Every year rather than focusing on resolutions (I try to do that starting in Nov–why wait?), I give the year a theme. 2012 was the "Year of Action." The goal was to get all my ducks in a row to really be working on the kind of projects I dream of doing. I decided today would be a good day to look back at highlights of last year to better focus on what's next.
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
Overall, I'd say it was a damn good year. It's a constant struggle "defining" who I am and what I do. But for 2012, I saw myself as a designer/editor with a focus on connecting creatives across continents. Next year I really hope to add more consulting + self-initiated projects into the mix. Stay tuned and mille mercis for following along with my adventures + all your support along the way! More regular updates with be on Twitter + Instagram.
JANUARY- I received a last minute invitation from Air France to travel down to Nice to check out their new travel app (which became a promo video in May)
FEBRUARY- The pilot issue of an online travel magazine I worked on launched.
MARCH- I got to fly home to the US for a press trip in Colonial Williamsburg (I'm from Virginia and had never been – great fun!)
- Escaped up to NYC to check in the the Design*Sponge team and check out their new office, and catch up with old friends.
APRIL- I made my TV debut with a cameo appearance on Rachel Khoo's BBC2 show "The Little Paris Kitchen" (episode 6: airs January 5th & 11th on The Cooking Channel in the US)
- I officially got my carte de séjour to stay in France! (My best [4 hour] visit yet, after an epic battle).
MAY- I went to Budapest for a few days with my friend Laurel on about 24 hours notice.
- I was invited to give a talk on "Blogging etiquette & how to deal with negative comments" at The Hive conference in Berlin where I met many internet friends in person for the first time and we had a complete blast.
JUNE- I experienced professional tennis for the first time at Roland Garros (The French Open)
- Spent Father's Day with my parents in Reims where we sipped champagne all day.
- I started offering tours through Vayable (and mine is currently top ranked for Paris!)
JULY- I was invited to Copenhagen for Blog'nhagen with some other international design bloggers and we gallivanted around the city in golf carts.
- I got invited back to Nice by Hotel Negresco (where I stayed in January) to celebrate their 100th year anniversary + made a fun little video.
- Watched my first Tour de France from the Arc de Triumph.
- I fulfilled my dream of being a movie extra in the forthcoming Pierce Brosnan and Emma Thompson movie "The Love Punch"
- I moved out of my apartment + 4 months of nomadicity ensued.
AUGUST- My dreams of going to the Olympics came true with a trip to London and scoring last minute tickets to track and field with Margaret.
- I pretended I was French and had a weekend in the countryside + visited a beautiful chateau + ate real whipped cream with Tiffany.
- I attended a stellar Kinfolk picnic thrown by Tifamade + Rubi Jones.
- I celebrated 3 years in France.
SEPTEMBER- I ate pastries in the Tuilleries with Angelo during Fashion Week as we watched Bill Cunningham, Scott Schuman, and Garance Doré at work.
- I had an article published in easyJet Traveller magazine and had lots of friends tell me they read it on their flight. I had one published in Dwell as well!
- I volunteered for The American Friends of the Musée d'Orsay gala and got to check out the new Fashion + Impressionism exhibition nearly empty.
- My most popular post ever went up with hand drawn floor plans of "first Parisian apartments."
OCTOBER- I flew to NYC for Brooklyn Beta Beyond, visited tons of awesome start-ups, had a photoshoot with Leela, met Swissmiss, hung out with the Tattly crew and attended 3 super inspiring Creative Mornings talks + ran into a friend who I hadn't seen in over 20 years (that was initiated by this picture I tweeted)!
- Celebrated my mom's birthday in DC.
- I attended Hello Etsy, a conference for sustainable business with Ashley + Thea and we were totally inspired.
NOVEMBER- I went to Normandy for a few days and Jennifer (Chez Loulou) took me to the most beautiful chateau where she works. [post forthcoming]
- Lauren O'Neill + I launched the first phase of Studio/Practice, a curated library of tips + tools for creative biz (a project I'm VERY excited about).
- After 4 months of nomadicity, I finally found an apartment of my own with the most beautiful view (see above).
- Ashley made a video for the new Everplaces 2.0 and I make a few cameos.
- I had an article published in Kinfolk that I collaborated with Elodie and Petrina on.
- Attended the new Parsons Paris launch for global learning.
- Went to a 1920s Murder Mystery Party (Rubi did my hair) + my first French wig party.
- Celebrated the holidays with friends in Paris.
- I got my first bit of Italian press on Grazie – how exciting!
Overall, I'd say it was a damn good year. It's a constant struggle "defining" who I am and what I do. But for 2012, I saw myself as a designer/editor with a focus on connecting creatives across continents. Next year I really hope to add more consulting + self-initiated projects into the mix. Stay tuned and mille mercis for following along with my adventures + all your support along the way! More regular updates with be on Twitter + Instagram.
So many congratulations on all these wonderful experiences and achievements. You are a blogger who has inspired me from the get-go. I'm so happy to see you accomplish so much!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the kind words, Pooja! So happy to have internet friends and that we can connect, inspire and push each other to do great things :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a thrilling and action packed year...you achieved your goal and then some!! How did I miss that you were a movie extra?! Sweet :)
ReplyDeleteI know, Susan! It's hard to believe. Ultimately, it was about taking life one day at a time, and jumping on opportunities. Hence, the movie extra thing. Saw it on twitter on a Friday, and was on set Tues + Wed. I figured I'd save a post on it until the movie comes out this spring :)
ReplyDeleteHappy 2013 to you too!
Wow! That was a great year! You really are an inspiration for us... We discovered your blog this year and we wait for your posts everyday :-)
ReplyDeleteBest wishes for 2013!!!
Congrats a successful year Anne! Living the dream! So happy for you. Keep up the inspiring work (and blog posts!)
ReplyDelete-AP
That is a fantastic year! I'm drawing inspiration for my 2013 which for now looks all a little scary as my job contract comes to an end and I'm embarking on a new direction!
ReplyDeleteThanks, The Slow Pace! I'm full of ideas these days, but slowing down on posting. But just as addicted to twitter for sharing ideas.
ReplyDeleteMerci, AP! You're still a major influence in why I'm even in Paris at all :)
Lil, that definitely can be scary, but do whatever you can + get creative to put yourself in a direction where you offer what no one else does.
A
I love the idea of giving your goals a theme for the year...something I might just have to do as well! looks like you had a great 2012...congrats on all of your accomplishments!
ReplyDeleteIt was fun being a part of some of your highlights this year Anne. Congratulations on a big year. x
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on all the accomplishments you made within 2012! Looks like you've had a great year!
ReplyDeleteI hope your ready for the New Year that's approaching in a few days! =)
byBUN, merci beaucoup! Themes are totally the way to go. Do it.
ReplyDeleteTiffany, Agreed. Thanks for being a part of many highlights. Come back sooN!
Carrie, Thanks! Bracing myself for 2013 ;)
Cheers!
Anne
WOWIE ZOWIE What a year!! Congrats on all the "action" love this concept. Wish I could just claim a year of action and get all that done! Ha! Well I did start the blog. Got the idea in February, started researching and building in April, launched in September so not toooo bad ; )
ReplyDeleteFollowing on Bloglovin!
Ali of:
www.aliandang.com
Thanks, Ali! Secret is doing and not over-thinking.
ReplyDeleteSounds like so much fun!
ReplyDeleteGott nytt år! As we say in swedish
/Jenny
I would say that is a very good year indeed and I hope that 2013 is even better for you!
ReplyDeleteWhat a year!!! Cheers to another successful + fulfilling year :) Can't wait!
ReplyDeletexoxo
Happy New Year Anne and may 2013 be just as fab!
ReplyDeleteWhat an absolutely fabulous year! Je suis jalouse, parce que je suis toujours prête à voyager aussi! Wonderful posts, hope you have as great a year in 2013!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on all the accomplishments!
ReplyDeleteJust out of curiously, if you don't mind my taking advantage of your bureaucratic experience, is it possible to get a long stay student visa without living in France? I'm a Canadian and have to prove three months of lodging to the consulate, but am afraid to commit to anything prior to seeing apartments and meeting people (let alone wiring money beforehand). The student residences (other than La Cite, but was rejected) are so, so overpriced that I'm feeling forelorn. I'd be affiliated with the uni and wouldn't be taking courses, so technically, I could live in London and come in for work.
Anon, I don't suggest anyone play games with the French system. Student status is definitely the easiest way to live here. You can only work PT on a visa. Not sure if the UK would accept it for working purposes. The further you live from Paris city center the cheaper. Try a small town or one of the suburbs (Banolet, Montreuil)
ReplyDelete