Hello 2025

Written By Aurelia Vel

Reflections

Did we accomplish our goals?!

  • More Tutorials — No.

  • Consistent & Better quality YouTube Videos — Slightly.

  • Review on book a month, all year. — No. But we did read a lot!

  • Ebook - Crazy Cabin Cookin’ — Started, but No.

  • Erion Illustrations/Concept Art — Absolutely.

  • Coloring Book — Slightly.

  • Themed Stationary/Mail — No.

  • Helping Mom’s Class (other age appropriate work since I keep getting swindled into doing it anyways.) — Yes.

  • Year of the Dragon (one dragon piece a month) - Good luck to me! — Not even close.

  • IF I can Stream I hope to keep it to Art & Crafts. — Yes! And integrated a schedule 3 different times.

  • Instagram - I promised more posts and it was in fact the opposite.

Not terrible, but not all the things I wanted of course. I knew that going in. So I’ve adjusted for next year!

New Goals / Planning

Priorities:

  1. Life / Mountain Things

  2. Graphic Novel Things (Erion)

  3. Shop Things

  4. Art & Videos

I broke it all down after some serious thoughts about what do I REALLY want to do next year? Having a long list of things i want to do is still a thing, but being realistic with myself was important.

You’ll also be able to find this “Planner” in the Calendar section to access at anytime to see changes I’ve made or things I’ve removed/added as the year progresses.

Quarter 1 - 2025

  • Finish outstanding things from 2024

  • Start Teaser Portraits for Graphic Novel Page

  • ERION: Alpha Writing.

  • Design 2x Stationary or Apparel things for my Shop.

  • 1 CAE Art Event (Elu and I are planning for Feb)

  • 1 Big Illustration (Sylvanas)

  • 6 Videos - 2 Per month on YouTube


Quarter 2 - 2025

  • Finalize website page for Graphic Novel to go public.

  • Design 4x Stationary or Apparel things for my Shop.

  • 1 CAE Art Event (???)

  • 1 Big Illustration (???)

  • 6 Videos - 2 Per month on YouTube


Quarter 3 - 2025

  • ERION: Alpha Drawing.

  • Design 4x Stationary or Apparel things for my Shop.

  • 1 CAE Art Event (???)

  • 1 Big Illustration (???)

  • 6 Videos - 2 Per month on YouTube


Quarter 4 - 2025

  • Design 4x Stationary or Apparel things for my Shop.

  • 1 CAE Art Event (October)

  • 1 Big Illustration (???)

  • 6 Videos - 2 Per month on YouTube

  • December = Prep for 2026 & Holiday Stuff

Major Events

  1. Started Clay Experiments.

  2. Installed a Mini Split in my Bedroom.

  3. Started Cleaning Papa’s old Place / New Studio

  4. Cat Liter Box Upgrades (Furniture)

  5. Visited Hearst Castle with Mom.

  6. Survived the Borel Fire.

  7. Renovated the Living / Kitchen Floor.

  8. Got a Dog!

  9. Added lots of lighting outside.

  10. Major crochet project finished (Kraken Hat.)

  11. Major Art breakthrough (Xally - learned a lot.)

  12. Started Erion art for website page.

  13. Cleaned Digital Studio and planned for 2025.

While there’s so much on this list I never thought I’d achieve, it’s good to see in hindsight just how much that did happen this year, and we’re still here.

What Did We Do?!

Art Created This Year:

CAE Art Event:

  • Narund

  • Cole

  • Erin

  • Jaqueline

  • Rebecca

  • Tenazure

  • Mariam

  • Sarkhan

  • Eldrathil

  • Laavia

  • Alexstrasza (WIP)

  • Re-Draw my OC Paladin Asuna

  • Empress Rey (WIP)

  • Shiva OC Charlie

  • Voidmistress

  • Xal’atath

  • Eluvianna (WIP)

  • Ciirian Portrait

  • Sylvanas (WIP)

Books Read in 2024:

  • The 100 - by Kass Morgan
    Day 21 - by Kass Morgan
    The 100: Homecoming - by Kass Morgan
    The 100: Rebellion - by Kass Morgan

  • The Assassin’s Blade - by Sara J. Maas
    Throne of Glass - by Sara J. Maas
    Crown of Midnight - by Sara J. Maas
    Heir of Fire - by Sara J. Maas
    Queen of Shadows - by Sara J. Maas
    Empire of Storms - by Sara J. Maas
    Tower of Dawn - by Sara J. Maas (Still Reading)
    Kingdom of Ash - by Sara J. Maas (Not yet Read)

  • Crimson Climb - by E. K. Johnston

  • The Ruby’s Curse - by Alex Kingston

Mid- Read:

Tower of Dawn - by Sarah J. Maas
Shadows Rising - by Madeline Roux
Star Wars: 501st - by Karen Traviss
Making It So - by Patrick Stewart

Games Played:

  • Tomb Raider: Legend

  • Tomb Raider: Underworld

  • Tomb Raider Remastered: I-II

  • World of Warcraft: Pandaria Remix

  • World of Warcraft: The War Within (Expansion)

  • Distant Bloom

  • Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria (Sandbox Alpha)

  • Nier Automata

  • Jedi Survivor

Still Playing:

  • Tomb Raider Remastered: II-III

  • Nier Automata

  • World of Warcraft

  • Hogwarts Legacy

  • Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria

Looking Forward

To be honest there’s too many words to use this year. I am grateful that in 2024 I maintained a pretty healthy balance of Work / Life things. A lot of it wasn’t planned or intentional but this next year I do plan to give myself the freedom to move things around and have those time blocks to play with as things happen.

I’m plotting Quarterly goals and keeping things prioritized from the very beginning. A different approach to be sure, but it’s seeming much more gracious with time compared to trying to schedule per-month.

All in all there’s room to fit new or last minute things, but I’m also becoming accustomed to saying “no” when I have too much on my plate. Even if I feel bad doing it, in the end it’s good to have boundaries and knowing what I’m capable of. I don’t like saying no, but what I don’t like MORE, is saying yes and still failing to complete something. I’ve done that enough in my life that I’m tired of not fulfilling those obligations I agreed to.

I’m very excited to see myself hitting these new goals, and I appreciate all the support I’ve had. It’s been so important to me that I have people to chat with and help me plan things. Even if it’s just gaming fun stuff. Thanks for a wonderful year, and I can’t wait to experience the next!

Aurelia Vel
Next

December ‘24