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2013… It’s a Wrap! 2014… Bring it On!!

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Ahhh, a New Year!

New beginnings… new possibilities… new goals & dreams…

As 2014 begins, I’m so ready for this!! Bring it on, I say!

But before we move on to the good stuff, a little reflection on the highs and lows of the last twelve months, a little (a lot of!) ‘letting go’, and just a glimpse at what 2014 might bring…

This past week, as well as being the last week of 2013, was also my birthday week. Each year, this is a week I really love, a much-needed time of reflection and of looking forward…

It’s a time of pondering what I’d like to achieve and focus on in the coming year, as well as celebrating what I’ve achieved in the year that’s been.

It really is, in many ways, a week of letting go of the past year and welcoming the new. Which I’ve been very ready to do!

You may have noticed that, apart from eventually sharing my free ebook, back in October, my blog has been somewhat neglected and quiet in the past several months. There is no way I’m going to let my blog fade into obscurity (in fact, I have a whole lot of exciting dreams and plans for The Inspired Notebook in 2014!) but 2013 was a really, really hard year for me personally. It was a challenging and painful year, a year of big change.

Along with the struggle though, 2013 was also a year of huge growth. And the best part is that I know this is only a glimpse of the awesome growth that’s yet to come!!

To sum up this last year for you, here’s a small snapshot of the highs, the lows, and what the New Year will bring both here at The Inspired Notebook and also for me personally:

 

2013:  THE HIGHLIGHTS!

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My Very First Vision Board!

 

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In March, I created my first ever Vision Board. It’s something I’d been wanting to do for so long, and I’m so glad I did. When I look back on the areas where I’ve grown and stretched myself and stepped out of my comfort zone in 2013, I know that the visual reminder - which sits with pride on my bedside table - helped to keep me moving forward towards my goals and dreams.

You can read about how I created my Vision Board here:

Create a Vision Board: A Place For Your Dreams, Goals & Plans!

 

Problogger Training Event 2013

 

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In September, my beautiful friend Jane and I travelled together to Surfers Paradise for the Problogger conference at the QT Hotel. To say I loved it is an understatement! If you missed it, you can read all about the many things I loved about it in this post:

27 Things I Loved About the Problogger Training Event

 

My First eBook: 7 Days of Gorgeous Green Smoothies

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In October, I finally released my very first ebook, the free 30 page ebook, 7 Days of Gorgeous Green Smoothies.

It’s possible that I too quickly moved on to the very next thing on my To-Do list, and didn’t properly celebrate the momentuosness of having actually created an ebook! So although my mini ebook was a small part of a much bigger goal, looking back I know that it was really a huge achievement all of it’s own!!

If you haven’t got your free copy of 7 Days of Gorgeous Green Smoothies, you can get that here:

It’s Here!!!… My Free eBook: 7 Days of Gorgeous Green Smoothies

 

Collaboration!

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Working with the beautiful designers, Anna and Stella, at Design With Style, was a great highlight for me in 2013. These girls are so talented, with such a passion for what they’re doing, and hearts of gold!

Likewise, working with so many amazing bloggers as I’ve been creating my upcoming ebook, has been a lot of fun - not nearly as scary as I thought it might be (!!), and a huge step in moving towards my goals and dreams…

I knew at the beginning of 2013 that for me, the next step in my biz and blog growth would be to begin working with others in a collaborative way. And although I know I still have a long way to go (and a lot more stretching and growing to do!) – it feels awesome to have taken so many first steps along this particular path on the journey.

I can’t wait to share the results of these collaborative efforts with you early in 2014 when I (finally!) launch the ebook Gorgeous Green Smoothies!.

 

THE LOWS 

 

The Personal Stuff

One thing that I’ve realized over the last few years, and especially over the past year, is just how hard it can be to keep writing blog posts and sharing inspiring, positive ideas when in real life your life is falling apart - just a little bit!

In June 2013, my husband and I separated after being married for sixteen years. I’m conscious that this is not just my story. It’s his story, and my children’s story, as well as mine. And so you won’t read a lot about it here – except in small ways as it affects my journey going forward.

Until just a week ago, two days before Christmas, and for six months following the separation, I continued to work with my husband in his business. That was hard. Really hard.

But as painful as this time has been, there is a silver lining! I’m now free to pursue my blog and business dreams full-time if I choose to, and to decide for myself what my work life will look like going forward. I now have time for the craft projects and other creative ideas that I haven’t had either the time or the energy for. And my dreams? They’ve changed a little. Not a lot, but a little… but you’ll have to keep reading to find out more!

 

The Longest eBook Ever to be Written!

GGSCoverImageMaybe not the longest ebook. But the longest amount of time ever to write one! And although I know even that’s not true… it sure has felt like it over these past several months!!

It was April 2013 when I had the idea to create the Gorgeous Green Smoothies ebook, which will bring together stories, tips and favourite recipes from a lovely collection of gorgeous green smoothie enthusiasts.

Considering all that was going on in my life, my initial ‘launch date’ idea of July/August was definitely overly ambitious… but I still had dreams of finishing the ebook and having it available before Christmas.

Although I came pretty close to finishing it, December birthdays (a LOT of these in our family!), finishing up at work, dealing with the emotions of Christmas this year at the same time as packing for the kids beach holiday and my few days in Melbourne, meant that I had to again let go of my ebook ‘ideal launch date’ plans, and postpone any more work on the ebook until the New Year…

 

More Unfinished Projects

I started 2013 thinking that I was going to do a lot of sewing. I did make a couple of beautiful fabric noticeboards (and am looking forward to making more of these this year!)

And I started one project that I really hoped to finish, but that didn’t happen. I didn’t even get to share it on my blog (there’s a draft post sitting in my posts folder that I never got to publish!), although if you’re following The Inspired Notebook on Facebook, you may have seen this early in the year.

But just so you know that I did actually start to play with fabric and create something in 2013, here’s a photo of my not-yet-finished Jelly Roll Floor Pillow:

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 IN SUMMARY…

After a pretty tough year in 2013, I’m really looking forward to big changes in 2014!

At least last year I did have more highs than lows!! Although I’m not sure if that counts because as far as lows go, the first more than makes up for it. (And yep, I’m super-aware of my tendency to be a little flippant and make light of what is a painful and sad situation. But there’ve been enough tears that I have to let it be okay to have a little light-heartedness about it too!)

 

WHAT WILL 2014 BRING??

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As 2014 begins, I continue to trust that I’m exactly where I’m meant to be on this journey of life and love and blogging and creating something amazing from all the gifts and blessings that my life brings.

Here’s a quick snapshot of some of the things I’m most excited about for 2014:
  • More gorgeous green smoothies and gorgeous green icecreams than you can count!! (And, most likely, even a blog – or at least a website – totally dedicated to sharing these!)
  • Finishing and launching my Gorgeous Green Smoothies ebook. Very exciting!!
  • Books. Lots of books!
  • & Lists. Lots and lots – and lots! – of lists. And booklists!!
  • Giveaways. One of my very favourite things to do and something I’ve really missed.
  • Writing and sharing a whole lot more blog posts than these last few years.
  • A heap of decluttering (my neglected house desperately needs it!) –  and at least a couple of room makeovers!
  • Turning our ‘house’ into the creative, welcoming home I’ve always dreamed of it being.
  • A whole lot more collaboration and new and lovely friendships
  • Problogger’s 2014 Training Event. Try keeping me away!!!
  • Writing and photography, art and fabric. Creating… and healing…
  • Painting furniture. With Milk Paint. And Chalk Paint. Because after the fireworks last night, while a whole lot of people were still drinking, or sleeping, I was googling painting techniques. And please, if you think that’s sad… don’t tell me!!!!!

Happy New Year!!!!! I hope that 2014 brings for you many more highs than lows, great health, love, laughter and happiness…

… and dreams come true!

I look forward to sharing the journey with you as we continue along this path of creating lives we LOVE!!

 

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Previous New Year posts:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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