I have had a funny year, big highs and big lows, so instead of looking back I am going to look forward to the coming year. Towards the end of 2011 I planned to join in 12 by 2012 but I was too busy with the rotation of winter bugs going round my 3 children and preparation for a DIY Christmas full of craft and baking. But I really loved the idea, so decided to turn it into a personal 12 for 2012. (This also gives me slightly more time to achieve them all!)

12 for 2012

1. Have a holiday or two!. {We haven’t had a holiday longer than about 3 days for a very long time. We all need one and this year I am determined to make it happen. At least once.}

2. Establish my children’s photography in Harpenden and North London. {I am an established wedding photographer but as part of my work/life balance changes I am moving my work more towards children’s photography over the next 12 months. Excited!}

3. Launch and build my new blog about being a mum. {I am starting this in a few weeks to help with this goal and cannot wait!}

4. Do something with my 3/4 written PhD thesis. {Finish it, turn it into an MPhil, quit completely, blog it, share it at a conference…just do something with it and draw a line under it.}

5. Continue to keep fit and get a post-3 babies figure that I feel happy with. {I’ve worked hard on this in 2011, so want to keep going with this. It helps heaps with being a busy mum too.}

6. Play more. {Because my children all love it when I play too and so do I. The cleaning, washing, cooking etc. can always be put off for even just 10 minutes. It means the world to them.}

7. See friends more, both my new local friends and those further away. {Diary out, I will start booking things in, making plans and sticking to them.}

8. Make time for preserving happy memories. {Print out more photos and write more in my ‘things the children say and do book’.}

9. Write letters. {I used to write a lot of letters to friends and family. I enjoyed doing it and I know people loved receiving something other than bills through the post. Email, text, tweets, etc. are all lovely but a real letter…that is the best!}

10. Learn to crochet and make some blankets. {I made a little start on this in October but then Christmas crafting came along, so am keen to get back to it very soon.}

11. Get back behind the driving wheel. {Oh how I wish I didn’t have to write this one but we live in a small town now and I cannot avoid it for much longer. As soon as we get a car… About 12 years after passing my test I will actually drive!}

12. Cook at least 12 new dishes. {I love cooking and particularly love baking, so this will most definitely be fun!}

All of the above fit in with my overall plan for gaining a better and happier work/life balance in 2012. I made great progress in 2011 and am now looking forward to building on that!

Have you got things you want to do in 2012? Have you made any resolutions?

I wish you all a very HAPPY NEW YEAR! xxx

{the image above is of my little girl asleep outside in the evening on the day after our wedding, as we sat round the camp fire with friends and a yummy BBQ. It is one of my favourites of 2011 and will always remind me of one of the happiest weekends of my life.}