That being said, this New Year's Eve was our quietest yet--just the fam, pizza, and a boat load of games. No fancy dresses, no makeup, no raucous trysts with debauchery. Just the Morbys doing their thing with dinner on 70s TV trays and a velvet green couch.

We saved the world from a deadly virus outbreak, the cats enjoyed their Christmas presents (and any box we had open) and played a highly competitive game of Life: Twists and Turns. Has anyone played this? Easily my favorite game. Embarrassing? Most likely.

Call us boring, but as far as I'm concerned, it was a great way to ring in 2012 hermit style.

How was your New Year's Eve? Was it quiet like ours or did you party it up?

But the bottom line is, it's so easy to see the less-than-pretty parts and forget about the simple good parts that got me all the way through to December 30. Am I right? So in my attempt to put a simple spin on year-in-review posts, I think I'll just nicely package my year into a couple of categories. Mitchell and I have been "naming" 2011 lately, so here's what we came up with.

2011: The year of the cats

This category may also be called "2011: cat-lady transformation complete." I also name this category first because (obviously) it's the most important. We not only got a second cat fondly called Pagoda, but my wardrobe suddenly found itself packed full of cat items--dresses, sweaters,  rings, necklaces--you name it. Cat figurines suddenly littered every shelf in my home, and here I am today feeling entirely heartbroken that my 2011 Cat Naps calendar is done and over with.

I have no shame. Cat lady for life.

2011: The year of the hair

This was Mitchell's contribution to the 2011 naming scheme. In 2011 we both grew looooong hair and, consequently, fished plenty of hair gunk out of the drain on a regular basis. Ladies, are you feeling me on this one? So awful.

But alas, we parted with Mitchell's sweet flowy mane in November. RIP, long hair. You will forever remain in my 70s-loving heart.

2011: The year of the trips

You might say 2011 was the year we went crazy, said to hell with it all, and went on multiple trips. What's life without a vacation to look forward to?

While Oregon was lovely, and Disneyworld was sticky and crowded, the highlight of the year was easily the Westy meetup.

(That last one is one last lamentation about the year of the hair. See? I really do miss it.)

2011: The year of the awkward outfit posts

This year was the year I ventured out into the world awkwardly with my tripod to face my worst fear--pictures of myself. I'd never done outfit posts until 2011 coaxed me into it, and here I am today, still taking awkward pictures with my tripod and loving you all for not making fun of me for it. The year's entire spectrum of outfit posts can be viewed here and individual posts here, although you can only click that link if you promise to go easy on me.

2011: The year of the hoarder

While I've loved thrifting since high school, I do believe that my thrifting addiction reached all new highs this year. Over the summer I found myself in Savers more often than I found myself at home or work, which might be an exaggeration, but maybe not. I started my $5 Thrifty Thursday series and had pretty much the time of my life compiling those posts and seeing all of your glorious thrifty treasures.

Because it was the year of the hoarder, I guess I better list my best-of-2011 thrifting score. There were A LOT, but this one really takes the cake.

My $10 record cabinet! You can read about that baby right here.

2011: The year of the blog

Last but not least, I think that the biggest descriptor of 2011 is the year of the blog. While I've had my blog for 2ish years now, I only got serious about it this February. The people I have met along the way and everything that I've learned about myself make this little blog right here my favorite part of 2011. Well, that and Pagoda, but you know.

As cheesy as it is, and as overused as it may be, I genuinely wanted to thank every SINGLE reader reading this right now or anyone that's read my blog at all this year. Your comments and friendship on Twitter and whatnot have meant absolutely everything, and because of you I continue to run this little blog and fill it with silly things. I've learned a lot this year about blogging, but I'm still completely new at it, so thank you so very, very much for sticking with me and making this so worthwhile.

Happy new year to you all! I wish you all of the very best in 2012 and that we can give it even better names come this time next year.

Instead of hearts, I just experimented with stars, trees, gingerbread men, and a snowflake that didn't quite work out. I couldn't figure out how to get the snowflake shape right, so let me know if you have any tips on how to make that work. Something tells me it would be glorious.

Mitch calls that last one "Christmas Wishes Cat" and I think I need to submit it to Dream Cats.

Have you played around with bokeh yet? It's so easy, and the results are mostly glorious. Have fun!

There's a little shop in a tiny little town in Utah called Broadbents. It's just about as old-fashioned as it gets, right down to the cute old ladies running the regiesters and the old school toys they sell. The best part about it is it's kind of become a tradition for my mom and me to make our annual Broadbents visit and buy some ornaments and other Christmas decor we don't need but love anyway.

Every year I try and make a point to have at least one day with my cute mom where we can party it up Christmas style. We're kind of the only ones in our family that take Christmas at a level of seriousness close to that of Clark Griswold. It's a month-long holiday for us, and we always try to have a day of shopping, baking, and whatever other Christmas festivity we can pack in.

skirt: H&M // sweater: old navy // leggings/knee highs: ModCloth // boots: Jersy c/o Blowfish // coat: Target // bag: Monocled Lop // necklaces: biggun antique and gifted and littleun from Le Petite Pretty (gifted from Carly! Thank you, lady!)

I mostly wish every day was a mom/daughter play date--and a Christmas one at that. It's so much better than working, wouldn't you say? And Beth, if you're reading this, thank you for letting us in on the Broadbents secret. We sure do love it.

What's your favorite family Christmas tradition?

One of my favorite and one of the most long-standing traditions my mom started with me was the giving of meaningful ornaments each year. She started giving each member of my family an ornament that reflected something we had accomplished each year--graduations, babies, skills learned, etc. It has always meant the world to me--especially since once I got married I had a complete ornament collection all my own, filled to the brim with sentimentality.

I thought I'd share some of my favorites with you since it really serves as one of those "little known facts about Amy" posts in a way.

I got this when I turned 17--I actually played guitar for about 3 years before I graduated high school and got too busy with college. Boo-urns.

It's true! I was tennis captain in high school--but the secret is that we were horrible, and being captain only meant you got to spearhead the designing of the team's uniforms. Remember that, Jenny? Good times.

And this one wasn't necessarily one my mom gave me, but she did pass it on from my grandma. I played the violin for almost 12 years before I went to college and thought I was too cool to continue. Biggest.mistake.EVER. The violin means the world to me, and my grandma played it growing up as well--this was her ornament, so to have it now means everything to me. It's my most prized posession and always earns a position at the tip top of the tree.

Sorry for such a long post! Ultimately, let it be known that the cats and I have had a blast decorating the tree with all of my pretty ornaments. I may not have the prettiest tree, but at least my ornaments mean something--and it will always be that way.

What are your favorite holiday traditions?

Happy Thanksgiving to every single one of you. I hope you have an incredible holiday weekend with the ones you dig most.

Have the happiest of all happy Halloweens tonight! Keep it safe and keep it real. Happy Halloween!

(cat and mustache man via moi • star and awesome big mouth via Mitchell)

Of all the excitement about October you read today, I guarantee nobody is as happy as I am that it's here.

Happy October! Did you decorate for Halloween yet? I can never contain myself.

(PS--have you visited City Bird's Nest yet? She's on of my sponsors and is offering everyone 15% off anything in her shop all month long! Just use code SOINLOVE at checkout.)

Without boring you with numerous details on the holiday, just know Mitch and I started the day off making these. I might have eaten my weight in them. Just sayin.

I'm mostly happy to be an aunt to 5 crazy little nephews all under the age of 6. I was feeling rather down about Easter this year as I hadn't done anything festive. Anyone who knows me knows that this is strange--perhaps even worrisome. I'm usually gung ho all the way for holidays with a decorated house and every festive activity planned until the big day. This year, not so much.

But thanks to these boys, I got to experience Easter like a kid again. (Grandma got them all matching sunnies.) (Also, the 5th nephew, baby Nolan, is sleeping. He's just a newborn. But he's CUTE!)

At one point in the day I caught my dad, ever the photographer, hamming it up with Luke for a one-on-one glamor shoot.

And Owen had to show me how to play paddle ball as I had long since forgotten.

Grandma planned an outstanding Easter egg hunt complete with Silly Bands, rubber frogs, snakes, and lizards, and quarters.

Henry and Owen are similar in age and teamed up against the older boys. Oh, to be young again.

Vincent, the chihuahua/schnauzer mix, was able to tame is neurotic tendencies for a bit to enjoy the pleasant weather and family. If you ever wondered if your dog was completely crazy, well, you haven't met Vinny.

We'll end with an instax of us. Long-haired and mustachioed Mitchell looking dapper in his Sunday best.

Woah. And for a real trip, here's a pic of us two Easters ago. What the?! Look at our short hair! Silly.

This is about how the day ended for all of us. Food coma-induced stupor on the couch.

Hope your holiday was just lovely. Now on to summer!

PS--the new design is on hold. When I said Monday or Tuesday, well, I forgot Mitchell was on his way to San Diego all week for training! Yes, the new job has officially begun. Stay tuned. It will be here soon!

PPS--I've been having some major server issues, so if this blog is slow, buggy, or unavailable, I'm sorry! Let me know if that happens. I want to complain to the host if it does!

Like Mitchell who had these beauties delivered to me at work:

And my sweet mom who made me the sweetest cat cake ever made. It looks like Royal!

And my nephew Henry who came with me to dinner and took silly pictures with me. And helped me blow out my candles of course!

And of course Royal for being the feline gentleman that he is. And for making good use of birthday present packaging.

It's good to be loved, and I am happy. Thanks again blog friends!