The Best of 2019

It's no doubt that every year has its ups and downs. 2019 has been no different. It's been a good year but I can't say it's been the absolute best. Every year I reflect on the past year and think about how I can make next year better. I still regard 2018 as one of the most difficult years of my life so it was no secret that I wanted 2019 to be so much better than the year before. It makes me happy to say that looking back, it has most definitely been a much better year and one that I am glad to look back on.

I have done quite a few new things this year that I'm so happy to have ticked off. Life-changing moments, grown-up decisions and bucket-list-ticking things that were just for fun. Today I thought it'd be fun to share some of the best things that happened in 2019 for me.

In 2019 I:

Bought my dream affordable car.

Cece my smooth mint Fiat 500. Buying my car was a big step for me. My previous cars I was lucky enough to be handed down to me or given as a gift so it was about time to buy a car of my own especially as my old Mercedes was costing me too much. I remember going into Car Giant eyeing up a white Fiat 500 I'd seen online and was so disappointed when the person who test drove it bought it. It made me look around and that's when I saw my beauty parked right behind the one I thought I was going to buy. It had the interior I liked, the colour was so 'me' and I just had to have her. I'm still so smitten with my car and it's one of the best purchases I have made since buying my house!

Decided I was successful

In 2019, I passed my newly qualified teaching year and it was the most amazing moment of the year. The day I got my letter to say that I'd passed, I was just smiling from ear to ear with happiness because it was in that moment that I realised I'd reached the goal I'd been working towards for the last four years. It was an amazing feeling and a moment I associate with feeling successful because I'd been working so hard towards it for so long. I feel so lucky to do what I love for a living and be told that I do it well. Being sucessful in my job was the ultimate goal for 2019 and having met it means the world to me.

Cut my hair

Cutting my hair was something I'd been desperate to do all year. I'd been uhming and aahing about it for months and in August I took the plunge. I cut my hair back to the choppy bob I loved so much about five years ago. I wanted to cut it because I remember how much I loved having short hair and wanted that again. On top of that, cutting your hair kinda gives you that 'fresh start' feeling. With a new academic year beginning in September and having successfully passed the previous year, I was ready to go back with a new look for what felt like a new me. I absolutely love my hair and it's a style I plan on keeping for a while now.

Travelled to a new country.

In August, John and I went to Belgium and visited Brussels and Bruges. We had such a lovely time and the weather was spot on for a city-break holiday. Though it was only a short three-day break it was a well-needed one that you can read all about here if you missed it! 

Went to the Harry Potter Studio Tour - finally!

I had the best time. I could've cried. Going to the studio tour was a massive deal for me. As a Harry Potter fan I was ashamed that I'd never been but I went on the hottest day of the year. It might have been swealtering hot but it was such an amazing experience and I genuinely did nearly cry. If you missed that post, I wrote all about the experience here too!

Started drawing and painting again.

This year, I decided it was about time I picked up the pencil again and started drawing. I haven't shared much because I am extremely rusty but I have been having fun with it. Most of my drawings have been of people and Pokemon but that's just because it's what I like. I did draw a great Niffler and Neville Longbottom's Remembrall too which are all on a secret Instagram I'll be revealing soon. 2020 might be the year I launch an Etsy with my own prints.

Turned 30 and loved every minute of it.

Before the year came to a close, I turned 30. Turning 30 has been a milestone I've been thinking about for a long time and one I was anxious but excited about. I've heard from all sorts of people that you start to feel old or that it's when you start really beginning to live your life. Either way, I'm actually excited about being 30 and I feel like being in my 30s will motivate me to do more with my life in a strange way. I'm going to be talking more about being 30 in a future post but I had a great time celebrating it. I went and stayed the night away with John and the coolest lodge. It was a pink stable with a hot tub outside that we took advantage of. I also had all my friends and family round to mine for some drinks and a games night. It was so nice seeing everyone that I love in one room and one of my favourite birthdays because of that!

2019 hasn't been all that eventful but it has been life-changing. For that, it'll be a year I never forget. It's a huge improvement on 2018. I'm so excited about 2020 and what it brings. I know there are lots of things I have to look forward to like a best friend getting married, a hen weekend away and so much more. I can't wait to see what 2020 brings but I'm really happy that 2019 has bought better things that the year before. How did 2019 treat you?

Photography credit: @frannymac_