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New Years Eve 2019 round up!

by Rebecca Henderson

At this time of the year I always look back so I am able to look forward. It’s become a real favourite thing of mine to do and I like to reflect on the year and think about what I want to achieve in the next 12 months.

This is the fourth round up post I’ve done on New Years Eve that contains all my blog posts from the past year, a few highlights, and some intentions and plans for the year.

*POST UPDATED May 2022: Bright Lights Big City has evolved from being focused on PR to being all about travel, experiences, food and drink. All posts that are no longer relevant to these topics have been removed.*

Happy New Year!

Whatever you get up to, I hope you enjoy your evening.

I’m not a New Year’s Eve fan, I’ve only had a couple of great ones and generally think it’s the biggest waste of money. This year, I’m spending it at home with a lot of delicious Marks and Spencer food chilling out with a face mask, some movies and a glass of fizz – I know, I’m so rock and roll! 🙈

Year in review

I wasn’t actually going to write my highlights this year as I feel 2019 has been another tough one for me. But, I pushed myself to write three good things from each month to remind myself that this year has had balance and to not look at it as negative. And, guess what? It’s helped!

This year has had its fair share of low moments, I’ve lost two people, been robbed, got burned, my car died in Devon on the way to my friends wedding and oh god, I won’t go on!

I’m not usually a negative person but the past two years have been really tough, in fact this whole decade has really had its moments but it’s also been filled full of joy and great things too.

Picking out these highlights forced me to find the positives and while I’m not thrilled about how 2019 panned out, I’ve a lot to be thankful for.

It’s also made me realise that I’ve got really off track with who I am and as the months pass I’m feeling stronger and ready to reclaim who I am. I have a few people to thank for that and a few new friends who’ve given me some great direction and advice.

For me, 2020 is going to be all about learning, focusing on what I want the blog to become and giving it both definition and purpose. The blog evolved this year to focus on more of the things I love but it still needs a lot of work taking it forward.

I’m looking forward to continuing the hashtag I created in November called #KitForYourTrip and would be thrilled if you went and followed it and added your favourite pieces of kit to it too.

Here’s a look back at the highlights and posts from 2019…

January

Highlights…

  • Spending another glorious birthday eating the best food at The Pig in Brockenhurst
  • I was in a job that gave me back some of my confidence

Posts…

  • CREATIVE CAMPAIGNS #33 – #HeinzKetchupCaviar January 25, 2019
  • CREATIVE CAMPAIGNS #32 – Provoke Piers January 25, 2019
  • CREATIVE CAMPAIGNS #31 – #10yearchallenge January 24, 2019
  • You don’t have to be an eggs-pert to crack Instagram! January 16, 2019
  • Creative Campaigns #30 – Gillette’s We Believe: The best a man can be January 15, 2019
  • CREATIVE CAMPAIGNS #29 – Fiji Water photobombs the Golden Globes January 12, 2019
  • Hair Care Vol.1 – OGX Beauty January 10, 2019
  • A hero in a half shell – Turtle Immersion Jelly Bath Bomb from Lush January 9, 2019
  • Wake up to soft plump skin! January 8, 2019
  • Oh my Deyes! What next for Alfie, one of the top UK influencers? January 7, 2019
  • Scrub your way to sensational skin with Lush and St Ives January 6, 2019
  • Happy New Year! It’s 2019! January 1, 2019
February

Highlights…

  • I travelled to Kent for a long weekend
  • I worked with Wagamamas and Gunwharf Quays on a mindfulness event
  • We got robbed but realised how resilient we are! Strength comes from the funniest places.

Posts…

March

Getting robbed in February really put the brakes on blogging for March, I just had too much life stuff to sort out and something had to give. I wasn’t in a great place and spent most of March making my house a fortress.

Highlights…

  • Caught up with one of my best friends in London
  • I bought some of the first pieces of furniture for our house, which revolutionised the kitchen and dining room!
  • Saw Childish Gambino’s final gig at the O2
  • Henry’s sister got married!

Posts…

0 posts!
April

Highlights…

  • Started my new job!
  • Hand made a leather satchel
  • Went to my first Brighton SEO event
  • Celebrated Henry’s parents anniversary with a big party back in his home town

Posts…

May

Highlights…

  • Took Henry to the Harry Potter Warner Brother’s Studio Tour
  • Bought loads of plants for the garden, bought and made vegetable planters and laid a patio
  • I enjoyed yoga on Bournemouth beach!

Posts…

June

Highlights…

  • Had an amazing trip to Jersey
  • Went to a yoga retreat on the Isle of Wight
  • Discovered some incredible foodie places in Portsmouth

Posts…

July

Highlights…

  • Visited Bristol and discovered some incredible foodie treats and learnt lots from Visit England
  • Visited family in Bedfordshire and enjoyed walking along the river – I also held a ferret!
  • My car died and I had to buy a new car – I love my new wheels

Posts…

August

Highlights…

  • Visited Somerset
  • Was invited by Lush to review the spa – it was just the morning I needed!
  • My Mum gifted me a National Trust membership and it’s the best
  • Visited and fell in love with Belfast, my first trip to Northern Ireland

Posts…

September

Highlights…

  • Had a gorgeous two week holiday in Cornwall and ticked so many things off my bucket list
  • I finally learnt how to body board properly, I stargazed, I wild foraged and went swimming.
  • On the last weekend of summer I visited the Blue Pool in Wareham, somewhere I’ve been itching to visit for two years

Posts…

October

Highlights…

  • I had an incident when I was burnt quite badly but it was a great reminder of how bloody amazing our NHS is. The people who worked on may hand and leg were truly brilliant and they put me very quickly back on the path to recovery. Being inured made me appreciate the NHS, my amazing family for being so supportive and my new work environment who took it in their stride.
  • Some amazing opportunities came through for the blog
  • Saw John Mayer at the O2

Posts…

November

Highlights…

  • Saw Vampire Weekend at Alexandra Palace
  • Visited Hartlepool for the first time and saw The Angel of the North and wild seals!
  • Geared up to helping with a very big event at work, and enjoyed being a part of events again
  • Created the hash tag #KitForYourTrip

Posts…

December

Highlights…

  • Visited Hinton Ampner and enjoyed the festive feels (and our National Trust card!)
  • Reconnected with friends, after not being able to do much because of my burnt leg
  • Visited the Winchester Christmas Market
  • Had a private tour onboard HMS Prince of Wales
  • Enjoyed my second winter solstice and was featured on CNN Travel with quotes, images and my post!
  • Took my Mum for a ‘blog’ day out, and created the first intentional photos for Instagram – now I’ve just got to be brave enough to post them 😂
  • Spent loads of time with family and friends

Posts…

Writing 2019’s round up has been a big reminder that I’ve really taken a massive leap from where I was in 2018. Picking out the highlights has really helped me focus on some positives.

Every year I remind myself that it’s not a competition or a race – I’m on a journey and I really think 2020 will be a big step forward on that journey.

Unlike other years I’m actually really excited for what’s to come, that something new is just around the corner.

Here’s to 2020!

You can have a look at what my previous posts for each year here…

New Years Eve 2018 round up

New Years Eve 2017 round up

UPDATE: I did originally write a New Years Eve 2016 round up but I think the internet has gobbled it up, the link has broken and I can no longer find it.

What have you been up to over the past year? I’d love to know, and read your posts. If you do a similar round up or have something you’d really like to share, pop a link in the comments section so I can give it a read.

Happy reading!

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