Here are 12 special memories (one each month) from this past year. It was pretty hard to narrow it down, but fun to breeze through the archives and enjoy memories. Thanks for reading my little blog. It's been a magical year full of challenges and dreams.
January: I made a hat for my pup. She loved it... at least I think so.
February: Mr. Larson and I publicly mocked the Twilight phenomenon. Oh yes, we did.
March: I visited Hawaii with my sweet mister to be a part of our friends' lovely wedding.
April: Found my favorite dress of the year at a flea market for $7. I wore it to this concert. Such a magical night.
May: I styled this summer style shoot. It was probably my favorite shoot of the year. Katie modeled with me and Alec snuck into a vacant school building with us to shoot. And, yes, someone called the police....
June: Doren joined Team Red Velvet and Emma called to tell me she was moving home to join the team too! We celebrated a lot.
July: This photo is from the 4th of July with little miss Bella. In July we made the choice to buy a vintage store. We got the keys, helped Emma move back to Missouri and started the process of deep cleaning, remodeling and restyling the shop. It was a very exciting month, to say the least.
August: We were engaged. This was one of the happiest moments of my life.
September: We spent the month working 10-12 hours per day at the shop, preparing for the opening. In our 'free time' we squeezed in chili, pumpkin spice lattes and breakfast diner dates. Oh, and I was in BUST magazine in the 'Looks' column. Such an honor! I also joined the Shape What's To Come community as an ambassador. That's been an incredible experience.
October: My local boutique opened it's doors in a new location! It was one of the happiest days of my entire life. We felt so loved and supported. In October I also hosted an online event full of pretty things called 12 Days of Tricks & Treats.
November: I turned 28 years old. We had a wonderful month settling in at our new shop and getting an early start on goals for 2011. We also took engagement photos (you can see some here, here and here). That was fun!
December: The happiest moment of December, for me, was giving my dad this guitar. It was so special and a fun memory. He and my mom were such a big part of the store opening... I can never thank them enough.
Well.... that's my 12 favorite photos of 2010! I've had a little tradition of making a folder with favorite photos from the year on Flickr for a while now. You can peek at 2010 as well as 2009, 2008 and 2007 if you like. Happy New Year's Eve!
Beautiful pictures! Happy New Year Elsie! =)
Posted by: Jen | December 31, 2010 at 02:48 PM
Congratulations on such a wonderful year! Here's to many more beautiful opportunities in 2011! Happy New Year!
Posted by: Lisa | December 31, 2010 at 03:12 PM
Twilight is awesome. I don't care what anybody says.
Posted by: emma | December 31, 2010 at 03:27 PM
Such a great recap of your AMAZING year! I'm so glad I found your blog this year! I had a really wonderful 2010 also (with more than a few dreams becoming a reality!) but I think 2011 will be even better! Cheers to a fabulous next year and many more! :o)
Posted by: Amy | December 31, 2010 at 03:32 PM
What a beautiful year! It has been fun fallowing along :) I have a 10 year old daughter that has started expressing her own style and it reminds me a lot of your style and the goodies at RVA. She told me that kids at school make fun of her and tease her when she wears things she really likes. I shared your blog with her to show her that using style to express who you are is a wonderful thing and not let those other kids get to her. I told her that she was meant to be different than everyone else, stand out and shine. She loved your blog and your daily outfits (I wasn't surprised that she would, :) ). Do you have any suggestions or words of wisdom for her? Kids can be so mean sometimes.
I hope you have a wonderful New Year!
Posted by: Morgen | December 31, 2010 at 04:17 PM
That would be hard to choose! Those are all great things! I'm a new reader and I look forward to coming back to visit.
Happy New Year!
Posted by: Breeanna | December 31, 2010 at 07:47 PM
I haven't been reading for the whole year, so I really enjoyed looked at this photo and enjoying the year in retrospect. I'm inspired to work harder to reach my creative goals and dreams.
Have a happy new year! I'll be here at the blog with you into 2011.
Posted by: Van | December 31, 2010 at 08:54 PM
Those are such great photos! Your blog has been so inspiring to me this year, especially when I started my own blog. Happy New Year Elsie, I cannot wait to see what you have in store for 2011!
http://rebelrousher.blogspot.com/2010/12/happy-new-year.html
Posted by: Kat | December 31, 2010 at 10:50 PM
lovely photos!
May you have an even happier year!
Posted by: venetia | January 01, 2011 at 04:28 AM
Made me a little teary! Happy 2011! xxx
Posted by: Laura | January 01, 2011 at 06:59 AM
Awesome! Happy New Year to you and yours! Can't wait to see what you all cook up in 2011!!
Posted by: The Dreaming Bear | January 01, 2011 at 10:47 AM
What a great collection of photos, from the pug hat to your engagement shoots. Sounds like you had a wonderful year. Happy 2011!
Posted by: Sarah | January 01, 2011 at 12:29 PM
it really sounds like you had your best year ever!
Posted by: kate | January 01, 2011 at 05:31 PM
I can't believe how much you have done in one year! you should be so proud! it is so inspiring to watch it all happen!
Posted by: tate | January 01, 2011 at 05:51 PM
I didn't start reading your blog until later this year, LOVING the hat for your pup! Too funny!
Posted by: Erin @ Slipcover Your Life | January 01, 2011 at 06:03 PM
you are so F*U*N and have an amazing zest for life! i love it! thanks for being so inspiring... glad i stummbled on this blog. i only "knew" you from the "scrapping world"...
much happiness to you and yours in 2011!
xoxo
Posted by: patty | January 01, 2011 at 06:54 PM
i hope some day i can experience a sliver of this kind of happiness. i think you're a great figure for young hip ladies to look up to.
Posted by: Sara | January 01, 2011 at 07:50 PM
Haha! I want to hear the police story :D
Posted by: Claire | January 01, 2011 at 10:06 PM
OMG the hat for your pug, adorable! I want one for my doggie. happy new year!
Posted by: em | January 02, 2011 at 02:22 PM
What a great year! I wish the best for you in 2011. I'm sure it will be just as wonderful.
Posted by: Sarah Jane | January 03, 2011 at 02:02 PM