1. I got my first big girl job.

2. I moved with my husband to Kansas City and finally feel like I’ve found a place I can call home.

3. I’ve cried a lot: some times good, healthy tears, some times just angry ones.

4. I got front row seats to see my best friend get married on top of a mountain.

5. I found a church and can finally feel myself recovering from post-college religion angstiness.

6. I learned the secret to awesome sandwich-making.

7. I’ve changed the way I look at food toward a healthier diet. Yay meat, veggies and whole grains!

8. I started doing yoga and tried p90x. I recommend both.

9. Saw Mumford & Sons in concert with 10,000 of my closest friends, watched Jason Sudeikis perform with Second City and saw Demetri Martin, one of my top 3 stand up comics, live. Bought tickets to see No. 1, Jim Gaffigan, in March.

10. Said good-bye to Harry Potter with lots of good tears at a midnight show and smuggled-in butterbeer cupcakes.

11. Wrote two children’s books, one for each niece starring herself, and then self-published them with the help of Ash and her beautiful illustrating and designing skills. More to come on that in the new year.

12. Came to realize that I’m not as grown-up as I thought I was, don’t have it all figured out and still have a long way to grow in life. (duh, Char)

Wow, it’s been quiet around here. But I promise we have good reasons for that. On top of our normal work and Christmas craziness, Ash and I have been working diligently together on a Christmas project that I’m sure we’ll share with you as soon as Christmas is over and the gifts have all been opened. Until then, shhhh…you never know which special someone’s parents or grandparents are reading this thing.

Anywho, it’s not super comprehensive, but here’s my Christmas gift guide in case you’re still scrambling. These are my go-to gifts when it comes to Christmas or birthdays, but I think all four of these are especially suited to Christmas since they all have to do with baking, hot beverages or wintery activities like reading. So without further ado, follow the link for gift ideas!

there’s more to this article. keep reading…