A 2018 highlight reel

As 2018 draws to a close (I'm hoping I get this up before the clocks strike midnight!), I thought there was no better time to look back over the year and think about all the positives. I totally did my insta stories 2018 highlights a week or so ago, and it got me thinking about the big and little things that made this year a good one. Although there were some downs and struggles, this year was one of the better ones in recent times for me, and I want to be able to look back over all the things that helped me feel this way.
Home and work

I'm splitting this up into sections, and thought there would be no better place to start than the core parts of my life: home and work.
After a year and a half at our old house, my boyfriend and I moved in to our current home in April. Everything was incredibly rushed - we signed the contract for the house two days before moving in! - but we got there in the end. This house so far has been a much happier place for us. It's filled with light and is only a four minute walk away from my job. 
Some minor milestones in the house have been things that absolutely deserve a place on my highlight reel. I hung our first wall decor (a picture of me as a child my grandma painted); we now own three plants (RIP flamingo plant), and we've got a big ol' tree all lit up in the front room.
We also brought the pets with us. Little Frank (a roborovski hammy), Sid (a Russian dwarf hammy) and Ted the bunny. Over summer we bunny proofed the garden to give Ted the run of it and he's so much happier now. 
At work I got my first ever promotion of my entire life! In June I was made an Assistant Editor at the publishing company I work for and I couldn't be happier. My job's been a massive part of my happiness this year and I honestly love it. I got to travel to Wales for the first time with it, and there's more travelling on the cards for 2019.
Relationships

Relationships for me covers a whole host of things: friends, family and love. I kick started January with an end-of-the-month trip to visit my sister and it was exactly what I needed to get rid of the January blues. We face-masked and shopped and napped together, and it's always what I need to perk me up.
February saw the most beautiful pink sky on the morning of Valentines Day. This is the first year that my boyfriend and I haven't forced ourselves out for an overpriced meal for two. We got the M&S dine in deal (for a tenner it's so worth it), drunk some wine, watched a movie and snuggled. It was ten times better than the last few years, and I just loved making it more 'us'.
My best friend and I made some incredible memories. From doing weird sheet masks, to (very) regular Yo Sushi dates, our friendship became stronger than ever. And our Christmas bonanza weekend? Well, an hour long drive to the most glorious garden centre, followed by buying matching PJs, watching four Christmas movies and doing crafts? It will definitely be featuring in 2019.
And finally, in October my boyfriend and I celebrated our 6-year anniversary. I'm not sure where the time has gone(?!), and it makes me feel a little old, but we did things our way again this year with a meal out somewhere new and some sofa cuddles back home. The absolute dream.
Hobbies

As you may have guessed, I did a whole lot of baking this year, and pushed myself way out of my comfort zone. I baked hot cross buns and mince pies completely from scratch for the first time and they were even edible! I also got stuck into festive baking both at Christmastime and Halloween and loved absolutely embracing it this year. I bake as part of my self-care, and it's something that I'm really proud of improving as the year went on.
Another massive hobby that I got 100% stuck into in 2019 was bullet journalling. My sister and I bought our journals together and I've stuck to it ever since. I've got calendar spreads and bookshelves to track what I'm reading; monthly habit trackers are now a thing and I've even started doing themed months for each weekly spread! I'm so excited to set everything up for 2019 (I definitely should have already started), but wow this is one of my favourite things to do now.

Events

In May I passed my driving test (on the second attempt), and I was so proud. It meant no more money being spent on driving lessons - thank god - and I'd finally caught up with my little sister. In July I got insured on my boyfriend's car and now I'm a fully qualified driver with so much more independence than I had this time last year. 

June saw me hit 24, and I'm actually pretty okay with how the first six months of this has gone. My boyfriend took me down to my sister's for the weekend as a surprise for my birthday and it's honestly the best present he could have given me. We also hosted our first ever party: a barbecue to celebrate my dad's and my birthdays, and it felt so incredible to have lots of family over in the new house.

I celebrated on 17th June with my first 5K as an adult, and I'm beyond proud to say that I raised just over £900 for the Bone Cancer Research Trust by doing it. This was an incredible sum and I'm so grateful to everyone who donated, and the race has me genuinely overcome with emotion to think of the difference that money could make to a truly worthy cause.

July was time for a mini-break to Devon with my boyfriend's family. This was our only holiday this year, and whilst it was a fab three days' away, we're definitely planning on doing some more holidaying next year.

August meant it was time for my sister's 22nd birthday. We took a trip to Leamington Spa, where we used to live together for a little while. We went to our favourite takeout place, did some shopping and drank some genuinely tasty juices. I'll always have a soft spot for Leam in my heart and going back was something I'm so glad we did.

I got to be the proudest sister in September when she graduated. We took a trip down to Plymouth and had a glorious night out to celebrate all her hard work! I totally welled up during the graduation ceremony and I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

October saw my sister move in briefly and move back out again, but in that time we carved pumpkins, baked, sorted out my life and I loved every moment of it.

November was the hardest month of the year for me, but I joined the gym, rediscovering a long-forgotten love for exercise. It's something I'm going to continue with in 2019, and I really needed this when I started.

December was the most family-orientated month for me. On the 8th, we all headed down to celebrate my Grandma's 80th birthday (doesn't she look incredible?!). I saw family I hadn't seen in years and got to the alcohol first, aka I didn't have to drive home - mwhahaha.
I spent a whole lot of time with my boyfriend's family over Christmas. but also made time to head home to see both my mum and dad and spend quality time with them.

So that's my big roundup - if you've gotten down to this point, I salute you. I'm not sure how 2019 could top 2018, but I'm hoping that everything's coming up Milhouse.
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