2012: Looking back on my year

It’s almost 2013 so it’s time for my annual look back over the previous 12 months.  I’ve been doing this for a couple of years now and it’s a fun way to look back over the year.

My Year in Review – 2010

My Year in Review – 2011

However I’m beginning to feel that my answers are a tad repetitive  so I thought I’d shake it up a bit this year and just take a look back over my highs and lows (but hopefully there won’t be too many of them) of the previous 12 months.

January kicked off by celebrating a friends 50th Birthday.  It was a 70′s themed night and it was a great way to the start the New Year with friends and family dressed up like idiots, but having a ball

There are more photo’s of the night here if you have the stomach for it!

January also saw the start of a 5 month refurbishment project together with 2 smaller Interior Design projects.  On the home front, my mum had to undergo her first of a now bi-annual brain scan and Arthur had his man bits removed! Thankfully Mum has been given the all clear thus far and Arthur is blissfully unaware what he’s missing

In February I got to tick something off my bucket list as I finally signed up for a photography course.  I thoroughly enjoyed the course although I think I drove my family nuts by taking photographs of them at every opportunity!

March and April were relatively quiet although there was that momentous moment when Arthur Hughes-Tuohy met Arthur Guinness for the first time!

I think they hit it off very well

March also saw me doing a little DIY at home as I made a gift wrapping station for my office.

 By May work was progressing well on our refurb project. Building and paint works were completed and we were at installation stage.

And it wasn’t just the house that was getting a face lift.  We managed to give a new lease of life to some of the clients existing furnishings as well.

Click on the link to see how this kitchen dresser was transformed. Emerald Interior Design Kitchen Dresser Revamp

And this radio became a table! Not Just A Radio

In June the much anticipated 2012 European Football Championship arrived and like every other Irish person, I had great expectations for our national team.

Unfortunately things didn’t go quite according to plan and the team had what can only be described as an abysmal  tournament.  However the 45,000 strong army of fans that followed their team to Poland warmed the hearts of most of Europe.

Click on the link to follow the Irish fans 2012 Euro Adventure Ireland’s Euro 2012 Adventure

June also saw this blog nominated in the 2012 Blog Awards Ireland. It was a great honour to be nominated and I was chuffed to have made it as far as the short-list stage.  Not bad for a blog that is barely 2 years old !  I’d like to say a huge huge thank you to everyone who voted for me in these awards.  And to everyone who reads, comments and shares my posts throughout the year.

We also had cause for a family celebration in June when my cousin received her college results and graduated with a first class honours degree!  Go Rachael

July and August was a wash out weather wise.  Work wise I think everyone wanted their bedrooms updated as I had 3 different projects all of which were bedroom re-designs.  Maybe the weather was so miserable people wanted to stay wrapped up and cozy in their beds

Black and White Bedroom Design Concept from Emerald Interior Design

Bedroom Design Concept by Emerald Interior Design

September was a busy month as we had my Mums 80th Birthday and also Johns sister Niamh took a trip up the Aisle

October and November were very busy months as I secured several new projects and scheduled some for early 2013.  On a sad note my brothers dog Buster had to go to doggie heaven after his little heart finally gave up on him.

From left to right – Arthur Bob and Buster

We ended the year much as we began by celebrating a 50th birthday party.  This time it was for one of my “quite literally oldest” but dearest friends Fiona.

Happy Birthday FiFi xx

And so we arrive at December!  I have to say all in all it wasn’t a bad year! While we are still officially in a recession things are better now than they were.  And as my dear dad used to say, you have two choices in life.  You can moan about it; or you can do something about it.  I choose the latter.  So onwards and upwards.  I’m still a bit away from making my first billion but I shall keep trying!

So just before I hit “publish” on my last post of 2012; I wish you all a very happy and prosperous New Year and I look forward to another trip around the sun.

Happy New Year everyone xx

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