turkey trot

So Long, Twenty Twelve

On New Year’s Eve, it only makes sense that I pause to reflect on the year and some of the awesome things that happened. I sifted through the 265 posts that I wrote this year to share with you my very favorite “No Thanks to Cake” moments of 2012.

NTTC Greatest Hits of 2012

The “little blog that could” grew leaps and bounds during 2012. Here’s a few of the highlights of what happened this year:

Extreme Makeover – Blog Edition: I moved NTTC from Blogger to self-hosted WordPress and worked with a graphic designer on its redesign. This was a fun, yet nerve-wrecking time. How do you choose the design for your blog that makes most sense? How do you design it in a way that will reflect the essence of your message. I think we ended up in a pretty good spot!

Does anyone remember this ol’ place?

Launched Several Regular Features: I launched my first regular feature on the blog called Workout Wednesday (AKA WOW.) The fact that I was working out enough to have content for this was awesome as well. I also started responding to reader email via “Email from Readers” features throughout the year, giving us all a way to interact a little bit more. Both of these features will be getting a fabulous facelift in 2013… and I think you’re going to like it!

Enhanced Social Networking Presence: I’ve become even more connected via social networking this year. This has been HUGE because I feel like it gives me another way to interact (and get to know!) you guys! So fun!

You can now connect with NTTC via Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram… and who knows what will come next! Click any of the highlighted links to connect, if you haven’t already.

Attended Fitbloggin’: Attending Fitbloggin was one of the pivotal moments of 2012 for me personally and from a blog perspective. I got to meet so many new friends and bloggers through this experience and become a part of a fantastic community of men and women who inspire so many to be healthy every single day.

Won Some Awards (REALLY?): Well, award. NTTC was named amongst the 18 Best Weight Loss Blogs of 2012 by Healthline.com. But, NTTC was also nominated for Best Weight Loss Blog by Fitness Magazine, and featured on Diets in Review for keeping my weight loss resolution. So crazy to think all of this happened this year, too!

My Favorite Posts of 2012

I’m going to channel Friends on this one, as I pick the most appropriate categories my favorite posts of 2012. These are just the posts that I liked writing and love going back to read… hopefully, they are a few of your faves too!

The Ones Reminding Me of How Far I’ve Come: These are always some of my faves. Here’s a few to check out that include pictures over the year: 730 Days Later, Reflecting on this Journey and Unexpected Recognition, Independence Day, and Travel Companions.

The Ones Where I Went On and On about Fitbloggin: I love all of my Fitbloggin recaps because it was such a POWERFUL three days in Baltimore, but What I Brought Home from Fitbloggin really is my favorite. I also love the post where I completely geeked out on Zumba.

The Ones Where I Recapped My Best Friend’s Wedding: One of my most emotional pieces of the year, I love the post where I wrote a letter to Angela and Jamie after their wedding weekend. Love you two!

The Ones Where I Talk about My Other BFF Kelly Clarkson: I saw Kelly in concert not once, but TWICE this year! And, yes… you got to hear about the Denver AND Nashville concerts here. Expect more of this in 2013, unless I’m too busy attending to my bridesmaid duties (She is engaged, afterall!)

The Ones Where I Try New Workouts: Can you believe that all of these were new to me this year? Candelight Yoga, Zumba, Pilates and… let’s not forget my introductions to Lululemon and Athleta (love!) where I now shop for my favorite workout gear! I also loved telling you guys about my first Turkey Trot and my first trek up Camelback Mountain.

The One Where There Really Aren’t Words: There have been many moments throughout this journey where I’ve been overwhelmed by kind words. Simply Grateful is one where I describe how it feels, as best I can.

The One Where I Realized How Much I Loved Cooking: I had quite a few awesome cooking moments this year (and MANY new recipe successes at home.) I absolutely LOVED touring McCormick and learning about all of their spices and seasonings and the health benefits they provide. Visiting the Gourmet Spoon Cooking School as part of a team builder for work also topped the list! My at-home wine and cheese party was also incredibly fun to put together and write about!

The Ones Where I Crack Myself Up: Interesting that both have to do with fart noises, but re-reading Yoga Laughs and the story about The Faux Fart cracked me up tonight.

The One Where I Shot a Video: I can’t believe I did it, but I recorded my very first Vlog (video blog) this year. Click here to see it in all its glory. There may be more of these in the new year (since there’s been some demand)

Wow… to think that all happened in one year! It was an awesome trip down memory lane, for sure. I feel healthier, stronger, more active, and more thankful than ever before.

On this eve of the new year, I encourage you too to think about all the great things that happened in 2012. We will be turning the page to 2013 in just mere hours… Fasten your seatbelt, it’s going to be another amazing year!

What were your favorite NTTC posts of 2012? Which ones stand out as your faves?

A Fantastic Evening

I Vote Pro-Beet

The Dress

Turkey Everywhere

Yesterday was a day full of turkeys for me, and a REALLY good one at that!

My First Turkey Trot

I started off the morning with the 39th Annual United Way Turkey Trot in Wash Park. My VERY first Turkey Trot! I remember when I was little, my dad used to go every year… I guess I’m taking over that tradition!

This race is allegedly one of the most popular races in Denver and the only one I could find on Thanksgiving morning. I thought Denver would have many, but only one popped up when I googled it… but most of the city was there! And, today, I realize we got SUPER lucky! The weather was clear and around 50 degrees! It was a little chilly when the wind picked up, but overall, we were just THANKful it wasn’t freezing!

I reached out to some of the Denver bloggers to see if anyone would be interested in walking it with me, and while several were going out of town and several were already running it, Lynne said she and her sweet pup Phyllis Diller would be interested in joining me.

I was super-excited to have a chance to walk with Lynne, since we’ve been Twitter-friends for most of the year and have had trouble matching up schedules. We had an awesome time chatting, visiting, and people-watching.

This guy was one of MANY we encountered. I didn’t realize that folks dressed up so much for the turkey trot, but there were people with turkey hats, indian costumes, Christmas sweaters, and so many other festive looks. I wish I had taken a pic of the guy carrying a GIANT TURKEY LEG cutout. Hilarious!

We actually ended up cutting our four-mile walk down a little bit. The walk didn’t begin until almost 10:45, and I needed to be at Deb and Matt’s by 2pm. We still got about 3 miles in during our stroll though, which was perfect.

Friendsgiving Turkey

I got home about 12:30pm, with plenty of time to get ready for Deb and Matt’s Friendsgiving party. My mini desserts were made the night before along with my pumpkin spice cake balls, so all I needed to do was to get myself dressed!

When I arrived, I spotted Matthew pulling this guy out of the fryer… WOW!

Not only had Matt cooked one bird in the fryer, but he also had a second on the smoker. Both were PHENOMENAL, but gosh… there’s something about the smoked variety. Wow, so tasty!

I built my plate per the plan we talked about last week: 1/2 veggies (right side), 1/3 lean protein, and the rest was carbs. Deb even made Skinnytaste’s Green Bean Casserole (which was SO good!)

The only thing I hadn’t quite accounted for was my enjoyment at the appetizer bar. Deb’s famous cheeseball was featured with those darn tasty Wheat Thins, and I ate quite a few bites over there. I also had seconds on mashed potatoes. They’re my fave… I couldn’t resist!

And… dessert was all my doing. I ate a mini pumpkin butterscotch mousse dessert, and about 2 bites of pumpkin pie (I had never tried it!), and 1 delicious pumpkin spice turkey cake ball.