Hello 2013

Dear 2012,

You have been so good to me.  Beyond good actually, you have changed my life completely!

A year ago I was stressed out so much, I couldn't think of anything else, and so unmotivated that I thought I was on a downward slope and I just couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel.  But what I also couldn't see, was that going through it all would teach me lessons that would guide me to a new life; one with creativity, fellowship, family, beauty, and so much love.

With that having been said, I am just so grateful to have been so lucky this year!  While 2012 was probably one of the best years I've have for a long time, I know that it has also been stressful, damaging, and heartbreaking for others.  So I hope that 2013 will rise on a better year for all those who have struggled in 2012.

Let's Have a Brief Recap of 2012's Positive Karma:

January: Trip to Boston and Brooklyn, (which kicked my year off and pushed me onto a new path, also Place 1 and 2), went to my first NBA (Celtics) game 

February: Started going out & about more, Meet this cool guy Vlad (its a real cute story)

March:  Spring Break beach trip with my girlfriends for my 3rd place of the year

April:  Easter trip to Virginia to see my extended & entire family (a rare and amazing occasion)

May:  Celebrated at my Best Friend's Wedding, Congratulated my college roommate and amazing friend, Jessi, at her graduation

June: Lake trips with the boys and everyone else

July: GOT MY FIRST BIG GIRL JOB, Moved into a new (nicer) apartment,  Remember that cool guy? We started dating :D 

August: Got a new-for-me car

September: Labor Day at the lake with all the boys, Had 3 of my designs for work placed on city-wide billboards

October: Turned 23 surrounded by some amazing people, Went to my 4th Place for a girl's weekend in the mountains at Blowing Rock, Saw old friends and fellow Alumni at UNCG's Homecoming

November:  Invested in the IPhone club so I can blog on location :D , Retired my dorm room futon for a real life-size sofa, Celebrated Thanksgiving with my both my parents and my Greensboro family, 

December:  This lovely blog hit 300 followers (from having 0 in May),  Celebrated the holidays with amazing people

So Hello 2013,

You may not know it yet, but you will be amazing too.  I have so many things planned for you and I can't wait to see where you will take me!  

Here are my resolutions for 2013, a slight change from my previous year's but I'm ready for the new year to begin and a fresh start to see what I can do now!

Resolutions:

Try 5 New Things: Since 2010 I have made the New Year's Resolution to go to 5 New Places each year.  And have made it to 13 total!  

2010:  Charleston:SC,  Los Angeles:CA,  Asheville:NC,  Williamsburg:VA,  Outer Banks:NC

2011:   New York City:NY,  Indianapolis:IN,  Chicago:IL,   Grandfather Mountain, Banner Elk:NC

2012:  Boston:MA,  Brooklyn:NY,  Garden City:SC,  Blowing Rock:NC

But now that I have a full time, big girl job, it's much harder to travel as freely.  So instead of specifically going to 5 new places, I'm altering my resolution to doing 5 things I've never done before!  This will hopefully give me a chance to check some boxes off my bucket list!  More on that to come soon!

Go Back to Yoga: I took a yoga class the summer before last and I loved it, but then time and classes got ahead of me and I had to take a break.  But now, with a routine schedule I can count on, I would really love to find a class that I can plan on going to again!  It will also encourage me to simply exercise more and eat a little more mindfully. What's good for the body and is always good for the soul!

Continue a Hobby: During college, there's always something to work on, something that needs to get done before the deadline, but now when I come home from work I find myself cleaning the house, going out or watching TV.   My goal is to get back to my basics, take on a project and do something more creative with my free time!  I recently started working on adding things to my Etsy Shop, and I really want to continue that into the new year!

So remember this post?  Well here are the final results!  These two beautiful photographs were taken on my birthday this past year by Ellie M. Mckinney (remember the best friend that got married this year...yup that's her!)  You can check out her blog here! Sometimes I just don't know what I'd do without her!