GOODBYE to 2021! CHEERS to 2022! – A Wrap Up of Last Year

It’s so cliche to say, but it is always so shocking how time flies. Even with the pandemic still going on and strong, I remained pretty busy the entire time. Between work, social events with friends, spending time with Pete, traveling to see my family, and working on personal projects like this blog, I rarely was sitting idle. Below is an updated reflection on this past year and what I hope to accomplish in the upcoming year.

CAREER:

Desus and Mero: I completed one full year of working in Rights and Clearances. The fall portion of our season wasn’t easy, but I really felt like I was in the flow of the tasks and more confident with speaking up during meetings and our show day edits. In the 4th season, I will continue to be the Rights and Clearances Associate Producer and I’m looking forward to seeing what I learn and all the funny pieces that the show puts together.

The Missed:The short film that I worked on last year commenced it’s filming in mid-October at BAAD in the Bronx for a day shoot and Olympia Diner in Connecticut for an overnight shoot. After nearly 12 months of working on the project, it was really exciting to see our actors and crew come together and my friend Anita’s vision come to life. The editor has already put the scenes together for the most part and I believe it should be released later this year (2022). I feel very proud of the project and look forward to sharing it with people when it is complete.

HEALTH:

I FINISHED THE NYC MARATHON!!! November 7th, 2021 was an incredibly tough and painful day but it was so amazing to cross the finish line. Even though it was my second time running this race, it still felt special from start to finish. From training in Central Park and the NY streets to seeing Pete in his red medical team jacket at the finish line, I felt lucky to be running. I was grateful for all the people cheering along the sidelines – especially my friends who let me give them sweaty hugs, listened as I cried, ran with me, and held encouraging signs. At this point, I remember the intense soreness I felt the day after the race so I don’t foresee myself running this marathon again, but I also think about the amazing crowds throughout all five boroughs and it ALMOST convinces me it would be fun…but just almost.

At the end of November, I signed up with a trainer, Megan Hardy of Fitness Uncharted (look her up here and sign up!! She’s amazing!) who is helping with improving my nutrition and weight training – two areas I have wanted to learn more about, but have felt intimidated by. Each week I am provided 5 different workouts, live zoom calls, feedback on my progress and nutrition, and suggestions on how to adjust for the following week. I hated and avoided doing weight training cause it always seemed like I would be surrounded by guys who are grunting and being too intense. The guys being loud in the gym hasn’t changed but it’s been nice working with Megan because it has made me feel more confident in the gym. I still feel awkward a lot of the time but it’s getting better!

PERSONAL PROJECTS

BAKING CHALLENGE: I completed 9 challenge posts in total through 2021. Moving into 2022, I hope to keep up with these challenges but possibly expand it to try not only baking recipes but also try other types of culinary skills in the kitchen. I really peaked with my 2021 challenge in October when I made a beautiful pumpkin roll that was truly a perfect balance of flavors. Pete and I both loved it so much I made it again in November (read all about it at this link). I did complete another challenge by making croissants, but I ran out of time to write up a post. Plus, they were no where near the success that I wanted them to be. I don’t think my butter was cold enough so everything became kind of mushy and they didn’t bake properly in the oven – see below:

In December, I didn’t really do a baking challenge but I did make all of my traditional Christmas cookies which are spritz cookies, peanut butter blossoms, and snicker doodles. My family usually does a cookie competition on Christmas day. This year, we didn’t get competitive but we did make some fun cookies. Since my grandfather’s side of the family is Jewish, I grew up having latkes and matzah ball soup. When I saw the recipe for “Latke cookies” on food52.com I had to try it! See the pictures below as well as the link here for my vlog to see how I made them.

EVERY SO OFTEN BLOG: I have technically had this blog since 2014 when I briefly lived in Los Angeles, but it hasn’t been a consistent project (or at least consistent for me) until this year. I’m really proud to have posted 19 blogs last year – 9 of those being baking challenges and the rest being updates on goals, lists, and thoughts I have about different topics.

VLOG: I FINISHED VLOGMAS (watch it here!)!!!! I was able to complete 14 of my vlogs before I took a break from editing to just experience the season, but I took footage each day and at the beginning of the year, released videos of all 25 days of the challenge! I’m really proud for finishing and making videos that I am proud of. I learned several new skills – including how to blur, speed up footage, make somewhat visually appealing montages, and how to create end cards. I went from 2 subscribers to 12 during the month of December and for someone who never vlogged before and decided to just try this out for fun, I’d say that’s a great increase. I really enjoyed making the videos and the sentimental side of me loves having these videos as memories of a busy but lovely holiday season. I plan to continue making these videos throughout 2022 – I’m thinking 2 a month but 1 will suffice if the month gets chaotic.

NEWSLETTER: I wrote and sent out the William and Mary Entertainment newsletter for my normal September through December system. They included great updates from William and Mary students, teachers, and alumni. I’m excited to see what updates and announcements I am sent for the first edition of 2022 that will come out in February.

MY TOP 5 LISTS

MOVIES: (these are just my favorite from what I have seen…and there are so many more that I need to see from this year that I am sure are amazing too!). There’s definitely a theme in the movies I saw and liked the most (aka…musicals!):

TV SHOWS –

BOOKS – I didn’t reach my Goodreads goal of 3 books a month but I still read 30 books in 2021.

THEATER – I have been lucky enough to have seen several plays since the theaters have opened up for the vaccinated. I can’t choose one as my favorite since I’m just so grateful to see live performances again – I didn’t get playbills from Shakespeare in the Park, Dear Evan Hansen, or the Winnie the Pooh Play so the tickets will have to do:

A LOOK AHEAD

Here are my plans and goals for the upcoming year

1. Continue following the nutrition and weight lifting plan I started at the end of 2021.
2. Get my 5k run time closer to 30 minutes in total.
3. Get into a good sleep pattern FINALLY! – be disciplined with this.
4. Try to complete at least 1 if not 2 blogs AND vlogs a month.
5. Read 36 books.
6. Feel even more confident at work and keep improving the intern program.
7. Send out 4 more W&M Entertainment Newsletters this spring and another 4 during the fall.
8. Maintain my bullet journaling and get back into my daily journaling habit.
9. Knit a sweater from the kit I got from We Are Knitters (WAK).
10. Experience the best cabin weekend with Pete and some friends in early February.
11. See my friend Rachel get married in May on the Eastern Shore.
12. Host the 5th Annual Apple Day Celebration!
13. Try to completely learn how to play and sing one song on my ukulele.
14. Even with all of these goals, make sure to relax. Prioritize self care and balance social time along with alone time.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to read my blogs this past year. I’m proud for posting what I wrote last year and I look forward to working on it more this year.

Sending you all lots of Love,

Alanna