The Best of 2009 Challenge - Place

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Today's writing prompt is best Place of 2009. A coffee shop? A pub? A retreat center? A cubicle? A nook?

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My Best Place of 2009 was definitely my very own apartment. In November 2008 I finally moved out of my parents' house (hopefully for good, but let's not get ahead of ourselves). I then ran head first into the holiday season and didn't have a whole lot of time to really settle in until after New Years. 2009 was my first year of complete independence.

Let's be real folks, college is just a teaser of independence, a taste or a smidgen, if you will.

For the first time, I was supporting myself completely. Sure, the bills sucked, but the FREEDOM was so so SO worth it. I could have cereal for breakfast, lunch, and dinner if I want to. I go out when and where I want to. My mess was mine to clean up when I want to. If I want to shower at 2 am, that's my prerogative. No one gives me crap about the time I spend on the computer, the volume of my music, or the TV shows/movies I choose to watch.

Blissful freedom. Now THAT is my Best Place of 2009.

The Best of 2009 Challenge - Album

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Today's writing prompt is best Album of 2009. What’s rocking your world?

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This one was really no contest for me.

Taylor Swift's album, Fearless, took the world by storm in 2009. Taylor won multiple major awards for her sophomore album, including Entertainer of the Year at the Country Music Awards and Artist of the Year at the American Music Awards. The success of her Fearless Tour in 2009 caused her to extend the tour into 2010. That means that I get to go in May 2010 (after failing to get tickets to her October 2009 show). I could not possibly be more excited! There were quite a few people who thought she was too young to accomplish so much, but I was just excited that one of my favorite entertainers was fulfilling all her dreams.

My favorites from the album include Hey Stephen (written for Love and Theft singer Stephen Barker Liles) and Fearless. Singles like Love Story, You Belong With Me, and Fifteen are catchy and just make me want to sing along. I can't help but belt out, "It's a love story, baby just saaaaaay yes!" Just can't help it.

I've been rocking out to Fearless since it was released in November 2008, but I felt that it deserved my Best of 2009 Challenge Award.

I mean it's won everything else. Why the Hell not?

Happy Birthday to Me!

I love birthdays... I truly do. I'll do most anything short of jumping off a cliff or wearing Zubaz to make someone's birthday spectacular.

Today is my 25th birthday.

*throws confetti*

Who's buying the first round? :)

The Best of 2009 Challenge - Challenge

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Today's writing prompt is best Challenge of 2009. Something that really made you grow this year. That made you go to your edge and then some. What made it the best challenge of the year for you?

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This was a challenging year overall for me. In February my company (well ex-company) went through a huge lay off. I was a part of the half of the company that got let go, and it was devastating. I knew it wasn't like being fired; I wasn't being laid off because of something I did. It was hard to have someone see me as expendable, however.
Two days later they called me to come back to work. I was the only one they called back. Apparently I wasn't expendable at the time. I then lived in fear that there would be another round of lay offs because I knew if there was I would be first on the list.
That fear came true on 9/11, as I got laid off again, along with just five other people. I knew it was coming eventually, so this one wasn't quite as heartbreaking as the first. Again, I knew it wasn't because of something I did. It was just because the company was in a continuing downward spiral. So I, along with 10% of the population of Minnesota, joined the unemployment pool.

From this challenge, I learned to value my own worth, and I learned that others do too. I learned how to handle living on an extremely tight budget. I learned to face adversity and face my fears head on. I learned that a PB&J sandwich can be breakfast, lunch, or dinner. I learned that leftovers can sustain you for a week if you plan right. I learned that the best things in life really are free. I learned that making Christmas presents is an extremely rewarding experience and that sometimes those gifts are better than the ones you buy. I learned that asking for help is not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength. Most of all, I learned that I will be ok... and that is the best lesson of all.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Exclusive Sneak Peek

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*end geekdom*

the Best of 2009 Challenge - Night Out

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Today's writing prompt is best Night Out of 2009. Did you have a night out with friends or a loved one that rocked your world? Who was there? What was the highlight of the night?

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I don't go out very often. It's safe to say that I'm more of a "home body" than a "partier". So it's only fitting that my Best Night Out of 2009 was Valentine's Day, when I was my sister's "girls night in" date. My brother-in-law took my nephew to a hockey game, and my sister and I stayed in and watched chick flicks (The Devil Wears Prada and 27 Dresses) and ate food that was bad for us. It was fantastic, and once again the best part about it was the fact that I got to spend time with my sister.

The Best of 2009 Challenge - Book

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Today's writing prompt is best Book of 2009. What book – fiction or non – touched you? Where were you when you read it?

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Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom wasn't written in 2009, but I re-read it periodically for its lessons and wisdom. This year I read it twice. If you haven't made time for this book yet, please do, because it will change your life.