What I Learned in 2012

*No matter how much cute workout gear I buy, it's useless unless I actually use it to go to the gym. I won't.
*That despite what anyone tells me, I do not enjoy hiking, it is not fun, and my idea of a good time is not walking up a mountain in the rain. No matter how pretty the view at the top may be.
*That cherry glühwein is disgusting.
*That I like German ketchup more than American ketchup.
*That a friend who leaves vodka on your doorstep when you're having a bad week is a friend for life.
*That buying nail polish on clearance at the lingerie store will not end well.
*How to take off glittery nail polish.
*That no matter how many people tell me to read a book, if I'm not interested in it, I still won't. 50 Shades of Grey, I'm looking at you.
*That when I grow up, I want to be Alex Guarnaschelli.
*How to sometimes get Marriott rooms for cheap in Europe using eBay. (if you go to eBay.co.uk and search for Marriott under holidays and travel, lots of times the individual Marriotts will put up auctions for 1-3 night stays with breakfast included)
*That nail polish really is the new lip gloss.
*How to be able to spot the really good German wine in the store and not just buy what has a pretty label on it. (The trick is to look for this symbol at the top.

VDP is awarded each year to the 200 or so best wineries or individual wines in Germany. If you see a bottle with this exact logo on it, you know you have something good in your hands. And it's not always fancy, expensive stuff either. I've seen VDP bottles for as cheap as 6,50€ or so in the grocery store.)
*That someone up there is looking out for my husband. 
*How to make vodka gummy worm shots. (I swear I'm not a total lush and had non-alcohol related moments in 2012 as well.)
*That after being convinced that costume jewelry just was not for me, after discovering Bellevue Newport, I realize that I was wrong all those years.