Farewell 2012.....Salutations 2013!

I am inspired by one of my favourite bloggers, Kelly Rae Roberts, who wraps up each year with a review of the past twelve months and wraps up with hopes and dreams for 2013. I absolutely love this idea. A great way to count my blessings, celebrate my achievements, acknowledge my courage and strength, and move beyond some low points to look ahead to the journey that awaits me in 2013.

Here we go...

• In February I decided to leave a full-time position with a company that I had been with for 17 years. Accepted a part-time position with a new employer....best decision I've made career wise in my entire life. Yes, there are still some fantastic places to work!
• In April I celebrated a milestone birthday...okay not a big secret...50!!!! Yes, 50. It bothered me at the time, but I've gotten over it and totally love my life (most days!) My daughter's arranged a beautiful garden party for me with my Mom, sisters, and nieces all there to help me celebrate. Everyone brought me gifts gor my gardens-roses, flowering bushes, annuals and perennials. So much love and great memories.
• Started taking weekly hikes at a local conservation area my sis every Wednesday. Love our weekly chats and time together.
• Participated in Beth Nicholls' "Do What You Love" e-course. Discovered a lot about myself and jump-started my creativity. Took part in her "Great Postcard Swap".

• Took long summer weekend road trips with my hubby discovering lots of new places-great fun and I love our alone time.
• I bought my first vintage piece of jewellery, a gorgeous Art Deco dress clip which led me to my biggest AHA moment, my passion, my bliss....creating repurposed vintage jewellery.
• Designed and started my very own blog! (This is a H U G E accomplishment for this non-techie....extremely proud!)

• Purchased a brand new camera and slowly learning to take pictures, some that are actually pretty good.

• Discovered Etsy and eBay.....hours of my life that I'll never get back and I'm quite okay with that!
• After 5 years of avoiding the doctor, I got a complete physical and all of those other lovely tests that we need at my age (...yes 50!) Clean bill of health for which I am very thankful. Oh yeah, got my first pair of glasses-funky red & gold reading glasses. And yes, I've forgotten where I've left them only to find them perched on my head-it does happen!
• In September I made my very first piece of jewellery."Lady Madonna"... a repurposed vintage necklace with an antique reliquary locket attached. I was so thrilled with how well it turned out and knew immediately that this is exactly what I'm meant to be doing (and have never doubted it since.)

• Decided on the name "romance&ruin" for my business and launched my Etsy shop on Nov. 22, 2012 with 47 items listed.

• Joined the world of Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Flickr.
• Went head over heels (great pun!) over the most gorgeous pair of Steampunk boots.

• Discovered "Mrs. Brown's Boys", an Irish comedy shown on the BBC. The funniest show I've seen in my entire life. Laugh out loud hillarious, Agnes Brown and her family are absolutely hysterical.

It took me a while to stop feeling guilty about only working part-time but by the summer I started settling into my new life, and loving all of the time at home....time in the gardens, time with my daughters and husband. It's been wonderful enjoying the slow, lazy mornings on days off; snuggling with the pups and having a second cup of coffee....bliss! Taking time to do the things I love has been the greatest blessing and I can't wait to see what 2013 brings.

So far....

• Celebrated my first Etsy shop sale! Rah Rah ! Siss Boom Bah! I did it!
• Filled out applications for my first Craft Show.
• Did something completely impulsive ( I never do this! ever!) Decided to pack and go to the States for the rest of the weekend on a Saturday afternoon. We had a great time and I will definitely do it again.

There are so many things I hope to accomplish and experience in 2013, and I look forward to sharing them all with you right here.

Take care.....Marian  xo