliriously happy in the process.  That man is the best when he’s high, truly the best.  I discovered cookies + ice cream in a dish, wore a head scarf out in public, and fell in love with manicures all over again when I discovered Muppet nail polish by OPI.

December –

December was insane.  Top to bottom madness around here.  I made a carrot facial {which is made of magic, by the way}, discovered faux fur, shared our Christmas eve traditions, and last but best of all, discovered a stash of love letters from my grandfather.

There’s the 2011 blog recap.  It was a great year 2011, but I’m glad it’s over.

Here’s to a new and beautiful 2012 for all of us!

Allison

Hello there! I'm Allison Czarnecki, founder + editor of Petit Elefant, a blog all about style on a budget for every part of your life: style / home / travel / family. I do a lot of how-to beauty + style tutorials, travel posts, easy recipes, home remodel projects, and cool DIY crafts you totally want to try. I'm super happily married (to a hot Polish immigrant) and am the mother of two kids, a daughter and son, all of whom are featured here on the regular. We live in the country but we're a little bit rock + roll. Welcome!