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.P.S. If links don’t work try deleting .html or using the search bar. I just migrated my blog and still working out the kinks!

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).
• I celebrated Thanksgiving 4 times (and once with a Turducken).
• After 4 months of nomadicity, I finally found an apartment of my own with the most beautiful view (see above).

DECEMBER

• 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 (I swear every French person has an awesome wig in their closet!).
• 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.