Tag Archives: 2012

As most of you know, a year ago I started the 2012 project as a response to feeling really sad about a bucket list that was going nowhere. You can read about that here.

To some degree, I was successful. I tried to be a good wife, worked hard on a book, ran every day for a month, went a month without Internet, tried eating a plant based diet, saw Coldplay, chopped off my hair, threw a costume party, and wrote a manifesto. It was fun.

At other times I was a major fail. I changed goals, skipped entire months (March and September), and accidentally ate chicken masala (June). I was human, I was lazy, I was myself.

It was a fun experiment. I pushed myself and tried to have a good time. Mostly I just wanted to cross a few things off a list. Done.

I am sad about December. I was scheduled to go to three separate NYC flash mobs and each one was interrupted by events beyond my control. This latest one was on Tuesday, but I’m filming a birth and this baby is 6 days late and counting and I didn’t want to be far away. If it sounds like I’m complaining, I’m not. Babies being born > flashmobs. No contest. But don’t be surprised if I create my own little flashmob in the middle of your living room before the new year. SURPRISE.

Full disclosure, all year I imagined getting to the end of December and writing an epic post about what an incredible journey it’s been. I pictured dramatic music and maybe a little slideshow. But really, there’s no need. You’ve been with me every step of the way, encouraging me to cut my hair and giving me running tips. Thank you for that.

If I learned anything from this year, it’s that telling everyone you’re going to do something is the fastest way to not want to do something. Except see Coldplay. That was pure awesome.

Here’s to 2013 and everything it brings.

For last year’s words belong to last year’s language 
And next year’s words await another voice.
And to make an end is to make a beginning.
-T.S. Eliot, “Little Gidding”

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You can see all the 2012 project posts here.

Remember this? Yeah, I forgot about it too (sorry September), but here we are in October when I finally got to throw the costume party I’ve been dreaming of.

When I was making up this year’s challenge list, I matched this goal with October for obvious reasons. Truthfully I think Halloween is crazy. It’s a weird combination of teenage girls dressed like prostitutes and 5 year olds dressed like goblins. I don’t like goblins. I don’t like haunted hayrides, horror movies, or scary ghosts either. I do love dressing up, however. I always have. Costume parties (even if it’s just you and a mirror) are the best.

October Goals

Throw an awesome costume party.

Wear something crazy.

October Fears

It will rain.

No one will want to dress up.

I was pretty worried there would be those (Baby Daddy) who would not want to dress up, but my fears were put to shame when everyone showed up full battle, especially Austin who surprised me by coming downstairs looking like this.

Ironically, Austin and I turned out to have the scariest costumes. I was a bridezilla and he was the creepiest creeper you ever saw.

My vision for the party was simple; friends, food, costumes, and dancing. We also had water pong (beer is sticky), best costume trophies, and plenty of brews.

It should be noted that I had a lot of help. My friends Mary Poppins and Steve Urkel were here all day hanging spider balloons, making witch fingers, and creating signs.

It was pretty great.

We ate, we drank, we danced.

We were scary and beautiful and relaxed.

I can’t wait to do it again next year.

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For more information on the 2012 project, click here.

I waited until the last hour of the last day. Everyone said I was surprisingly calm. I didn’t cry, I didn’t scream, I didn’t even have any wine. I just sat there, shrugged my shoulders, and said, “take it off.”  I’ve been anticipating it since January and I was ready to have it over with already.

My cousin Kelly did the honors. She is a hair stylist and the only one I trust with my locks. She did a great job and I can honestly say I’m fine with it. In fact, I really like it. Sometimes I even love it.

When Waylon saw me, he stared for 30 seconds and then moved on. Austin did the same, with the obligatory, “It looks really great!”

It seems silly now that this is the month I was dreading the most. I made myself sick over how stupid or ugly or fatface I might look. Get a grip.

On the long night drive home from WVA, a few friends asked for a picture so I took one in the dark with the flash of my phone camera.

I looked like a drunk celebrity, which made me feel pretty rad (not the drunk part, the celebrity part) because it was like looking at a picture of someone else. Someone that might be a little cooler or a little hipper, someone who might not always wear yesterday’s laundry.

The point is it’s nice to feel different, to experience living in someone else’s body for a few minutes. My hair has been long for twenty seven years. TWENTY SEVEN. It was time.

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Before

For more details on the 2012 project, click HERE.

I didn’t want to write this post.

I don’t want to do this month’s goal.

I don’t even really want to talk about it.

I considered backing out. I considered simply changing this month’s goal at the last minute and hoping no one would notice. I even made a mock up of a new schedule that had “get better at photography” for August like some sort of chump. But then I realized that if I don’t stretch myself, I can’t expect others to stretch. I also realized that it’s just hair and that I need to get over myself.

The thing is, I’ve always had long hair. I’ve always loved long hair. Long hair has always been my thing.

But having a thing gets old and so back in January when I made a bucket list for the year, I added having short hair on a whim, hoping I would finally do it.

I guess I have to.

August Goal

Experience short hair.

August Fears

I will look like a Kate Gosselin, pre tummy tuck..

Here’s to doing things you don’t want to do so that everyone doesn’t call you a big turd.

(Hair appointment pending.)

(Please bring wine.)

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For more details on the 2012 project, click HERE.