Best of 2014

2014 was a difficult year in places for us. Some really wonderful things happened: Anouk started school and we discovered a great community of new friends, new babies were born, fun times were had, many hours were spent at the beach. But on the other hand, we had a lot of hard stuff, too: home improvements gone wrong and a few health issues that took a while to resolve. Saddest of all, we said goodbye to Josie, our faithful cat companion of 15 years, in December, which was exactly the way you don't want to cap off a year. 

But when A., J., and I sat down to compile our annual list for the best of 2014, we found that there were a lot of great moments after all. Still, we are more than happy that 2015 is here (how about you?) 

Darcy and Rebecca are joining us and sharing their Best of 2014 lists. Don't forget to visit their blogs and check them out (a lot of their favorites for 2013 ended up being favorites of mine in 2014). You can also look back at our favorites from 2013 here. On to the lists! 

Cathy's list:

• Best books: The Secret Place by Tana French, Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty, The Actress by Amy Sohn, Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. 
• Best television: Transparent, Orange is the New Black (Netflix is really bringing it lately), Season 2 of the Wire and discovering It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (what took me so long?) 
• Best music: Foxygen, New Pornographers, Tennis (to see more favorites
  from this year, follow my Liked From the Radio playlist on Spotify). 
• Best food: Taste Unlimited's Bayville Farms sandwich! 
• Best trip: New Years' at Cheatham Annex. 
• Best stuff: new camera & lens, new Docs, Arquiste for J.Crew perfume (no. 31). 
• Best memory: Meeting our friend Molly's new baby, Poppy. 

Anne's list:

• Best books: Berenstain Bears series; Unwelcome to Grouchland (and anything feat. Oscar the Grouch); Fancy Nancy series, . 
• Best music: Elizabeth Mitchell's You Are My Little Bird; Dan Zanes Christmas in Concord (which yes, we do listen to year-round). 
• Best television: Sesame Street; Yo Gabba Gabba; Martha Speaks. 
• Best food: apples and blackberries, in large quantities (thank you Costco)
• Best trip: To see our friends Atom and Tessa (in Richmond, in November). 
• Best stuff: Horses and barn (a great yard sale find); frog rain boots; Beanie Boos collection; Guess Who? and the Tea Party game. 
• Best memory: Our Halloween party at home. 

James's list:

• Best book: The Sense of Style: The Thinking Persons Guide to Writing in the 21st Century. 
• Best music: seeing Negative Approach play Shakas.
• Best television: Walking Dead. 
• Best food: Chinese food at Peter Chang's (more on this next week). 
• Best trip: Epic Hatteras trip with friends. 
• Best stuff: New sit-on-top kayak. 
• Best memory: Parents' night at Anouk's ballet school.