Christmas came and went too quickly, as it always does, but at least it was fun while it lasted. Santa put some booze in my stocking this year, because he obviously knows that I'm a grown-up now.
New Years Eve was as uneventful as it always is. There always seems to be so much pressure to go out and do something to mark the occasion but I can never be bothered anymore; everywhere's always too expensive and I'd prefer to be in bed at a reasonable hour anyway (god, I'm so boring). As a special New Years treat, Jack decided to give me his cold, so I've spent the last couple of days feeling absolutely rotten and hiding under every blanket I own. I took the Christmas decorations down yesterday morning (because I'd been awake since 4am and needed something to do) and didn't even feel sad about it like I usually do because I was feeling so poorly. So all in all, 2016 isn't off to the best start. But then again we're only four days in so it's a bit early to judge it as a whole.
I'm not making any resolutions this year, because let's face it - I never, ever, ever stick to them. Ever. So why bother? I did pick up a pretty diary from Smiths which I'm going to try and write something in every day, even if it's as little as a sentence. So far, so good, but who knows how long I'll be able to stick to that?
But anyway, I hope everyone enjoyed their holidays and the shock of returning to reality hasn't been too jarring. Here's to the new year, and hoping it's better than the last.
Song of the Day: Sometimes It's A Bitch by Stevie Nicks (Sometimes the picture just ain't what it seems/ You get what you want but it's not what you need/Sometimes it's a bitch, sometimes it's a breeze)
Currently reading: An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
Showing posts with label resolutions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label resolutions. Show all posts
Snippets of Christmas
My one and only resolution this year is to drink more water. That's it. So far, on the third day of 2015, I have had precisely three glasses. Not pints either, just regular sized. It doesn't sound much, but if you know me you'll know how bad I am at keeping hydrated. So, you know, baby steps.
Christmas and New Year have passed by in a blur, as they tend to now I'm an 'adult', but it has been wonderful. Quiet family time, fantastic food, lots of wine and even more chocolate. It's been perfect. The tree came down today, so it's looking rather bare in our living room.
A trip to Derbyshire where there had been snow resulted in some unexpected sledging fun. On bin-bags, mind you, but sledging nonetheless. We discovered that we'd grown out of our 'no sense, no feeling' ages, and began to feel the cold very quickly and so retreated inside. Alas, the trials and tribulations and getting old.
I feel refreshed, relaxed and ready for what the new year will bring. Welcome to 2015 everyone. Here's hoping it's a good'un.
Song of the Day: Shake by Walk Off The Earth
Christmas and New Year have passed by in a blur, as they tend to now I'm an 'adult', but it has been wonderful. Quiet family time, fantastic food, lots of wine and even more chocolate. It's been perfect. The tree came down today, so it's looking rather bare in our living room.
A trip to Derbyshire where there had been snow resulted in some unexpected sledging fun. On bin-bags, mind you, but sledging nonetheless. We discovered that we'd grown out of our 'no sense, no feeling' ages, and began to feel the cold very quickly and so retreated inside. Alas, the trials and tribulations and getting old.
I feel refreshed, relaxed and ready for what the new year will bring. Welcome to 2015 everyone. Here's hoping it's a good'un.
Song of the Day: Shake by Walk Off The Earth
Pia-pia-piano
Way back in January, I wrote this post outlining a few of my goals for 2014. Number 1 on that list was to start playing the piano more regularly. I'm afraid to say that I haven't played it at all this year. Not once.
Until today that is. We have a proper piano (I say 'proper', it's not a baby grand or anything as it's still an electric one, but it's human sized. With a chair and everything.), but in the last couple of years, every time I've played on it I end up getting incredibly frustrated when I don't pick up things as fast as I'd like to. So today, I went rooting in the attic for the keyboard I knew was up there, and I've brought that into my room to practice on.
As it's much smaller than the piano, it doesn't seem as daunting to me and I figured I could practice enough to not feel embarrassed playing, before I graduate to the 'big girl' piano. I've even ordered some new music to play, one will be arriving tomorrow, and the other I got in Kindle form because I didn't want to wait. The good thing about the keyboard is it shows you on the little display what note you're playing, so that should make things easier for me if I get stuck.
So that's my Friday activity. I should probably go outside, it's really sunny...
Currently reading: The Maze Runner by James Dashner, because I saw a trailer for the movie and it looks really good.
Song of the Day: That's What's Up by Lennon & Maisy
Until today that is. We have a proper piano (I say 'proper', it's not a baby grand or anything as it's still an electric one, but it's human sized. With a chair and everything.), but in the last couple of years, every time I've played on it I end up getting incredibly frustrated when I don't pick up things as fast as I'd like to. So today, I went rooting in the attic for the keyboard I knew was up there, and I've brought that into my room to practice on.
As it's much smaller than the piano, it doesn't seem as daunting to me and I figured I could practice enough to not feel embarrassed playing, before I graduate to the 'big girl' piano. I've even ordered some new music to play, one will be arriving tomorrow, and the other I got in Kindle form because I didn't want to wait. The good thing about the keyboard is it shows you on the little display what note you're playing, so that should make things easier for me if I get stuck.
So that's my Friday activity. I should probably go outside, it's really sunny...
Currently reading: The Maze Runner by James Dashner, because I saw a trailer for the movie and it looks really good.
Song of the Day: That's What's Up by Lennon & Maisy
2014 Goals (yep, it's one of those posts)
Today has been a quiet day. A day for cups of tea, listening to soft music and playing Star Wars Angry Birds on my Kindle. All whilst wearing the most coziest of slipper socks in existence.
It's also been a day for reflecting on what goals I want to accomplish this year. And yes, I know that it's very cliche to be all 'new year, new you' every year when most of the time it's actually going to be more of the same. But honestly, I don't see the harm in making a few goals for yourself every once in a while, and it makes perfect sense to do it in the new year just after you've enjoyed a bit of indulgence over the holidays.
Some of my little goals I'm going to keep to myself because they're just for me, so here's a select few:
It's also been a day for reflecting on what goals I want to accomplish this year. And yes, I know that it's very cliche to be all 'new year, new you' every year when most of the time it's actually going to be more of the same. But honestly, I don't see the harm in making a few goals for yourself every once in a while, and it makes perfect sense to do it in the new year just after you've enjoyed a bit of indulgence over the holidays.
Some of my little goals I'm going to keep to myself because they're just for me, so here's a select few:
- I want to try and get back into the habit of playing the piano regularly. I had lessons when I was in years 4 and 5 at school and then I played the clarinet for a couple of years in high-school, but I've forgotten quite a lot, and I think I'll have to remind myself how to read music again. I'd love to be able to just play by ear but I'm not that musically talented!
- Keep taking photographs, and remember to upload them to Flickr. Even of mundane things (like my socks, see above photo, haha).
- Do a little bit of creative writing every week. Whether or not I'll share anything I write with anyone is a different story entirely, but I'd feel better knowing that I'd written something.
- Read more. I was a bit better with reading in 2013 than the previous couple of years, and I want to do even better this year. I want to read a better quality of books this year too, as a lot of the ones I read in 2013 were really terribly written.
As you can see, these are all kind of creative goals which I'm pleased about. Also, they're not too difficult to accomplish, hooray! Right, now I need to go and sort out something to eat before I have to get ready for work, joy of joys.
Song of the Day: You're So Great by Blur
Kind of resolutions
I've decided that for me, resolutions are a bad idea. I never ever ever ever stick to them, no matter how good my intentions are, and how determined I am to start off with. This year, I'm just giving myself a vague list; I don't want to get bogged down in anything too specific (like 'I will read 30 books in 2012' - remember that?).
- Eat better - by this I mainly mean that I want to make more things from scratch, and make sure I eat enough fruit and veg. I'm not an incredibly unhealthy eater anyway, but I do want to push myself to make the time to cook better meals. It's fun, too.
- Be more crafty - my brother and his girlfriend got me a jewellery making sort of start up kit with loads of beads and stuff so I'm excited to see what I can do with that, and I do want to try and do more crafty type things as well.
- Find a form of exercise that suits me - I'm terrible when it comes to exercise. I hate gyms, which probably doesn't help. I'd want something I could do on my own, group exercise type things are just not for me, so that's definitely something I'm looking into this year.
And I think that'll do me. Less is more. And at least this way I can fail at less things, haha! I was going to include 'read more' or something, but since getting my Kindle Fire I don't think that will be a problem. So far I've read The Fault In Out Stars by John Green, The Perks Of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky and Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler. Granted, none are particularly difficult reads, but still. I'm pleased.
Song of the Day: Curtain Call by Aiden Grimshaw
Currently reading: An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
30 books
With considerable help from my mum, I've finished my 30 books list.
30 Books to read in 2012:
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Starter for Ten by David Nicholls
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
It by Stephen King
The Shining by Stephen King
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
1984 by George Orwell
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
Tender Is The Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald
On the Road by Jack Kerouac
I Dreamed of Africa by Kuki Gallman
Schindler’s List by Thomas Keneally
The End of the Affair by Graham Greene
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
The Shipping News by E. Anne Proulx
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark
The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett
Moby Dick by Herman Melville
We Need To Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
30 Books to read in 2012:
Starter for Ten by David Nicholls
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
It by Stephen King
The Shining by Stephen King
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
1984 by George Orwell
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
Tender Is The Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald
On the Road by Jack Kerouac
I Dreamed of Africa by Kuki Gallman
Schindler’s List by Thomas Keneally
The End of the Affair by Graham Greene
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
The Shipping News by E. Anne Proulx
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark
The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett
Moby Dick by Herman Melville
We Need To Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
I'm not going to read them in the order I've written them in; I'm starting on The Hunger Games and then I'll just go from there, and pick and choose what I want to read. Fingers crossed I'll be able to finish them all by the end of the year!
Happy New Year!
2012 already, I can hardly believe it. So I've been M.I.A again for a while, but I've been busy either working, or enjoying all the festivities that December brings.
Want to see what I got for Christmas? Of course you do.
Not pictured: a Cookie Monster t-shirt, and some cute little measuring cups.
I am writing this blog post on my brand new laptop, and so I am a very happy bunny.
Yesterday I spent a little while writing a list of New Year's Resolutions, which I'm not going to bore you with, but one of them is to read at least 30 books this year, including 10 classics. I originally wanted to do 50 books, but then I realised that was almost a book every week and I decided I didn't want to set out to fail. 30 it is. I've started making a list of the 30 I want to read but I'm only on about 15 so far, so when I've finished the list I'll post it here. Once it's on the internet it'll mean I HAVE to do it because I will have witnesses.
To update my blog more is not on my list of resolutions, because I don't want it to become a chore, and hopefully I'll have more blog-worthy things to say this year than I have lately.
So anyway, my brand new Shaun the Sheep calendar is up, I have a Winnie-the-Pooh pocket diary to organise my life, and I have had a relatively decent January the 1st. Bring on 2012!
Want to see what I got for Christmas? Of course you do.
Not pictured: a Cookie Monster t-shirt, and some cute little measuring cups.
I am writing this blog post on my brand new laptop, and so I am a very happy bunny.
Yesterday I spent a little while writing a list of New Year's Resolutions, which I'm not going to bore you with, but one of them is to read at least 30 books this year, including 10 classics. I originally wanted to do 50 books, but then I realised that was almost a book every week and I decided I didn't want to set out to fail. 30 it is. I've started making a list of the 30 I want to read but I'm only on about 15 so far, so when I've finished the list I'll post it here. Once it's on the internet it'll mean I HAVE to do it because I will have witnesses.
To update my blog more is not on my list of resolutions, because I don't want it to become a chore, and hopefully I'll have more blog-worthy things to say this year than I have lately.
So anyway, my brand new Shaun the Sheep calendar is up, I have a Winnie-the-Pooh pocket diary to organise my life, and I have had a relatively decent January the 1st. Bring on 2012!
