I’ve never believed in regrets.

I’ve always believed that everything we do makes us the people we are now and how can you regret who you are now? Plus, my grandfather always told me, “Everything happens for a good reason.” And I’ve almost always found that to be true.

Let’s be honest, I’ve made some pretty bad decisions in my life (who hasn’t?) but since they’ve brought me here, they obviously weren’t that awful.  In my whole life I’ve only had one thing that I would say I actually regret. I think that’s pretty good.

With that no regrets policy in mind, I have always chosen to focus on the things in life that I love and am grateful for. The good things.

Here’s a list for 2012 of my top Good Things:

1. M started school and loves it. Really loves it. Plus she has the best imagination ever. I love to watch her play.

Molly, the dancing queen

2. G is still my tiny, funny boy and is as ridiculous as ever. He makes me laugh every day.

Monster Boy!

3. We are lucky enough to have 3 sets of parents/grandparents in our lives who live close by. I’m even more grateful that they are all involved and always more than happy to help out.

4. I left my retail career a year ago and I have loved having nights, weekends, and holidays off for the first time ever. I’ve been able to make weekend plans and go grocery shopping like a regular person. It’s been awesome!

5. The Paperie and its owners, Janna, Wendy, and Chris have continued to support and encourage me this past year. I’ve been able to design and teach classes that I love and they once again sent me to The Collins Rep show for workshops with the industries best people. They are awesome people to be connected with and I only hope I come close to giving some of that back to them and the shop.

Wendy & I

Chris & Janna

6. I’ve made it a point to take more classes and have more fun friends time this year. I have loved the memories and laughter. I can only imagine how much more is to come in 2013!

Friends & Chocolate – very, very good things!

7. This blog has to make the list. It’s been almost a year and I’ve loved the documenting, the relationships, the people. I’ve laughed and cried over blogs I never would have heard of without the visitors here, and can’t wait to see what else I discover in the next year.

8. Bar none, the top thing I’m grateful for this year was reconnecting with one of my oldest and best friends after many years. Is there anything better than someone who knows almost everything about you and still thinks you’re fabulous? I think not!

I hope you all have a thousand and one small things from the past year that you love. A thousand and one great memories. And I wish you more in the next year.

Thank-you all for being part of my life, the things for which I’m grateful, my Good Things.

S.

A lot of bloggers out there are rounding out the year with their favourite posts, or LO’s, or art pieces. I’m going to join in but give you my top 5 faves of the year – be it blog post, LO, whatever!

5. My 12 on Twelve posts, as a whole. I didn’t start this project until March so I missed the first 2 months of the year, but overall I love seeing a basic day in our lives each month. It’s usually nothing special except what we do everyday and that alone makes it pretty darn special anyway. Plus, I get to see my everchanging hair colour at a glance! 🙂

4. My ICAD posts, as a whole. (I feel like I’m somewhat cheating by not narrowing down these two project posts but since it’s my list, I get to make the rules!) I loved the small canvas, I loved having to/making myself be creative every day, and I really, really loved the awesomeness that came out of the experimenting I did. Some of the cards were among my favourite art pieces of the year.

3. This LO. I love the colours, how the blending worked out, using the whole stencil, and mostly, I love that picture. It all came together to be one LO that stands out to me over this past year.

2. This canvas. I had been itching to do… more. More than just scrapbooking. I did some mini albums, a couple of basic altered projects and home decor, but still…. And then I signed up for Christy Tomlinson’s SheArt Workshop and haven’t looked back.

But without a doubt, my favourite of the year is:

1. The Garbage post. This was among the top 5 in viewed and commented on posts this year and a lot of that is because of the subject and the timing. I wrote this post not long after the world heard about the horrific news in Connecticut and it was uplifting to hear about something good. Bob Fitzgerald, the garbage man,  to me simply personifies the ordinary person out there doing little things to make a happy difference in someone’s life. I’m so glad he touched so many of you as well.

Did your favourite of the year make my list? Let me know if I missed it!

And Happy New Year to you all.

S.