Monday, January 7, 2013

Welcome, 2013



Happy New Year loves! I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful holiday with your nearest and dearest. I worked mostly through the break except for the public holidays but I managed to escape down to the south coast to visit my sister who has just moved down there. It is such a beautiful corner of the world and it was lovely to get out of the city, if only for a few days!

The start of the year is not only a time for new beginnings but also reflecting on the year that was. Looking back, 2012 was one of the most challenging years I've ever had. Life threw a curve ball when my marriage ended, but I managed to keep myself busy to get though it, and worked on redefining the direction my life was headed in. Which, if I am being completely honest, is still somewhat of a work in progress, but I am trying to focus on the journey rather than the destination. 

Aside from that obvious downer, the year was also filled with many highlights, like being featured in Style at Home's Bloggers Budget Decorating Ideas article; being named by Mashable as one of their top 20 Pinterest accounts to follow; being featured in MTV Bloggers by day, Pinners by night article; having my first article published in online magazine, Latitude; spending a month travelling and meeting long time blog friends Lisa and Caterina; plus joining the Life in Style team as a blog contributor.

When I look back at the goals I made for 2012, my plans for the year got swayed and I didn't end up achieving all that I hoped to. But if there is one thing I have learnt this past year, it is to see at this as an opportunity for what is yet to come, knowing that sometimes the best made plans don't aways turn out the way you expected.

With the new year upon us its time for a fresh start and I feel that so much opportunity awaits. I don't have a long list of goals, but rather a few things I hope to achieve that I thought I'd share with you...


Be Adventurous. By this I mean trying new things and pushing myself out of my comfort zone. This year I will train to run for 2 fun runs: the City to Surf in August and the Blackmores Running Festival in September. I want to see more of the world. A month trekking in India and Nepal is still high on my list, but l also need to decide if I will take the leap and live overseas, which is something that I have always wanted to do. Now that I am single it seems like there is nothing holding me back.


Simplify + find balance. This post on slow blogging really resonated with me because lately I have been feeling overwhelmed about having to stick to a regular blog schedule and trying to fit this in around a hectic work schedule, seeing friends and getting enough exercise and sleep. Things have been a bit unbalanced as a result, which has taken the joy out of blogging for me and I have often thought about stopping. But the truth is I love blogging and I love the friends I have made in the blogging community, so I won't be stopping, I will just be doing things a bit differently from now on.


Be who I am. Being single, after a long term relationship and a marriage, I am on the path to rediscovering who I am; what it is I truly want and where I want to be. Yes, this is a journey, but I plan to have fun along the way! 

I want to also take a moment to thank each and everyone of you for taking the time to visit this little blog. It warms my heart to know that I have created a space on the internet that I hope serves as a lovely escape for you to enjoy those small moments of pleasure in your daily life.

Here's to an amazing year ahead,

Much love,
Rachel xo

P.S Congratulations to Helen, the lucky winner of the Vision Direct Giveaway! You will be receiving an email soon :)


Image credits: 1 | 2 {unknown} | 3 | 4

13 comments:

  1. Happy New Year, Rachel! Here is to seizing the opportunities that come our way and may all your dreams come true!
    Ada

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  2. Sounds like you are starting the year off on such an optimistic note. Alexa & I are definitely going to be posting less but focusing on quality over quantity in 2013.

    Cheers!
    Kirby
    www.theshortandthesweetofit.com

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  3. HI Rachel, I'm very excited to win the Vision Direct giveaway!. (There was a little happy dance involved!)
    Thank you so much... I'm currently sunning myself by the coast and was thrilled to read your email... perfect timing.
    I'm all for Simplifying and finding balance - Enjoy the year ahead; sounds like you'll have a good one! :) Thanks again...Helenx

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  4. Beautiful post. Love your goals for this new year, and so awesome to hear all you accomplished in 2012. Keep at it lady.

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  5. Happy New Year Rachel!! A beautifully written post for the beginning of a beautiful adventure. "Simplify and find balance" is on my top list this year =)

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  6. I love this post on so many levels. With everything you accomplished in 2012, even though is was a difficult one, I can only imagine what you will accomplish in 2013. I sure hope it will be a good one for you!

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  7. Happy new year! Such a beautiful post:) finding balance is exactly what I am aiming for this year.

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  8. I love that article on blogging for the joy of writing and creating. It's something I think a number of bloggers are taking to heart this year. Wishing you nothing but the best for 2013 lovely.
    Happy New Year! xx

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  9. Happy New Year! Such an inspiring post, I love your plans and goals for 2013. Mine was to be more creative this year, so I've started this blog - would live it if you could check it out? http://aspaceforlovely.wordpress.com/

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  10. Finding balance is definitely at the very, tip top of my list. xo

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  11. Such amazing things to reflect on Rachel. Things that I am going to try and do too. Happy New Year, bloggy friend!

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  12. Happy New Year Rachel! Wishing you much happiness, travel and change for 2013! I know you said you didn't achieve all your goals for last year but your highlights are amazing, well done!xx

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  13. Love this post and Im positive that this year will be fabulous for you! I wish you all the very best this year Rachel!

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