Wrapping up 2011. Reflection.

Tomorrow will be the last day of 2011. This time each year, I can't help but be nostalgic & reflective & look back at what was, what is, and look forward to what may be! {And the reflective mood is set perfectly right now....as I sit here on the couch with Chris, candles burning, and he's pumping out tunes on our lounge room speakers, with photos from 2003 streaming from my laptop to the Apple TV....gosh we look young back then.....anyways....back to the post at hand.....}

Today, I wrote on my Facebook status that I was a little sad to see the back-end of 2011 as it has been such an amazing year & I don't really want it to end! But....like everything in life {the good & the bad} it must come to an end......time to close some doors & open new ones. Complete some chapters, and start writing new ones. Cherish old memories but strive in making new ones.

However, on this day, I'm feeling grateful. I'm feeling thankful. I'm feeling happy. I'm feeling love. And I'm looking forward! Looking up!

Cheers to that!

2011 truly has been fabulous! So much has happened & I'm glad I have this blog that journals & captures a lot of what this year contained to look back on one day!

Of course, it hasn't all been sunshine & rainbows. Like everyone, we have our share of hard times, scary moments, down days, stress, worries and frustrations. But for the most, and here on this blog, I like to focus on the positive, the good, the love. And 2011 was filled with lots of LOVE!

The year kicked off with a bang....some much needed family time away, a weekend in luxury, our little girl turned three {rainbow style} and my business turned one.

In February, after a pregnancy loss in 2010, we fell pregnant again! I was riddled with morning sickness for 4 months & struggled bigtime! But.....came out the other side, stronger & more motivated than ever!

Pregnancy photo shoot with Carly Webber.

As the morning sickness started to clear and I started to get some 'there's light at the end of the tunnel' feelings again, Chris & I were discussing 'bucket lists' over dinner one night, we decided I'd tick a few off of mine & embark on my dream overseas holiday this year! It was so unplanned, so impulsive, so scary.....but so amazing! Within 3 weeks of birthing this idea, the trip was booked & paid for.....we were going!!! Nothing was going to stop me.....not fear.....or even a car crash! And no, it wasn't how I imagined my first USA trip would be.....I was heavily pregnant & traveling solo with a 3yr old, but it was still perfect. I'm a big believer that things pan out just the way they're meant to....so I decided to take this chance, grab it with both hands & embrace it for everything it was worth! Ella & I lived it up bigtime as we ventured hand in hand through 10 flights & 4 countries. We did Los Angeles, New York, Canada, Kansas & LA Hollywood! I learnt a lot about myself during this trip. I also learnt that I still hate flying, but I have a new desire to travel more; despite that hate & fear! More importantly, I learnt that I'm stronger & braver & a whole lot more independent than I give myself credit for.

{Don't forget to stop sometimes & smell the roses!}

And although, family is my everything.....friends are so special too! Friends are my family too! And time with friends makes me happy! An impulsive getaway with girlfriends made my heart full in 2011 and seeing my girl treasure friendships too makes me happier than words can express. 2011 taught me & reminded me how important friends are! This year, some of my friendships sizzled out & didn't stand up to the smallest of obstacles, wheras most, like a fine wine, only got better over the duration of the year :)

Tiffany, Me, Jackie & Mon at my Baby Shower. Sept 2011.

Jet & Ella. Photo from this post.

Ella started dancing lessons in February this year. I always hoped that one day I'd have a daughter.....and a daughter who loved to dance was just a bonus :) Watching her confidence & independence grow as a result of her weekly dance classes with Miss Parker was so soul-warming for me as a Mother to observe. And watching her on stage this December in her first ever concert....oh.my.goodness.....BLISS! A heavenly Mummy-Moment! The world could've ended at that moment.....my girl dancing & twirling & shyly smiling on the stage whilst a VERY proud Mummy, Daddy & Baby Brother watched from the audience pews, and I would've died a very happy woman :)

However, the highlight of the year, hands down; no doubt about it...... our baby boy arrived on November 3rd! Ryder Nicholas's large 9pound 8oz body slipped from me & into the big wide world! He made me wait for him {a week overdue!} but once he decided to come, oh boy....he came! A one hour labour from start to finish had Chris, Ryder & I all in a minor traumatic-shock for a short while afterwards :)

Ella made me a Mumma in 2008! And this boy made me feel more complete than I could ever imagine in 2011!

And, although, being a Mother of Two is so much more exhausting & soul-wrenching than I prepared myself for...it's also so much more magical & fulfilling than I ever imagined! Life is good! I have 2 amazing children & for that I'm thankful!

2012 is just around the corner....a little over 24hrs away in fact.

I can not believe 2011 is over! I swear the years go faster & faster the older we get! And although 2011 was so fabulous & I have my hesitations that 2012 could be any better......I feel challenged & motivated to MAKE SURE it is bigger & better & full of even more amazing moments! 2012 is coming....are you ready to rock it out with me?

Yes, there will be hard days I'm sure, but I hope that mine & Chris's love, commitment, hard work & optimism continue to bring us joy & good times!

Life is full of good & bad experiences. We can choose to let the bad control us or we can CHOOSE to learn from it, reflect on it & move on! Cheers to moving on I say!

What will 2012 bring us?? Buckle up.....let's see.......

Happy New Year everyone! Thank you for reading my blog & sharing my family's journey with me! I hope to see you all here in the new year!

4 New Print Designs to kick off 2011.....{@SPR}

As promised, I have some new PRINT designs to kick off 2011. I have added 4 of them already to my webstore & my MADEIT store. The rest.....will be released gradually :)

The 4 I have launched today, are smaller than my usual 30x40cm size, but bigger than my mini 13x18cm prints. Today's new designs are a beautiful but effective size of 20cmx25cm {which is a standard 8x10inch frame size}. Sourcing this sized frame is super easy as it's a universal frame size :) I grabbed a heap of this size frame at Kmart, Target, The Reject Shop & IKEA in the January sales for our family photo wall & our main bedroom make-over :)

So...here they are:

{i love you}

8x10 inch size. Available only in this colour at this stage. Only $13 {plus $2.50 postage}. Printed on silk-finished print paper.

Simple & powerful! Perfect for your bedroom, living area or office. Or as an upcoming VALENTINES GIFT!!!

{Eat Drink & Be Merry}

8x10 inch size. Available only in this colour at this stage. Only $13 {plus $2.50 postage}. Printed on silk-finished print paper.

Simple, modern & fun! Perfect for your kitchen, dining area, living area or outdoor eating area. I have this one hanging under our wall clock in our kitchen/dining room :)

{All you need is LOVE}

8x10 inch size. Available in ANY background colour. Only $13 {plus $2.50 postage}. Printed on silk-finished print paper.

Simple, modern, elegant & fun! Perfect for your bedroom, photo wall, lounge room, office or as a gift. I also thought these would look gorgeous on a table setting / dessert table at a wedding or event :) I have this one {with a black background} in our main bedroom....love it!

{Rainbow ABC Name}

8x10 inch size. Available only in this colour scheme. Only $14 {plus $2.50 postage}. Printed on silk-finished print paper. Personalised with any name you request :)

Bright, modern, eye-catching & fun! Perfect for a child's room. This would be a perfect gift for a new baby, Christening or a Child's Birthday. I am using this one on Ella's Rainbow Party dessert table :) It's one of my new faves :)

 What do you think? Which one is your favourite?

You can buy them here or here :)