Highlights of 2015 ♡

Hiya everyone 

Happy 2016! I know that every person you have spoken to has said this, but oh my where did this last year go? I have heard that time moving at higher speeds is relative to an increase in age. That last sentence was way too serious for my blog, so let's just say that the older you get the quicker life is passing by. Ain't that the truth?!

2015 was an... interesting year for me. There were so many big changes, very big scary changes. If anyone had to look over my list below then they would probably say that I have had a successful year, and I have. Just remember that this list covers my highlights, and whilst there were lots of highs there certainly were a lot of lows too. I work very hard to try fit my definition of happy, I feel that there are areas that I really need to work on to make 2016 even better - and that's where my next post comes in (keep an eye out).

So here are a few of my 2015 highlights, in no particular order...

I moved to Durban

I grew up in Durban and went to varsity in Pietermaritzburg, but I had been living in Johannesburg for 6 years until January. As much as I am independent, I am really scared of change and uprooting and moving to another city by myself was incredibly daunting. I literally started the year with a panic attack.

As cheesy as it sounds, the below photos (taken by me, #nofilter) make it all worth it. I needed a change and the beauty of the Indian ocean, which I am privileged of seeing every day on the way to work, makes me happy every day.

Camilla Jane || Highlights of 2015

Camilla Jane || Highlights of 2015

I reconnected with old friends, and lost some too

Moving back to Durban gave me the opportunity to reconnect with my friends who still stay in the area. I was so happy to be 'just down the road' and made the effort to see them more often. This reaching out allowed me to see friends that I hadn't seen in years and even fixed some friendships that had started to strain. At the same time it also showed me that people I regarded as friends weren't there for me anymore. It's important to make time for people who make time for you, and to understand that it's OK for you to make sure you only stand by the good people in your life and distance yourself from people who don't add any positivity into your life anymore.

Camilla Jane || Highlights of 2015

I started a new job

There was a compromise I had to make with myself this past year. Either I could carry on doing personal shopping and styling full time in Joburg, or I could move to Durban but get a 9-5 job... Moving to Durban won, and I reentered the corporate world as a brand manager. I still get to do styling and personal shopping part-time, which I love, but it has been great getting up, dressing up and showing up at an office everyday where there are people relying on you and where you are challenged to meet deadlines.

I bought a car and house

I feel like such a grown up :)

Camilla Jane || Highlights of 2015

I was a part of two Foschini campaigns

I love being a Foschini Fashion Friend, which in a nutshell is a brand ambassador (you can read more about it here and here). I went to Cape Town last year for two photoshoots, one for the Summer campaign and one for the #ThinkPink campaign which was for Breast Cancer Awareness in October. 

It was really surreal seeing my picture in all of the Foschini store windows, something I never thought I would experience.

Camilla Jane || Highlights of 2015

I was featured on Byrdie.com

This was definitely a highlight of my year, right up there in my top 3. In a nutshell, Byrdie.com is an international website all about beauty. One of their writers contacted me for an article and it was published just a couple days later. You can read the article here and the story on how it all went down here.

Camilla Jane || Highlights of 2015

I was featured in Get It magazine and The Times newspaper

It was fantastic getting featured in these local publications, big thanks to Get It and The Times for showcasing my fashion 'know-how' ;) You can read the online version of the Get It article here.

Camilla Jane || Highlights of 2015

Camilla Jane || Highlights of 2015

I travelled

I really love travelling, I know that this passion is not unique to just me. With my sister living in London and my dad having only just moving back to Joburg after 8 years in Angola, we don't get to spend all that much time together. Luckily we are in a position to see each other when we share our love for travelling. 

I enjoyed a relaxing time on the beach just before embarking on the year, I finally got to go to Brighton, I saw Stonehenge, I got to attend a very special friend's wedding in Hluhluwe and saw a bunch of rhinos (something that I treasure every time I get to see one) and finally I got to experience a winter Christmas - London does Christmas right!

My family loves to see theatre shows and this year was such a win, we saw Michael Flatley in his final Lord of the Dance show, we saw Verne Troyer (aka Mini Me) in Peter Pan and we also saw Kimberly Walsh in Elf (my Christmas favourite)- which was one of the best musicals I have seen.

Here's to more travel opportunities in 2016!

Camilla Jane || Highlights of 2015

Happy 2016 everyone! Look out for a 2016 goals post coming soon.

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