Bye Bye 2011! (an honest look back)

Well, another year has come and gone, Happy New Year's everyone! What are you up to tomorrow night?

It's been a wonderful year, full of happy moments and some great accomplishments along the way. There were highlights in my career, which included a promotion, working amazing events and traveling to some great places, such as Vancouver and Las Vegas. At home we hosted several get-togethers with family and friends, which brought us closer together since we were never really equipped to do so in the past. It was the first year in our home, some little things which meant a lot: having a spacious home, enjoying the luxuries of having a lovely deck in the backyard with a barbecue, eating outside and having a pool across the street (I do love to tan...). I also met some great people through this blog, twitter and instagram. 

The major highlight was of course getting engaged while we were on an amazing vacation in Mexico! (This experience actually opened my eyes unexpectedly to the other relationships in my life, did this happen to you?).

There have also been some challenges, mostly in maintaining balance in my life. This year was a toughie, I have to say. Between balancing a full time career, traveling for work, home responsibilities (there are a lot more rooms to clean!), a relationship, taking care of my future step-daughter on weekends, seeing family and friends, writing on my blog, planning a wedding and finding time for me, let alone have my 'beauty nights', it was enough to bring me to a breaking point more than a few times. I wonder sometimes how do people do it all?

I didn't take care of myself very well and somewhere along the way I realized that I lost a part of myself. The fun, carefree, creative, romantic, loving person I used to be was hidden somewhere underneath all the stress. I was thisclose to hiring a cleaning lady and a wedding planner and calling it a day. Alas, in order to avoid going completely nuts, I told myself to stop feeling guilty, I could only do so much, focus on one thing at a time and hey, you can't please everyone.

Needless to say there are a few things I'd like to accomplish in 2012:

1. At the top of my list: focus on my well-being (more sleep, exercise, healthier diet, and some pampering never hurt anyone: massages, facials and a regular beauty routine - gotta bring my Friday night beauty rituals back!). 

2. Balance: get priorities straight and create some sort of schedule or routine that works.

3. Relationships: Invest more time with loved ones and have regular date night!

4. Get creative: blog more regularly and start some projects I've had in mind for quite some time now (open to collaborations, let me know!)

5. Relax. Simplify. Less is more!

6. Home: Finish some major projects such as redoing our bedroom and my girl cave.

7. Plan our wedding!
8. Be happy, be me :)

I'd love to know what are some of your New Year's resolutions??

Thank you to all my sweet readers for always being supportive, I appreciate all your comments! I'm so ready for a fresh start and am looking forward to an exciting 2012, stay tuned!  xo