I’ve done 5 pitches since Christmas, my team has grown, I’m going on holiday to New York next week, I’m training for my half marathon, I still do yoga and I need to move house. I might also be in the process of buying a house.

I knew this would be a big year and I knew I wanted it to be. It’s long been time to light some fires under myself and make some changes. It does worry me that these changes are going to break my routine though. They already have.

A few months back, I was posting twice a week. Not prolific but enough to keep me happy. I only managed 2 in April. I was also always on top of the new music that was doing the rounds and keeping an eye on upcoming nights out. Time and budget issues have pretty much put a stop to that.

Maybe I just need to get back in to the swing, maybe my new adventures will inspire some good new posts or maybe I’ll just not find the time again and this blog should come down.

I know I don’t give up easily and it doesn’t take long to write a post. I know I’ll also kick myself if I let my 2+ years of effort on this fade away. Can we agree to call it a temporary break in service?

• A Cup of Jo – We share a french style obsession
• Rock n Roll Bride – Super cool
• The Angry Therapist – Truth for when you need it
• The Grindstone – Career advice for strong willed women (who? me?)
• Suri’s Burn Book – Fashion and dark humour. What’s not to like?
• Design Seeds – Colour inspiration

Running races

This idea started as a drunken Christmas party dare but now it’s actually going to happen… I’ll be running the Bupa London 10k in May and then the Nike Run to the Beat half marathon in October. It’s a little daunting right now but I do so much better when I have a goal to aim for. Anyone want to sponsor me?

Ibiza

One of my oldest friends and I have a trip in September planned to celebrate a few 30th birthdays in one go. I’ll be chatting about that constantly come the summer.

Moving house

I’ll be waving goodbye to Camden when I buy my own flat in July. It would be amazing to live here but, unless I rob a bank, it’s not going to happen. I’ll be sat on the floor for a few months but it will be worth the hassle to have a place I can call my own.

I’m most certainly looking forward to picking out furniture and making the place my own. Looking at interior design blogs like DesignLoveFest and Emma’s DesignBlogg are keeping me saving.

Kitten

My own flat might mean my own garden which means I can get a cat. Not so I can be a gin lady though. That’s not the plan.

Building the UX empire at iris

We’re still looking for a new junior. We have some amazing work on the way and it’s gonna be fun…

Making the most of my spare time

The ONLY New Year’s resolution I’ll be making this year is to achieve a better work/life/play/run/dance balance. I love my job and I don’t want to burn out. I find it very easy to take on too much work (perfectionist you say?) but a lot more difficult to let it go again. I need to teach myself to use my time to maximum effect and that might mean saying no more often.

Mostly, I suppose I just wanted to say how massively excited I am about 2012. Every year just seems to bring better and better things for me. I work hard at making good stuff happen – it’s fabulous to begin to feel the benefit of that effort.

I’ve had another incredible year and passed a good few milestones. I’ve:

• Seen some amazing DJ sets and fervently wished myself in Ibiza (next year)
• Flown to Amsterdam 3 times
• Been on a Turkish yoga retreat and done about 100 hours of yoga
• Spent 3 days in the Autumn sunshine in Nice
• Finally nailed that capsule wardrobe I always wanted
• Become a runner
• Added 775 new tracks to iTunes
• Done 5 pitches
• Started running the User Experience department at iris
• Drank a lot of Zubrowka and soda
• Been mistaken for a French woman (so proud)
• Finally bought those Bose headphones I always dreamed of
• Spent two awesome weekends with my amazing uni friends
• Worked on three killer campaigns for adidas
• Finally, properly, given up smoking

If next year is anywhere near as good, I’ll be facing 30 with no fear.

I’m one of those people who love every season. Apart from when it rains – that makes me miserable. Luckily, it hasn’t rained much yet.

This week, without even realising, I’ve made that shift in my head. So far I’ve:

• Moved over from summer berries, muesli and yogurt breakfasts to cinnamon and date porridge. I’m eating it with apple, hazelnuts and almonds too.
• Got me some Adventure tea from Yumchaa. It’s a gorgeous caffeine free red tea blend of rooibos, rose hips, apple, almond, kiwi, hibiscus, caramel and spices.
• Moved over to red wine. The rosé and white are done for a while.
• Put the window insulation up. I have two sets of french doors in my room so they need some work to help keep me toasty.
• Turned the heating on.
• Put away the summer sandals and short sleeve blouses and bought out the thermals and heavy duty knits.
• Started wearing knee socks, leggings and a sweatshirt to bed.
• Well and truly killed off my plants. I was rubbish at looking after them anyway but now the cold snap has finished them off.
• Started thinking about making Christmas chutney. It needs some time to get better so I’ll do this soon.

Bring on winter! Mulled wine, ginger and orange tea and ice skating. Amazing.