Top Nine of '09

I took this from Holly Sails. I hope she doesn't mind. I just thought it was great to wrap things up for the year.

Top Discovery of 2009: Twitter and blogging! I've met so many amazing ladies who "tweet" and/or blog and I love every single one of you! You all are amazing, beautiful women and I'm so glad I get to talk to you all and read about your lives.

Top/Favorite Song of 2009: Jolene - Ray Lamontagne
I listened to this song so much and totally fell in love with it and Ray's music so I figured it was only appropriate to make this the TOP song for 2009. Ray has so much soul and emotion while he sings...it just gets me every time. His lyrics always just strike a chord in me. "A man needs something he can hold onto...A nine pound hammer or a woman like you" - love that lyric!

Top Creative Outlet of 2009: Photography
I've always liked photography, but at my friends weddings this summer I kind of went crazy...and I feel I kind of go camera crazy at all events. I'm always taking way too many pictures and probably being "THAT" girl. Then I started taking pictures of random landscapes and I love taking pictures when I travel. I hope to maybe get a camera (Nikon or Canon-what do you suggest?) and keep up with it. This is my new hobby, along with having my mom teach me how to needlepoint!

Top Movie of 2009: The Blind Side
10 minutes into this movie I started bawling with the classroom scene. It just reiterates why I was drawn to school counseling. It makes me proud to be a Ravens fan. It makes me want to be Leigh Ann Tuohy who is a "no-nonsense southern belle" who reminds me of my mom in many ways. I love stories like this, and I'm sure everyone else does too...it really shows you the power of love, hard work, support, and the belief that you can overcome.

Top Travel of 2009: Saratoga Springs, New York
Every summer to the horseraces in Saratoga. It's gorgeous and like no other race track in the country. I've been to many, from Canada to Kentucky...They all are lovely in their own way, but there's just something about the nostalgia of Saratoga that draws one in. The town is adorable with great shopping and restaurants. The racetrack is gorgeous and you get to see some of the best horses around. The paddock is picturesque. The houses around there are what I'd call my "dream homes" - big victorian houses with huge front porches on cute little streets and there's quite a few I'd love to have with one in particular. What I also love about Saratoga other than the horseracing: Hatties. Authentic Southern and Louisiana cuisine. It looks like it's right in the heart of Naaaawlins :)

Top School Moment of 2009: Getting into grad school. I'm in a program that I love and I can't wait to see what the future holds.

Top Excited Moment of 2009: Going to Nashville for the Ravens playoff game...AND meeting a certain boy there. First of all, let me say I love my Ravens. I also love country music, BBQ, and the south...add in a little bit of football and that is the PERFECT weekend. I had a great time and I can't say enough how much I love Nashville! If I could drag myself away from my family, Nashville would be on one of my lists of where I'd go to live. I've spend many an hour online looking at the ADORABLE houses they have there which are WAY cuter AND cheaper than the houses up here in Maryland! The boy I met, well, that's an interesting subject, the distance makes it kind of hard to be anything other than good friends, but I'm glad I was able to meet someone who turned out to be such a close friend.

Top Nerd Moment of 2009: Can't think of any nerd moments in particular, since when it comes to school I'm a big nerd .so I'll say bustin' my butt to get A's in my classes would be in my "TOP NERD" section.

Top Overall Thing about 2009: 3 of my roommates from college got married (and the weddings were WONDERFUL and so much fun) and another best friend from college just got ENGAGED!

Hope y'all decide to do this!

Happy New Years! CHEERS!