2014 Thoughts, resolutions, re-caps, bests...

It's January 1st and time for my annual blog of thoughts regarding the end of 2014 and the beginning of 2015!

To kick things off, here are, in my opinion, THE *BESTS* OF 2014:

BEST ALBUM: Strange Desire - Bleachers

(Released: July 15, 2014)

Honourable mentions (in order of release) go to:

Have a Heart - Meaghan Smith (Released: April 22, 2014)

Dream Your Life Away - Vance Joy (Released: September 5, 2014)

Little Machines - Lights (Released: September 23, 2014)

Hungry Ghosts - OK Go (Released: October 14, 2014)

No One is Lost - Stars (Released: October 14, 2014)

BEST MOVIE: The Grand Budapest Hotel

(Released: March 7, 2014)

Honourable mentions (in order of release) go to:

Chef (Released: May 9, 2014)

Boyhood (Released: July 11, 2014)

Happy Christmas (Released: July 25, 2014)

The F Word (Released: August 8, 2014)

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1 (Released: November 21, 2014)

BEST (new to me) MONTREAL RESTAURANT THAT I TRIED: Nouveau Palais

((Somewhat Jewish) Comfort Food - 281 Rue Bernard Ouest)

Honourable mentions (in alphabetical order) go to:

Big in Japan (Casual Japanese - 3723 Boulevard Saint-Laurent)

Kem CoBa (Ice Cream and Sherbet - 60 Avenue Fairmount Ouest)

Lawrence (Nose to Tail Comfort Food - 5201 Boulevard Saint-Laurent)

Lili Co. (Innovative Plates - 4650 Rue de Mentana)

Romados (Portuguese Rotisserie - 115 Rue Rachel Est)

BOOKS THAT I READ IN 2014 (a new category this year!):

The Wedding Girl by Madeleine Wickham

The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger

Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella

On the Road by Jack Kerouac

Seconds by Bryan Lee O'Malley

The Gatecrasher by Madeleine Wickham

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham

My favourite book of the year!

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

IN 2014 I TRAVELED TO THESE PLACES:

Regina, Saskatchewan X 4

Jasper, Alberta

Golden, British Columbia

Banff, Alberta

Muskoka, Ontario X 3

Ottawa, Ontario X 3

Edmonton, Alberta

Calgary, Alberta

Toronto, Ontario X 3

Berlin, Germany

Paris, France

Trent Lakes, Ontario

Algonquin Park, Ontario

Laurentians, Quebec

Brussels, Belgium

Barcelona, Spain X 2

Marseille, France

Pisa, Italy

Florence, Italy

Rome, Italy

Vatican City

Naples, Italy

Mykonos, Greece

Istanbul, Turkey

Kusadasi, Turkey

Ephesus, Turkey

Athens, Greece

Venice, Italy

London, Ontario

While our entire Mediterranean cruise was incredible, I think that my favourite location was Mykonos because of its seaside beauty. I absolutely loved the unique white-on-blue town and pretty beach.

IN 2014 I SAW THESE BANDS PLAY LIVE:

Chicago

Basia Bulat

The Naked and Famous

Imagine Dragons

Hedley X 8

USS

Ten Second Epic

Serena Ryder

Deltron 3030

Stars

The Killers

Bleachers

The Mowgli's

Childish Gambino

Foster the People

Band of Horses

Kevin Drew

Local Natives

Phantogram

HAIM

Modest Mouse

Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds

Jack White

Vance Joy X 2

CHVRCHES

The Temper Trap

The Replacements

Lorde

The lineup was amazing at Osheaga, but I don't think that anything can compare to traveling to Europe in order to see one of my favourite bands play. Hedley in Berlin was the best, especially when we got to see the looks on the guys' faces. I'll never forget what a wonderful night that was and how much it reminded me of old times.

WEDDINGS THAT WE ATTENDED IN 2014:

David & Kristen got married on February 15, 2014 in Regina!

Andrew & Sarah got married on June 28, 2014 in Toronto!

Nadine & Kyle got married on July 26, 2014 in Regina!

FRIENDS WHO HAD BABIES IN 2014:

Kristen & Dallas had Vayda on January 24, 2014!

Laura & Matt had Madeleine on April 28, 2014!

Nadine & Kyle had Mason on May 5, 2014!

Sarah & Darren had Taylor on June 8, 2014!

Lacey & Dallas had Ava on September 22, 2014!

And of course... RESOLUTIONS... First let's see how I did with my 2014 resolutions:

~ As I move to the 4th city that I've lived in, be strong and stay aware of who I am and where I've come from.

~ Turn our first home into a glorious haven that represents who we are.

~ Start my own food blog and take it very seriously.

~ Get more involved than ever in yoga and aerial arts. By doing this, get WAY back into shape.

~ Volunteer in wildlife rehab.

~ Leave the country at least once.

~ ABR: Always be Reading. Read at least one chapter a day, and start a new book as soon as I finish the last one.

These went mostly well! Moving and home ownership had its challenges, but overall I feel as if I handled it all in the way that I had hoped. There is still lots more to do, but I feel that the progression is going in the right direction. Unfortunately my food blog has not happened yet. I didn't get back into aerial arts (however I have now found a place that is close to home that I can go to) but I DID get into yoga in a HUGE way! So I'd say that that makes up for it! Wildlife rehab has eluded me because the one place that does it in Montreal doesn't seem to want to return any of my emails. I certainly did leave the country. And I did read more than I ever have before in my life (hence the entire new category above)!

So this leads us to...

2015 RESOLUTIONS/GOALS:

~ Start my own food blog and take it very seriously. I really hope that this will finally come together this year!

~ Lay low a bit more this year and SAVE MONEY. Start working again.

~ Get caught up on my annual photo books for serious!!!

~ Continue taking my yoga journey to the next level. Try to make as much progress this year as I had made last year.

~ Never stop dreaming big and living big. Nothing is impossible.

~ Establish a more permanent, solid and settled Montreal life.

I'm wishing everyone a wonderful 2015! Don't dream it, be it!