t the end of every year there are always lots of people who are keen to see the back of it. I’ve been pretty blessed for the last few years to not be in that group and there’s no way I’m taking that for granted. I had a great 2014 and 2015 was even better. It wasn’t smooth sailing the whole time though. The beginning of the year was a touch rocky – Mr Smags has been a bit unwell with his sinuses and is awaiting surgery next year so that’s been a bit shit. That’s what you get for falling in love with a man who has a fabulous (read: rather sizable) nose. Once again, I didn’t quite manage to book any non-work related travel or holidays but we’re heading to the states in February 2016 so that will more than make up for it.
The rest of the year was bloody fantastic though. I travelled to Bali in April with some business blogging buddies and it was the best thing I’ve ever done. I can’t tell you how wonderful it was to spend the week with like-minded, awesome ladies working on our businesses. Totally game changer.
I started renting office space in Windsor so I’m not running my business from the couch anymore and I have a proper desk and chair and everything. I’m such a grown up. I’ve actually been loving my daily commute. I catch the train, get a take away coffee and listen to podcasts. It’s awesome.
I celebrated another year (9 in total) with my glorious man. We’ll be celebrating our 10 year anniversary next year. 10 god damn years. It feels like 5 minutes and 100 years all at the same time. I think I’ll keep him around forever. He’s swell. He’s also always behind the camera and I’m pretty sure that sneaky monkey managed to make it through the whole year without anyone taking a photo of him. So here’s a photo he took of me instead.
In true granny fashion I’ve gone totally bonkers for crocheting this year. My hobby used to be blogging and I’d spend my nights in front of the TV scheduling posts and editing photos. As blogging is now my job I needed something else to do to unwind at the end of the day because I’m physically incapable of sitting still. I come from a long line of knitters and for some reason I could never pick it up. So I gave crocheting a go this year and it just speaks to me! I’ve gone totally cray cray for it. I’m currently working on a wedding blanket (similar to the one above!) for my bestie’s wedding present. I’ve only got until 10th January to finish it. Wish me luck!
Probably the biggest and weirdest thing to happen this year is starting a business Little Blog Big with my girl Hair Romance. We randomly decided in April that we wanted to run a blogging workshop and by the end of the year we’d run seven workshops all around Australia and presented together at the Problogger Conference. It was pretty epic. It was intensely hard work but so much fun. Stay tuned for 2016.
Coming early in 2016 are two podcasts I’ve been working on – One is with my partner in productivity Kelly Exeter of A Life Less Frantic and it’s about being self improvement junkies. The other is with Stacey Roberts of Veggie Mama and it’s about Sweet Valley High books. I’ve recorded half a season of each and I’m loving it. Get ready kids, Smags is about to get all up in your ears.
2015 Thank Yous
– To my very excellent 2015 clients. Woolworths, Bupa, VEDA, Southern Comfort, MeBank, VIC Super, Evocca College, Origin, Women’s Money Toolkit, Maybelline and StarTrack Orias. I’m so privileged to be able to choose clients that align so brilliantly with Smaggle. I love youse guys. Tear!
– My wonderful agents at The Remarkables Group who are amazing people who put up with all of my questions.
– To my blog tribe – you guys know who you are. I couldn’t literally not function without you – you guys are my safety net. Also to my non-blog tribe, my ‘real life’ friends thank you for being awesome and understanding my weird life. You guys are my rocks.
– To Mr Smags for being my super excellent partner in crime and life. You’re a bit of all right.
– To my ridiculously awesome amazing readers who write the most beautiful comments. You guys are such a crazy bunch of cats – I honestly would have quit blogging ages ago if you guys weren’t such cheeky little armadillos! *GIANT INTERNET GROUP HUG SQUEEZE MONSTER*
I’m keeping things slow and easy between Christmas and New Year and I’ll be back in the full swing of things in early January. Take of yourself and each other – peace out mofos.
[divider type=”standard” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”]
How was your year? Are you happy to say good riddance to 2015? Or are you celebrating a bonza year?
[divider type=”standard” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”]
Oh and don’t forget to follow Smaggle in these places – Facebook, Twitter, Bloglovin, Instagram and the Smaggle weekly newsletter – so you don’t miss out on new posts.
8 Comments
-
2015 was pretty average, until I celebrity spotted you in the supermarket on Xmas eve 😉 You were plugged in and focused so I just kept cruising…
Year started well, fit, healthy and tried a new job. By winter it was all a bit blergh and now I am in that cliched cohort of “new year new me” and trying to refocus and organise. My Mr Awesome has been away for 3 months and back tomorrow so joy will be restored… Thanks for all your articles, always spot on what I need! Happy new year to you!
-
Author
Oh no! I was busy shopping for salted caramel ingredients! Bummer – you can always come up and say hi though. I have major bitchy resting face but I’m very friendly I promise! Hope your 2016 is marvellous – it will be lovely having your Mr Awesome back! I always feel more settled when Mr Smaggle is around! xxx
-
-
Sounds like a great year! 🙂
I’m one of those people in the camp of ‘can’t wait to see the back of 2015’. I’ve had nothing but a sea of health issues this year and being in and out of doctor’s offices and hospital. Work has also taken over our lives and we’ve had no real break this year – so looking forward to making big changes in 2016. Holiday already booked for Australia Day weekend. 😉
I’m bummed I missed your Brisbane Little Blog Big workshop (just happened to be on the same weekend we were out of town) – hopefully you will have more. 🙂
-
Oh no, health issues are the worst. I feel like lots of people had health problems in 2015. I’m so sad you missed LBB in Brissy – I’m sure we’ll be back. Brissy was our most popular event, the QLD-ers are off chops awesome, x
-
-
Oh Carly that was a fantastic post.
So good to see all the amazing things that you’ve done in the past year.
I was so bummed I missed yours and Christina’s workshop but totally loved your presentation at Problogger this year. You guys rocked!Looking forward to reading lots more Smaggle in 2016.
x Luci
-
Thank you so much! You are so lovely – We had such an awesome year it was so much fun. We have to get into our planning phase now for 2016! Eeeep! Thanks for reading – I really appreciate it! x
-
-
It’s great to see your blog and brand continue to be so successful!
2015 has been a mostly great year. I’ve spent the majority of it pregnant, with baby #1 due in 19 days!!! So that has been the main focus, anything else falls away in comparison. 2015 will always be the year I was preggo!
-
Oh wow! What a lovely gorgeous blessing! I have so many friends who are pregnant right now – I have list of like 7 baby crochet projects to do! Wishing you a very easy and lovely birth of you first little one. xxx
-
