Best of 2011

I love lists. Here are five celebrating 2011...

My Favorite Songs of 2011
 1. The Augustines-Chapel Song
 2. Bronze Radio Return-Wonder No More
 3. Hanni el Khatib-Come Alive
 4. The Civil Wars-Poison & Wine
 5. Fleet Foxes-Helplessness Blues*
 6. Aiden Hawken-Into the Sea 7. Florence + the Machine-Cosmic Love
 8. The Head and the Heart-Down in the Valley* Download here.
 9. Bon Iver-Calgary
10. Alexander Ebert-Truth
*These artists offer this song for free on their websites. Link provided above.

Favorite Books I read in 2011**
 1. Faithful Place by Tana French***
 2. Robopocalypse by Daniel H. Wilson
 3. Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson**
 4. The Tower, the Zoo, and the Tortoise by Julia Stuart**
 5. Just My Type: A Book About Fonts by Simon Garfield
 6. Ms. Peregrine's School for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
 7. What is Left the Daughter by Howard Norman
 8. One of Our Thursdays is Missing by Jaspar Fforde***
 9. Before I Go to Sleep by S. J. Watson
10. State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
 **Some of which were published in late 2010.
***Not the first book in the series. Though it would still make sense if read out of order, I recommend reading the whole series.

Favorite Events of 2011
 1. My sister's wedding
 2. Trip to Korea with my in-laws
 3. Christmas in Savannah
 4. Robert Burns Supper
 5. San Francisco trip (specifically, wandering around downtown after dark with Dean and Colin)
 6. Anniversary dinner at North Pond
 7. Reenacting Plants v. Zombies with my sisters-in-law
 8. 3rd Annual Leisure Games
 9. Family visits to Chicago (Emily, Shirley & Ann, Dean, Jenny, Sus, etc.)

10. Going to the beach with Erin, Vinnie, and Quentin

Best Recipes of 2011
 1. Grilled Skirt Steak
 2. Goat Cheese, Pear, and Red Onion Pizza
 3. Zucchini Tortellini Soup
 4. Shrimp fra Diavolo
 5. Pork-Apple-Sage Pie
 6. Chocolate Ganache
 7. Jicama Avocado Salad
 8. English Toffee
 9. Cock-a-Leekie Soup
10. Cucumber Feta Rolls


                                                                                      Best Projects of 2011
1. Jessica's wedding (jewelry, napkins, monkey knots)
2. Jessica's wedding shower (banners, games, pom-poms, cupcakes)
3. Overnight bag
4. Chandelier Earrings
5. Getting the lamps hung and incorporating new furniture
6. Burns Night Supper
7. Raised flower bed
8. Bow tie/Necktie Onsies
9. T-Shirt Bibs
10. Pieced potholders