Tuesday 30 December 2014

Evaluating 2014

Miss Pip posted a load of questions recently relating to 2014 and looking back on it. She got it from into-mind.com, and I thought I would also post about it. Hope the people at Into-Mind don't mind too much, then again questions posted are meant to be answered, correct?

1. What one event, big or small, are you going to tell your grandchildren about?
Hmm. Going up Ben Nevis probably. I know I didn't get to the top, but I think it's still pretty damn impressive. 

2. If you had to describe your 2014 in 3 words, what would they be?
Busy, quick & eventful

3. What new things did you discover about yourself?
No sure on this one. maybe that I am capable of losing weight when I actually try to? Or maybe that I've got more motivation than I thought. Pretty sure that was the only thing keeping me going when doing race for life.

4. What single achievement are you most proud of?
Not sure on this, there's Ben Nevis (mentioned above); passing my driving test and completing 2 races this year. I can't choose just one of those

5. What was the best news you received?
I think it was getting told that I had passed my driving test. I was so relieved!

6. What was your favourite place that you visited in 2014?
Harry Potter Studios...it was amazing! 

7. Which of your personal qualities turned out to be the most helpful this year?
My ability to get on with things and push through, despite bad circumstances

8. Who was your number one go-to person that you could always rely on?
Andrew

9. Which new skills did you learn?
I rode a pony for the first time ever this year. Dismount was not something I successfully learnt however... 

10. What, or who, are you most thankful for?
I am most thankful for...having a good group of people around me, who support me.

 11. If someone wrote a book about your life in 2014, what kind of genre would it be? A comedy, love story, drama, film noir or something else?
Haha, probably a dramedy (is that a thing?) I'm a drama queen, but I also tend to make a fool of myself a lot! 

12. What was the most important lesson you learnt in 2014?
Don't doubt my instincts so much, they're usually right.

13. Which mental block(s) did you overcome?
Not entirely sure I overcame any mental blocks, though I am learning to deal with stress a bit better.

14. What 5 people did you most enjoy spending time with?
They know who they are :) Andrew, Sisterbell, Pip ;)

15. What was your biggest break-through moment career-wise?
Umm...still waiting for a breakthrough moment methinks.

16. How did your relationship to your family evolve?
Not sure it has evolved much, we all get along better now I suppose? Helps that we're all older and leaving childish squabbles behind

17. What book or movie affected your life in a profound way?
I found the book 'The Fault In Our Stars' moving, though maybe not profound.

18. What was your favourite compliment that you received this year?
'You are good at your job, you just need some more confidence'
It hit home. 

19. What little things did you most enjoy during your day-to-day life?
Arriving home from work, and having some quiet time while I eat my dinner - either reading or watching an episode of something on Netflix.

20. What cool things did you create this year?
Umm...I was pretty awesome at coming up with present ideas this year. Hovercraft driving being one of them!

21. What was your most common mental state this year (e.g. excited, curious, stressed)?
Honestly...probably just tired

22. Was there anything you did for the very first time in your life this year?
Yes, I rode a pony

23. What was your favourite moment spent with your friends?
Oh god this is hard. I'm not sure, there were so many good times this year! I think maybe...on a trip to Longleat we were feeding the Deer, and they were really cheeky and kept putting their heads inside the car! Plus there was the camel incident...It was a really funny day

24 What major goal did you lay the foundations for?
Moving out. We started saving properly this year

25. Which worries turned out to be completely unnecessary?
I worry a lot, I can't pinpoint one singular incident

  • 26. What experience would you love to do all over again?
  • I would love to experience...watching Avenue Q or Matilda again

27. What was the best gift you received?
My car! It wasn't really a gift, but in a way it was as I didn't pay for it and it was given to me...

28. How did your overall outlook on life evolve?
I think I've learnt to look at things slightly differently. I'm looking forward all the time now and aiming for more

29. What was the biggest problem you solved?
Biggest problem...not really sure on this. Having a car so I can get myself around under my own steam perhaps.

30. What was the funniest moment of your year, one that still makes it hard not to burst out laughing when you think about it?
Ohh tricky. I think this one has to go to several moments, captured on camera by sisterbell. Hundreds of pictures of her pulling the ugliest faces you have ever seen on a human. Oh! and the thumb face picture!!

31. What purchase turned out to be the best decision ever?
I don't think I bought anything big this year, other than my car insurance. That was obviously a great decision because now I am insured for the whole of 2015...

32. What one thing would you do differently and why?
I think I would run more. get myself out to run more often instead of dipping in a out of it. I would have a decent level of fitness if I had done this instead of starting and stopping all the time.

33. What do you deserve a pat on the back for?
Carrying on up Ben Nevis after wanting to stop, over and over again. 

  • 34. What activities made you lose track of time?
  • Reading mostly, and binge-watching TV programmes

  • 35. What did you think about more than anything else?
  • My weight probably!

36. What topics did you most enjoy learning about?
I enjoyed learning more about weightlifting (I'm not saying I'm an expert or anything. Far from it!)

37. What new habits did you cultivate?
I tried to cultivate the habit of running, this was only a partial success I feel.

  • 38. What advice would you give your early-2014 self if you could?
  • Save as much as you can. You don't need to spend money on the credit card

39. Did any parts of your self or your life do a complete 180 this year?
I don't think anything has changed that drastically, though I do have a better attitude towards exercise than in previous years

40. What or who had the biggest positive impact on your life this year?
urhm...not sure on this one. More than one person has had a big impact, so I'll stick with just saying my nearest and dearest.

I like these Questions - they made me think and evaluate things! The 10 questions below are all based on going forward into 2015.

41.What do you want the overarching theme for your 2015 to be?
Happiness and contentment. With both myself and external things

42. What do you want to see, discover, explore?
I want to discover what my body can do. Where I can push it to. How far I can get. I also want to see and explore a new place. 

43. Who do you want to spend more time with in 2015?
Family that lives far away - would be nice to spend more time with them if possible

44. What skills do you want to learn, improve or master?
I want to improve my skills in task management and organisation. I always have to do lists longer than my arm!
I also want to Improve my running distance, and run the entirety of a 5k

45. Which personal quality do you want to develop or strengthen?
Keeping a calm head - e.g. not getting emotional about silly things!

46. What do you want your everyday life to be like?
I want everyday life to be...less tiring than it was this year.

47. Which habits do you want to change, cultivate or get rid of?
I need to get out of the habit of reaching for food when I feel happy/sad/upset/angry etc! 
I want to get into the habit of practising yoga

48. What do you want to achieve career-wise?
I want to be successful in what I do. To be an essential team member and valued colleague.

49. How do you want to remember the year 2015 when you look back on it 10/20/50 years from now?
I want it to be the year Andrew and I move out

50. What is your number one goal for 2015?
To be happier


How have your 2014's been? What are you looking forward to for 2015?

Hair Chronicles, Vol #3

Volume #1 and Volume #2 here!

Welcome back to the third (and final?) instalment of my Hair Chronicles! Yaaaay

To remind you, at the end of 2012 I saw the new year creep in with pink hair. I was in a colourful stage...
EDIT: This is the second time I am writing this post as I lost everything. even though I clicked 'save' twice to make sure I had it all...

2013 - Taste the Rainbow

As you know I saw 2013 in with pink hair. This faded (or did I use ColourB4 - I have no idea!) then I decided to go bright orange...

Yes, I am dressed as the Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland...happy 21st to me! 

I must have then used ColourB4 on my hair because it wasn't long before I was back to blonde, and had a risque haircut - it was rather short at the back.
This brings us to the end of Feb...Oh and I put purple into my hair too (Right pic)
My rapid colour changes did not go unnoticed, and I was publicly challenged (on Facebook) to do rainbow hair.

Several hours and 7 pots of dye led me to this...
It was magnificent. I l o v e d having rainbow hair. Unfortunately, it was not to be. I was working on a project at uni that required non-crazy natural hair. Time for another box of ColourB4...

Nailed it.
Totally natural.

After all of the bleaching, dying and stripping, my hair was...understandably dead. Again. So i took a big leap and had a hair cut. I have never had hair so short!
Yes, that is my natural hair colour on the roots of the left picture.
I wasn't a fan of the rooty blond look, so I dyed it brown while it grew out again (we're up to May).

These are July to September, where I must have had a haircut. the hair is looking much healthier, and it has stayed one colour since May!

I had another haircut for my graduation in October. You may have also noticed some purple has snuck into the front of my hair...and yes, this included having to bleach the front...

There we are, bleached front on the left. I dyed my hair dark purple just in time to see in the new year.

Ummm this post is rather long with all of the colour changes...so I'm afraid 2014 will have to wait for another post!

Has anyone else undertaken a crazy hair challenge? Or is that just me?

Monday 1 December 2014

Winter Bucket List



Hi all! December is here, as is winter. With it, I've decided to create a new seasonal bucket list! Why not eh?

So, below is a list of things I would like to achieve by February 28th 2015.

Enjoy!

1: Try a recipe from my Clean Eating Recipe book!
2: Run the whole of a 5k (no walking breaks)
3: Post 3 book reviews (1 a month seems achievable!)
4: Plan a trip
5: Lose weight over Christmas and New Years
6: Have enough saved up to move out
7: Clear out/tidy up the pile of stuff in my room
8: Dye my hair one last time before the end of December (NYR to come involving this...)
9: Fit back into some of my old clothes
10: Do something awesome for my birthday

What do you want to achieve this winter?