Happy New Year!

Happy new year, everyone! Feel like I haven't blogged in ages, and I know I have fallen behind a bit - life just gets overwhelming sometimes. Anyhoo, I hope you've all had a fantastic festive season and are feeling refreshed and amped to kick 2013's butt! If you're still on holiday, YAY and enjoy :)

I don't make resolutions as such, but I have written down a few goals that I'd like to accomplish this year. Trying to get more organised is very big on that list! I thought I didn't have much to share from the past year, but looking back on 2012 it feels like it was a very long year - so much happened that feels like it was much longer ago already. So this is going to be a pretty long post to make up for the lack at the end of last year!

My biggest and best moment in 2012 was most definitely leaving my job to go solo as a freelance illustrator and designer. I'm so grateful to be able to say that after 6 months of it, I'm surviving and not living in a box and eating cat food. I'm so happy and grateful that I got the opportunity to make that decision and so hugely grateful that it's going ok so far :)

I got to visit some animal places... I'm like a kid at animal farms. I've always wanted to be a vet and would still love to pursue something animal related someday soon. Also visited the SPCA many times; it breaks my heart and I almost always leave there a little teary, but it feels good to spend some time with the poor creatures and show them a bit of love and hope they have a good future in store. If only I could take them ALL home.

Some of the books I read... I have a thing for collecting pre-loved classics and have been slowly growing my collection. I really, really love old books. 

I won tickets to go to the Design Indaba simulcast! The speakers were fantastic and super inspiring, hope I get to go again this year. 

I also grew a few terrariums, which I loved. Gotta make me a few more this year. 

I really enjoyed all the quiet solo moments I got to spend in my favourite cafes, eating yummy food and brainstorming, doodling, reading or working. Those are some of my favourite moments and I'm so glad I get to spend a lot more time in these places these days.

Two of the nicest people I know got hitched this year (not to eachother, haha) and are both moving/have moved abroad(which is sad for me but awesome for them!). A very good friend of mine and all round awesome person who's moved to New Zealand for love, and my cousin who will be moving to France soon. I'm so happy for them both! That awesome paper crane was part of the decor at my friend's wedding, and three of them are now living in my car :) I got to see the Nelson Mandela monument when I went to her wedding in Hilton.

I was lucky enough to win tickets to the Top Gear Festival! It was out so awesome, and was so cool to see the guys live.

I got to have a few great mini getaways this year, not anywhere far away, but all awesome. I love nature and being outdoors and hope to get in lots of outdoor, naturey adventures this year. 

Loved the beautiful rainy weather we've had, and hope there's more of that instead of the stifling miserable heat! And I splashed out on some new gym-wear as my "bonus" :D

For the longest time I've been stuck in a not-creating rut where I guess I was just afraid to draw and experiment. I'm so glad I was able to overcome that and have gotten round to playing around with a few mediums I haven't used before and trying to push myself in different directions. Hope to do a lot more of that this year! Practice can do wonders.

 And of course the three gorgeous loves of my life! A perk of working from home is having them all perched nearby and being able to grab them for quick mid-work cuddles. (I know, I'm going deeper into Cat Lady Land, but it makes me happy, so I'm ok with that).

Shoh! What a bumper post. Overall just very grateful for the changes that have come about.
What was your biggest moment of 2012? I'd love to know, so please do share :)