Monthly Archives: December 2014
The 2014 List Wrap Up
Wow… another year done, another list being signed off… and to be honest I feel like this year the list has been put on the back burner… not because I have stopped loving it, or because it was no good, but because real life got in the way. Which I actually think is really nice… It’s nice to know that I didn’t need the list to make my year what it was, and that my year was awesome even though I only just scrapped through with just a pass… well maybe a credit. There was so much jammed into this year and while the list didn’t play as bigger part as previous years it still brought a lot of joy to my life… so here is the final re-cap… which is big because it’s been a while since I did a list up date.
Just like all the other years those that have a blog of their own have a hyperlink so you can just click it and read all about it… and the ones that don’t are all listed below with either an explanation of what did or didn’t happen…
Do the 1000 steps– completed: 26/02/14Make a loaf of bread– completed: 10/11/14
It was actually four mini garlic breadsUse my day off productively– completed: 18/12/14
It may not have been quite the way I had imagined but I think I did use my days off more productively, with errands, moving house and with work…- Cook dinner at least once a week
I am ashamed to say that this didn’t happen… there are lots of excuses I could make, but they wouldn’t be worth reading. Do mine and Dave’s family trees– completed: 29/12/14
I have done the easy bit – back to our grandparents, including their siblings, but now I need to expand a little and get some more detail.Try a green juice– completed: 11/01/14Go to two weddings – completed: 28/03/14(Wedding 1; Wedding 2)Eat something from my veggie garden– completed: 8/02/14- Run 5km without walking
This one is on the list for next year… running you will not win. Be a more informed consumer– completed: 31/12/14
I know I still have a long way to go, but I feel like its better to have started the journey than to know nothing at allGo 1 week without a sometimes food– completed: 1/02/14- Embrace home cooking
Again not completed…. And only excuses. - Read the New Testament
I feel like I should just copy and paste from the one above… I did start this one well, but got distracted and it stopped. - Stop back dating blogs…. Post it when it happens or not at all
Not always consistent, but better… but probably not quite ‘better’ enough. Go Low FODMAP for a week– completed: 10/03/14Do another boot camp– completed:1/03/14
The George women know how to exercise together!Get a sun reflector for my car– completed: 14/01/14Help someone set up a blog– completed: 09/01/14Review the books I read on amazon– completed: 31/12/14- Send one handwritten note of gratitude to someone each month
To be honest… I just forgot. - Complement a stranger everyday for a week (different strangers otherwise it would be creepy)
We even had this as a goal for our small group and I still struggled with it. I know most days I encourage my clients which are kind of strangers… but not quite what I had in mind. Break a rule– completed: 27/12/14- Swim 50km, not all at once, but over the year
This was a disaster… I only swam a km… terrible form… Update my resume (Not because I want a new job but to reflect on my accomplishments)– completed: 27/10/14Walk/Run 300km– completed 02/11/14Buy a house– completed: 3/02/14Do another fun run– completed: 16/11/14Cuddle a baby less than 6months old– completed: 17/01/14Get a massage– completed: 29/08/14
Thankyou Donvale Beauty!- Be Vegan for 24 hours
Nup… just didn’t happen… I don’t think I was committed in my heart Go in a sea vessel… Kayak, Canoe, Paddle boat… whatever– completed: 31/12/14Go out in country Victoria for the day– completed: 30/08/14Build a sand castle– completed: 30/12/14- Write at least 3 letters to my prayer pal
I think I wrote two… Sorry Tess. - Play a board game with friends
- Enter a colouring competition
Make a cushion– completed: 20/08/14Cook fish– completed: 7/01/14- Learn a song on clarinet without Dave’s help
Plant something in the garden– completed: 04/11/14- Play Mini golf
Follow through with Dave’s Christmas present again– completed 15/12/14- Take Dex for a play date with Abe or Diesel
Learn a song on the guitar– completed 16/11/14Go to Costco– completed: 13/11/14- Try 1 recipe from each recipe book I own
- Take Dex for a walk every week
Work as a teacher– completed: 03/05/14Get some fresh flowers to brighten a room– completed: 22/10/14- Hire a bike and ride around the city
Get a fake tan– completed: 10/01/14Go to a pump class– completed: 15/04/14Go to a spin class– completed: 13/02/14Do something truly Melbournian– completed: 26/07/14Make my own advent calendar– completed: 26/11/14Find a train free route to work– completed: 22/01/14
It is train free, but it’s not all that convenient… I am not sure which is the lesser of the two evils.Get a timer for our Christmas lights– completed: 09/11/14
Although we are a little scared to use it given our old old wiring at homeGo to Bright– completed: 01/11/14- Put Pa’s videos on DVD
This is still on my wish list though… I am keen to keep things documented. Try Pilates– completed: 4/02/14- Use my new paper diary more effectively
This just didn’t happen… my iPhone reigned supreme. Be better at visiting my grandparents– completed: 8/12/14- Go to the cricket
- Cook all meals at home for a fortnight (no lazy takeaway or eating out just because)
Again… a fail… maybe next year. Go fruit picking– completed: 03/11/14Get awesome Christmas jumpers for Dave and I– completed: 07/08/14- Start my Australia camping pictures map
- Go camping
Walk across the bridge in Kilcunda– completed: 10/01/14Go to a cemetery– completed: 12/01/14Join a book club– completed: 2/01/14Read 12 books– completed: 18/10/14
1. Flash and Bones – Kathy Reichs
2. Let me off at the top! – Ron Burgundy
3. Divergent – Veronica Roth
4. Insurgent – Veronica Roth
5. Allegiant – Veronica Roth
6. A Game of Thrones – George R.R. Martin
7. A long way home – Saroo Brierley
8. The Fault in our Stars – John Green
9. The Giver – Lois Lowry
10. Reconstructing Amelia – Kimberley McCreight
11. The Rosie Project – Graeme Simsion
12. The Lunar Chronicles: Cress – Marissa MeyerTry some regular yoga– completed: 10/04/14Do 5 different exercise classes– completed: 11/09/14Do a trail walk/hike– completed: 13/09/14Go a month without playing games on my phone– completed: 1/02/14Put some nets on my veggie patch– completed: 15/12/14Take a photo everyday– completed: 31/12/14- Get there and stay there
Have a picnic in the backyard– completed: 19/12/14Swim in the ocean at least 5 times– completed: 30/12/14- Actually finish our wedding guest book
Update our displayed photos– completed: 24/05/14Keep my corner clean– completed: 31/12/14Pretend to be a morning person– completed: 21/10/14See the movie Frozen– completed: 12/01/14Exercise 4 times a week– completed: 31/12/14
Almost anyway, certainly better again this year, and now that I have joined a gym I have to keep it up.See ‘Saving Mr Banks’ at the movies– completed: 4/01/14- Have dinner and go bowling with Dustin and Rachel
- Do my chores and pull my weight around the house
- Just stop picking
- Play Super Mario Bros
- Save some of my pocket money each fortnight
- Cook something from each of my Donna Hay magazines
- Try at least one thing from each of my Women’s Fitness magazines
- Do my 2012 and 2013 scrapbooks
- Wash my car by myself
- Go on a push bike adventure with Dave
Finish going through my cooking magazines and either save them or through them out– completed: 22/05/14Drive a bus– completed: 11/05/14
There is even video footage of it!
The grand total… 62 out of 100, certainly not by best year, but actually better than I expected…
2014 – Through the eyes of my iPhone
Here we are again at the end of another year and it’s time to have a look back at the year through the eyes of my eye phone… It’s hard to believe another year has passed and that so much has happened. Although I feel like I say that every time I get to this blog, as I am getting older it certainly does feel like time is getting faster. Even though last year was busy, I feel like 2014 has taken busy to a new level! There have been 3 big weddings, some changes at work, a fortnight without Davo and a new house just to mention a few, but rather than talk about it all here, recounting all the moments and emotions, I’ll let the photos do the talking…
January…
Highlight: Bridesmaid Summer Fun! January was filled with bridesmaid goodness in the lead up to Kirsten’s wedding. There were mini bootcamp mornings with Rachel, a hen’s night, a bridal brunch at the red cup and a girls weekend at the beach… What more could you want?
February…
Highlight: February was a big big month with two massive highlights… 1. Kirsten got married and 2. We brought a house! As far as months go… in 2014 it didn’t really get bigger than this!
March…
Highlight: More bridesmaid fun! This month was all about Sia! A French themed Hen’s extravaganza to start the month and a beautiful wedding to finish it. I also got to pretend I was a kid each weekend too, with my Christmas present of Disney Princess Movie Marathons at the cinema.
April…
Highlight: April was a mixed month of birthday goodness, books and footy… and mostly just fun
May…
Highlight: Well I don’t know if highlight is the correct word, because it was a lot of hard work and a little rocky at the start, but certainly the most significant event of May was our house move… into a house of our very own!
June…
Highlight: June’s highlight is kind of mixed in with May’s as it was in June that I really started to settle in the new house and learnt to enjoy creating my own space… with the biggest highlights being some simple things like hanging out wedding pictures and getting our super cute key holder. Oh and the Keith concert that was a good highlight!
July…
Highlight: Dave coming home safe, sound and fired up from Mexico was definitely the highlight of July! It was such an incredible trip for him and for us and even though it sucked being without him, I am secretly glad he went.
August…
Highlight: Again some little things from getting my new cushions, to breakfasts out and days off… it was all good, although one little thing really stole my heard in August, and that was meeting my friend Flic’s baby boy!
September…
Highlight: September brought some improved set ups, including an extra screen at work to help me continue to being extra nerdy and finishing the set up of our gym at home. We were also able to be apart of the beginning of Oz 2015 – which is going to be awesome… maybe even more awesome than our 3am casting. Oh and the Hawks won the grand final… it’s nice being a supporter of back to back champions.
October…
Highlight: Nothing is better in a busy year than a weekend away… which was one of the best bits of October… We also got to do some date day catch ups and to be honest any time I get to hang out with Davo for a prolonged period of time its good!
November…
Highlight: List madness made November a winner. Costco, Bright, apple orchids, bread, flowers, veggie patches and Fun Runs… so much list goodness! Oh and we got a new car… win.
December…
Highlight: I feel like Christmas is always the highlight of December because so much Christmas fun happens and this year was no different… Dinners, advent calendars, carols, and just so much food. Special mentions for this December though go to Dad’s Wedding, which was amazing and magical and just very lovely, and probably should have gotten a blog of its own and also to New Zealand… specifically the North Island where we are currently exploring and which has made this Christmas even more special.
So there you go, 365 photos attempting to sum up a crazy, fun, out of control year!
Christmas in New Zealand
So Christmas has come and gone and I missed posting something about it because it turns out just like costal towns in Australia, the costal towns in New Zealand don’t always have the best Internet reception… So here it is a little late, but here all the same!
Christmas is a time to celebrate joy and love with those you love, and while for Dave and I it has steadily gotten harder for us to see all the people we love on Christmas Day, for the last 10years, while we have been together, I have been pretty blessed in that at Christmas. I have been able to see and spend time with my family, if not on Christmas Day then on the surrounding days. But this year it’s a little different, this year I am away for Christmas, still with family, but with different family than the last 10 Christmases… In fact different from the last 27 Christmases… This year it’s Christmas with the George’s… Well the extended Georges… Kind of, and its been really nice.
I have to admit there were lots of things I missed from home, the biggest ones being seeing my brothers, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles on Christmas morning… And carols by candlelight… I really struggled not being able to enjoy the carols of Dennis Walter and Sylvie or being able to laugh at David Hobson, while secretly enjoying they fact that someone has sung Holy City! But thanks to the marvel that is the mobile phone (after a wrong number to some poor random in New Zealand) I was able to speak to home, and then celebrate in a slightly different fashion.
It is an odd feeling being a random at Christmas, but it was actually a great day. Dave and I were warmly welcomed and included in a delicious summer Christmas feast. We also walked on the black sand of the Otaki beach and enjoyed the surprisingly good New Zealand weather.
It turns out that even with family that we don’t spend a whole lot of time with, Christmas is still the same! Love and joy are celebrated and embraced and shared and it is still wonderful! It’s a day, I know not for all, but at least for me, I get to experience heaven on earth in the love that Christ came to bring. I can witness joy on the face of Dave’s grandma as she laughs at a corny Christmas joke. I get to be part of the excitement as Dave’s Dad creates the wonder of Santa with a $5 warehouse scavenger hunt. And I get to be thankful for all that I have… I am truly blessed.
Wordless Wednesday: Playing in Wanganui
Wordless Wednesday: December Date Day
Better Late Than Never
So it’s December and this is my first proper post in a really long time… life has been hectic, and I have been having a blogging confidence crisis, where I get stuck in circular thoughts mostly about two things…
1. Do I really want that on the internet? I get caught in thinking about how much information is out there about me and my life… and do I really want that… and this usually ends with me remembering that no one actually cares about what is on here in the big scheme of things… and that there is actually probably very little to worry about as long as I think before I post… well at least that’s what I tell myself… until I start to panic about it all again.
and 2. Who would actually want to read that… I mean seriously there are a lot of boring almost blogs that just never make it, all because I panic that they are actually boring… but who knows… maybe if I just gave them a chance they would be ok?
Anyway, that brings us here… to the 16th of December… with very little blogged since September… A lot has happened since then, life has been pretty full on… moving from event to event, from week to week, with the days quickly blurring past. Yet tonight, for the first time this month, I find myself at home with my computer, as my plans for this evening were cancelled at the last minute, and while there are plenty of things I could be and probably should be doing I find my self here… updating the blog…
So what’s been happening? Well the list is slowly being crossed off, although I am not sure I will get that close to the whole 100, but there is always next years list, I have been doing some new things at work, which has been quite exciting, it has made me a lot busier but I figure as long as I am enjoying it, it will work. We have been on a few adventures including one to beautiful Bright where we not only got to cross visiting off the list, but also pick some fruit and cross ‘Walk/Run 300km’ off the list too… Oh and we also finished our dates for this year! I have been trying my hand at some ‘craft’ projects thanks to some Pinterest inspiration and started to make my mark on our new house… and now I have found myself right in the middle of the Christmas madness which I usually love, but have found quite overwhelming this year.
The next couple of months is set to be just as busy… a couple of weddings, a trip overseas, christmas, and a new year and a new list. I am really looking forward to next year, but I am also looking forward to the last couple of weeks of this one and all that they entail… But as far as updates go… this is as much as I can do tonight… maybe next year will bring some more consistent blogging?