My 5 Favorite Posts of 2012

I published - and I'm sure you read every single word of - 205 posts in 2012. That's a whole lot of blogging, huh?

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Some were better than others. But these 5 were a few of my favorites:

1. The one where I compared myself to a Bachelor contestant.
2. The one where I realized this blog has ventured down an unanticipated path.
3. The one where I realized that even the ordinary is extraordinary in Chicago.
4. The one where I got a new job.
5. The one where I witnessed a birth.

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But if you're keeping score, these 5 were the most popular:

1. The one where I realized when the Art Institute is free for Illinois Residents.
2. The one where I imagined my Ideal Day.
3. The one where I Dared to Dream.
4. The one where I shared my favorite bits of Academy Award Fashion.
5. The one where I went on a Meetup walking tour.

It's obvious that A Foreign Land has headed in a different direction since early 2012. To the new friends I've made this year, I'm so excited to have you as a part of my bloggy world. And to those of you who have stuck around since the early days, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you! You make this little space a fun place to share our Chicago adventures.

2012 has definitely been chock full of great memories for us and I can't wait to see what 2013 brings!

How will you remember 2012?

What are you looking forward to in 2013?

My Five Fall Faves

Like so many other women in the blogosphere, I *heart* Fall. Leaves, layers and lots of warm apple cider make it such a lovely time of year.

Don't you agree?


So when I heard that the incredibly talented Johanna of 101 Things I Love was hosting a series of guest bloggers sharing their Five Fall Faves, I jumped at the chance to participate.

The most difficult part of the exercise was narrowing down all the things I love about the season to just five faves.

Want to see what I chose? Head over to Johanna's beautiful blog and check out my guest post!

What are your Five Fall Faves?

something random...

It's Thursday. I have the desire to be Thankful. Here's a few reasons why this post does NOT center around my thankfulness.

1. It's early and this whole "up before the rooster crows" thing is finally starting to work. I'm tired.
2. I'm hormonal.
3. I forgot to loudly grind coffee beans before we went to bed last night, so I have been awake for one hour and 42 minutes and have not yet had a cup of coffee. Tell me that isn't love.
4. I'm wrestling with some "stuff" which will probably end up being what I'm thankful for...
5. blah

So, enjoy a few more pics from our recent trip to the STL, and I promise to be thankful later.

The last three shots were taken at Citygarden. It was our first visit and it is totally beautiful. If you are in St. Louis and you haven't been, make it a priority before the temps drop... wait, have they already?

Autumn

We have officially entered Fall 2009 and I just couldn't be more excited! I'm pretty sure Autumn is my very favorite season.

Here are 5 reasons why:

1. The Weather is Changing: Temperatures drop (though not as drastically as I would like around here) which makes lighting the fireplace a more regular occurrence. It's not just for s'mores anymore! And the leaves change colors - which makes Chattanooga and its surrounding areas considerably more enjoyable to look at for a few weeks.

2. There's a New TV Schedule: All the new shows pop up in the television line up and old favorites return. I have to say, our DVR is working overtime right now. There are so many new shows that I plan to give a try... in fact, being the TV junky that I am, this deserves a whole post to itself. Stay tuned.

3. Serious Films Debut: Adios GI Joe and Transformers 16, Fall means the quality films are released to the theatres. And I am chomping at the bit to get to work on this year's Academolly Awards.

4. Time to break out the Fall Fashion: Oh, how I love Fall and Winter clothing... layers with sweaters and tights and boots! For a pastey white gal like me, a Fall wardrobe is so very much more fun than summer's tank tops and swimsuit cover-up chic. blech. I finally finished all 584 pages of Vogue's September issue for the 3rd time and I have to say that patterned tights are my favorite trend of the season! What about you?

5. Awards Season on the Horizon: And finally, Fall means that awards season is about to kick off once again. Sure the Emmys have come and gone, but they are just a taste of the red carpet glamour that awaits us over the coming months.

So, throw a pot of soup on the stove for dinner, grab a glass of warm apple cider, and join me in toasting the new season!

Viva Autumn.

5 for Friday

5 movies released the year i was born:

1. all the president's men:

2. carrie: 3. rocky:4. the song remains the same:

5. taxi driver:

5 for Friday

5 of my favorite pieces of art:

1.

Wassily Kandinsky Improvisation 31 (Sea Battle), 1913
National Gallery of Art, Allisa Mellon Bruce Fund

2.

Frederik Leighton Flaming June, 1895


3.

Henri Matisse La danza 1, 1909
MOMA


4.

Jackson Pollock Number 1 1950 (Lavender Mist), 1950

5.

Vincent Van Gogh The Cafe Terrace on the Place du Forum, Arles, at Night, 1888

5 for Friday

5 (of the 500) jobs i've had:

1. buffet worker 2. dance teacher

3. video store clerk

4. flight attendant

5. nanny

5 for Friday

things i never leave the house without:

1. iPhone 3G

2. Orbit gum

3. C O Bigelow mentha lip tint

4. Visa card

5. my engagement ring