Saying Goodbye to 2012... from my blog to yours

Hello my lovelies, 

I just wanted to say a little something to end this year of 2012. In many instances this year has been less than fantastic. If you didn’t already know, my mom became very ill towards the end of 2011 and spent many weeks in the hospital. The worst being her ICU stay through Christmas, last year, and how she still doesn’t have memories of that time. Although she came home for a week (12/29 – 1/5) she was admitted back in the hospital in ICU, and became gravely ill. I am SO thankful that she made it through those agonizing hours where she had a whole team of specialists working on her. She then went on to stay in the hospital, and on to a rehab hospital, until February 8^th. From that day it was months of recovery and physical therapy to get her up and walking again. Now, I’m really happy with the progress she has made. I’m excited to say she’s been walking with a cane (outside of the house) and no longer needs PT!!!

Mom learning how to walk with a cane

My acceptance to uni email

2012 was also a major game changer for me, personally. I decided to go back to school! As scary as that was, I was floored that I was accepted to the first university I applied to. Really?! Oh wow… haha! That was in June, so everything moved at a rapid pace after that.

In that small gap in June I went to ALA2012. I have never been to a book event before… so, I don’t know what possessed me to tackle ALA as my first one. Despite my feet and back killing me after the two days I was there, I had an AMAZING time. Plus, I met some of the bloggers I’d talked to, and it was so much fun getting to see them in person. Let's not even mention all of the other bloggers I met there. It was truly an experience I will carry with me forever!!! However, the most awesome part was meeting my favorite authors in person. Since I'd never done anything like this, I felt like a fangirl meeting her favorite band! The fact that a few of them recognized my blog's name? O M G! Epic fangirl tears!

Overall, 2012 has been a rollercoaster of a year. Many times I’ve wanted to toss in the towel and walk away. One of the hardest decisions I made was taking a two month break from blogging in April, but it was much needed! With school starting, I found it incredibly hard balancing a fulltime school schedule and blogging. I now have one semester behind me and another one on the horizon, so I’m still trying to find a balance.

In 2013, I hope to get a blogging stride in motion… if not? I know I’ll get back to it eventually. Right now, with everything I’ve been through it ‘s time for me to focus on my education and making a better life for myself. Books will always be there and so will Dog-Eared & Bookmarked!

In which I photobomb the heck out of 2012

In 2012: 

I contemplated life & spent a great deal of time at the hair salon

I was THAT close to the dude from Switchfoot

I had crazy hair and matched my iPhone to my shirt

I celebrated my 27th Birthday & needed oxygen afterward 

Das my nephew / trick candles

I was the crazy fun kind-of odd auntie who can't dance

 I became the very definition of a TWI-HARD

I squealed like my inner 15 year old

Proudly owns a prop flower from the wedding!

I fangirled and took a 4th bite out of my beloved Saga

I cried over the final Twilight soundtrack & its epicness

I met up with my peeps to watch the final movie

I say farewell to a year full of pain, love, laughter, and goodbyes. 
Until next year, this is me saying live your dreams,

Cyndi