Fare thee well, 2010!

With the New Year comes new goals, new aspirations, and of course, new Auntie Awards (please refer back to the 2009 Auntie awards if you are completely lost already)! I know everyone is so excited, as you should be :) So, without further ado, here’s to 2010!

Best Music Artist: I don’t know that this counts as a music ‘artist’ but I am completely in love with the Glee soundtracks. The show itself is kind of raunchy at times so I’m not too fond of it, but I L-O-V-E the music, so I just download the music from Itunes and sing along. The fun part of the show is that their lives are like musicals, just like mine…although, mine isn’t quite as cool because usually, I’m the only one singing unless I get my sister involved :) The best is, when at work, I’ll have my headphones in and I’ll randomly hear Heather say, “What are you listening to, Tara?” “Sorry, was I singing again?” “Yes.” Hahaha I can’t help it. I must sing all of the time. My good friends at PBSI always seemed to catch me too. I guess it’s just one of those things that I’ll never grow out of. I also am recently in love with Daughtry, so maybe they get the runner up award if there is such a thing :)

Most Listened to Song: This one is a little harder than last year. David Archuleta’s ‘Crush’ blew every other song out of the water. This year, I’ve had so many song crushes that it’s hard to pick just one. I think I might have to go with ‘No Air’ by Chris Brown and what’s-her-face. Not because it’s my favorite song or anything like that, but ever since it came out back in, what? 2009? 2010? I don’t remember…either way, it has been the song on my alarm ever since then. I randomly switch it out if the month has a holiday or something fun, but it is my default alarmer. So that you do not think I’m COMPLETELY crazy, in all fairness, while I was at BYU, I only listened to the very beginning so as not to wake Emmy up. Although, I don’t think that worked so well. It’s an alarm. That’s what is supposed to happen. We always laughed about it though *remembers* “Tell me how I’m ‘spossed to breathe with no air, air, air” *smack* It’s a good thing the off button is almost as big as the snooze button. I listen to the whole thing now though, so I can try to wake up a bit before attempting to take a stab at my day. Sometimes, I’m grouchy when I first wake up…at least when it’s dark outside. So really, instead of sometimes, I mean all the time. :)

Best Movie Released in 2010: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1. No brainer. So good. Definitely not a feel good movie, but clearly the best HP movie that has been released. I’m ‘pee-my-pants’ excited for part 2 though. It’s going to be fantastic. I can feel it. One of the best parts of this movie is Fred and George. Although, they’re always the best part of any HP movie, but still. They were especially funny in this one. Or the part when there’s 7 Harrys and Fleur is like “Bill, don’t look at me. I’m hideous!” hahah I think I laughed so hard that I was crying. Although, I might blame that on the fact that it was midnight and I was very tired.

Best New(er) TV Show: The Big Bang Theory. I haven’t watched a whole lot of it, but the episodes I’ve seen, I’ve loved. So hilarious. Probably because I’m partial nerd myself so I can somewhat identify with those crazies. My favorite character is probably Sheldon. He’s too funny. If I had to have a friend out of any of that group, it would probably be him.

Biggest Waste of Time: I’ll have you know that I have actually quit Farmville! (the winner of this award last year) Yes, I actually DELETED the application off of my facebook. No need for temptation from those sorts of shenanigans. Although, mostly it was because I just had no time to play anymore and I was tired of getting all of those posts and invites. Blah. Facebook clutterers. If you are a fan of Farmville and I have just offended you, please accept my deepest, sincere apologies, but know that I meant every word of it haha. As far as new waste of time from this year…probably Amazon. I love Amazon. I’m on there all the time trying to see if there is something that I need/want that I can get for cheaper than in stores. Yes, I’m a penny pincher and probably with things that I shouldn’t pinch, but I do. What of it? :) Amazon.com, I love thee and I probably won’t quit you any time soon.

Best Place Traveled to: Nauvoo. Hands down. Although, this one was kind of easy. Everywhere else that I traveled this year were places that I’d already been before haha. Still, it was fantastical. I LOVED it. Definitely a cool experience that I hope I get to have again someday.

Best Video on YouTube: HA! I can’t get enough of the Watermelon business from the Amazing Race show. I’m pretty sure I’ve watched this video thousands of times (okay, maybe only like 10 or 12) but it only just came into my life about a month ago. This is definitely something that would happen to me! Poor thing…that HAS to hurt but really it never gets old!

Best Thing I’ve Done: Hmm…I’m kind of lazy these days haha jk jk. I’ve had a great time volunteering once a month at the Battered Women’s Shelter. Doesn’t quite add up to going through the temple like last year, but this has been pretty good. Right now I’m trying to get in to Psych hospitals/centers to try to put my feelers out for different opportunities so maybe I’ll have fun stories sometime soon :)

Coolest Thing I got to see: I was able to see 2 of my friends get married in the temple this year. It SHOULD have been three, but due to unfortunate circumstances, I missed Jen and Moose’s wedding *sighs* Curse you I-15! Either way, it was a wedding filled year (as per the usual) but I actually got to be there for the ceremonies this year so that was extra special. So, a BIG thank you to Jen and Brent, Marisa and Eric and Emily and Tim for inviting me to be a part of your special day! I am so glad I was able to go! This goes for Kami and Chapan too but they were 2010 haha. Either way, yay for getting to be there.

Greatest Loss: As gross as this sounds, I miss the chunks from my foot that still haven’t grown back yet. Haha. For those of you who didn’t know, I had surgery on my foot back in May. 5 incision sites about the size of bullet holes. (it felt like I was getting shot in the foot every time I walked on it too. Super fun haha). At any rate, two of the spots never healed properly so I’ve been going back to a different doctor to get it taken care of. It’s healing, slowly but surely, but I’ll be glad when my foot is 100% better. Not to mention that walking without pain will be super nice! Although, I might also have to call this one a tie (which is okay because I said so) with my old phone. I broke in half one day. Literally. I probably dropped it. I don’t even remember. It was all a rush of emotions. So, so sad! RIP, ghetto flip phone. I miss you. You stuck with me for a good chunk of time even though I river danced on you and dropped you on hard surfaces all the time. My heart yearns for you.

Best thing crossed off my bucket list: Number 43: Getting to Decorate a house however I want to. So fun! Obviously, I don't have everything I want for the house, but holy geez, that would take a lot of money and that just ain't gonna happen. I definitely love the house though. It feels like home and that's what matters most :)

Best Production Seen: Phantom of the Opera. I’d never actually seen this one in play form. Just the movies. Holy crap, it’s so cool in person! I LOVED it. So good. Minus the fact that I was super sick and couldn’t really feel my head, but hey, I can’t complain :) Love, love, love!

Best Purchase: My green make up for my Elphaba costume. That stuff was awesome! Not to mention that I have more left for when I want to be her again haha. Nothing was better than when I accidentally flushed the make up remover down the toilet though. Thanks for coming to snake it out, Jeremy and JaeLyn! I'd probably still be a little green if it weren't for you :) Not that that would be an incredibly terrible thing, but still. Good times, good times.

Best Discovery: Hobby Lobby and Kirklands. I’ve known these places before and shopped there too, however, I didn’t really APPRECIATE them for their awesomeness until this year. Seriously, I could probably spend all day in these stores and be just fine. I’m all about nice/fun house decorations and crafts for super cheap. That has my name written all over it!

Best Roommate: This is an easy one. AMY you win! :) Although, if I had more than one roommate this year, it would still probably be you. Thanks so much for being so amazing! You have done so much for me and I’m so grateful to you for always being there for me on those crazy nights when I’m just having a hard time or when I really just want IHOP because I’m craving it so bad *teethy grin* You’re the best! XOXO

Best Product of Facebook Stalking: In a strange way, this one is still relevant this year even though I really haven’t spent much time on Facebook lately. When my phone broke. I didn’t have any of my numbers because I was super smart and saved all of them to my phone and not to my SIM card. Nice, huh? Either way, there were a few times when people would text me exciting news about getting married or whatever and I would have no idea who it was. I would ask and sometimes I would get no reply, so I’d turn to facebook and figure it out that way. Recent status or relationship changes can be very helpful :) So, Facebook, even though you are a waste of time, a portion of me still loves you. Thanks.

Most Patient Award: I might have to give this one to Heather. Holy crap work has been CRAZY recently and it’s about to get worse for the next 4 months or so. That’s right, I said it…4 MONTHS. Good grief. Three of our HR team members are going to Afghanistan to work on a transition for a new Task Order that we were awarded so at some points, it’ll just leave Andrea, Heather and I and Heather isn’t even really on the HR team…just by association because we love her and she technically should be anyway. But through it all, she’s laughed and cried with me at all of the ridiculousness. Nothing helps more than our trips to Olive Garden to just talk it out! Thanks for everything, lady! I love thee. DynCorp would be absolutely insane without you!

Looking forward to the most in 2011: This is a new award for this year. I’m not exactly sure which to pick. I have a lot of smaller goals and things that I’d like to accomplish but I think I’m most excited about learning to play the piano. Amy is going to teach me so hopefully we can work something out soon. I took lessons back when I was in 3rd grade or something like that but then we moved and I never picked it up again because I was focusing more on dancing and such. I’m kind of excited although, I don’t want people thinking I can play well and making me play during church. That makes me nervous. So maybe I wont learn how to do anything but the top hand hahaha. We’ll see. It should be fun!

2010 was a great year and I'm looking forward to what 2011 brings. Congrats to all of the Auntie award winners this year and I hope you all have a fantastic 2011! Make some good, attainable goals and stick to 'em! Oh, and go Mavs! :)