Dear 2011,

You’ve been a peach. You’ve brought me so many amazing adventures and new friends near and far.

Sure there have been headaches and heart breaks, but let’s not focus on the bad. There’s always a silver lining, and that’s what I’m choosing to hang onto during the last few hours of 2011, and into the new year – embracing those bright and shining moments throughout the past year that have put the biggest most dorkiest smile on my face.

Finding hidden beauty in whatever I might.

Traveling and experiencing as much of that great big world out there as I possibly could.

Persevering through a few rough semesters at university. I love what I do, and I can’t wait to start a new chapter in 2012 after graduation.

Bidding farewell to glasses!

Dying my hair red! 11 months and going strong. I think it’s getting serious. ;)

Made some bunny friends…

… and some wallaby friends…

… and some koala friends, too. And the real people kind, but they’re not quite as fluffy.

Experienced many incredible sights from lands far away.

Enough to fill many-a memory bank.

Went to my first opera at, none other than, the Sydney Opera House!

And took in as much art, music, architecture, etc. as I could possibly manage.

Rekindled my love of painting.

Hung out in dresses at any and all opportunities.

Continued to craft up a storm and be a DIY machine.

Began getting the finishing touches in place on my humble little abode.

Discovered and fell in love with a home away from home.

Began preparations for a new and exciting year ahead.

And now, here’s to lots of huge smiles in 2012! I hope yours are extra tooth-y. ;) Wishing you love, muffins, sparkles, bunnies, and all sorts of other lovely things… Happy New Year to all of you amazing blogging friends.

xo, Krissy.

All photos by me. Please credit/link back if you post elsewhere. Thanks.

Excuse me while I bask in nostalgia for a few minutes here. I really miss Sydney. Sometimes it’s still kind of surreal that my travels in Australia are already over. I feel like I should still be looking forward to them. After all, I spent a good year of my life looking forward to going to Australia. And then I was there, and I fell in love, and it went by in the blink of an eye. Cue wistful sigh.

This little video has me dreaming about and falling in love with it all over again. What can I say? I’m a sucker for travel videos. And travel videos with awesome typography are even better. Like a moth to a flame, I’m longing for sandy beaches, bustling downtown streets, that beautiful and humungous! harbour, koalas…

For the ultra-wanderlust-filled among us (raise your hands proudly, you’re not alone!), they also have equally as lovely videos for other cities, including Vancouver, Beijing, London and Paris, among others. Go forth and enjoy!

Images capped from video via EF.

Today I’m obsessed with this floral painting infused editorial for 10 Magazine. Because it’s really flippin’ rad. And flowers are about 50 times cooler when 50 times their natural size. In my books, when in doubt, always go over-sized with florals. These beauties were painted directly over top of a set of photographs for a spiffin’ multi-mixed media look – photography, painting and fashion. Works for me!

Images via Trendland, found via sfgirlbybay.