If you care to read them, you can find 2010′s end-of-year summary here and 2011 over here.  If you write one, let me know in the comments – I love reading these as much as I love writing them!

1. What did you do in 2012 that you’d never done before?

Finished graduate school. Interviewed for a job via Skype. Moved to California. Became the boss (which is different from being bossY, because we all know I’ve been THAT for a while).

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

Here’s what I wrote for 2012:

• Finish grad school.  Check. I graduated from Arizona State University in May with a MA in Criminal Justice.
• Improve my job situation.  Big, fat check.
• Make more of an effort to record family memories.  Hahahahaaaaaaaaaaa. Ahem. Fail. Wait – I started using Instagram. Does that count?
• Have more patience with the kids.  You know, I think I may actually have done this. At least somewhat. It certainly wasn’t the original plan for me to be their sole caregiver for the latter part of the year, but doing so has taught me a lot about patience. Whether I always manage it or not, I certainly know how to better approach it by now.

Yes! My good friend BB. Unfortunately, I only got a couple months of enjoying that sweet baby before I moved.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No, thankfully.

5. What countries did you visit?

Not a single one. N and I went to Phoenix in May for my graduation, and obviously I made the trek from Texas to California (and back again for Christmas) but other than that, travel has been sparse. Hopefully that can be rectified in 2013. Traveling is one of my very favorite things to do, and the kids are both finally old enough to take along for the ride.

6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?

More time. I’d like a 36-hour day, is that possible?

7. What dates from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

Oh, that’s a hard one. It’s been a big year. July was a banner month – I started a new position at a higher level, moved to my second-favorite city on the planet (Paris is the first, in case you’re wondering), and lived truly by myself for the very first time.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

I’m pretty proud both of graduating with a 4.0 and getting a significant promotion. I went from managing proposals to managing people, which is a pretty big change.

9. What was your biggest failure?

I prefer to think of failures as learning experiences and life challenges. It’s only a failure if you allow it to be.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Nope. The usual sinus crap, which I hoped to avoid by moving to a totally different climate but no such luck.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

An assortment of comfortable flats, because my beloved 4-inch heels simply aren’t practical when you live in a very hilly city and don’t have a car.

12. Where did most of your money go?

Moving expenses.

13. What did you get really excited about?

Have you really not been paying attention? Moving halfway across the country and up a rung on the career ladder was pretty damn exciting.

14. What song will always remind you of 2012?

Gangnam Style. That song is EVERYWHERE – even in my fourth-grader’s class, apparently.

15. Compared to this time last year, are you:

– happier or sadder? Happier, definitely. I thrive on challenge and change, and this year has definitely offered plenty of both.
– thinner or fatter? About the same as always, but sporting some killer leg muscles from all these hills. DEAR GOD, THE HILLS.
– richer or poorer? That’s kind of a hard one. I make a lot more money than I did six months ago, but also live in one of the most expensive areas of the country. So all things being equal – about the same as before.

16. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Working out. Saving money. Sleeping.

17. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Fretting over the future. Things happen when they’re meant to. I know this, and yet I fret anyway.

18. How did you spend Christmas?

Visiting family in Texas. We flew into Austin on Christmas Eve to spend a few days with my parents before heading down to The Swamp to have a late Christmas with the in-laws.

19. What was your favorite TV program?

I’ve become somewhat more of a TV junkie in recent months. Now that I’m done with school I have the time for it, I guess. Hawaii 5-0, NCIS, Sons of Anarchy, Burn Notice and Psych are all still faves. My newest obsessions are Supernatural and Grimm.

20. What were your favorite books of the year?

I read embarrassingly little, but hope to rectify that in 2013.

21. What was your favorite music from this year?

I listen to so many types of music, it’s really hard to pick a favorite. But you can’t go wrong with Metallica or Rob Zombie. Or *I* can’t. I do acknowledge that such music may not be the best option for say, my 94-year-old grandmother.

22. What were your favorite films of the year?

Y’all, I don’t think I’ve seen a damn thing. Not a THING. And if I did, it obviously wasn’t memorable in the least.

23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 33, and as per usual don’t really recall the specifics of the day. Oh wait, yes I do. N bought me a Keurig (LOVE!) and we celebrated at home. I believe it was the first time I’d gone to work on my birthday in quite some time, thanks to years of conveniently-timed spring break. It was low-key, but I suppose that’s typical as you age.

24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Living in the same house (or even state) as my husband. The latter part of the year, anyway. Haven’t lived with him since the beginning of July.

25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?

Same as always until July, when I became a  scarf-wearing maniac. The weather and logistics of life in San Francisco have forced me to rework my style a bit. Tights and leggings with dresses. Cardigans over everything. Flats instead of heels, and the weather is so wildly unpredictable that it’s smart to always have a scarf and an extra layer in one’s bag (and I don’t carry a purse anymore. Always a larger messenger bag or backpack). Honestly, I probably dress up a little more than I did before, even though my office is more casual. Most of my staff wears jeans on the regular but I rarely wear pants to work anymore, just because I’ve found that a dress with tights and boots is a bit warmer. So I’d describe my style as practical without being boring.

26. What kept you sane?

Wine. You think I’m kidding. Never underestimate the soothing power of a glass of cabernet.

FINE, I’m kidding. FaceTime has been so great in terms of keeping in touch with family, and thanks to cheap airfare both N and my parents have kept us from being too lonely out here. Social media has also helped a great deal. Technology, man. Wave of the future.

27. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012.

I listed it last year but if this year didn’t prove it nothing will: Anything worth having is absolutely worth working for. And as an addendum, if you want it just do it. You’ll never regret going for your dreams, but you sure as hell will regret living with a raging case of the “what-ifs”. Life’s just too short to spend wondering if you could have done something. Trust me. You can. And definitely should.