2014 Year in Review

2014 has without a doubt been the best year of my life. So many incredible things have happened and I have learned so many lessons. To pick only a few highlights has been so difficult! I knew coming in to 2014 that I would be heading out to the US but I still had a semester to go in the UK. I wanted to really make the most of my time at home because I really did not know how I would feel out in Arizona on my own when August came. I was also determined to work so hard at University to get great grades to avoid feeling the disappointment I had felt for the 2013-2014 academic year. 

That being said, this year has been one I will never ever forget. Moving to Arizona is one of the best things that I have ever done because I've been able to learn so much about myself, on top of that I've been able to do things I would never have dreamed of. 

Below are just a few of my highlights of this year. 

In May I went to Gran Canaria with my boyfriend, Aaron, and his family. I was so nervous about going but I was so wrong to be because I had the most incredible week. I was so sad when it was over. Not only was the island gorgeous, I had the best time with Aaron's family and it was definitely a turning point for our relationship. 

A second highlight would absolutely be getting my exam results in July. As I said in the intro I had worked so hard all year almost in fear of getting mediocre grades as I had the year before. All year I had wanted to do better so getting grades that were so much better than I could have ever expected in July filled me with an unbelievable sense of pride. I'm the first person in my family to ever go to University so to do it right and to do it well is very important to me and getting my exam results in July reassured me I'm doing it in the way that's best. Having worked so hard to have it pay off so much just felt incredible. And the coffee and cake date Aaron and I had after made it even more worth it ;)

A huge highlight of my life, not just this year, was to be announced as a winner of the 2014 Tone It Up Bikini Series. I think that it's one of those moments that I will always look back on and think, "did  that really happen!?". It feels like a dream. Having followed Tone It Up since 2011 it all felt so surreal. Before we knew it I was headed to Hawaii and had the most incredible prize pack on its way to me. If one of your 2015 resolutions is to lose weight and tone up, I can't recommend the Tone It Up lifestyle enough. I truly mean it when I say it has changed my life! 

My year abroad has left me in the fortunate position to have travelled a huge amount this year!! I've been to Gran Canaria, Hawaii, California (twice!), different parts of Arizona and New York! I've been to places I've wanted to visit for most of my life and they did not disappoint. It feels crazy that I've done so much! For the last half of this year there has been a trip every month! Travelling is absolutely one of my favourite things to do so I feel very blessed when I look back on everything that I've been able to do. 

I couldn't write this post without talking about my first semester at ASU. What a highlight that has been. I'm halfway through my year abroad and I have learned so much about myself. Of course I was scared to move 5000 miles away from home and to move out for the first time. I am so proud of myself for doing what I've done. I finished the semester with all A grades, I've made incredible friends and I'm surviving! It has been an incredible experience and I'm excited to go back in January and do it all again! 

One of my favourite things that happened this year was coming home for Christmas. I had looked forward to it for so long and it did not disappoint. Everything was so special and I think I appreciated everything a lot more. I know that I'm going to enjoy my next semester in Arizona, but being at home has made me realise how much I truly love being here. 

I'll finish with some of my favourite posts from my Instagram over the year that don't quite fit anywhere else. It really has been an incredible year and one that I'm sure I will never forget.