2011 Thoughts, resolutions, re-caps, bests...

It's time for my annual blog that goes over some of my thoughts regarding the end of 2011 and the beginning of 2012! To kick things off, here are, in my opinion, THE *BESTS* OF 2011:

BEST ALBUM: The Green Album - Various Artists

(Released: August 16, 2011)

Honourable mentions (in order of release) go to: King of Limbs - Radiohead (Released: March 29, 2011)

Torches - Foster the People (Released: May 24, 2011)

Paradise - Slow Club (Released: September 12, 2011)

Storms - Hedley (Released: November 8, 2011)

Ever After - Marianas Trench (Released: November 21, 2011)

BEST MOVIE: Bridesmaids

(Released: May 13, 2011)

Honourable mentions (in order of release) go to: Midnight in Paris (Released: June 10, 2011)

Friends with Benefits (Released: July 22, 2011)

Crazy, Stupid, Love. (Released: July 29, 2011)

Drive (Released: September 16, 2011)

50/50 (Released: September 30, 2011)

BEST (new to me) EDMONTON RESTAURANT THAT I TRIED: Lit - Italian Wine Bar

(Italian - 10132 104th Street)

Honourable mentions (in no particular order) go to: Padmanadi (Asian/Vegetarian - 10740 101st Street)

Elm Cafe (Sandwiches - 10140 117th Street)

Pampa Brazilian Steakhouse (Brazilian - 9929 109th Street)

The Marc (French - 9940 106th Street)

Sabor Divino (European - 10220 103rd Street)

I hope that if you give my picks a try that you'll love them as much as I do!!

IN 2011 I TRAVELED TO THESE PLACES:

Jasper, Alberta X 5

Canmore, Alberta X 4

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Regina, Saskatchewan X 3

Banff, Alberta

London, Ontario X 3

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario

Niagara Falls, Ontario

Toronto, Ontario

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Ottawa, Ontario

The trip to LAS VEGAS was easily the biggest, most exciting trip of the year!

IN 2011 I SAW THESE BANDS PLAY LIVE:

Stars

Pixies

U2

Meaghan Smith X 2

New Kids On The Block

Backstreet Boys

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

Ten Second Epic

Kreesha Turner

Lights

I'd say that NKOTBSB was the best show I saw this year based on this moment alone.

WEDDINGS THAT I ATTENDED IN 2011:

Sarah & Adam got married on March 19, 2011!

Heather & Curtis got married on May 28, 2011!

Chris & Kristin got married on July 23, 2011!

Joy & Josh got married on August 27, 2011!

Ian & Tara got married on September 4, 2011!

Sarah & Darren got married on September 10, 2011!

Alinka & Aran got married on October 29, 2011!

FRIENDS WHO HAD BABIES IN 2011:

Lacey & Dallas had Caledon on May 11, 2011!

Alnaar & Brett had Noah on December 23, 2011!

And of course... RESOLUTIONS... First let's see how I did with my 2011 resolutions:

~ Try to write more often for VUE, pitch once a month? ~ Start sending birthday cards to people again. I used to ALWAYS do this and I'm not sure why I stopped. ~ Stay on the "Weekday Vegetarian" bandwagon. ~ Buy a new couch!!

~ See more films at the Princess Theater.

~ Leave Canada at least once.

This is pretty great news, because I feel that I've done well with all of these! If there is one that I feel I could improve on, it would be seeing more Princess films. I saw a few, but there's no such thing as too many!

So this leads us to...

2012 RESOLUTIONS:

~ Always strive to treat people the way I would hope to be treated in return.

~ See more films at the Princess Theater. ~ Try to be more gutsy while snowboarding, going faster, etc. ~ Say "yes" way more than "no." ~ Attempt to be less useless in the kitchen.

~ Buy a counter-top dishwasher!! I'm wishing everyone a wonderful 2012! Make it whatever you want it to be!