The end of the year always means my annual year in review where I share some of my favourite memories via a quiz. Read on to hear what I got up to in 2021 and what hopes I have for 2022.
We’re officially in 2022. Isn’t that mad?! Again, it’s been a bit of a weird year. Life is sort of getting back to normal (well, as normal as can be) – or at least it seemed to for a while there – but Covid is still very much around. Despite various setbacks I have, luckily, found myself in a pretty good place!
Let’s jump straight into rounding things up with my year in review.
WHAT DID YOU DO IN 2021 THAT YOU’D NEVER DONE BEFORE?
I moved into a shared house/now kind of live alone and I made a proper leap into marketing! I also visited some new places (hello Iceland) and I think that’s about it. Oh, I started getting my nails done sort of regularly too, haha.
DID YOU KEEP YOUR NEW YEARS’ RESOLUTIONS, AND WILL YOU MAKE MORE FOR NEXT YEAR?
Sort of! You can see my previous year in review and resolutions here – but I think the only goal I sort of stuck to was taking care of my mind or body more. I do drink a lot of water and meditate more, plus I also go to hot yoga, so that’s something!
DID ANYONE CLOSE TO YOU GIVE BIRTH?
No. But I recently found out I’m going to be an aunt again…so I’m super happy about that!
DID ANYONE CLOSE TO YOU DIE?
No.
WHAT PLACES DID YOU VISIT?
Iceland, of course!!! Iceland was absolutely amazing and everything I could have asked for. I feel so lucky that we got to visit, particularly between lockdowns. My boyfriend and I also focused a lot of time in exploring more of the UK with our National Trust passes! In fact, I’ve made it a challenge to visit all 50 places on Marvellous Maps’ Britain’s Top Adventure Locations, after my boyfriend got me one of their maps. So we spent some time mostly on little day trips around The Chilterns to tick that off the list – visiting places like Hughenden House, Hellfire Caves and Hambleden Mill. We also visited Bath and Oxford – so not bad really!
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE IN 2022 THAT YOU LACKED IN 2021?
The same as what I wanted this year to be honest – no pandemic, more time with family and friends etc.
WHAT DATES FROM 2021 WILL REMAIN ETCHED IN YOUR MEMORY, AND WHY?
Visiting Iceland. Particularly sitting on the top open deck of a boat in ReykjavÃk, sipping hot chocolate in the cold and my boyfriend and I watching the fading Northern Lights with no one else around. It was really lovely.
WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT THIS YEAR?
Getting my job in marketing. I have joined the most amazing team with really lovely colleagues and lots of opportunities to further myself. I’ve spent a long time telling people how lucky I am to finally get a break in marketing, but my boyfriend is constantly telling me off and reminding me that it’s not luck and that it’s ten years of hard work – blogging, teaching myself, applying for jobs etc that got me where I am today.
WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST FAILURE?
Moving out of the house I shared with my boyfriend was pretty traumatic. We had our reasons – and for a while there, our relationship wasn’t doing too well either – but we made it through. I may not be where I want to be right now, but I’m enjoying having my own space again, even if it meant taking a step backward.
DID YOU SUFFER ILLNESS OR INJURY?
I don’t know how but luckily I’ve yet to catch Covid.
WHAT WAS THE BEST THING YOU BOUGHT?
Plane tickets to Iceland obviously, haha! Well technically that doesn’t count as it was from a gift card from work. Oh, maybe my Nintendo Switch Lite. I have seriously put a lot of hours into Animal Crossing, Stardew Valley, Don’t Starve and Graveyard Keeper..!
WHO’S BEHAVIOUR MERITED CELEBRATION?
Everyone who has made the effort to stay safe and smart during this pandemic. Also, me! Like I said, moving out of the house I shared with my boyfriend and things being a bit rocky were bloody traumatizing for me. I honestly don’t know how I got through it. But here I am less than a year later in a much better place and I applaud myself for that and for not losing my shit. Well. At least not too often anyway, haha.
WHO’S BEHAVIOUR MADE YOU APPALLED AND DEPRESSED?
The government (or at least those who made silly decisions and then didn’t follow the rules themselves). But the less said about that the better..
WHERE DID MOST OF YOUR MONEY GO?
Travel. Iceland was expensive! As I said, we were quite lucky that essentially we paid for our trip with a gift card, but knowing that Iceland is probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, it just meant more money to spend on experiences whilst there.
WHAT DID YOU GET REALLY EXCITED ABOUT?
Definitely Iceland. I booked it so early on in the year that even with things a bit rocky with my boyfriend, there were times I didn’t think we’d end up going. Also obviously because of Covid too. It felt like a long time going once we finally got to go.
WHAT SONG WILL ALWAYS REMIND YOU OF 2021?
Heat Waves by Glass Animals. We have had it on in the office constantly, but it’s such a great song. It’s always in my head.
COMPARED TO THIS TIME LAST YEAR, ARE YOU:
a) happier or sadder? About the same as last year. I feel happier in myself overall though.
b) thinner or fatter? A little fatter!
c) richer or poorer? A bit richer, I suppose. I’m saving money more.
WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU’D DONE MORE OF?
Like before, I wish I’d read more. And saved more money. I also wish I’d taken more time to myself. I’ve taken on so much freelance work this year, which is great, but I keep forgetting to carve out time to myself and for my own hobbies! I’ve soon realized when my mood begins to slip and I start to feel overwhelmed that it’s because I’m not balancing things particularly well.
WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU’D DONE LESS OF?
Worrying.
HOW DID YOU SPEND CHRISTMAS?
My boyfriend and I spent Christmas at my Dad’s, which was so lovely! I pretty much spent the week there, just lazing about and eating lots of good food.
DID YOU FALL IN LOVE IN 2021?
Not really, but as corny as it sounds, I’ve learned to love myself a bit more and be more comfortable in my own skin.
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE TV PROGRAM?
I’ve watched a lot this year. But I’d probably say Loki, WandaVision or Midnight Mass. Midnight Mass was definitely my favourite thing overall – it was so dark and gripping – and it was done so well.
DO YOU HATE ANYONE NOW THAT YOU DIDN’T HATE AT THIS TIME LAST YEAR?
Not really.
WHAT WAS THE BEST BOOK YOU READ?
I barely read in 2021!
WHAT MUSIC DID YOU GET EXCITED ABOUT?
Not a lot, really!
WHAT DID YOU WANT AND GET?
I asked for some new slippers and perfume for Christmas and just things like that, which I got.
WHAT DID YOU WANT AND NOT GET?
I got pretty much everything I asked for luckily. Unrelated to Christmas, I did really want to get an authentic Icelandic wool sweater as a great memento from our trip but they were beyond expensive, so I settled for my usual snowglobe and a Christmas tree decoration from one of the lovely Christmas shops.
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE FILM OF THE YEAR?
It has to be Spider-Man: No Way Home. Honestly, I spent the entire last third of the film basically in tears (sometimes happy!) the entire time. I’m sad I won’t get to see it again for the first time, haha. Also I know this isn’t a film as such but I have to mention seeing Moulin Rouge The Musical! too. It was absolutely amazing!
WHAT DID YOU DO ON YOUR BIRTHDAY, AND HOW OLD WERE YOU?
I turned 32! To be honest, I don’t feel that much different but I have felt better in myself overall since turning 30. I went back to my Dad’s for my birthday and we had my Nan round for a curry – pretty standard! My boyfriend also took me to Winter Wonderland a few days before my birthday, so that was lovely.
WHAT ONE THING WOULD HAVE MADE YOUR YEAR MORE SATISFYING?
No Covid-19, obviously! Obviously, I’d also like to have traveled a bit more (without Covid) but I’m very lucky that we got to take the trips we did.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONAL FASHION CONCEPT IN 2021?
Very lazy, still! I think I spent the entire year in leggings haha. I have plans to invest in a good quality pair of jeans and new winter coat in the new year though.
WHAT KEPT YOU SANE?
My boyfriend and family, plus my DS. I play some very wholesome games!
WHICH CELEBRITY/PUBLIC FIGURE DID YOU FANCY THE MOST?
Oh god. Andrew Garfield (spoiler alert) coming back as Spiderman really did it for me.
WHAT POLITICAL ISSUE STIRRED YOU THE MOST?
The way Covid-19 was handled and how actual friends of mine were unable to visit their relatives dying in hospital whilst certain political figures had bloody parties. It makes my blood boil. Like also, all reasons aside that they shouldn’t have done any of that anyway, but how were they also so stupid to get caught?! It’s almost like they wanted to flaunt it..
WHO DID YOU MISS?
My mum. My friends.
WHO WAS THE BEST NEW PERSON YOU MET?
My new colleagues are pretty awesome and some have definitely become life-long friends.
TELL US A VALUABLE LIFE LESSON YOU LEARNED IN 2021?
Probably that sometimes you just have to put yourself first and that a step backward is sometimes necessary to move forwards in life.
QUOTE A SONG LYRIC THAT SUMS UP YOUR YEAR?
Not a bloody clue.
MY 2022 MOOD TRACKER
And finally…
MY NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS FOR 2022
- Learn more
- I’ve been doing a course about Pinterest so I’d like to improve my Pinterest skills as well as continue to develop my SEO skills
- Post on Instagram more regularly
- Officially get Bitchin Stitchin up and running (failed from last year!)
- Continue to look after my mind and body more
- Spend more time with family
So that’s my year in review! It was a tough year at times – as it no doubt has been for a lot of people – but I’m grateful that I survived 2021 relatively unscathed and feeling happy and optimistic as a now 32-year-old!
How did you find 2021? Are you looking forward to moving into 2022 and seeing the back of 2021, or do you think 2022 is going to be much of the same?
Let me know – and Happy New Year!
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