I was going through my archives contemplating on doing a wrap-up post for 2011, and I realised what a truly eventful year I’ve had. The exciting parts mostly came from blogging, and the opportunities I’ve had were amazing. I’ve met more people in a year than I normally would in three. I’ve done stuff I haven’t done before and discovered some really good products (and some duds) along the way.

So here’s what my 2011 was like.

• Jan: A wee mention on Vogue Australia. Lost weight during CNY as I was sick.
• February: Discovered NARUKO skincare and love it.
• March: Met Kelly Cutrone in Melbourne

• April: Had my first surgery under general anesthesia. It was a bit of a health scare when I discovered a big lump in my left breast a couple of months back, and finally had it removed.
• May: Beautyholics Anonymous turned 4.
• June: Discovered the Holy Grail of foundations. Well, for me, that is. Started the Bloggie Wednesdays series. Received my first trinket that comes in a little blue box.
• July: I literally flew to Sydney to get my hair done. Attended the Nuffnang Blogapolis 2011. It was my first big blogger’s event, where I was in the minority group of beauty bloggers 😛
• August: Had the awesomest (and longest) makeover and watched a fab musical. Interviewed the brand guru of Soap & Glory.
• September: Had my face lasered for the first time. Attended the inaugural Australian Beauty Bloggers Weekend and finally met the beautiful bloggers I’ve been tweeting, whose blogs I’ve been stalking, face to face. Wrote an article of IMATS 2011 for Beauty Directory.
• October: Tried my hand at microdermabrasion and loved it. Went to Sydney for a P&G event at Barney Martin Hair Studio once more. Had a taste in what making a shampoo TV commercial was like.

• November: Attended one of my favourite events of the year – the Melbourne Beauty Blogger Event 2011. Met Kate Morris of Adore Beauty and was starstruck by her awesomeness. Started doing FOTD posts more regularly.
• December: Holiday in Malaysia and Singapore. Caught up with ParisB and Beetrice. Almost had a chance to finally meet Nikki of Askmewhats but missed her again (I’ve known her ever since I started beauty blogging and yet I’ve never met her in person). Gained all the weight I lost beginning of the year back. Ugh.

2011 Trends I Love:

• Minimal colour blocking. I once saw LeGeeque wear OPI’s Mermaid’s Tears on her nails, against her bright coral shorts and plain white tee.It worked beautifully.
• Bright coral lips
• Reverse french and half-moon manicures.
• Leopard-print. Actually, any form of animal-print. Faux, of course, darling.

2011 Trends I Don’t Get:

• Colour-blocked shoes.
• Platform open-toed wedges, especially the bright-colored suede ones.
• Crackle/shatter nail polish (I think it makes the nails look dirty)
• Leggings as pants. Not a particular 2011 trend per se, but it’s one that should die. Repeat after me: leggings are not pants. I don’t want to inadvertently see your camel toe or VPL. And for heaven’s sake, don’t bend over!

Beauty Treatment Discoveries:

• Had my face lasered, peeled and did a bout of microdermabrasion, first time this year. Not all at once, of course. Gave me better results than heaps of facials did. I’m a convert 😛
• My hair fell to the hands of Jacky Chan of Oscar Oscar Salon and it has never looked better. I have found The One.
• All hail the eyebrow queen, Allison Browning, for giving me amazing eyebrows, when before, they looked like bushy caterpillars residing on my forehead.

All in all, I think I had a pretty good year, don’t you think? I just know 2012 is going to be even better.

Happy New Year, folks 🙂