2020 Review

2020 was definitely a year many would like to forget.

It's hard to look at 2020 and not think about the craziness, the sacrifices and the hardships everyone had to go through.

I'm just as ready for 2021 as anyone else but I always love reading the yearly reviews from bloggers and wanted to take a minute to reflect on my own year.

It's time to look at the bright side of 2020 and the good things that came out of this year. Let's roll!

75 Things I Made, Did and Loved This Year

1. https://makeracademy.com/holiday-maker-fest-speaker-maggie-klaassens/Bought a Peloton bike which proved to be a forward-thinking decision since we ended up with a home gym in the basement.
2. Started a collaboration with other craft bloggers to do a monthly SVG design. Thank you to Gjoa at Special Heart Studio, Alexis at Persia Lou, Liz at Liz on Call, Gina at Gina C. Creates, Kasey at Pen & Posh, Bena at Red Earth & Gum Trees, and Rhoda at Lemony Fizz for a fun year. I'm excited this collaboration is growing to 21 amazing craft bloggers in 2021. Get ready for lots of free new cut files.
3. Decorated our new guestroom with my Be Our Guest design.
4. Made my first YouTube video on How to Make Anything Buffalo Plaid in Cricut Design Space
5. Made Alphabet I Heart U t-shirts for my kids for their Valentine's Day party at school.
6. Collaborated with a few craft bloggers on a Valentine's Day Gnome post.
7. Had one of my designs featured on Facebook by EJ's Fun Crafting.
8. Created a collection of Namaste cut files with my favorite being Namaste Away From Me
9. Was furloughed from my job which ended up being a good thing even though it didn't feel that way at the time.
10. Adjusted to having my kids at home full-time and being a full-time mom.
11. Added Namaste At Home Mom to the Namaste collection
12. Subsequently, decided it was best to drive down to Florida for a couple of weeks so my parents could help out with the kids while my husband adjusted to working overtime from home. Two weeks turned into 10 weeks and looking back on it now, it was amazing.
13. Spent our spring going for walks, playing in the pool, and eating lots of ice cream.
14. Tried to do distance learning every day with my two preschoolers. Some days it worked, some days it didn't. Bless those virtual teachers!
15. Discovered Tik Tok and did my first video with my mom. She's such a good sport.
16. Stayed up too late watching Tik Tok and was told by Tik Tok to go to bed.
17. Drank Sangria. I may have another Tik Tok video with my daughter holding the Sangria bottle.
18. Taught myself how to design layered mandalas.
19. Was featured on Jennifermaker.com for my Layered Easter Egg Mandala. She told me to write an ebook on how to do it, so I did.
20. Joined a craft blogging mastermind group that helped me take my business to the next level. Thank you Amy Romeu, Jen Swift, Jen Strahr, Lucy Foxworth, and Emily Minor.
21. Had a successful launch of my Designing Layered Mandalas in Adobe Illustrator book and was asked to write a second book using Inkscape. So I did.
22. Turned a rainy Florida day into a fun adventure with a blow-up pool (empty of course) in the family room to watch movies in.
23. Designed a Layered Mandala Cross.
24. Watched a car parade of Florida teachers go through my parent's neighborhood. It was the start of many car parades and we loved them all!
25. Made a collection of Easter cut files.
26. Set up a small table and chairs in the back of my dad's truck so my kids could have dinner in the truck. It became a nightly tradition to eat outside in the truck.
27. Fed turtles in the pond and even saw an alligator.
28. Finally was allowed to go to the beach.
29. Designed more layered mandalas and met some amazing crafters who made them and sent me pictures.
30. Taught my kids how to jump into the pool.
31. Did a Zoom birthday party for my daughter's 1st birthday.
32. Was reunited with my husband who drove down to Florida to make the drive back home with us.
33. Spent our last week in Florida soaking up all the goodness and being so thankful for my parents.
34. Drove 15 hours from Florida to Maryland in one day. The kids were surprisingly amazing!
35. Surprised the kids with a trampoline in the backyard.
36. Started getting my groceries delivered.
37. Went for our first of many family hikes. Our weekends are now spent exploring the great outdoors.
38. Was invited to host a workshop at the Holiday Maker Fest. Of course, I said yes!
39. Cut my own hair.
40. Bought new cookbooks: Mostly Plants, The Pollan Family Table, True Comfort
41. Designed a layered wreath for the 4th of July and was asked to make something similar for Canada Day and with the Australian flag.
42. Took a ferry across the Potomac River and back.
43. Spent our summer playing in the sprinkler, splash pad, and kiddie pool.
44. Designed Layered Seashell Mandalas because I missed the beach.
45. Made a school-themed layered letter M for my daughter which led to a whole layered alphabet.
46. Started designing different layered alphabets for Fall and Halloween.
47. Took the kids to Harper's Ferry to show them a part of the Appalachian Trail.
48. Started a new job.
49. Created a layered Hocus Pocus design that everyone loved.
50. Had a dance party in the kitchen. One of many. 
51. Took the kids to a park right next to DCA airport to watch the planes take off and land. 
52. Designed a Layered Holiday Alphabet for the Holiday Maker Fest. 
53. Hired a photographer friend to help me film my Holiday Maker Fest video and got to decorate for Christmas really early.
54. Binge watched The Queen's Gambit on Netflix. SO GOOD!
55. Went hiking with my husband for his birthday up in Ohiopyle State Park. 
56. Designed a layered birthday cake and a layered birthday alphabet to help celebrate. 
57. Celebrated my birthday with lots of balloons. 
58. Bought pumpkins and decorated our front porch with all things Fall. 
59. Find these amazing themed playdoh kits from Love Life Creations. 
60. Did a scavenger hunt in the yard for the kids for Halloween. 
61. Bought a firepit for our backyard.
62. Made tiny houses from Paper Glitter Glue with my daughter.
63. Streamed my Holiday Maker Fest workshop on the TV so we could watch as a family. One of the most exciting things I've done, ever!
64. Reorganized my craft room with Stamp N Storage. It was much needed after the Holiday Maker Fest!
65. Participated in Hey Let's Make Stuff's 25 Days of Christmas with a Layered Christmas Mandala.
66. Designed a layered Happy Thanksgiving Pumpkin. 
67. Did a Zoom call with Santa.
68. Partnered with another group of craft bloggers on a collection of Gnome designs. I made a 3D Christmas Gnome Snow Globe.
69. Designed hot chocolate themed cut files. 
70. Wore matching family pajamas for Christmas. 
71. Waved to travelers on Christmas morning wishing them a Merry Christmas with kraft board signs. 
72. Made Gordon Ramsey's Beef Wellington for Christmas dinner. 
73. Purchased my first digital planner to get ready for the new year. 
74. Celebrated the New Year by watching The Cutting Edge and playing a board game. 
75. Updated my site with a new logo, new brand colors, and a new theme for the New Year. 

What a year it's been. I hope you can also look back at your year and find the silver linings. Here's to a better 2021.