2016 Review

Fun fact, it's been 7 years since I started this blog. The last few years have been pretty slow here, but I'm glad I've kept it going. This year I'll try to post more frequently. Maybe. If not, it may just look similar to what I've been doing lately. Updating you on my life several months at a time. Ha. 

Previous quiz reviews: 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010

1. Did you keep your New Year's Resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

Last year I said I was going to come up with a theme for the year, but we never really did. This year I've already chosen what our theme will be. "I do not boast in my own strength, as to my own strength I am weak, but I will boast of my God, for in His strength I can do all things." 

2. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes! Joe's sister Katee had a baby girl in May and we were so excited! Now we're just waiting for my brother's little boy to be born any day now. But it's 2017 already, so really I shouldn't even bring it up on this 2016 review ;P UPDATE: Since I first started writing this post, he was born! January 4th, 2017. I can't wait to meet him!

Astrid and baby Leicee

3. Did anyone close to you die?

My Gramma Mele passed away in June. My biggest regret is that I didn't know her better.

4. What countries did you visit?

No countries. We are lame.

5. What would you like to have in 2017 that you lacked in 2016?

A sibling for Astrid! But if I can't have that, then I want to play some rugby.

6. What dates from 2016 will remain etched upon your memory and why?

I can't remember specific dates, but my brother Keanu came home from his mission in May. And in July we went on a great trip to Cherry Grove to visit a bunch of Joe's friends and it was great.

7. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Last year I did a 12k mud run and came in last. This year I did the 7k option, trained for it, and did it in 88 minutes! I was pretty pleased. Like last year I also made another stocking like the one I made for Astrid, but this time it was for Joe because the first one I made him was ugly, ha.

8. What was your biggest failure?

There's a few people I wanted to have over for dinner that I never got around to inviting them for it. I wish I was more on the ball about that.  

9. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Joe had a pretty good ankle sprain in November, but he's bounced back from it pretty quickly in typical Joe-fashion. As for myself and Astrid, there was nothing major. NO WAIT! In the first week of November I got like, 1 or 2 nosebleeds nearly everyday! And then it happened again for a few days after Christmas! I had to carry around tampons with me in case my nose decided to leak on me.

10. What was the best thing someone bought you?

Joe got me an ukulele for Christmas and I love it. A good friend also got me a beautiful watercolor of the Cardston temple for my birthday and it was so thoughtful! I plan to put it up with my Jesus picture and a print of our family theme.  

11. Where did most of your money go?

We paid off the Jeep, so there was that.

12. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Whenever they released a new sneak peek for Moana I lost my crap. And then there was the time I found out my brother and his wife are having a baby, that was awesome. We're still waiting on the little guy to arrive! (Update, no we're not waiting anymore. He's here!)

13. What song will always remind you of 2016?

Try Everything from Zootopia. And PPAP.

14. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder? Happier.

b) fatter or skinnier? Skinnier?? Mayyybe? Meh, I'm mostly the same.

c) richer or poorer? The same.

15. What do you wish you'd done more of?

Journalling. With a rambunctious toddler it can be hard to find a quiet moment to keep a journal.

16. What do you wish you'd done less of?

Bleeding, ha ha.

17. Did you fall in love in 2016?

Not with anyone new.

18. What was your favourite TV program?

I watched Community again. And I watched the final season of Downton Abbey. Joe and I discovered The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and we loved it.

19. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

No.  

20. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Ukutabs! They're great for learning how to play the ukulele.  

21. What was your favourite film of this year?

MOANA. My whole year was just spent waiting for that movie to hit theatres. We have watched A LOT of Zootopia in our house though. And the new Jungle Book. And over Christmas Astrid discovered Finding Dory and that was a hit too.

22. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?

I watched General Conference and had a friend join me for the afternoon session. Joe was out of town that weekend so it was pretty quiet. But, like I said, I got a nice watercolor print of the Cardston temple and I totally wasn't expecting it. Thanks, Angie!

23. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Not much, we had a pretty good year. Unlike the rest of the world... Sorry.

24. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2016?

Trying not to look hideous.

25. What kept you sane?

Joe, running, Astrid (when she's not being crazy), Volleyball!, and finally making time to go to the gym.

26. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Dwayne the Freaking Rock Johnson. I've always had a thing for him and now the rest of the world agrees with me (Sexiest Man Alive!)

I'll just leave this here 

27. Who do you miss?
My family as usual. But it's not as bad a feeling as it was when we first moved here. We'd love to be closer to them, but we also enjoy being where we are.

28. Who was the best new person you met?

This new couple moved into the ward over the summer and just as Joe and I were getting to know them, the husband lost his job and they had to leave to find a new one. I was really bummed because the wife was the first person that I've really clicked with in a long time. Sigh.

29. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2016:

Stay humble, be honest and choose kindness over bitterness.

2015 in review

2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010

1. Did you keep your New Year's Resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

We didn't make New Year's Resolutions last year, and we didn't really have a family theme this year and I didn't like it. So this year I will make sure we come up with something.  

2. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes, one of my co-workers had a baby girl in September and she lives just a couple blocks away from me.

3. Did anyone close to you die?

No. Still no close deaths for us. Though my dad's mom was in the hospital at the end of this year and my dad is currently in Australia to spend time with her. She's still holding on though. Gramma Mele is certainly a fighter.

4. What countries did you visit?

None. We did do a lot of travelling within Alberta though.

5. What would you like to have in 2016 that you lacked in 2015?

Sun! More sun!

6. What dates from 2015 will remain etched upon your memory and why?

None. This year was a bit of a blur.

7. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

I did a 12k mud run even though there was an option to run 7k. We came in dead last. It was awful and I'll never do it again. But I'll maybe give the 7k a try next year. Ooh, and I also sewed a pretty awesome looking stocking for Astrid and I am so proud of it.

8. What was your biggest failure?

Maybe that mud run since I came in last, haha.  

9. Did you suffer illness or injury?

There was this one time in April that I went to the hospital twice in a 24 hour period. The first time because I had a mild allergic reaction to an injection I received and the second time because my eyes were in searing pain because of something they gave me at the hospital earlier to counteract the allergic reaction. It was a rough night. Other than that we were good! Even Astrid came out unscathed.

10. What was the best thing someone bought you?

My parents got me a watch last year for Christmas and not only was it great for when I started working again, but it's been great with Astrid to keep track of feedings, naps and even when I last changed her diaper.  

11. Where did most of your money go?

Into stuff. Lots of stuff. We shouldn't need to buy any more stuff this year.

12. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Joe's sister and her husband are pregnant with their fourth child after having three boys. On Christmas day we all found out that they're having a girl! We are so excited for them. 

Oh, and when I got Astrid's first steps on video, I was pretty excited about that.

13. What song will always remind you of 2015?

Can't Feel My Face, Worth It, and the Cheerleader song.

14. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder? Happier.

b) fatter or skinnier? Skinnier! It's not hard since I had just had a baby this time last year, haha.

c) richer or poorer? Richer.

15. What do you wish you'd done more of?

Being outside.

16. What do you wish you'd done less of?

Driving! We did so much driving this year. This year we plan on staying home for more weekends.

17. Did you fall in love in 2015?

Not with anyone new.

18. What was your favourite TV program?

We watched a lot of Bones. I got back into Glee again at the end of the year. And Once Upon a Time. We finished that season all too fast.

19. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

No.  

20. What was your greatest musical discovery?

I found some pretty cute Sesame Street songs for Astrid this year. That's about it. I'm lame.

NO WAIT! I discovered this channel on youtube called Postmodern Jukebox and they are so awesome. They redo current songs in older styles, like the 50s, 20s, etc. So, my favourite genre basically. Some of my favourite covers they've done are All About That Bass and My Heart Will Go On.  

21. What was your favourite film of this year?

Inside Out, but more importantly, the short that came out with it: Lava.

22. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?

We drove out to Joe's sister's place and 2 days later we all did that stupid mud run I mentioned earlier. I was 25, and I nearly died.

23. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Being home more. I missed out on a lot of fun events this year because we were gone.

24. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2015?

Trying not to look like a frumpy mom.

25. What kept you sane?

Joe, my mom, and finding time to do things for myself.

26. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

I think everybody had a thing for Chris Pratt this year. He's just an awesome dude.  

27. Who do you miss?

My family back home.

28. Who was the best new person you met?

I have a new friend named Angie who is great and she also has a little girl who is a few months older than Astrid so it's fun to get together for the little ones to play.

29. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2015:

Babies are a ton of fun, but don't forget to stay connected to your spouse.

2014 in Review

It's time for the annual New Year quiz! If you'd like to reread the reviews from previous years, go to the 2013 review and the links to the other years can be found there. (I'm lazy, ha) I should get a cookie though, because I finally fixed the stupid formatting for this stupid entry! (if you look at the previous years you'll notice the font looks wonky compared to everything else on the blog)

1. Did you keep your New Year's Resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

In 2013 we started making a theme for the year rather than do resolutions and I think it's a tradition I'd like to keep. Last year's was "Let virtue garnish thy thought unceasingly". We haven't had a chance to come up with a new one for 2015, but trust me, we will. 

2. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Uh yeah, about as close as you can get! Me!

3. Did anyone close to you die?

The family has made it through another year unscathed. Though I just recently started watching Downton Abbey and in the last episode one of the characters was killed and I am still livid from it.

4. What countries did you visit?

Hawaii really needs to be considered its own country because it's kind of depressing to visit this gorgeous tropical island and then realize you're still in the Amurica.

5. What would you like to have in 2015 that you lacked in 2014?

Anything that we were lacking this past year, we will have in 2015. We've bought a house and had a baby. Maybe I would like to develop some closer friendships. We came to GP knowing very few people, but we were able to make friends and now I would like to develop those friendships further. 

6. What dates from 2014 will remain etched upon your memory and why?

December 9th, Astrid's birthday! As well as April 1st, that's the day I found out I was pregnant.

7. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

I hate to be a broken record, but having a baby was a pretty big deal. I think another one though was that I had a real grown-up job this year working at the physiotherapy clinic.

8. What was your biggest failure?

I don't think I failed at anything this year. It was a good year.

9. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Being pregnant wasn't always sunshine and butterflies. It kept me from playing rugby this year and that was a real bummer.

10. What was the best thing someone bought you?

A house. Joe is so good to me  

11. Where did most of your money go?

Into our house. And I'm sure only more of it will go there next year...

12. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Any time we went back home to visit. My convocation. Going to Hawaii. And having a baby.

13. What song will always remind you of 2014?

Let It Go. I was going to list other songs as well, but really, that one just blew up so much that nothing really came close.

14. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder? Happier.

b) fatter or skinnier? Fatter, sigh.

c) richer or poorer? Poorer. Thanks, house.

15. What do you wish you'd done more of?

Rugby. I missed it. And yoga. I started doing it late in the pregnancy game and I wish I'd gotten into it sooner.

16. What do you wish you'd done less of?

I regret nothing.

17. Did you fall in love in 2014?

Yes. I'd say I'm quite smitten with Astrid. She's pretty stinking cute.

18. What was your favourite TV program?

Fringe (still). Downton Abbey has been pretty good (I like watching it while I feed the baby)

19. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

No.  

20. What was your greatest musical discovery?

I am pretty lame, musically. I've been stuck on the same stuff for years. Maybe this year I will venture out and try to find new things.  

21. What was your favourite film of this year?

Joe and I just watched Hercules and I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected to. Ooh, and Xmen: Days of Future Past was pretty freaking amazing. I'd say that was my favourite.

22. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?

I turned 24. Joe and I went out for dinner at a new place in town called the Sawmill and we were disappointed.

23. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Being more social.

24. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2014?

Flowy shirts and stretchy pants (in other words: maternity wear).

25. What kept you sane?

Work, Joe, facetime and yoga.

26. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Rhett and Link from Good Mythical Morning and the Fine Bros were my entertainment of choice this year.  

27. Who do you miss?

I still miss the friends and family I have back home, but it doesn't hurt so much when I think of them any more.

28. Who was the best new person you met?

Brandi and Oaklan were two awesome people we met while up in GP and we were quite sad when they moved away. We've been able to make new friends since they left, but no one loves Settlers as much as they do!

29. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2014:

Don't slack off when it comes to living the gospel. Say your personal prayers and read your scriptures everyday.

24

Yesterday was the 24th anniversary of the day I escaped my mother's womb.

Yes, I am 24 now.

It doesn't seem too different from 23. Especially since I spent most of my 23rd year thinking I was 24 anyway.

Seriously, I'm pretty sure almost every time someone asked how old I was, "24" always wanted to be my first response. Then I would correct myself and say, "oh wait, no, I'm 23"

My day yesterday was pretty good. Joe had to get up at 6 for work, so he got me up about 10 minutes later so he could give me my present. Apparently his gift wasn't to let me sleep in, but he got me some awesome books instead.

One book is called "642 Things to Write" which will be quite useful in getting me to get back to blogging about more than being pregnant (not that I've done a ton of that anyway!). And the other is a Q&A journal where everyday it asks you a question and you have a few lines to answer that question. What Joe didn't realize was that this was a couples journal where we both get to answer the question. He's not big into journalling so this shall be an interesting experience, ha. I made him answer yesterday's question at the breakfast table since it was such an appropriate question for how I've been feeling lately. The question was, "Do you feel at home in your body?"

Now, had you asked me that question 7 months ago I would have said, "yes! I love my body!". But these days it's difficult to say you're at home in your body when you have to battle with a tiny human for control of your bladder. Or when picking up an object off the ground requires a wide, awkward squat instead of a simple bennnd and snap! 

Sorry, I've gotten off track. This post isn't about being pregnant, it's about my birthday.

My day at work was good. My co-workers gave me an ice cream cake and a card and this cake is the most delicious ice cream cake I have ever had the pleasure of eating. I don't normally like ice cream cakes because they usually come from Dairy Queen and have way too much vanilla ice cream and not enough chocolate ice cream and cookie stuff. But this ice cream cake is awesome. It's made of two layers of actual cake lovingly sandwiching a middle layer of ice cream. The ice cream to cake ratio is perfect! Plus the cake part is chocolate so that's great.

After work Joe and I went to a new restaurant in town called The Sawmill. Just a heads up, if you plan on going to the Sawmill for your birthday to get a free birthday dessert, this is not the place to go. It's a nice restaurant, but it was definitely not worth the price. Joe's plate cost 30 bucks and he was still hungry after finishing it. I couldn't finish my meal, but even though I didn't really have a lot left, I couldn't justify not packing it up because we were going to be paying so much for it anyway. As for the free dessert, you have to have a loyalty card to get one and even if we had opted to get one that night, we still couldn't have gotten a free dessert. I thought it was pretty stingy of them. I ended up getting dessert anyway just because I had saved room for it by not stuffing myself with the last remaining bites of my entrée so, dangit, I was going to have dessert! I opted for one of the cheaper dessert items since it wasn't going to be free and it was delicious. I had the lemon tart with cream and fresh berries on the side.

Even though the Sawmill was disappointing, I got to go to dinner with my favourite guy and I didn't have to make my own meal or wash my dishes at the end of the night, so I was happy.

Quiz: 2013 Review

I made it out to the library again. Today I've brought you my annual New Year's quiz. If you're new to the blog, this is something I've been doing since I first started writing 4 years ago. (Holy crap the blog is 4 years old!)

Check out the previous quizzes:

2013

2012

2011 - Gasp! I didn't do one for this year! 

2010 - what a treat, this was also the first post ever written.

And now for this year's quiz:

1. Did you keep your New Year's Resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

We made a theme for last year and that went pretty well so we have created another one: “Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly” (D&C 121:45)

2. Did anyone close to you give birth?

My friend Cora had her first and my cousin Lacey had her fourth. Cora had a boy at the end of November and they named him Reed. Lacey had a girl just before Joe and I moved away and so they named the baby after me. Just kidding, they named her Penelope and she is the first girl of her family.

3. Did anyone close to you die?

No. We had a couple close calls in the family, but thankfully everyone is still alive and healthy. .

4. What countries did you visit?

None. I haven’t worked up the courage to drive across the border again. But we have an exciting vacation planned for later this year!

5. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?

I think the biggest one is that we have our own place again! After spending a year living with others, it’s nice to be on our own again.

6. What dates from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory and why?

December 14th because that’s when I gained a new sister-in-law!

December 23rd because that’s when our grande adventure began.

7. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

I finished school. Boo yah.

8. What was your biggest failure?

Nothing.

9. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Nothing too major this year, which I am happy to report :)

10. What was the best thing someone bought you?

Me and Joe bought a travel voucher for ourselves. And guess where we’re going with it…  

11. Where did most of your money go?

School and moving.

12. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

My brother getting engaged.

And writing my last final of my undergrad.

13. What song will always remind you of 2013?

That stupid Harlem Shake song and What Does the Fox Say.

14. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder? a little bit of each.

b) fatter or skinnier? Neither I think…

c) richer or poorer? Again, neither. Everything’s pretty balanced out.

15. What do you wish you'd done more of?

Enjoying the outdoors.

16. What do you wish you'd done less of?

Nothing. And I don’t mean there isn’t anything I wish I’d done less of, I mean I’d done less nothing.

17. Did you fall in love in 2013?

Yes. I had the most amazing steak at a place called Chop in Edmonton. It was the best. thing. ever.

Oh and Joe. I love him. Like a lot.

18. What was your favorite TV program?

Fringe. ‘Nuff said.

19. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

Hate is such a strong word. But I can name someone who I have a hard time liking.  

20. What was your greatest musical discovery?

iTunes radio. Love it.  

21. What was your favorite film of this year?

You know, I saw a lot of movies, but thinking back on them, none really stand out as being my absolute favourite. The ones I enjoyed the most were Monsters University, Thor: the Dark World, Man of Steel, The Wolverine, Frozen and The Lone Ranger.

22. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?

I turned 23. I got a massage, Joe and I played minigolf then had lunch at State and Main and I skipped my night class to have cake with my family.

23. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

More sun.

24. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?

Nothing too crazy.

25. What kept you sane?

Working out. And Joe.

26. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

I developed a little bit of a lady crush on Jennifer Lawrence just like nearly everyone else I know.  

27. Who do you miss?

Who DON’T I miss? This is what happens when you move away from all your friends and family. But I’m not going to let the keep me down and miss out on new experiences where I am now.

28. Who was the best new person you met?

There were two girls: Lauren and Makenzie. I had two classes with them and they were both pretty funny. I just wish we could have become friends before my last semester of school. Sigh.

29. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013:

Don’t be afraid to be uncomfortable. You’ll never grow if you don’t step out of your comfort zone and do something different.