Let’s make this quick. It’s almost 2013, and you’ve got places to be.

The picture above is me exactly one year ago today. Today, my hair is longer and darker, but my waist size and sense of humor are the same. I’ve soaked up more knowledge this year than should be legal, and below is a short yet sincere list of what got me through the challenges, set backs, and tired nights of 2012.

#ONE

It’s true. Jack and Diets have been my saving grace this year, coupled with Coronas, white Zinfandels, and Chardonnay. No alcoholic here, but there’s absolutely no denying the fact that my weekends with Sir Daniels have put me to sleep, erased heartache, increased appetite (as if that were ever a problem), boosted confidence, made me forget, and helped me unwind this year, as I struggled with studying for the GMAT, trained hard for half-marathons, and wrote my admissions essays.

 #TWO 

They say laughter is the best medicine, and I don’t know who ‘they’ are, but they’re right. I’ve been on Twitter for two years now, but 2012 was the year it saved my sanity. Through it I found comedians, bloggers, and friends who gave me inspiration when I needed it, and laughter when I craved it. More importantly, it served as a creative outlet for me, to purge whatever sour or dull thoughts I was thinking that needed expelling. And expelling sour or dull thoughts creatively is therapeutic.

#THREE

Kimbra’s music not only makes me happy, but her ability to make beautiful music out of the trappings of whatever ails her soul gives me strength. She is big on staying true to the beauty of self expression through art and creativity, and that speaks to me a lot. She is beautiful, talented, and makes me feel better about myself. When her music comes on, nothing else in the world matters but the songs she is singing, and I get lost in them.

#FOUR

Lauren O’Nizzle (a.k.a. Lauren O’Neil) is my favorite blogger ever. She lives in Toronto, and I found her through Peter Shankman on Twitter (surprise, surprise!). Since discovering her, I’ve been a dedicated reader of her blog posts, Tumbls, and tweets. This year, her hilariously spunky self has made me a better blogger, and a more confident human. I was going through a hard time at the beginning of the year (men were driving me psycho), and her presence on the interweb has giving me so much to look forward to in life, and even helped me find solace in time spent alone. She inspires me to blog kooky things, have fun, and ultimately be who I am. I can’t wait to follow her shenanigans in 2013.

#FIVE

RUNNING! This year, running has given me the best highs of my life, and made me feel free from every burden. The half-marathons this year have tested my strength and endurance, and pushed me to the ultimate limits. What a fucking rush.

#SIX

Music. Florence and the Machine, Ellie Goulding, Miike Snow, and Katy Perry. This year, they’ve gotten me through it all, out on the running path, on long drives, late night blogging, and when I needed uplifting. Oh and add Kid Cudi, Kishi Bashi, and Passion Pit to that list too. Not pictured, obvs.

#SEVEN

Friends and family, no explanation necessary, but I can’t even begin to say how helpful they’ve all been in getting me through another year.

 #EIGHT

And this sexy mofo.

This year has been amazingly tiring, and 2013 looks like a clean, fresh, powdery blue. I can’t wait to go through it with you. Tonight I’ll be celebrating with the gang at Icon Lounge in Downtown LA, and I think the most exciting part about that madness is going to be the midnight balloon drop. I’ve always wanted to be part of a midnight balloon drop.

And in case you didn’t realize by the title, since it’s too obvious to make the list, blogging is one of the best things that happened to me this year. Come and get me, 2013.

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Monique Muro

Monique is an exceedingly happy human from LA. She runs the blog A Novel Quest, and writes. A lot.

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