2013 - You Total Dude

Hey folks. It's that time of year the where we all start to look back at photos to remind ourselves what's been going on, and hasn't time flown? I don't usually do a re-cap post but 2013 was a very important year for us, so here goes. There was plenty more posts in between but in my round up I've picked out a few of my favourite moments.

Whilst looking back through images from this year, it quickly became clear that 2013 was a massive one for us. We started off the year by heading to Orlando, in January but some of you guys might remember we had to cut out trip short due to a family death. It sure rocked things. In the few days that we were there we didn't actually manage to do much, but we did come across Buckets & Spades in Susie Bubble's Style Feed, sitting in Urban Outfitters, Orlando no less! It still doesn't feel real that Buckets & Spades made it into a proper book!

 Back in March I finally asked Hollie to marry me, and to my relief she said yes! We're still to set a date yet but I really can't wait, I'd do it tomorrow if it was possible. I'd been planning to ask her while we were in Orlando but due to circumstances it was best to wait till things had settled down. This image was taken on the seafront where we live, the town we first met in about 8 years ago. Hollie also knows good gifts!

This year I also discovered how much I enjoy classic car shows, and apparently, so does everyone else! Around the month of July was the time I decided to finally turn freelance and took up the blog full time. In my first freelance month I joined up with Pinterest to help launch their #PinInForward Campaign, ran several juicy giveaways and started daily posting on the blog. It was also a boiling summer, which meant shorts every single day for a good three weeks running! Blogging became my full time job and I've never looked back since. It's opened so many new opportunities for me and I'm extremely excited to see what 2014 holds for us. 

The blog is a joint effort though, it's not just me. - Hollie helps with photography and back-end design, and in October Yasumi of Stranger London joined in as a contributer! If you're interested in contributing to Buckets & Spades please do get in touch.

Another stand out moment of the year was getting to visit the Grenson Shoe Factory in Northampton. We spent about 6 hours at the factory (which is now no longer in use), seeing each stage of shoemaking, from start to finish. It blew my mind, since then I had a new found love and respect for craftsmanship and traditions. I also picked up a pair of swanky brogues for the wedding! 

A new pup landed in our lives. It's true, Chole is a nightmare at times but she's a doll really. Looking back at the first photo I ever took of her, well I mean, just look at how small her feet are! I was also lucky enough to have a gander around Raw creative studios thanks to my pal Carol.

Remember the DIY denim project I did for Bucks & Co., to raise money for Jeans for Genes Day? After a nervous start, I must say they finished product was pretty sweet! I'm not one for DIYs but I sure gave it a go. It was definitely a proud moment for me. I also joined up with a couple of other menswear bloggers and Uniqlo, to help promoting their UT Collection and new video sharing app.

We got our small label, Northern Goods Co. stocked in a couple of stores! In September I visited Liverpool based menswear store Weavers Door, to shoot an editorial and that day they became our first in-store retailer! Que balloons and ticker tape parade! Last week we also started working with  BBSC. It was really surreal seeing our products sitting alongside some big established brands, go us!

As I mentioned before, 2013 was the year I decided to go full time with the blog and from that I've been lucky enough to connect and meet some amazing people, from all around the world. Seriously guys, it's been a pleasure to meet you all. I just hope I can meet some more of you in person once we hit 2014! Your readership means everything.

In Part 2 I'll round up a few more outfit, places we traveled to, and a whole bunch of other stuff. But as this is the final post of 2013, I'll wish you all a very happy new year!

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