Oh What A Year!

2012 has been an amazing year! Though I am very excited to what 2013 has to bring.  I am on holidays at the moment visiting my sister so it has been a little quiet around these parts.  But I saw this little meme over at Rainbow Tatt and thought it would be a nice way to end the year.

My biggest and best achievement of the year!

1 - What did you do in 2012 that you’d never done before?
Got pregnant, had a baby and learnt how to become a mother.

2 - Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I achieved some and not others (more on that in another post) but I am pretty happy with what I did achieve considering most of my focus this year was on Imogen.

3 - Did anyone close to you give birth?
Apart from myself a work friend had a little boy, a girl I used to work with had a little girl and my sister in law had twins.  Plus a few blog friends had their own little bundles of joy too.

4 - Did anyone close to you die?
No, thank god!

5 - What countries/states did you visit?
We went to Woolgoolga, NSW to celebrate the anniversary of my dad's family moving to Australia 40 years ago.  We also went to Melbourne in March for my sister's birthday and we are also here now visiting.

6 - What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
A better idea of what I want to be in life and the focus and determination to start working towards it.

7 - What dates from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
October 9th - the day I had Imnogen.

8 - What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Growing and giving birth to a healthy baby girl.

9 - What was your biggest failure?
Being too stubborn and allowing petty people to get the better of me and my emotions.

10 - Did you suffer illness or injury?

Morning sickness! It was horrible.

11 - What was the best thing you bought?
Corey's coffee machine I bought him for Christmas.  He has wanted one for so long and I was so excited it was hard to keep it a secret till Christmas morning.

12 - Whose behaviour merited celebration?
The celebrities that were involved in the recent ad campaign aiming to make America tighten their gun laws and all those American's who are speaking out to try and make the necessary changes to avoid another devastating incident like the Sandy Hook massacre.

13 - Whose behaviour was appalling?
I must agree with Rah on this point and go with the NRA in regards to their reaction to the Sandy Hook massacre.  But also on a personal note there are a few people who I have been pretty appalled with in my life this year.  I just will never understand the way some people treat their family and friends.  

14 - Where did most of your money go?
Into getting ready for our life with Imogen.

15 - What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Having a baby and starting my new life as a mum.

16 - What song will always remind you of 2012?
Gangnam Style! You can't escape that damn song. They even played it at the Christmas Carols.

17 - Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? happier
b) thinner or fatter? fatter
c) richer or poorer? probably equal.

18 - What do you wish you’d done more of?
Sewing for myself. I have so many things I want to make in 2013.

19 - What do you wish you’d done less of?
Shopping - I need to learn to curb my spending habits especially now I am on maternity leave.

20 - How did you spend Christmas?
Lunch at the beach with my family and the night with Corey's family at his sister's house.

21 - What was your favourite TV program?
Revenge was amazing at the start of the year and I got sucked into Grimm at the end of the year.

22 - Did you make a friend with anyone that you didn’t know this time last year?
I have made a few new blog friends and I also met a great group of mum's through antenatal classes and the health clinic who I meet with on a weekly basis.

23 - What was the best book you read?
The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve

24 - What was your greatest musical discovery?
I am a bit in love with Cher Lloyd at the moment.  Especially this song.

25 - What did you want and get?
A healthy baby and a new sewing machine.

26 - What did you want and not get?
A new car. Totally not needed as my car is perfectly fine but I have a crush on a bigger better car.

27 - What was your favourite film of this year?
The Dark Knight Rises and the last Twilight movie.

28 - What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 25 this year and my birthday was Corey's first day back at work after having Imogen so it was an interesting day.  My parents came over in the evening and brought us dinner and cake which was awesome!

29 - What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Losing the baby weight! I wish I was one of those celebrities who the weight magically falls off without even lifting a finger ;-)

30 - How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?
Comfortable and expanding! Anything that fit my growing belly and was still comfortable.

31 - What kept you sane?
My family!

32 - Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Tom Hardy - except when he was Bane cause that was just freaky!

33 - What political issue stirred you the most?
The gun debate in America and the horrendous mayor elections results on the Gold Coast.  

34 - Who did you miss?
Hayley & Kieran.

35 - Who was the best new person you met?
My mummy group friends. They help me to realise that I am not going crazy when I over think everything to do with Imogen.  Apparently all us first time mums do that.

36 - Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012
Everything good in life takes hard work but it will all be worth it in the end so just stick in there.

37 - Quote a song lyric that sums up your year
In the sunlight or the rain brightest nights or darkest days
I'll always feel the same way yeah whatever road you may be on
know you're never too far gone
my love is there wherever you may be
just remember that you'll always be my baby
be my baby

You'll always be my baby by Sara Evans
I hope you all have an amazing new years even tonight.  I will be back with more next week after our holiday.

2012 Resolutions

Source: flickr.com via Barbara on Pinterest

I am a list person so it is within my nature to want to write a list of new years resolutions. Lists help me to have something to work towards and are very helpful in motivating myself.  Today I took a moment out to sit and think of some things I want to achieve this year.  They are nothing major just things that will help me make sure I am using my spare time wisely and being productive throughout the year.  Here goes....

Visit A New Part of Australia 
I realised when we went to Europe how little of my own country I have seen. When you tell people you are from Australia they ask you if you have seen so many places and the majority I say no to.  I would like to play tourist in my own country and visit some places I have never been before.  I would love to visit Perth or Tasmania and also see the Great Ocean Road.

Plan Some Weekends Away
We spend a lot of our weekends at home at complain a lot that we should have made plans.  We talk a lot about going for a weekend away to Byron Bay or the Sunshine Coast but they never happen.  This year I am hoping we can change that. (Melbourne,Noosa,Woolgoogla)

Sew 30 Items
I would like to redo this goal that I set myself in 2011 as I failed last year.  I am hoping this year I can focus a little more on my sewing and get a bit more done.  Fingers crossed this year this goal is a success. (19/30)

Knit 15 Items
I wanted to up the number of knitted projects for 2012 but I am also adding in a goal for crocheted items (see below) so I thought if I up'd the number I might be being a bit too ambitious. (7/15)

Knit A Garment For Myself
I suck at knitting clothes for myself!!! I have made 3 cardigans and all have turned out crap.  The first was because I used the wrong wool so it stretched out, the second I made a garment that wasn't my style at all so I didn't wear it and then the last garment I made I used too small needles and didn't realise till it was finished so again I never wore it.  All I make for myself now are scarves and beanies and I really want to make myself something I will actually wear.  I tend to wing things a bit when I make scarves and beanies and I think I can't do that with garments. All I need to do is be a bit more patient and pay more attention and I should be right.  Hopefully!!!

Crochet 15 Items
In 2011 I taught myself how to crochet and in 2012 I would like to put this skill to a bit more use.  I am aiming to crochet 15 items this year. (14/15)

Read 52 Books
This is another redo of a failed 2011 resolution.  I only managed 40 books in 2011 so I am hoping in 2012 I will be successful in my reading goal.  Corey bought me an ereader for Christmas which I have been carrying with my everywhere.  I think this will encourage me to read more as I will never be without a book if I keep this in my bag. (35/52)

Sew 10 Vintage Patterns.
Last year I wanted to start sewing with vintage patterns which technically I did. But I only made 1 so this year I have set myself a goal of 10 vintage patterns.  I have a few at home I would love to make so all I need to do is get started. (0/10)

Exercise 3 Times A Week
We went really well with our exercise from when we arrived home from Europe to just before the wedding.  Once the wedding finished we had birthdays and Christmas to prepare for and the gym got pushed to the wayside.  I am really hoping that we can get back into the swing of things this year and keep up with our exercise schedule.

Make Our House Feel Like A Home
We have been living in our house for 2 years and I still look at it and hate how it looks and feels.  I think mostly that is because I hate our house but also it is because we haven't really decorated to make our house feel like ours.  We are moving at the end of January and I am really excited to make this home feel a little bit more us.  I already have plans for our bedroom and the guest bedroom and kitchen.  I can't wait to get started!!!

So there you have it my, slightly ambitious, new years resolutions for 2012.  I really hope that I can be successful with my goals this year.  Fingers crossed!

2011 In Review - Photo Heavy

I can't believe that 2011 is nearly over! This year has gone so quickly it just amazes me. I feel like it was only yesterday we got engaged and now we have been married for over 5 weeks.  Crazy!!!  I thought it would be fun to do a quick review post with some of the fun things we did this year.  I am hoping to do a review post for my new years resolutions too before the year is out.  So here goes...

January - taught myself to crochet.

February - spent the weekend at my aunties farm in Wandoan.

March - went to Europe to visit my sister.

 

April - moved blogs!

May - took part in 1 pattern 7 bloggers.

June - had engagement photos taken and made what I think is the best cake I have ever made!

July - Made my first fondant decorated cake and was featured on One Pretty Thing and Polka Dot Bride.

August - entered my first craft competition and came third.

 

September - branched out from crocheting only granny squares.

 

October - took part in Blogtoberfest and had a birthday.

 

November - this was our busiest month of the year.  My sister moved home from London, I had my hen's night and kitchen tea, we got married and had an awesome honeymoon!

 

December - so far December has been busy but I don't seem to have a lot to show for it.  I have done a bit of sewing and a bit of baking but that's about it.

2011 has been a busy year and it has pretty much revolved around prepping for the wedding.  Now that the wedding is over and I am really excited to see what 2012 has to bring.  Hopefully it will mean us moving house because our current one is getting a bit small for us.  I am also hoping we will be able to do some small holidays to explore some new parts of Australia.  Who knows what will happen but I have a feeling it is going to be a great year!!!