Catchup Christmas BEDIDTC

I actually REALLY like combining days. Makes the posts longer and more interesting.

This is a catch up from this week. Though doing this defeats the purpose of Blog Everyday In December Till Christmas. But I'm a rebel.

What was the best book you read?

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

 

Just. Go. Read. It.

I can not talk about this book enough.

What were your favorite songs?

• You Need Me, I Don’t Need You by: Ed Sheeran
• Little Lion Man by: Mumford and Sons
• We Are Young by: Fun
• Breaking Down by: Florence & the Machine
• Down River by: Temper Trap
• Title and Registration by: Death Cab for Cutie
• Skinny Love by: Bon Ivor

I really love these songs. I tired to embed the songs from Youtube but that didn't work so well. You can look them up. I highly recommend them all. 

When did you celebrate?

Finding The Name of The Stars @ the Green Valley Book Fair for $5.

What astonished you?

How fabulous I am. I sort of discovered that this year. It was like, "I'm Lillie and I'm a fantastic bad ass."

Where did you spend your money?

Halloween Costume (The Doctor... Hopefully I'll have a breakdown post soon)

Metro Cards (probably 4 or 5, because I lose at least one)

Books ( Not as much as usual. A bunch on my Kindle I haven't come close to reading)

Yearbook Fundraising Chocolate ( I sold the most boxes)

Watercolor paint

Makeup (elf, mostly. And revlon lip butters)

What was your favorite blog post...that you read or wrote?

I have a bunch of favorite blogs, not really a favorite post. I love

Cupcake's Clothes

KayleyHyde

The Hayleylujah Chorus 

Young House Love

Lillie

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Delicious food and visiting places!

Didn't realize I forgot to post yesterday. I've been stressed out by school.

What was the most delicious meal you ate?
I love food. Like, I seriously love food. From cake to alternative veggie meat to hummus to fajitas. And the most delicious meal I ate this year cost me $3.00. It was when I went to New York in March for New Balance Nationals because we had some boys throwing. My friend (who is also a thrower) and I were starving (at least I was) so we went out into the cold ass Manhattan air to see what was around. Before we came into the track facility, we knew street venders were along the street selling their magnificent delicatessens. As we crossed the street, my eyes were on the falafel stand. Months later, I was still talking about this falafel. And I kid you not, it was the best falafel I had in my life. Best spent 3 dollars, ever. 

After my glorious moment with this falafel, my love for the fried chickepea based balls only grew. Though I've had good falafel and better falafel then this. It was certainly my best meal of 2012.

Honorable Mentions:  

• Crumbs Cake Shop Birthday Cupcake (it was like a religious experience)
• Pommes Frites (Belgian French Fries, dipping sauces, what more could a girl ask for?)
• Homemade Falafel in Astoria ( I dropped by tazikki sauce right when I opened the door to our place. It was some pretty bangin' falafel though)
• Waffels n Dinges (Belgians really have there shit together)

Talking about delicious and wonderful experiances makes an excellent segway into the next prompt:

Where did you visit this year? 
 It seems that most of my amazing food related experiances happened to take place in my favorite city: New York.

Somehow, I managed to go 3 times this year. 1st was an exciting opportunity, the 2nd was planned, and the 3rd (for the most part) was a surprise. The 1st was back in March to watch my teammates at the New Balance Nationals. We were there for probably 2 days and it was certainly interesting. I had the best Falafel, my first (huge) slice of New York Cheesecake (Carnegie's), went to the Nike store, and managed to get to the Bronx's 216th not the Manhattan 216th. This was really one of the first times when I was able to walk around the city and sort of know where I was and where I was going. It was a short lived weekend but being in the city after so long felt wonderful. 

The 2nd time was when I went on the Fine Arts Spring Trip with my school. If I were to sit down and write everything about that trip, this post would never end and my homework would never be completed. One long, amazing trip but into a few words. We did some amazing things, as it was a fine arts trip, New York is not short on fine arts. Fell in love with the Metropolitan Museum of History, ate a Belgian waffle with vanilla bean ice cream and chocolate, was underwhelmed by the Ghuginhiem yet had an amazing adventure in it's basement. Made friends, became better friends, became best friends with people. Listened to my crazy English teacher say anything and went to my first Baseball game (Yankees vs. Minnesota). Listen to a homeless man yell obscenities at our group while we walked in his rain puddle. Took my group to a restaurant they loved and made the best out of the restaurants we were forced to go to. Drank Snapple like there was no tomorrow, got a picture with Al Roker, and hide the bible in the microwave. It's like it was everything a High School trip should have been minus the romantic story line. But I feel in love with the city and I realized that I feel in love with the feeling of being with people.

I should have saved that one for last but tis not my last experience in New York for this year. My 3rd and final excursion was to celebrate my 16th birthday. This did not include staying in a hotel in Manhattan or buying outrageous things or shopping on 5th avenue with the wealth. It included staying in Astoria, in a basement house. We were a block away from the main street where we ate on many occasions. I was surprised at my arrival to discover a cupcake on my bed (couch) from our host. We rode the Subway in both mornings to Manhattan. I felt like such a New Yorker (ha ha). On the first day, we bought these New York passes which got you into a bunch of different things for free. If the expression Balls to the Wall ever applied, it applied to that day. My ass was dragging that night. I could barely walk. But, I spent time in the Met, MOMA, Madam Tussaud Wax Museum, NBC studio tour (actually that next day), and ended my night on the Empire State Building. We crammed in New York like there was no tomorrow. The next day was more as I visited the Fashion Institute of Technology's free museum and exhibit. Ate at Pomme Frites (another religious experience) and did a bit of thrift shopping. That day was certainly more chill. And when we went back to Astoria we went out and found Homemade Falafel. Little whole in the wall (my favorite) restaurant run by a very friendly family. So we got home, I ate my falafel, and watched the news. It was marvelous. My parents rock. 

What I loved more than anything that my parents understood I would rather have an experiance than a gift. These memories are more than a party or a 16th birthay gift could have ever given me. And I am thankful for that. 

Lillie
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Times Falafel is used in the blog: 11

When were you most greatful?

As I was inspired by my sister, who was inspired but someone else, I will be doing a sort of Blog Every Day in December/Reflect On Your 2012. If you're interested here is la link. I thought this would be a nice reflect on your past year and document it sort of thing.

When were you most greatful?

When would be a difficult thing to describe as I can easily describe a feeling but not a when and where it happened. There were plenty of opportunities in which I was very greatful. I was greatful when my APUSH teacher didn't check the homework I didn't do or when my mom had dinner ready after a very tiresome practice. The feeling that sticks out the most most to me was how greatful I felt after working out these past few months. I was greatful for the work I did for myself, but I was also greatful for my Dad who is also my coach. He pushed me and made me work hard then I ever knew I could. The time I have spent working out out and loosing my weight has given me confidence, developed my leadership skills, a work ethic, and has just made me a happier person. I'm beyond greatful that I had (have) someone to be there with me. I'm also extremely blessed with the people I had who encouraged me through this. My family has been amazing, doing what they could do to make me better. My sister served as inspiration me through her weight loss about a year ago, but she also served as my motivation because I want to go beyond the things she's done. My grandparents for being the side of the family who was never short of compliments.

I love Christmas time and I can not wait till Christmas break! I will be posting everyday. I also really want to write more talky blogs coming soon.
HERPY HERLERDERS
Lillie
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