2016 is almost over, which I am sure many of us can say with a sigh of relief! It has certainly been a complicated year, filled with political surprises, great loss of many iconic celebrities and a year that is going to be remembered in history. Even though there were many lows in 2016, I did have a pretty good year. I have been doing well at University, got my own car, finished another book and continued to monitor and improve my physical and mental health.
My 2016, a recap
- I stopped drinking soda
- Completed my first class at University
- Renovated our kitchen
- Turned 29
- Practiced website design
- My blog turned 10
- Tried to quit smoking (not there yet 😣 )
- Got my first car
- Created Artprompt.xyz and Blogprompt.xyz
- Practiced typography
- Wrote a Lost Letter to my Nanna
- Practiced with watercolours
- Completed my second book, Peaty the Worm
- Documented my journey in digital art
- Had a nice Christmas
Creatively 2016
The photography does not include Instagram snaps. I also created pixel art, digital badges and more, which can be viewed on my DeviantArt.
What I hope for in 2017
- Continue to stay healthy and loose more weight
- Drive more often (and possibly have a few lessons)
- Study hard and get good grades (HDs please)
- Quite smoking for real!
- Feel positive about myself
- Try and blog every week
- Enter creative competitions
- Write a third children’s book
Thank you so much for reading my blog. Have a great 2017! 🦉
P.S: I decided that I wanted a new look on my blog (I also missed the good old sidebar). I was working on creating my own theme when I discovered Lukla by IdThemes and just had to purchase and use it. Hopefully I can make another theme of my own in the future. :panda:
P.P.S: Dad and I will be playing our traditional game of cricket. We have been playing it every year since I was little and only missed one game when he was ill. It’s not really about who wins ( 🤣 ) but more about the tradition and fun we have. Although, the heat is not going to be nice. We have had a few really hot and muggy days. 😁
Questions
- What was your highlight in 2016?
- What do you hope for in 2017?
- Do you have any NYE traditions?
51 Responses
You’ve done so well in 2016! It really does seem like it was your year, you seem happier than in previous years 🙂
I hope your 2017 goals are just as rewarding and fun!
I’m not sure of my highlight for 2016… I guess it would be going overseas for the first time in my life. Being in awe of the amazing landscape of New Zealand!
In 2017 I plan on doing a few things. Like you, I plan on driving more and I want to finally get my licence. I’m hoping to do that by March so need to get started with the lessons! I also want to get my wisdom teeth removed and get Invisalign… my teeth aren’t terrible (thanks to all the money my parents spent on braces, oops!) but it would be nice if they were straight again. I am a bit terrified of getting my wisdoms out though so it’ll take a lot of strength to do this one 🙂
I’d also like to lose more weight, I didn’t get anywhere near my goal for 2016 but I did lose a few kilos (some of which I put back on – and had to lose again – while indulging in thick shakes and icecream in New Zealand).
I don’t really have new years eve traditions. Jarrod and I do eat cheese and crackers each year so maybe that is our tradition 🙂
Thank you! :love:
NZ would be such a brilliant place to see, it’s awesome you went. 😀
I hope you are able to get your license and do everything you want too. ou3uo
2016 was an odd year with a lot of celebrity passings. Hopefully 2017 will be a better year. Congratulations on your accomplishments this year! I remembered all of these blog posts. It’s awesome to see you exercising your skills from your university courses. You’ve gotten better and I adore the art you create!
Good luck with your goals for 2017! Keep working hard on your goals and you’ll reach them in no time ;).
Thank you so much. I hope you have a great 2017! :blush:
Goodness you achieved a LOT in 2016. I kept my kid alive? (lol) That’s always a bonus, right?
I also hope 2017 brings growth educationally and health-wise. I wish I could stop drinking soda, but I have an addiction. I don’t drink or smoke or do any other drugs so I’m not going to beat myself up over this vice (>_o). Since you mentioned you do smoke still, I think the very fact that it’s something you are actively trying to change is just as important as the act of quitting. My mom has smoked since she was about 14; she is now 48 and says every day how she hates smoking. She has done hypnotism, patches, gum, and even that Chantix stuff. But, like my soda addiction, as you well know, it’s a very strong drug! As long as you keep trying, even by smoking a little less, it will be good for you <3
The only New Years tradition that we have is on January 1st. We eat pork, mashed taters, black eyed peas, saur kraut, and usually a veggie. It has something to do with fortune and good luck. It doesn't work, but it's still a fun tradition. Plus, I love food so I won't argue. Haha.
I hope you have a GREAT 2017. I hope you achieve everything you want and more! I need to be more productive like you. Maybe that's my resolution right there! <3 <3
P.S. Again, I love this layout!!!!
P.S.S. It's okay that you purchased it, because you made it your own with the graphics and colors!
Thank you so much! :blush:
Some addictions are really hard to beat. It’s hard to try and change your behaviour and relationship that you have with it. ~n~
Wow! You did quite a lot for 2016. I can agree, along with everyone else, 2016 can go home drunk now.
Quitting smoking is hard. I did it five years ago. I was such a bad smoker, I would have to get up in the middle of movies to go have a few drags. I quit successfully and although have cravings occasionally when the stress level is high, I don’t look back and I’ll probably never pick up another cigarette again. I’d love to help if you’re willing, but you gotta be willing — willingness is the key to quitting.
We don’t have any traditions for the NYE or NY other than going to my younger brother’s birthday party on NYD. He turns 18 this year so it will be the last year this happens. For NYE, some year’s my significant other and I go to parties, sometimes we stay home with the kids. This year we may be split up and he may end up at the party and I’m staying home with the kids.
If you don’t mind, I’d love to add your blog to my blog list that I check periodically. Bloggers that blog often are hard to come by nowadays that talk about whatever and I’d love to add you if you don’t mind.
Well, have a safe and happy new year!
So great that you were able to quit smoking. I think you are 100% right about being committed. I have to reach that place where I really do want to quit instead of being unsure about it. >w< You are very welcome to add a link! :love:
It’s hard to choose just one highlight for 2016. I can say that it was a lot better than 2015 , at least for me. I had lot of amazing things happen to me and I’m grateful for that.
As for 2017, I’m mostly looking forward to taking more classes and getting closer to graduation.
I don’t really have any NYE traditions. I usually try to stay up and watch the ball drop on T.V. but that’s about it.
I love the layout!
Happy New Year!
I am really glad to hear that you did have a good year. I hope 2017 will be even better. :flower2:
I’m getting kind of annoyed with half my Facebook talking about how terrible 2016 has been. I didn’t really notice anything truly that terrible. Sure lots of crazy things happened, but nothing that really changed the course of my life. Not that I can think of anyway.
It looks like you had a pretty successful year. I hope to try making a new layout for my website this year. It’s been so long since coding a website that it probably won’t be ready until next year haha. I have my concept drawn on paper and started creating a couple of the graphics I want to include, but that’s as far as I’ve gone so far.
I’m glad that your perception of 2016 was not a bad one. I guess it just depends on each person and how we deal / view / take in certain events. Good luck making your own theme! It can feel so weird trying to code again after a while. owo
You’ve accomplished a lot in 2016, kudos to you! I wish you an even better 2017, Kya! And the fact that you and your dad can keep up with tradition of playing cricket during the New Year is AMAZING.
I’m looking forward to seeing more of your artwork in the upcoming year. I’ve been reading your blog for many years now and have seen how your illustrations have transformed over the years. It’s great.
My accomplishments: graduated with my doctorate in physical therapy, got my first job offer, and moved to a new town to start my career (which officially begins in Jan 2017).
Hopes for 2017: make meditation a habit, exercise regularly again, and start a plant based diet. Also start decreasing my student debt! yikes!
Thank you. You have had such a big year and I hope 2017 will be the start of many great things. :love:
I love the new theme!
Congrats on all your different accomplishments throughout the past year. And wow – look at your creative journey! I really like your style. It’s very cute and I think the way you use shapes is really awesome too! (Am I overusing the exclamation point yet lol).
I think it is also super cool how you try to challenge myself. I also want to make that my goal for the new year. Try to challenge myself to do things that I am not normally comfortable doing.
Looking forward to your blog’s next journey for 2017 <3
Aww, thank you so much. :blush:
You’ve accomplished a lot this year, Kya! I really enjoyed journeying with you this year. It’s been fun watching your progress and seeing all your wonderful project and artwork come to fruition. I wish you all the best with your art and your education in 2017. You’re a very talented person, so keep on doing all the wonderful things! <3
Also, your new theme is lovely! Nothing wrong with using a pre-made theme, especially when you find one that works for you. Sidebars are indeed convenient! ^^
Thank you x a million bazillion. :love:
I’m glad you had a good and productive year! I love how much art and design things you did, and it’s cool to see them all together in one post 😀 I also think that’s great that you’re continuing your tradition with your dad. Sounds like a fun thing to do each year!
I like the new theme too! That’s nice to be able to find one that fits what you wanted. It’s very clean!
I think my highlight in 2016 was being able to go to Japan again. I had been wanting to go back since my first trip because I loved it so much. My hope for 2017 is to do some things that I’ve been putting off for years. I want to have a more productive year! I don’t have any NYE traditions, but after getting married, our new years tradition is having a family dinner with my grandparents-in-law 🙂
I hope you achieve everything on your list in 2017! Happy new year!
(Also, I’ve been meaning to comment on your past couple of posts, but I haven’t had a chance to yet. Going to do that now!)
Thanks so much. It has been a lot of fun to continue to make and share different designs. It’s something that I find a lot of pleasure in.
Have an awesome 2017!
Happy new year, Kya! 🙂 You definitely achieved a lot this year, especially with regards to your book and your car! I’m sorry that you didn’t manage to successfully quit smoking but I know you’re trying hard and I hope you progress further with that this year. ❤️
This theme is so clean and minimal, I love it! I have to admit I’ve never looked around for themes or even looked *at* them because I love building my own, but I have seen some great paid themes out there ? It has been a while that I’ve not had a sidebar but I just didn’t use it much or even look at it, so I chose to go without it when I made my theme last February. ?
I don’t have any NYE traditions, but yesterday my office was having a bit of a celebration for the 9pm fireworks. Our office has a good view since it is on the 38th level and they got special permission to open the office for that night. Just got home in time for the midnight fireworks though, the trains were so packed even though we left the city at 10pm. Poo Sydney. ?
I haven’t thought about my aspirations for 2017 yet, mainly because a couple of years ago I didn’t want to make specific goals. But I’m getting married this year so the wedding is one thing I want to organise and make sure everything goes alright.
Thank you! Planning a wedding would be a pretty big deal. I am sure that you will do it, and it will be amazing. :’)
Happy New Year Kya! I love this theme, it really suits you. I can’t wait to see what you come up with in the future though, I really loved the one you had previously too! <3
Sounds like 2016 has been an awesome year filled with achievements. I'm really proud of everything you managed to do especially getting in touch with your creative side (seriously, though, YOU ARE AMAZING AND GIFTED AT ILLUSTRATION!!!) I hope your goals for 2017 are smashed by the end of the year, determination gets you far <3
Thank you so much! :love: ou3uo
Happy new year Kya!! You already achieved a lot of things! I hope it’ll still turn out well for you this year. 😀 You’re blessed.
I received a lot of blessings this 2016. I hope 2017 will still turn out well for me. As a tradition, though we had no fireworks especially here in the middle east, we prepared dinner and invited friends over.
Thank you! :flower:
Honestly, I breathed a sigh of relief when it hit midnight. I am really looking forward to 2017 and a new year to experience new and exciting things is gonna be amazing!
Congratulations on all your achievements in 2016 – now time to keep it up in 2017! I’m with you on the smoking front. I have been trying to stop for ages, but it’s so hard. I need better willpower.
Highlight in 2016: getting to travel more
What do I hope for in 2017: a new job!
NYE traditions: I always go out with my friends from high school and see the new year in with them 🙂
Hopefully we can get there eventually and quit! :hug:
Happy 2017 Kya!
Oh my goodness, you achieved so much in 2016! Way to go for quitting soda! I really digressed on this – I hardly ever drank soda but now I’ve been drinking it a lot more. Gotta kick that in the can! 😛
I really like this theme! I love how clean and simple it is, and I really like the sidebar. I know a lot of the new layouts focus just on the content with no sidebar, but I’m a fan of it! 😛 The style really fits you and your blog’s personality. 😀
Those are some great goals for the new year. Mine include reading 52 books, getting organized and decluttering, and doing some more decorating around the house.
Thank you so much!
I couldn’t resist this theme, it was too delicious. >D<
Reading your blog this past year, I’ve seen you achieve so many brilliant things. Big and small victories that you’ve continued to stick with. It’s been so impressive, and really helped push me towards making my own goals.
I think 2017 is definitely going to be the year of no smoking! You’ve conquered soda, you can do smoking.
Aww, thank you so much! :blush: You’re right. Once you have been able to quit one thing, you can transfer certain tactics over to quit the other. ;D
I’m glad you still had a nice year! I know that seems to be the case for most people. So that’s pretty good! <3
My biggest hightlight was all the art I created, and I hope to put it to good use next year!
All I did for New Year was drink and watch Drunk History and listen to the rain. It was perfect to me! XD
Enjoy cricket! And the only way I quit smoking was learning not to hate myself for it, and to tell myself I can have one whenever I want. I've only had one all year!
I hope you have fun creating and sharing this year. 🙂
yikes, i’m so late at commenting! >w< i suck at keeping up
happy new year to you too, kya!
your 2016 recap made me smile. i feel like you managed to achieve some useful things like stop drinking soda, did some typography practice and even completed a book! i hope you can quit smoking though because i think cigarette is just one way to burn one's money to waste. plus it's bad for your health too. of course, i'm not going to be a saint by forcing everyone who smoke to quit because to each their own but it'd be best not to, right. my father is a heavy smoker and he just cannot quit, ever. it piss me off tbh since he likes to smoke in the restroom, in living room… urgh seriously. he cannot contain himself (and i hate cigarette smoke…it makes me hard to breathe ~_~ )
i love your art style! they're always very cute 😀 i can never illustrate a vector like yours – well, it's because i don't have patience for vector art so i applaud people who do. illustration isn't my strongest point either since i'm mainly leaning more towards graphics / multimedia design like layouts and interface and stuff.
i hope you get to achieve your 2017 goals! let's try to make the most fun out of 2017, shall we 😉
Thank you so much. I am a pretty considerate smoker. I never smoke in doors or in public areas, but it would be even better if I didn’t smoke at all. 😀
You’ve done wonderfully in 2016! Congratulations on all your accomplishments. Keep it up this new year, you can do this. ;D I agree, 2016 was quite a trying year, especially losing iconic celebrities that shocked the world. Political wise was also shocking, especially for us in the USA.
I am very impressed by your photos and artwork, you have an incredible talent, keep it up! :*3
My 2016 highlights were reconnecting with friends and the rediscovery of crochet.
My hope for 2017 is that things get better for all of us. I also hope to travel more and share more of my designs.
NYE traditions: This is something that needs to be started. But yelling out Happy New Year! Is all I can think of. =D
Also, I linked you in my links section on my site. I really like your blog. =)
Thanks so much! 😀
I think my favorite artwork you did this year were the soda, cooking stuff (next to it), glasses, flamingos, mountains/colorful triangles with faces, and light bulbs pieces. I always love your illustrations—you’re so talented! <3
I hope 2017 goes well fr you. <3 I'm challenging myself to read seventeen books this year.
for*
Thank you! ou3uo
Happy new year! I hope it’s a great, very creative year! It seems like you’ve accomplished a lot last year! Your art is lovely! 😀 And the new layout is nice too!
<3
Thank you! <3
The theme looks really clean and elegant! I one to buy it too, but I can’t afford huhu hahaha
Your 2016 was one creative year!!! I so love your works! 🙂 So cute, ganda ipang-wallpaper or something hahaha
wishing you a better 2017 ahead! 🙂
Thanks! If I find a really awesome theme that I love, I don’t mind paying for it, because I will probably use it for quite a while. It can be hard to find one that has a number of features you like. n’D
Happy New Year! <3 Many kisses and hugs of happiness and joy to you. Glad that you had a lot of beautiful moments in 2016. I will look back at 2016 as a year not of pain but of growing as I make my 2017 better for sure!
(:
2016 started off blah for me, but there were so many great things that happened that out shine the bad.
Discovered who I was again. Graduated Uni. 1st Niece was born. Got a great job. And met someone wonderful.
I hope to continue to grow in 2017 and I’m excited to see what it brings. 🙂 <3
I am really glad to hear that things did turn around and it sounds like it ended really well. I hope 2017 will continue to be a good one. :wub:
Just found your blog for the first time and wow, you’ve done a lot for 2016. I’m also starting to say goodbye to soda for 2017. Wish me luck! My highlights for 2016 were the travelling I’ve been able to do. My hope for 2017 is that I can earn back what I spent on travelling. Haha!
xx, Richel V. | Richel Goes Places