New Year's Eve Random Ramblings

In just a matter of hours we will say goodbye to 2012 and ring in 2013! I feel like there has flown by! I don't really have an organized post on a single "year in review" topic for today, so instead I'm just going to share a few random thoughts and such as 2012 comes to an end.

One of my highlights of 2012 is this blog. Even though I technically started it in 2011 I didn't begin posting regularly until this past April. I know it's not as popular and well-followed as some of the other preppy Southern blogs out there, but I enjoy writing it and it makes my day when y'all leave comments! It also means the world to me when my real-life friends tells me they read and like Pearls Go With Everything and that they share it with their friends.

2012 also brought my discovery of two new random and unrelated favorite things: Karen Kingsbury books and Snyder's Honey Mustard Onion Pretzel Pieces. It's hard to believe I was unaware of their awesomeness just one year ago. This past summer, after hearing a good friend Bible Study reader rave about them, I decided to start reading Karen Kingsbury books for myself. I immediately became hooked and in the past six months have read all but four of her fiction novels. They are more than just entertaining stories-the messages are encouraging and inspiring and saturated with Scripture references and examples of God's goodness in all circumstances. I now recommend them to all my friends and will definitely be re-reading them myself!

I tried the Snyder's Honey Mustard Onion Pretzel Pieces for the first time during Memorial Day weekend at the beach with my best friend. Ever since, I have kept a bag in the pantry. They are so delicious and addicting!

I know this sounds cliche, but for me 2012 has been a year of learning, growing, and changes (some which I couldn't have even imagined one year ago); strengthening relationships with old friends; making new friends; and growing more into who God wants me to be. Oh, and it's also been a great year of trying out new Pinterest recipes to add to my resume in the kitchen! 

I am ready for a new year and excited to see what God has in store for me in 2013!

Here are some of my favorite song lyrics to reflect upon as the dawn of a new year approaches:

"It's time to take your chips and cash them all in, 'cause it matters where you're going not where you've been." -Carrie Underwood (from One Way Ticket)

"So I'll grab the wheel and point it west, pack the good and leave the rest. I'll drive until I find the missing piece. You said I wouldn't get too far on a tank of gas and an empty heart, but I got everything I'll ever need. I got this old guitar and a brand new set of strings." -Miranda Lambert (from New Strings)

"Cause it's so clear every year we get stronger, what's gone is gone, the past is the past, turn the radio up and hit the gas. 'Cause...I know we've come so far but we got so far to go. I know the road seems long but it won't be long till it's time to go." -Come So Far (Got So Far So Far To Go) from Hairspray the movie

And I'll end this post with a New Year's Eve- themed clip from one of my all-time favorite Friends episodes: The One With The Routine where Monica and Ross break out an old dance (The Routine) they did at a middle school talent show in an effort to get noticed at a taping for Dick Clark's New Year's Rocking Eve:

Hope y'all have fun and safe night!

-L

xoxo

Greatest People of 2012

In no particular order, here are the people who stand out to me as the best and most memorable figures of 2012. 

The Fierce Five

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As y'all know, one of my highlights of 2012 was watching the Summer Olympics. And my favorite moment of those two memorable weeks was witnessing Jordyn Wieber, Gabby Douglas, McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman, and Kyla Ross become the first group of US women gymnasts to win Olympic team gold since 1996. In addition, I enjoyed watching Gabby win gold in the all-around competition, and Aly Raisman winning gold with a breathtaking performance in the floor exercise event final. And while I hated that McKayla fell in the vault finals, the "McKayla is not impressed" memes that went viral over the Internet afterwards were pretty funny. She showed great class by apologizing for coming across as a poor sport, and it was admirable that she responded to the memes by simply laughing at herself.

Missy Franklin

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My obsession with the Summer Olympics continues. Missy Franklin dominated the women's swimming competition while wearing pink googles and pearl earrings. What's not to love about her?

Victoria Soto

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The final month of 2012 brought what is probably the most heartbreaking and sobering news story of the year. Victoria Soto, a 27-year old first grade teacher at Sandy Hook Elementary in CT, died in the process of shielding her students from the gunman that tragic Friday morning.

Nastia Liukin

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Nastia Liukin did not return from London with the hardware of the Fierce Five. In fact, she didn't even compete in London. However, the strength and courage she displayed at the Olympic Trials makes her a memorable figure of 2012 in my eyes. Nastia entered 2012 as the defending Olympic all-around champ, holder of the most prestigious prize in women's gymnastics. She could've retired while she was on top. Yet she decided to come back and attempt to make her second Olympic team, which is a rare feat these days in women's gymnastics. During the Olympic Trials, she fell off the uneven bars and landed flat on her face, and it looked downright painful. She could've quit right then and there, knowing that her bid towards a second Olympics was certainly over. Instead, she got back up and finished her routine. As this article says, her dad/coach always told her to "finish what you start. No matter how painful it may be." This lesson extends beyond sports and we should all take Nastia's example to heart in our lives. One of our Christmas ornaments contains this quote: "the greatest accomplishment is not in never falling, but in getting back up after you fall." Nastia did exactly that. Also, even though she suffered a horrible fall in her final meet, she doesn't have to spend the rest of her life wondering "what if I had tried to make a second Olympic team."

Prince William and Duchess Kate

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I never get tired of hearing about the royal couple. They deserve a spot on my Memorable People of 2012 list because in addition to being classy and fabulous they have announced that Kate is pregnant with a royal baby! 

Who all makes your Remarkable People of 2012 list?

-L

xoxo

Top Songs of 2012

Here are my five most memorable songs of 2012, in no particular order. I really don't listen to mainstream top 40 radio that much, so I haven't really heard a lot of popular songs from this year enough to consider them memorable. Or in some cases, I've heard them but either can't stand them or they are not tasteful enough to include on this blog. One song I debated including but decided to omit is Taylor Swift's "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together." Yes, the song itself is memorable and catchy and it's not completely painful to the ears (I'd rather listen to it than that awful "Starships" song by Nicki Minaj) but Taylor Swift honestly annoys me these days. Which is a shame, because I used to like her a lot and still do listen to and enjoy her three previous albums. I just don't care for the direction her music has taken and declined to purchase her newest album. Anyways, enough of my T. Swift rant and without further ado here are my top five songs of 2012. I limited my list to songs that were actually released during 2012, as opposed to merely popular.

1. Home by Phillip Phillips

I will forever associate this top single by the May 2012 American Idol winner with the 2012 Summer Olympics and the Fierce Five's domination in the women's gymnastics competition. Since I don't watch American Idol, the gymnastics promos were the first time I really heard "Home" and I was hooked on both the melody and lyrics.

2. Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen

Some might find this viral hit of Summer 2012 annoying, but I think it's quite catchy and couldn't resist downloading to my iTunes. Many spoofs of the music video have been done, with the most noteworthy (in my opinion) being the USA Olympic Swim Team.

3. Good Time by Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen 

I can't resist liking this Carly Rae Jepsen hit either.

4. One Way Ticket by Carrie Underwood

This song didn't get any radio play, but it is my favorite from Carrie Underwood's newest album released back in May. I highly recommend downloading. It has a kinda reggae beat and amazing lyrics. My favorite line is "it's time to take your chips and cash them all in, cause it matters where you're going not where you've been." This catchy line is perfect to keep in mind as we prepare for a new year!

5. Good Girl by Carrie Underwood

And last but not least is one of the major singles from Carrie Underwood's new album.

What do y'all consider the most memorable music of 2012?