Everyone is creating amazing posts on 2015 and reading them is making me feel like rays of light are shining out of my face because it’s just so positive and lovely! It’s inspiring to see so many accomplishments from a great bunch of people that it seemed silly not to do my own little post celebrating my mini achievements and milestones, both professionally and personally. With every year comes highs and lows, some days I’m a half full kinda gal, others, well let’s just say I really need a kick up the bum to get motivated so hopefully seeing and writing down all the great stuff that’s happened this year might make me feel a little bit happier with myself.
I managed to work with some amazing brands this year, some who I hope I have formed a really great relationship over the year. But, a highlight for me was being invited to work with Boohoo amongst an amazing calibre of bloggers for the #ThisGirlCan campaign, you can read about it here. Not only was I working with a great brand for some content on their website around their active wear it was all for a good cause too. I spent February through to September working out at the gym three times a week and it was so great to get together to discuss how we can improve our health and fitness regimes. Seeing our faces go live on the website was a really good feeling and I really hope that I can work on some campaign just like this in 2016.
Mr C & I celebrated our 1st year anniversary and I reflected back on our first year of marriage. Time flew at a rapid race and I couldn’t believe it when it finally reached the 7th June 2015. 365 days had passed. Our Wedding was a wonderful day and so much hard work in to pulling off the perfect, DIY wedding. So much so, I really felt at my lowest ebb when it was all over. I found it so difficult that we had planned this amazing day for over a year and a half and then suddenly hours were not filled with table plans, weekends were not spent sipping champagne going for Wedding dress fittings. Real life kicked in. I was married to the man I have loved for many years so I really needed to dust myself down and focus on our marriage and a hobby, I think it was the beginning of this year that I really put my heart and soul in to blogging to fill the void of Wedding planning. We spent our anniversary at Otley Chevin Park and it was divine. Mr C experienced his first ever Spa Day and we got to eat and drink to our hearts content with a 7 course evening meal. It was exactly what we needed. My husband is so supportive of my blog too which is great because I just see my blog as not just a personal space anymore, but becoming a brand and something more professional.
We managed to fit in three trips this year, our first trip took us to Budapest in April where we got to explore this diverse and vast City. It was beautiful and it’s history harrowing and raw, that it made for such an interesting, cultural experience. We loved the place and couldn’t recommend it enough.
Then we were counting down the days to Mexico in September. For me, this holiday could not come sooner. I realised in 2015 how much I need sunshine and a good week or so away to recharge my batteries out of the UK. Mexico was a real splurge on my behalf. I had decided in May that we needed a luxury, Caribbean holiday and there was to be no “ifs” or “buts” about it. It was an amazing trip, and I mean truly amazing. We got to see one of the seven wonders of the world, we ate and drink all day long and experienced some of the most beautiful beaches we have ever seen. I loved writing all my blog posts about the trip because it was one of the best holidays we’ve had!
When we got back I realised, “hey, we haven’t been to Amsterdam in a while?” and with that, debit cards were flying about and we’d booked ourselves a little break to Amsterdam, which you can read about here – now this is very fresh in my mind as it was only a couple of weeks ago, so I’ve had my holiday fix for now. . But, I’m already counting down the days till our next trips to Madeira and Oslo. Travel really is one of my most FAVOURITE things.
Another year, another Leeds Fest. I never actually did a post on this and I don’t think I have done many posts on our yearly trip to the festival. I think it’s because I spend most of my time enjoying the atmosphere (read drinking lots and dancing in a field to actually care to take really good photos) it’s one weekend where I completely switch off from life and truly absorb myself in to just enjoying myself. Whilst the line-up wasn’t as good as previous years a real highlight for me was the secret set by Foals. One of my favourite bands. I literally died and went to music heaven. The atmosphere in the tent was ELECTRIC. I can only hope that they are back to play again in 2016 ‘cos they absolutely smashed it. I loved Slaves too, such a good band to see live along with Metallica. Years and Years was a band i genuinely couldn’t wait to see but sadly on such a large scale the sound was not very good!
Sorry, for all the photos of me guys, but stick with me here. This year I got more confident with my fashion posts. Much more confident than I had ever been. I have worked with some great brands which has been amazing and to add a cherry to the icing and to the metaphorical cake, I got nominated for my first ever blog award. 10,000 people have voted in the Bloggers Lounge Blog Awards and I was nominated for “Best Fashion Blog” – an absolute honour as there are some great bloggers in that category. So I begged and pleaded with you all pretty much every day to vote for me since I found out! So in January we will see if I have been crowned the winner but, if not, I’m still so so so happy with my nomination as I really never thought it’d happen to me in a million years!
Mr C did good this year for my birthday present and I managed to get myself a brand new DSLR. Photography is something I feel so vital to my blog and I really enjoying snapping photos too. So being able to really use my camera everywhere & anywhere has really helped me grasp all manner of skills. Now, I’m not amazing but I think my standard and quality of photos is coming on leaps and bounds. I’m very much self taught so when I manage to get a great shot I am one very happy bunny. Simple things, ey?
I’ve got to eat & drink some incredible things this year. Either blog related or personal. I decided that after two years of saving long and hard for our wedding it was time to really indulge in good food, afternoon teas, spontaneous nights away and boy have we done that. There are so many posts to read that involved some form of food and drink, but here are a few highlights of mine; for something indulgent, Lady Betty Afternoon Tea, for an edgy brunch try Ox Club and for cocktails try The Alchemist.
I have spent so much time around old friends and new this year. And they are in my life because they inspire me. Inspire me to be a better person, get better at my crafts and also make me giggle until my tummy hurts. Surrounding yourself with good people is exactly what you need in life. Happiness spreads and being around amazing vibes is exactly how I want it to be going in to 2016. This year I’ve made some real great friends through blogging and I say it all the time but I can go to some of them with anything. I love that.
I keep thinking about 2015 and everything it has given me and if anything it has taught me that having confidence in your own ability and your own skin is the way forward. People are so quick to watch you fall but there’s dozens more waiting to pick you back up again. Life is full of highs and lows but I can safely say that 2015 has given me so many, many highs! Long may that continue in to 2015.
I’d like to wish all my readers a very Happy New Year & I hope 2016 is kind to you all!
Bee xxx
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