Recently inspired by all of the retrospection and introspection on some of the blogs I read regularly, most notably the ridiculously talented Hilary at Dean Street Society. I decided that it was time I do the same, as a healthy exercise for my brain and to help keep me accountable for the coming year! I liked Hilary’s format so I’m copying shamelessly.

2012 was quite a year for little me. I had a long list of struggles and trials and crying / sobbing / hysteria sessions for things both important and unimportant. As I write this I am with family celebrating the life of my Grandmom, Helen, and reflecting on the last week we got to spend with her. The reflection time with her as she neared the time to enter a new painless + endless life reiterated the fact that as 2012 comes to a close, many of the things I cried over are solved, behind me, or helped me grow and that is a fantastic thing.

2012 was the year I:

• Realized I had the power + took action to change my future
• Finally quit a job I disliked strongly.
• Found a new job to give me flexibility and ability to work from the home I love.
• Slept in on a Monday without guilt.
• Lost 10 pounds of unneeded icky-ness and put myself back on the road to health and personal fitness.
• Cried too much; acknowledged things that were not right; made plans to change these things.
• Did not wallow [too much] about said things that were not right.
• Actually followed my plan to change things, and subsequently…
• Cried way less as the year went by.
• Celebrated one whole year of being with my very own Man-Piece.
• Redesigned my blog. Again.
• Celebrated one whole year of living in the same apartment.
• Painted lots of things in said apartment. It’s mine + I love it.
• Got my apartment featured on Apartment Therapy.
• Road tripped through the southern Outer Banks and visited every lighthouse.
• Celebrated our nation’s freedom on the beaches of Destin, FL with family.
• Hugged Mickey Mouse.
• Lost my American Icon, Carl Joseph LaMonica aka Grandad.
• Designed + built a whole website for someone other than me.
• Exercised my right to vote for the leader of the free world.
• Realized I want to be an entrepreneur and began surrounding myself with people who will help and support me.

Amazing, right!? It feels great to write down all of these things and feel good about what I’ve accomplished personally and “professionally.” When I think about all the “issues” I had, I can only be grateful that I have friends and family to support me in hard times, and give me perspective when I was being a unnecessarily sad. I can also be grateful that I have the fortitude and strength of character to recognize when things are not going the way I want them to, and actually do something about it. It’s so empowering to look back on this year and see what changes I’ve made for myself to get me on a path I like instead of just letting the Ship of Life take me out to Unfulfilling Sea of Boredom. Life’s GOOD, ya’ll.

In 2013, I will:

• Celebrate the new year with old friends.
• Sell stationery and prints in my Etsy shop.
• Continue to post weekly fun projects on my blog.
• Find other fun bloggers to collaborate with.
• Turn my “hobby” into a business, and thusly become a real entrepreneur.
• Teach fun crafty classes at a local shop (to be announced after first of the year!).
• Celebrate 2 whole years with Man-Piece.
• Go to the wedding of my biggest brother and party with family!
• Keep on being healthy and staying fit / Refuse to let the powers of 5 guys + cheese fries take over my body.
• Run three 5ks, and one 10k (to thwart powers of said burgers + fries).
• Visit my sister-friend in Boston.
• Sleep in on a Monday sans-guilt.
• Improve my photography skills.
• Improve my blog + site.
• Work in my slippers.
• Go somewhere I’ve never gone.

I bet I could think of more, but this seems like a good list. Thank you to pretty much everyone I know for being awesome this year. Even the Debbie Downers serve a purpose.

Now it’s your turn! What are you thankful for this year? And what have you accomplished that is totally awesome and great? What things are you excited for in 2013?? Let’s chat in the comments.

Due to family travels and spending lots of time with Grandmom before her peace, I have obviously not finished all of my fun December sprucing projects. I’m a tiny bit bummed but super grateful to sacrifice those for a week spent with Grandmom! Family rules. Anyways. Merry Christmas to everyone. More fun crafty biz soon. Take the time to enjoy your closest friends and family, for they are our beating hearts.