2019 Recap

Well. Hello there, good old blog. It's been awhile!

Let's talk about 2019, shall we? 

There are only a few hours left in this year, and in this decade. I don't have the energy to think back on the past ten years today, but do want to look back a bit on the last 12 months.

I didn't have any specific goals for the year, other than slowing down and getting back to a life that felt manageable and aligned with my soul's purpose. 

What I didn't expect was that giving up some things that were weighing me down would open me up to so many new opportunities. I was amazed when I looked back on the year at everything I had been able to accomplish. 

If you follow me on Instagram, I created a highlight for the year with links to different posts. But for this blog post, I'm gonna keep it simple and list them with a few things linked up for ya. So here we go! 

In 2019 I...

• Showed art at my 2nd Surtex 
• Launched my 2nd coloring book
• Left my art agency
• Partnered to create printables for the Reset Girl
• Rejoined the Illustrated Faith team
• Created my first physical product for Illustrated Faith 
• Launched new branding
• Taught my first in person lettering classes
• Created lots of pet portraits
• Started creating gifs 
• (you can find them by searching "mandyfordart"!)
• Launched my first stickers
• Started meeting with a spiritual director
• I see Amy at Persimmon Studio.) 
• Moved to a new art space in our home
• Bought pink glasses
• Got to hear Lisa Congdon and Andy Miller speak together
• And chat with them both in person - such a gift!
• Moved to a four day work week at my day job 
• Had two super fun pop up shops

It was a YEAR. 

We capped it off on Sunday by getting in a scary car accident. 

Yikes. So the past few days we've been taking it easy and 

majorly counting our blessings. 

I'm so thankful for all of the support I've received this past year. 

I had no idea what it was going to hold, and looking back I'm in 

awe. 

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Here's to a 2020 where we give ourselves grace and grow 

even more into our best selves!

A Year of New Things

A new year brings about all sorts of resolutions and exclamations that, "This year will be different!" I'll do this, and stop doing that. 

I've never been much for resolutions. I don't perform well under pressure. I like to move where my soul leads me. 

But I do like this idea of starting something new. Fresh beginnings. Not a new diet, or a new set of goals, but new practices that will bring me closer to my best self.

New breath

New choices

New joy

New grace

New attention

And maybe not always so much "new" but "reNEWed." 

What will be new or renewed for you this year?

2017!

We did it friends! We made it to 2017!

Wishing you a fabulous year!

XO,

{2015}

Wishing you a 2015 full of joy and inspiration and 
great hugs and even greater coffee. :)

XO,

{a year of growth}

2013...you were a year of growth for me. 

That was the word I chose for you, and boy did you ever come through.

I grew into myself more than I could have imagined this time last year. 

I found new friendships, one in particular, that encourage me to be fully myself. What a blessing that has been.

And oh yeah...I taught my first workshop!

I went to my first blogging conference and spent my first weekend away from the boys. 

The friendships I made there continue to fill my heart with love and support. What a great group of ladies. 

I rediscovered my love for drawing. 

I almost have no words for this...it has brought me alive. 

And I have a feeling this doodling journey of mine has just begun. Boy am I grateful. 

I grew as a Mom...learning how to parent 5 year olds {OK...I'm still learning that lesson} and kindergartners. 

Whew! is all I have to say about that one.

Some days these boys darn right overwhelm me, but in the end this journey of motherhood is incomparable in the best of ways. 

And let's not forget this guy and I celebrated 10 years of marriage...

Watching him as a father, seeing his daily devotion to our family amid the messiness of daily life...it is all so beautiful. 

So thank you, 2013. You helped me grow by leaps and bounds. 

XO,



fc31a34dd3b5b0a6dde9a4c89d4c0fa580b7d01f7febf46a34

{the year ahead}

Source: elembee.com via Cherie on Pinterest

I don't know about you, but January is usually a rough month for me. The mixture of cold weather, letdown from the holidays and short days all can create quite the debbie downer.

But this year for some reason I feel different. I feel so optimistic. Hopeful.

Dare I say excited?!

Maybe it is the fact that the weather here in December was unseasonably warm. Maybe it was because we had a really wonderful Christmas and I'm still on a high from all of our time spent with family. Whatever the reason, I'm so pumped for this new year and everything that it could hold for me and my little family.

Last year, I started off 2011 by participating in Ali Edward's One Little Word challenge, and my word was action.

Looking back on 2011, I did take a lot of action, especially here on This Girl's Life. I started participating in What I Wore Wednesday, which was a big leap for me. I interviewed a Project Runway alum. This time last year I would have never thought that was a possibility.  I was featured on at least 10 different blogs and websites, including Ohdeedoh, Tip Junkie, and The Frugal Girls. Whoa did I have a really amazing blogging year.

I am also very proud to say that I took action at home to be a better wife and mother, which any spouse or parent knows is a daily challenge. Along with my hubby, we have made it halfway through the thrashing threes {which are MUCH harder than the terrible two's}. Some days I wonder if we will make it out with our sanity, but we are tackling it as a team and that feels really good.

In 2012 I'm going to continue with a similar theme of action.

Source: sofiasjournal.com via Josie on Pinterest

My word for 2012 is commit.

Commit to all of the home decorating and organizing projects we need to complete. {with A LOT of help from Pinterest}

Commit to working every day to be an even better wife and mother.

Commit to treating my body better by eating healthier and exercising. {starting tomorrow with a smoothie for breakfast!}

Commit to adding new and exciting content to This Girl's Life.

Source: flickr.com via Barbara on Pinterest

So how are you feeling about 2012?

If you need some extra excitement, I think I have some to spare. :)

Linking up with...

{happy}

 Some happy thoughts for a Happy New Year...

Source: polyvore.com via Alyssa on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Ashleigh on Pinterest

Source: yellowbrickblog.blogspot.com via Ruth on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Tracy on Pinterest

Source: facebook.com via Natalie on Pinterest

Hope each and every one of you have the happiest year ever!