Great year overall…I can’t believe David and I are finally together :) And to my wonderful friends–I love you. Not feeling terribly wordy this year. Enjoy.

best of

• Turks and Caicos with Marja
• David moves to DC
• Half Wednesdays and work @home Fridays
• Karenna (counseling)
• David at home waiting for me after trips during the summer while we were shacked up
• Becoming a partner at 4Site
• Renewed puzzle enthusiasm
• Getting much better at cooking, understanding nutritious food
• St. Vincent “Strange Mercy”
• “The Haunting of Julia”…especially stunning theme
• “Labyrinth” at AFI theater
• Fleet Foxes “Helplessness Blues”
• Losing 10-15 pounds and realizing I can get pretty healthy! diet/exercise
• Gunjax wedding in Santa Fe, beautiful
• Sleepovers with David, normal dating :)
• My apartment by the zoo
• Expanding circle of friends
• Yarrie visits :)
• Multiple beach trips by bus!
• Listening to Fleet Foxes and Laura Veirs on above bus trips late summer, rural beauty
• “Drive”
• Touché!
• Tennis “Cape Dory”
• White and black striped infinity scarf, love
• Rediscovering classic George Michael w/D at American Apparel
• White comforter set
• Flopsy dresses, sweaters and boots layering look
• Exploring Takoma Park together
• Waking up with my window open, cool breeze and city sounds
• “Amanaemonesia” SO GOOD
• iPad!
• Great Frederick Fair!!!
• 10 year Arkansas high school reunion w/Misty & Brian
• Baltimore Sonic trips
• Biking with Nicole
• Shophouse
• ASMR and Youtube
• Quiet moments alone at night
• Hugs over Christmas
• Listening to my mom’s sewing machine as I fell asleep in my room, knowing she was okay for a bit…
• Teaching parents how to use Skype and setting up their laptop
• Rehoboth hooded sweatshirt
• Watching “Twilight” with my dad :)

worst of

• Family deteriorating
• Work stress
• Trying to fix everything
• Letting myself get pushed beyond my limits
• The demise/loss of 5000 more umbrellas
• AC breaking during the hottest days of summer
• Creepy screaming guy at the end of hallway

things to do better next year

• Start using Gmail as regular personal email account
• Make exercise a reasonable part of life (not excessive, not absent completely)
• Responsive design, HTML5, etc
• Go to Europe
• Accept people for who they are; accept the grace in right now, even through the fear of all the “what if”s
• Love more / Hate less
• Stop trying to be omnipotent
• Do what makes Brandi happy…no FOR REAL
• Stop feeling guilty
• Speak up, don’t worry how others might negatively perceive me…ya only got one life

best of (inspiration)

• http://www.ilovestvincent.com/
• http://imagemechanics.com.au/
• http://www.theleagueofmoveabletype.com/
• http://www.losttype.com/browse/
• http://www.nikebetterworld.com/
• http://www.interactivestrategies.com/
• // bike poster //
• // pretty much anything letterpress //

Amanaemonesia from Chairlift on Vimeo.

Directed by Caroline Polachek and Tom Hines
Digital Animation and Editing: Eric Epstein
Animated Watercolor Illustrations: Rebecca Bird
Choreography: Caroline Polachek
Movement Consultant: Juri Onuki
Art Direction and Text Design: Alejandro Cardenas
Color: Michelle Leuking
Styling: Kat Typaldos
Wardrobe Fabrication: Grace Kim
Hair & Makeup: Fernando Haddad
Steadicam: Afton Grant
Assistant Editor: Matthew Chin-Quee
Assistant DP: Chris Parente
Location: Brooklyn Fireproof Studios
Produced by Molly Hawkins, Tom Hines & Caroline Polachek
Copyright Chairlift 2011

"hmm..should we..?", originally uploaded by Brandi!.

…wonderful vacation this month. i miss my masha! see the full album here.

I have to say that looking back on everything, 2010 has probably been the best year in recent memory. Other highlight/rollercoaster years include 2005 as a college senior/new DC career woman and 2001 as a high school senior and fresh college meat. It seems like my life goes in 4-5 year cycles. That school mentality and time frame must have some deeper meaning than I ever realized….

2010 was probably so great because, like those other years, it was a year about self-discovery and doing me the whole damn year. And friends. Never have I traveled so much and had so many house guests and so many regular social engagements. I remember several years ago when I was terrified of having my own life and breaking up with my previous boyfriend, a colleague told me it’s amazing how your week can fill up with a hang here, a movie there, a trip here, a night out there, etc. Even just taking an evening to buy groceries and try a new recipe for yourself. And it’s true….things have a way of falling into place if you let them.

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