Hi guys, can you believe that there is just one day left in 2011? Time really flies, doesn’t it, especially at the end of the year!
I decided to do a recap of my year since I started this blog just a little over seven months ago. So much has happened since then, so I thought I’d give a little breakdown of the most memorable parts of each month, along with a couple of my favorite photos from that month.
May
I first started AlmostVegGirlie on May 24, just a couple of weeks after I finished my freshman year of college. I have had a couple of blogs before (and still have a fashion-focused one on Blogger) but never a food-related one, and since I was really starting to get into cooking a lot, I decided to finally start one after discovering the healthy living blogging community. Besides starting my blog, I also celebrated my mom’s birthday (and Mother’s Day the week before) and went to a U2 concert up in Denver!
Post of the Month: My First WIAW
June
I biked in my first real biking event (with my dad). It was only seven miles, but it really helped me discover my love for biking and inspired me to compete in future events. One of the best parts (besides the ride itself) was all the free samples tents set up after the ride. Not gonna lie, that was super awesome 😉 I also started my volunteer job at the local library that continued all summer.
Post of the Month: Bad “Raw”mance
July
July was a great month for me! I started it out with a family trip to Estes Park which was so much fun and a great little getaway for the fourth of July weekend.The excitement continued with my first trip to the Whole Foods hot/cold bar and my 19th birthday on the 27th. I loved being one of the first people in Colorado’s first IKEA store, plus it was nice to get a gift card for going there on my birthday!
Post of the Month: Foodie Newbie
August
The month started out with a lot of active things, from bike rides to playing tennis to hiking in the mountains. I went on a couple of shopping trips before school started again towards the end of the month. I moved into a single dorm room and loved having even more independence.
Post of the Month: What I’ve Been Up To This Weekend (first ever vlog!)
September
Labor Day weekend was a whirlwind of activities, from going to see a production of a play my dad wrote to a day trip to Breckenridge (which was filled with tons of good food). School was…school. I discovered a few new foods, like deep chocolate Vitatops, Halo bars and of course, many new oats combos.
Post of the Month: A Pain in the…Foot?
October
I like to call this the month that I rediscovered my creativity in the kitchen. I think I cooked more new things this month than I did all summer! I spent a couple of weekends at home, which helped fuel my passion. I made quite a lot of pumpkin-related things, but what can you expect for October? I also went to urgent care to check out the pain in my foot that started in September and found out I have plantar fasciitis. Oh, and I officially started my first-ever real job as the news managing and PR editor of my college’s staff newsletter! I love what I do (and I love the fact that I get paid to do it!)
Post of the Month: My Story (parts 1 and 2)
November
Thanksgiving break was also a great time for me to get creative in the kitchen. I also stayed pretty busy outside the kitchen during break, with a big shopping trip to 16th Street Mall. I also had my first-ever vegan Thanksgiving meal.
Post of the Month: Simply Having a Wonderful Weekend Time
December
The stress of finals, projects and packing really got to me this year, but before I knew it, I was home! This month, I’ve enjoyed seeing lots of snow (even some on Christmas), playing games with my family, trying out new recipes, sledding, shopping and so much more.
Post of the Month: Jumping on the Bandwagon
It’s definitely been a very good year for me. Despite my struggles in school and with my eating disorder, I would have to say that I had more ups than downs. If you had told me at the beginning of 2011 that I’d be riding in a real bike event, go mostly vegan, get my first job, try something called ‘peanut flour’ (total life-changer, BTW), injure my foot and make raw desserts, I would have told you no way. But life’s funny that way–the things we least suspect always seem to happen. So here’s to 2012…whatever it may bring!
What were some highlights of your year? What are you most looking forward to in 2012?
This was such a neat post! You sure had some amazing firsts in 2011, you know it’s a good year when whole foods’ hot bar is involved haha 😉
Here’s to many more adventures and new beginnings in 2012! Have a great new year’s my friend!
Haha the Whole Foods hot bar was the highlight of my year 😉
Have an amazing new year yourself 😀
This post made me realize how fast the year really flew by! I found your blog in summer and read every single post of yours since 😀 I am so glad I got to know you!
I hope 2012 will be holding ready a lot happiness,joy,love and faith for you,Ashley!
Awwww thanks, girl, you are too sweet! I hope the new year is amazing for you too!
Looks like you had a pretty good year girl! It’s fun to look back and see what you were up to before I started reading your blog. I would love to go on bike rides! I haven’t rode? ridden? a bike in years! I hope you have a great (and safe) New years eve! And a fantastic year in 2012 🙂
Bike riding is so fun, I miss doing it now that it’s winter! Hope you have a wonderful new year as well!
Love your take on the look back! I hope you have a wonderful new year’s eve!
Thanks girl, you too!
you are so tiny and adorable! the vegan festive garland bars are on next year’s “to do” list. happy new year, fashion girl! xoxo
Awwwww thank you! I hope you enjoy those bars!
Wow, quite a year indeed!! It’s so cool to be able to reflect on in all. I’d love to hear more about your experience with biking in the next year. That’s something that I would love to do more often!
I will definitely let you know what goes on with that–it’d be cool if you could get into it too next year!
I love the way you did your 2011 in review post. Definitely one of the best I have seen. I hope you have a great of year in 2012 as you did in 2011
Aw thanks, I hope you do too!
Thank you for putting this together Ashley! I started reading your blog a few months ago, so missed some of the earlier ones… I will be sure to look back now! You definitely have more ups than downs, and I am so proud of you for that! Keep it up lovely lady 🙂
Awwww thanks Tessa! I’m so glad you found my blog so I could discover yours–I always love reading your posts!
Look like you had a great year! I hope you will continue to have a great year in 2012. 🙂
Thanks, I hope you do too!
It looks like you had such an amazing year. Thank you for sharing it with us! And thank you for having such an awesome, inspiring blog.
I can’t wait to see everything that 2012 brings you. I know it’ll be amazing! (:
Awww thanks! I hope you have a wonderful 2012 as well!
I love all the pictures!! I wish I had a bike now…
Thanks! Biking is definitely one of my favorite ways to exercise.