It’s a little under two weeks into the new year and I’m still having trouble believing that it’s two thousand NINEteen. This past year I turned 32 years old, went on several trips to various states, celebrated being married for three years, and SO much more. I helped a lot of brides and grooms make stationery tailored to fit them perfectly, and hopefully left them with paper memories that they will cherish.
Some of my favorite parts of 2018:
I worked with a super talented web designer to give my website a lovely, functional makeover. I don’t think I could have been happier with how the final product came out, and I sing her praises every chance I get. Helped by this makeover, I made my first few sales FROM the website, and you guys, I happy danced SO HARD.
I refined the direction I wanted my semi-custom wedding lines to go, and got rid of the ones that I didn’t feel quite fit my style. I want to work with people who love existing in wild places, who want to dance under the stars with their forever partner, and who can’t wait to wander around the globe, with a countdown set to their next destination.
We visited the wizarding world down in Orlando again, and had a blast losing ourselves in the magic of Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. There are few places I enjoy more than Harry Potter world after the sun goes down and it’s all lit by the pretty, warm glow of the lamps. It all sparkles, and twinkles, and it feels like you’re really immersed in the world.
This is probably our favorite wand interaction spot. 
Globus Mundi was open this time, a wizarding travel agency! 
When you can snag one of the picnic tables and relax and have a butterbeer, it’s basically everything.
I took some pretty good steps forward in taking care of myself. I found an exercise I don’t hate with yoga. In fact, I would go so far as to say I love it. It’s a wonderful way to work out and build strength, and it can be a really relaxing, calming experience as well. I absolutely feel better when I’ve done a yoga session during my day. And you don’t have to feel like you should take a class for it either, even though I do enjoy the occasional class. I use an app on my iPad called Down Dog, that I really enjoy. Plus meditation!! Not in any sort of spiritual way, but more of an “I’m going to clear my mind, and help organize my thoughts” way.
Some of the things I want to work on in 2019:
More organization. For the sake of my sanity, I want to start keeping my journal updated, organizing my thoughts for the day in the morning, and maybe even sitting down to let some thoughts and feelings out at night. Along with that, I really want to hammer out a morning and bedtime routine that will make me look forward to waking up and going to sleep.
Journaling is seriously one of the most helpful things I’ve ever started doing. It’s relaxing, and helps keep my thoughts and ideas visible and organized.
Less caring about what other people might think of me. This is a big one for me. I hold myself back in all sorts of ways, always worrying what other people might think. Oh, I’m taking too many pictures with my camera, I’ll look like a tourist. Oh, I’m not sure this piece of art is good enough to post, I’ll keep it to myself. I want to be less judgmental of myself, and not worry so much about things that other people probably don’t even care about anyway.
Finally, I want to put more kindness into the world. Both to myself and others. Because if there’s one thing we can’t have enough of in the world, I think that might be it.
