Bye-bye 2008!

This year seriously rushed by in a flurry of colours, sounds, feelings and blog posts. Just a few weeks ago it was like June (or it at least felt like it). I am a combination of sad and happy that 2008 is finally ending.

On the one hand I am sad that another year has passed me by and that next year I will have to turn a year older *sigh*......BUT on the other hand I am super glad that 2009 brings a whole new clean slate, a bunch of new opportunities/possibilities and about 365 days to improve my blogging skills...heehee....

I must admit I dont really make new years resolutions (which is surprising as I love lists). Personally, i prefer to just try make lots of new goals and changes throughout my year. Occassionally I will make a 5 year list or a 10 year list (this happens very seldom).

In my opinion New years resolutions just seem silly and a bit forced. I seldom have enough brain power at this time of the year to make much sense (as I am usually in serious holiday mode)....So, Im pretty sure writing a list of resolutions with mushy brain would only be a waste of time.

Instead of making firm resolutions, I prefer to rather take the time to reflect back on year gone by and send up a few wishes and prayers for the year ahead. I shall share a few of them with you.....

........for 2009 I wish and pray.....for more patience, for new experiences, for me and my family to be healthy, to be more fearless, to laugh at myself more easily, to see beauty more often (especially in my mirror), to stay away from negative thoughts, to be more colourful, to always be honest, to write something I am proud of, for more discpline to finish things I start AND to never ever stop dreaming (no matter how unrealistic).

I would like to wish you a very happy new year. I hope next year is all you wished and prayed for.

My blogging shall continue in 2009....

Couch potato syndrome

Ok, i have finally stopped humming christmas tunes, we dont have anymore left over christmas lamb (thanks mommy) in our fridge, all scary mall madness seems over and I literally can not ever eat christmas cake again....

.....Now I am just in lazy holiday mode, instead of christmas crazy mode - I havent done much at all the last couple of days. I have been eating everything and I have been watching a copious amounts of TV and movies.

The last couple of days I definitely been suffering from "Couch Potato Syndrome" or "CPS".
Brief description of CPS (according to me anyway): A rather common occurance in most households at this time of the year. This syndrome usually leads to the consumption of too much take away food, an unhealthy attachment to your couch, an inability to wear anything but sweat pants and over sized t-shirts around the house and in serious cases will cause"square eyes" (not a medical term)

In my defense I have not really been feeling too well and the last 2 days have been gloomy here - So, i feel like I seriously need to be a couch potato right now.

Today maybe I shall venture outside to get some fresh air. Actually, scratch that - I MUST go outside, even if its just to get more "supplies". *winks square eye*

I plan on spending the rest of 2008 chilling, lazing and relaxing. I have a feeling 2009 will have other plans for me :)

Happy Friday!

Well, its almost a whole brand, spanking, new year. Since this is the LAST Friday of 2008 I thought it only fitting that my quotes today be inspired by the fast approaching New Year.

"We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives... not looking for flaws, but for potential."

-Ellen Goodman

"Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right."

-Oprah Winfrey

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"Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us."-Hal Borland

Chilling, blogging and Twilight

The weekend was awesome. There was lots of eating, some drinking, a couple of gifts bought, a trip to my hairdresser, a little dancing and plenty of being merry....ahhh, 'tis the season to be jolly indeed.

Today is a great Monday for two main reasons: I am on holiday and I haven't spent all my money on christmas shopping - yet. The only annoying thing about today is that The Boyf had to go to work (boo!)

I finally watched "Twilight". I totally loved it ( i may even be obsessive and watch it again before it comes out on DVD).

I thought the movie was entertaining, visually appealing and very romantic.

Sure, its NOT as good as the book but its great to see the characters come to life on screen anyway. Robert Pattinson was a great pick for Edward (very hot). Surpringly I liked Kristen Stewart as Bella too (very girl next door).

This month I am going to try to keep blogging (cause I like it). BUT, I make NO promises that I will blog often and I cant guarentee that anything I write while I am on holiday will be good - after all, even a few days of chilling may make my brain mushy *winks*

Right now I am going to trot off to the shops for a bit of a retail high. Then I plan to spend the rest of the day just lounging around - blissful :)

Hope you all have a great Monday...

Happy Friday and Happy Holidays!

I chose these three Christmas quotes today because....

This one is true:
"Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas." - Peg Bracken

This one is beautiful:
"Like snowflakes, my Christmas memories gather and dance - each beautiful, unique and too soon gone." - Deborah Whipp

and because this one made me laugh:
"Let's be naughty and save Santa the trip" ~Gary Allen

Mall madness and a christmas wishlist

One week until christmas - hectic!!!

I still haven't done any christmas shopping and I dont even have a tree. Awful, arn't I? (you may judge me if you like).

This year the "holiday feeling" has not hit me yet. I think its because I have stayed away from malls. Malls usually brain wash people to feel festive. I think I need to go to a mall or two this weekend and breathe in some brainwashing retail air. Lets hope my wallet and I survive the mall madness.

Even though I am not really buying alot of gifts this year I still intend on making this christmas special for The Boyf :). I think I will even attempt to bake some christmas cookies or cupcakes next week *smile*

Ive noticed everyone in bloggyland putting up their christmas wishlists. So, I thought I would list a few things I would love to get from santa:

1. A puppy

2. A garden (for no. 1)

3. A year of free trips to my hairdresser

4. A new cellphone (preferably the i-phone)

5. Two plane tickets to Canada (so The Boyf and I can have a white christmas)

6. A few pretty dresses

7. Books - lots of nice books :)

8. Havianna wedge flip flops (yes, they exist)

9. A new washing machine and fridge

10. New lounge throw pillows

Questions for you:

Have you done all your christmas shopping?

Whats on your wish list this year?

10 things I learnt this weekend

1. Cold prawn salad is not for me. I like my prawns warm and dunked in garlic butter.

2. I could never have enough pairs of flip flops....ever.

3. "Wall-e" is one of the cutest animated movies ever. I want a real Wall-e robot.

4. Ice-cream is always better when eaten out of a cone.

5. There will always be a huge sale on at a shop you like when you are feeling broke :(

6. Trying to quit caffeine completely was just a silly idea (alot of you knew this already). I enjoy my morning cup of coffee far too much these days.

7. All plants, except cactus plants, die after a few weeks in our apartment. I have no idea what I am doing wrong?

8. Cleaning out clutter can be a cheap form of therapy.

9. The Boyf has alot of patience with people. I wish I had a bit more lately.

10. Talking to yourself is fine, as long as noone hears you doing it.

* To read other things Ive learnt at other times click HERE

Confessions of a miss piggy

I have been seriously over eating lately and even though I know its naughty, I just cant seem to resist *wipes crumbs off lips*

Unfortunately, the festive season doesnt just bring countless hours of shopping, waiting in lines and bright, sparkly things - it also brings truck loads of yummy treats :)

This fact is rather good for my mood, but will probably be a disaster for my thighs..heehee...(thank God I have good genes to help me a bit)

Im not even going to list all the weird combinations of food that have been passing my lips lately (mainly because im too embarrassed). Though I will share a little food advice with you today: Sushi and christmas cake do not go well together.

I would love to hear about any strange food combinations you have eaten lately :)

Chipped

Yesterday my front tooth got chipped. Thankfully it isnt a very big chip, but i may have to give up my dream of becoming a toothpaste teeth model *sarcastic grin* .
Seriously though I was a bit upset by the "chipping" incident, but The Boyf assured me it would only be noticable with a magnifying glass.

How did this annoying thing happen? Well, a co-worker accidentally knocked into me while i was drinking out of a glass bottle at our companies year-end function. Grrr. I guess I cant be too mad, after all she did it by accident - or so she says??.....

(note to self: try fight the urge to make up an elaborate conspiracy theory)

Happy Friday!

"We try to grab pieces of our lives as they speed past us. Photographs freeze those pieces and help us remember how we were...." - Gene McSweeney

"A good snapshot stops a moment from running away."

- Eudora Welty

What? Its only Thursday!

I am so keen for the weekend to start. Hope Thursday flies by.
Holidays are getting closer and closer......
:)
Another great cartoon by Doug Savage

Gym hamsters and novel ideas

This morning I crawled out of bed and reluctantly fell into some gym clothes. To say i was a little unenthusiastic to go exercise is a serious understatement.

Gym was ok, though sometimes i cant help but feel like one of those hamsters running in a wheel....going nowhere but again (and again). Sometimes i think gym can be boring. Im thinking about joining an aerobics class - which is something i never thought id do as i'm rather uncordinated.

I'm sort of getting over my gym germ phobia by living in a deep denial about the existence of gym germs ( *hands over ears* la la la la la la - I cant hear you , there is no such thing as gym germs)

I must admit I felt more perky after gym (as i always do) and was actually happy The Boyf had coaxed me to go.

Lately Ive been thinking alot about writing. Not just blog writing or writing in general, but writing with a purpose. A purpose of achieving a goal. The goal being "a novel". I want to start writing one. Its been a life long dream (as I am sure it is for many of you reading this).

In the past I have tried to write (ever since i was a teen). I have boxes of half scribbled stories and a mountain of poetry stored away in unused cupboards at my parents house. *sigh* How do you know you have what it takes to be a writer?

I have ideas for my future novel, but possibly too many. The plots keeps changing and occassionally I feel my ideas sound too silly when i say them out loud. Hopefully procrastination will leave me and i'll just start. Then i'll just see where the words lead me. I'll keep you posted on this subject.

A little note - I noticed a week or so ago that I now have 60 followers (so cool!!!) Thank you to all who "follow" this blog. I feel special.

Clock watching

Have you ever had one of those days when you feel.......

* Totally uninspired to do anything but google random words that pop into your head
* convinced that someone has messed with all the clocks in your office because time is moving impossibly slow
* Sure that your company has switched all the coffee to decaf
* Your keyboard starts to look like a perfect head rest
* That you need to comfort eat – so you eat all your “emergency” snacks in your desk drawer.
* That the only thing you want to do with the papers on your desk is make paper planes and fly them into the trash
* That continuing to "pretend smile" is making your face hurt
* The ringing of your work phone is the most annoying sound you have ever heard
* that today would have been a great day for someone to switch the water in the water cooler to Vodka.

Well....I am having one of those days (grrrrr). I feel sleepy and generally unenthusiastic. I wish I could write more on my blog today, but that would require effort and today I can’t even fake it

I cant wait for christmas holidays!
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(PS -if you recognise this post, its because I posted something very similar in July. I decided to "recycle" some of it - Just doing my bit for the blogland enviroment.heehee)

Happy Friday!

"Work like you don't need the money. Love like you've never been hurt. Dance like nobody's watching". - Satchel Paige

(Photo by TheQ! )

Current addictions

* Google - I am definitely suffering from a case of "googlitis". I seem to google everything and anything at the moment. I heart google. What did we all do before google? I dont even want to remember.

* Lip stuff - My lips have been ikky for the last couple of months. I have no idea why, but its annoying. So, my major addiction at the moment is all things "lippy". I have tried lip balm, chapstick, 8 hour cream..etc...anyone know any miracle creams for dry, flakey lips?

* Dermalogica - I love this skincare range so much. Sadly, I have run out of all my Dermalogica stuff, except my tinted moisturiser. When i get my bonus I am going to go splurge on some products. Seriously its brilliant stuff - if you havent tried it, go ask for some samples.

* Listening to Music - I used to be a very passionate music enthusiast, who enjoyed buying CDs and trying to find new artists to listen to. For a while i lost interest in music and pretty much the only new music I heard was on the radio (sad, but true). Lately though I have felt a renewed passion for music. Im listening to alot more music and checking out the internet for new music Id like to buy.

(to see my everygrowing i-pod favourites list click HERE)

* Bounty Bars - Yum yum yum.....They are so coconutty and dark chocolatey. Makes me feel like Im eating suntan lotion (in a good way, you know). Now i just sound weird.heehee

To read all my previous current addictions click HERE

Random advice

Just couldnt resist posting this totally random cartoon today.

Cartoon by Natalie Dee

The down low

When i am feeling down and low heres a few things i do to perk myself up -

* Buy a book - seriously, adding to my bookshelf usually puts a smile on my face

* Play some awesome music on a high volume, then sing and dance around the apartment (this is definitely best done when alone at home..heehee)

* Take a long shower and then spray one of my favourite perfumes all over me (clean +perfume =happiness)

*Drag a couch, chair or blanket into a sunny spot - ahhhhh, good old vitamin D

*Hug & kiss The Boyf until i just cant fight the happy feeling anymore ;-)

* Buy or pick a bunch of flowers. Its amazing how a fresh bunch a flowers in the home can make you feel better (thats what my mom always says, and she is so right)

* Burn scented candles or incense - i think smelling nice things always lifts my mood.

How do you perk yourself up when you are feeling down???

Monday mumbles

My mini-break was fabulous. We were booked into such a nice bed and breakfast. It was blissful having time off work, getting away from the city and also spending some time with The Boyf and his folks.

The Boyfs dads 60th birthday party was fun. I may have had a few too many glasses of champagne, but I didnt realise this until i woke up the next day with a major case of fuzzy head (i blame the bubbles).

Yesterday I went to support The Boyf and his team for a day of bowls. It was a Mo-vember event and all money raised on the day went to the Cancer assocoation.

It was a very, very long day in the sun. I got sunburnt on my forearms only - and yes, i did try to use sunblock. So I look a bit freaky again (i told you I had terrible luck in the sun). I think its a sign that i need to just stay milky white.

I finally finished the last book in the Twilight saga. It was, in my opinion, not as good as the three previous books. The authors imagination went a bit too wild in this book. It was still entertaining though and I felt that the ending left me happy enough to be able to not crave anymore.
I am a bit sad that i have finished all the books in the series now - They really were so addictive. The first 3 books made me wonder if the pages had been laced with drugs.... Now i am eagerly awaiting the Twilight movie (oh, when will my Twilight obsession end?) heehee.

I got two really rocking pairs of sunglasses this weekend that were on SALE (you just have to love a good sale)...I got a pair of Ray bans and a pair of Salvadore Ferragamo sunglasses. How did i get so lucky? Well, i found two pairs i really liked, but realised I couldnt really afford both. The Boyf saw how much I was struggling to decide which one to buy - So, he took the more expensive pair and said it could be my christmas present from him :) i felt very spoilt.

Deck the halls with debt?

This year The Boyf and I have decided we are not giving any presents (well, except to each other). We are also going to tell our families and friends not to buy us anything.

When it comes down to it, christmas really is not about the gifts (shocking, i know). Sure, over the years its become so much about the gifts, cards and eating lavishly that some people seriously have no idea that its about anything else but over the top money spending.

Dont get me wrong -I love presents...I love giving and getting them....... but this year I think we should all boycott the big present giving and crazy, mindless money spending. I think people should rather give homemade gifts, make cards and spend quality time ( instead of money) - Well, thats my opinion anyway :)

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Suggestion: If you want to spend money this silly season - how about donating money (or gifts) to organisations and people who really need the money and the gifts.

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Are you doing crazy christmas shopping this year?