Much cheer. Very gift. Joy Christmas.

Oh gosh, this year flew by at a speed I can’t even describe. This time last year I had a freshly baked baby on my hands, and now she’s positively knocking on the door of adulthood. Well, almost, but not quite.

I don’t think it’s gone unnoticed but this year was a bit of a struggle for me. No, don’t get out the violins. I’m blessed, I am. I have my health and an amazing family, and it only takes something like the recent events around the world for me to realise just how lucky I am. So, no violins for me.

I struggled with juggling two children and running this blog. Most of all I struggled with sharing my life in public, but I’m starting to find my comfortable place.

Next year I plan on living a much more grateful life, and saying no more. I plan on being present, and living simply. I plan on putting myself first a bit more.

Enough about me.

I want to talk about you. Without you this blog is just a few pages online where I talk about myself and things that interest me. You, and the beautiful community that surrounds my blog and the social media platforms that go with it, are what makes it all warm, friendly, beautiful and welcoming. Thank you for sharing your lives, whether it was through comments, or emails, or messages or photos. Thank you for being part of my online family.

Thanks for supporting me when I released the App, a highlight of my year {and my life too}. Thanks for reading, particularly in those early days of sleep deprivation when I’m sure I didn’t make much sense at all. And thanks for allowing me to live the life I do, by reading and sharing and just doing what you do.

I hope that this Christmas and New Year break is everything you hope it to be. Whether it’s filled with distant cousins and weird flavoured trifles, or just a quiet day with someone you love. I hope you get to stop for a moment, reflect on how far you’ve come this year and where you want to go in the next. I hope in those moments when you pause, and breathe in and out, that you get a moment to just be present.

Because the best gift we can give ourselves is the present.

Oh, gosh. Just call me Oprah. If my sister or husband are reading this now, they’re laughing. I guarantee you that. Who am I? Deepak Chopra?

Yeah anyway. You are awesome.

So if I could, I’ve give you a big squishy hug and a prawn or a cookie or a bite of my pavlova. But instead I’ll send out a big, squishy hug through the internets. Can you feel it?

I’m going to take a few days break and really just chill. Swim. Dream. Play. Laugh. And eat. Because it’s Christmas.

So until I’m sitting here writing again, have a great one. See you on the other side. Have a very Merry Christmas and see you again before the New Year breaks. xx