2012.

Pre-PS (can I make that a thing?): Sorry about being MIA this past week! 
Although unintentional, it was much needed and well-appreciated :)

It's kind of hard to believe that yet another year has come and gone.

I feel like I was forced into a time machine that's hurdling forward at x32 speed.

{I go to a tech-centric university... and wouldn't be surprised if this was actually happening.}

Slow down, time!

Still, I'm kind of relieved to see 2012 go.

It wasn't the easiest. Not by any means.

Several terrible things happened.

But, it also had its redeeming moments.

{And hey, we survived the apocalypse, so... a huge pat on the back for that!}

Here's a look back:

In JANUARY, I... started this blog. And rented a limousine with ten of my lovely girlfriends for a night out clubbing in SF. (Oh the joys of spending lots and lots of money on frivolous things.)

In FEBRUARY, I took a long hiatus from the blog.
Does it count as a hiatus if I had only written 2 posts & I was the only reader?

In MARCH, I went to NYC for Spring Break to visit my big sis and gallivanted around the city so nice they named it twice. I also went home to Houston for the second half of Spring Break. I had fun remembering an especially fun date with my four best girlfriends when we went driving in the pouring rain to get some pizookies at BJ's!

In APRIL, my lovely roommate and I made a spontaneous trip into SF for the day (spontaneous = deciding to do this in the middle of a fire alarm). She discovered my fear of pigeons. I discovered that she can save me from pigeons. We also spontaneously went to the midnight showing of Titanic 3D, making the decision about 15 minutes before midnight. It was a difficult month - several panic attacks and emergency flights to China, and I turned nineteen years old amidst all this chaos.

In MAY, my beloved grandfather passed away and my heart was broken. I came back after a rough, but lesson-filled, week in China. Two weeks later, I booked it to NYC once again to see my big sister graduate from Columbia Business School. I figured out where I was to live in sophomore year and had a lot of friendship time.

I have to say, April/May were some grueling months, and I could not have made it without my friends. They were absolute rockstars & I am forever grateful.

(Start of our road trip: 0/3 names correct... Starbucks, that's a new low.)

In JUNE, almost exactly one month after my grandfather passed away, my grandmother left us as well {how's that for an epic love story?!}. We had our end of the year dorm banquet on a boat and sailed around the bay for the evening - such an unforgettable night. My roommate, RA, and I took a trip to Disneyland smack in the middle of finals week, and hung out in Orange County for a bit as well. Freshman year ended. I went home to Houston. This is also when Perpetually Caroline became a "real blog" in the sense that people (other than my sister and roommate) started reading and commenting.

In JULY, I had several fun outings (1, 2, 3, and 4 ... ok fine, a lot of these were in June) (one with my high school teacher, no less!) and recapped some outfits. I walked with my best friend Brina in the rain, all for a Java Chiller. I started a few blog features {that I don't really maintain anymore, whoops!}...

In AUGUST, I told you guys 7 things you might not know about me. I loved going to Cracker Barrel and Kemah with two of my favorite people ever. I spent a whole day writing at Barnes & Noble/Starbucks and had a terrific lunch at La Madeleine {round 2 coming up next week}!

In SEPTEMBER, I planned out what my dorm room would look like. I shared a few quirks. I made egg tartlets! I finally went back to school for sophomore year and showed you what my new bookshelf looked like!

In OCTOBER, I made some coffee ice cubes. I gave you a peek into my daily walk to class. My foodie dreams came true when I finally got to see the Ferry Market Building. And my musical dreams finally came true when we went to Carrie Underwood and Hunter Hayes's Blown Away tour and were yes, blown away. I started Likes of the Week! Academically, I got closer to figuring out my major. And, my gorgeous Tory Burch riding boots showed up! 

In NOVEMBER, I introduced the great city of San Francisco to Mollie. Cassandra guest-posted about getting creative with making guacamole! I reached my 100th post. I had another really fun day in the city with my big sis before I headed home for Thanksgiving. My suitemates and I tried to be grown ups... and somewhat failed.

And finally, in DECEMBER, I partook (partake-d? attended?) in ugly sweater festivities! I did my first real outfit post. We had our Bond-themed special dinner. Our hearts were broken when a Connecticut community suffered a great tragedy. Mollie and I photographed Stanford. And then, it was Christmas!

If you're still here - thanks for reading this! It was certainly a loooong post.
Have a most sparkly & safe New Year's Eve and,
I'll see you next year!

(Ha, love doing that.)

(Come at me, 2013!)