2017 was a very special year for me – with a big birthday, I wanted to celebrate all year long with the Festival of 50!
I must confess the Festival feeling had pretty much worn off by year’s end, but it was certainly a great way to kick things off!
So what did I get up to last year?!
January – To mark my 50th birthday, I shared 50 things I wanted to see/do/try as part of the Festival of 50 … let’s just say that 12 months later, I didn’t achieve all of them but gave it a bloomin’ good go.
A wonderful holiday in Bali gave me plenty to blog about throughout the year:
in the Bali Sea walker Experience; Bali for Wimps; and, What to Wear in Bali.
February – As we got back into the swing of things, I began doing Aqua Aerobics twice a week – and I also shared the surprising truth about Living with Chronic Depression.
March – In January the kidults gave me tickets for my first ever helicopter ride, and we finally lifted off in March at Sea World on the Gold Coast. Meanwhile on the blog, I celebrated World Compliments Day, and pondered what it truly means to be financially free.
April – I was sent some lovely Winter fashion from my friends at Vivid International, and was surprised to find that orange looked good on me, despite it not being one of my “colours”!
I was excited to get a last minute ticket to attend Copy Con in Sydney, but also struggled with holding back tears at a family funeral.
May – What a milestone – I chalked up 1000 posts here on the blog! I also got into some DIY and updated our bedroom with a velvet bedhead – just in time for my glamour boudoir photo shoot!
June – A sneak peek into my childhood, when I re-discovered a postcard from the past; and I talked about important things like COFFEE.
July – In July I was inspired by tea … or more specifically the last tea lady in Australia.
I discovered the reason I was tired all the time was severe sleep apnoea. I stopped to reflect on how the Festival of 50 was going as it was the halfway point. And there were major celebrations as our backyard was finally fixed after 3 years of mess!
August – I bravely admitted that I wasn’t sure what I thought about gay marriage (and yes, I copped some flak over it – you can read about that in Aftermath of a Controversial Post). I struggled with Mondayitis, and was looking forward to Spring and Summer – and what I wouldn’t be wearing!
September – Miss Fleur was very naughty and shared her exploits on the blog.
Meanwhile, I had a bit of a Sliding Doors moment as I considered “What if … ” – oh, and I began experimenting with a Sentence A Day
October – I introduced you to the grandkitties, shared my travel dreams, and went on my first ever wellness retreat.
November – Our lovely daughter turned 21, so I wrote her a letter – it was stuff she pretty much already knew, but I wanted to record it for posterity. It was also the first ever Pop Up Blog Zone!
December – As the year charged towards a close like a runaway freight train, we were busy with work and Christmas preparations – but did manage to squeeze in a budget weekend getaway to mark 30 years since our very first date.
Where has the time gone – since hubster and I met, and 2017 in general?!
Bali and Copy Con were right up there on my list of highlights I think – what was the biggest highlight of your 2017?
Joining up with some of my fave bloggers for:
What a fabulous year! Wishing all the best for more fabulousness in 2018.
Thanks Jo and right back atcha!
Congrats on a Year well-lived! Looking forward to seeing your posts in 2018! Come on over and link up on Mondays at my blog when you have the chance. I hope you are enjoying the January pace and the weather has been kind to you! Denyse x
Thanks Denyse, yes loving the holiday feels though it’s back to work on Monday!
My definite (and probably obvious) highlight was finding out I was pregnant via IVF!! I am sure that this year the highlight will be having that baby girl I’ve been wanting to meet! x
What a wonderful highlight and can’t wait to see pics of your baby girl!
What a joyous and ambitious year! I’ve really enjoyed reading your Sentence A Day posts too,
SSG xxx
Thanks SSG! Miss 21 says they are her favourite posts too (probably because she usually gets a mention LOL)
Yes orange looks fabulous on you! My highlights (can I have more than one?) were two overseas trips plus selling our house. So excited about moving to the Sunny Coast ?
Absolutely they are all very highlight worthy!
Great wrap up of 2017 Janet. You sure have had a great year. I hope 2018 is equally good if not better! 🙂 xo #TeamLovinLife
You too Miss Min – we must catch up again IRL this year!
Wow congrats on 1000 posts – you’ve had a great year! My highlight was probably Tuscany all together with my kids and their partners. My daughter got engaged there! #teamlovinlife
Ohhhhh Tuscany – so jealous!
I ask myself that question all the time Janet. Where does the time go? Whew you did have an epic 2017. Wishing you another great year in 2018. #TeamLovinLife
And to you too Kathy, so glad we have met and become bloggy friends 🙂
What a great summary of your year Janet – lots of highs, a few lows, and plenty of family moments – it sounds just about perfect to me 🙂 Also enjoyed seeing all your photos to mark each occasion – a picture speaks a thousand words.
I love photos … can you tell?!
What a great year to look back on. I need to make more of life!
Emma, that sounds like a great New Year’s Resolution to me!
2017 served up some good and some bad, but going to Sydney to see my daughter compete at Physie Nationals in the first year of opening her own club was my fav bit, mega proud mumma moment.
What a great Festival of Fifty! I can’t wait for my Festival of Fifty next year. Mine will start in October 2019 (or when we manage to do my 50th birthday trip to the Greek Islands – which WILL happen). Highlights for my 2017 were our Noosa trip in July for my parents 50th wedding anniversary, visiting my daughter as she lived in Bondi for a few months and learning the ropes (and making new friends) as the volunteer communications manager for my son’s 2000+ soccer club.
You’ve certainly enjoyed a busy and fabulous year Janet! 🙂 #TeamLovinLife