the year that was 2010

Somehow it's almost 2011. Where on earth did 2010 go? More specifically, where did December go?!?!? I blinked and it was over... which is a shame. I have 12 draft blog posts about Christmas that I started and didn't get around to finishing. I'm finding this blog is really more of an impulse thing rather than a scheduled thing. I sit down and write. Then I don't come back until I feel I need to share again.

Right now it's almost 3am, I'm rugged up on the couch with an Arressted Development DVD on reeeeally quiet. I've been hit with a nasty flu thing where I can only get good sleep during the day but then I cough a fair amount of the night. So I'm wide awake in a house full of sleeping boys. I've amazingly caught up on all my emails, my google reader is at 0 and I've found myself reflecting on the past year and I thought- why not write it down?

2010 was...

• The first year that Marcus studied. He is studying a bacholor of education full time by correspondence and compressing 3 years worth of study into 2 years. For as long as I can remember knowing Marcus, this is something he's wanted to do and I'm so grateful to be able to help him do it. It has been super stressful financially but it will be worth it. A part of me was nervous when he started this course because I knew it would test our relationship- and it has. But we are better off for it. Our time together now feels precious rather than entitled, we kiss longer, the little things mean more and the petty things mean nothing. It has been a good year.
• The year our small dog became a big boy. Ferdinand is now 18mths old and is still the center of our house. Right now I'm looking at him- curled up on the chesterfield, nestled amongst a velour cushions and a mohair throw. That is a spoilt dog! He is the most beautiful little character and I love that little munchkin. What I love the most is seeing Marcus and Ferdy together, it melts my heart.
• The year I joined The Design Files. This has been one of the most exciting parts of my year! Moving from Apartment Therapy to TDF was both scary and amazing. This transition was made easy because Lucy Feagins is fantastic!!! I cannot stress this enough! She is just brilliant, loving, exciting, generous and so beautiful. I love her! No words can truly express how thankful I am to Lucy- can't wait for an even more wonderful 2011!
  
• The year my day job went nuts. I found myself being the business manager around the start of this year. When I first started there 7 years ago, I was a girl fresh out of high school just there to answer the phones 3 days a week and send the occasional email. It has been a bonkers year. Business is booming, I'm booking in work for 18mths time and we're employed 4 new staff members. That is huge given our team was only 6 when 2010 started!
• The year I realised I cant please everyone. I can't. I don't have time or the energy and in some cases, I just don't want to. It's been interesting learning people expectations of me as well as the expectations I've placed on myself. In some cases I'm disappointed in myself for not being a better wife, daughter and friend but these are all lessons I guess.

I'm not one for new years resolutions but I thought I would make a list of things I would like to achieve at some point during 2011...

• read more books
• work out what I want to do in 2012 [study, babies, work or travel???]
• become a better photographer
• exercise regularly again
  
• re-carpet the house
• clean out the spare room and garage

Seems achievable right?? Looking forward to seeing what next years review looks like.

Wishing you and your family all the very best for 2011.

-Jenny xx

ps. If you haven't ready- buy a Design Files Neighbourhood Calendar!!! It will make 2011 so much more enjoyable!

diggin' these veggies

Goodness me, this is AMAZING!! I do love a good lolly buffet and got to enjoy an very tasty one at Mr & Mrs Clarke's wedding a few months ago. But this fruit and veggie buffet looks unbelievably delicious and it is as beautiful as it is healthy! I love the little treats- fruit shish kabobs, watermelon and caprese salads and I especially love the presentations of the veggie sticks and dips [*cough* which I will be copying! *cough*]. And of course the use of artichokes and brussels sprouts is possibly the sweetest thing I've seen all day. The brains behind this beauty is Esther Kim of My Bride Story one of the loveliest wedding blogs around.
found via Sweet Designs

off to markit

hello crappy rushed photo of lovely things

Somehow it's Thursday. Not entirely sure where the week has gone but I'm excited how close we are to the weekend and dreading how much I need to do before then. I'm even more excited that yesterday I finally got a new work PC after mine died on Friday, talk about timing...

So the weekend was a busy one. We went to Christmas in the Studio on Saturday which you should read about and admire the pretty pictures on Sarah D's Tumblr. Then I annoyingly had to work until 3:30am that night but still decided to head off to MARKit the next day anyway. Despite feeling a bit blurry eyed and it being a quite chilly day, it was a very enjoyable market. It had a really good vibe- it felt very positive and friendly, similar to that at Finders Keepers, which was nice as normally I find design markets a bit snobby.

I bought a couple of little goodies pictured above- a teatowel from the Ink & Spindle ladies [I FINALLY got to meet Teegs in real life too! Probably the highlight of the day, much like meeting Lara was the highlight of Finders Keepers!], another one of lovely Dawn's recipe teatowels for a friends birthday and a toothy mobile from Beci Orpin who is just so ace [as is her new website].

I think that's it for me and markets this year, the rest of the Christmas shopping will now be done online!