2013: A Year in Review

Template from Lacey Buchorn

Sunday Social 29/12: NYE!

Hey guys :)

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! If you've checked out my Christmas 
post, you'll see we did!

This week's questions are all about the new year!

1. What is the best New Years Eve you've ever had?
I don't really remember many NYE, other than standing out the front and shouting Happy New Year and watching Jools Holland on the tv. 

One NYE I do remember, though, was the Millenium. 

 

Me, Grandma, my cousin and his Mum, and my little sister in front.

 

I vaguely remember the hats, champagne (one sip, mind you!) and sparklers.

2. Are you doing anything for NYE this year and if so what?

 

Every year we've been together, hubs and I have sent a sky lantern off the balcony at our flat.

Well, now we have our own home, and no balcony, so what do we do? Ha! What we always do, Pinky (sorry, inner geek right there), we'll snuggle up in our onesies and watch the countdown on the TV, list our dreams for that year, and I'll probably take a photo of the fireworks, which will then be deleted because they're pretty naff. :) Perfect. 

3. Name a book we should all read come January?
Okay so I haven't read it yet but I'm going to - Safe Haven, by Nicholas Sparks (he of The Notebook fame). I watched the movie last night and its incredible. Major girly crush on Julianne Hough, too! 

4. What are your new year's resolutions?
Stress less! Always remember that nothing is forever, and never feel like I'm stuck having to do something I don't enjoy. 

Knuckle down and finish uni before I have a nervous breakdown!

Stay skinny Stay healthy, so that when my tummy tenant moves in, I can give it the best possible home (for 9 months, anyway!)

 

Your turn! Answer the questions, grab the button, and link up!

Next week's questions

These are all more questions about the new year!

1. Do you plan to change any of your eating habits in the new year?

2. Any workout tips to get us back in shape after the holidays?

3. What is your favorite thing you did over the holidays?

4. What is something you hope that you accomplish in 2014 that you did not in 2013?

5. Name 3 things happening this year you are excited about and why.

Merry Christmas!

All that hype and build-up, for one crazy day! I don't know if you feel the same way,
but it seems that as soon as Boxing Day is over, I just want to take down all the decorations and have done with Christmas! 
But boy, did we have a great couple of days!

I worked in the ice rink on Christmas eve. It was so nice - all the decorations were up,
the Christmas playlist was on, and everyone was super stoked for the next day.
My sister popped into the ice rink with my nephew to bring me a black forest hot chocolate and a breakfast toasted sandwich, because I'd forgotten to bring lunch :)
After work, I headed home and we got the house ready - there was lots to do, but we somehow managed it by about 9pm, and then we settled down to watch Christmas tv and have dinner. We put the lamb and beef into the slow-cooker, and set the table. 

On Christmas morning, sudden realisation hit that I was an adult - instead of bounding down the stairs to rip open my presents, I was more excited to check the slow-cooker! 
Woody opened his gorgeous photo that Steph from Quirkilycurious drew for me. Its of our rats, Einstein who died recently, and Freud. It captures their personalities perfectly!

I opened two beautiful dresses, and then had to pick which to wear today,
whilst hubs started cooking...

Then our guests turned up. Here are a few photos from the day... :)

How amazing are these sofa and chair cushions, as well as a beautiful pin board, that my sister made for me?!

Watching Woody with my nephew was so lovely :)
they were best friends straight away!

Absolutely love the Woody onesie that my parents got Woody, and I had to put on the 
Breaking Bad one that I won from the amazing company OnePiece!

And my awesome sister got me a Doctor Who festive jumper! Coolest ever!!!

Just some of my amazing pressies!

 We had an awesome day and dinner was amazing. Oscar is now 6 months so we let him explore solid foods (Kerri's practicing baby led weaning for anyone who's interested!).

My favourite present from my sister, who hand-made every gift, was this

Doctor Who charm bracelet.

And spoilt - rotten - me got a beautiful Swarovski necklace from Woody :)

Every year, my Mum and her 5 brothers and their respective partners/children all meet up for the family Boxing Day party. This year it was at one of my Uncle's houses - we tend to alternate. Me and Woody are hoping to have the next one :)

It was so lovely, my cousins brought their baby daughter Sienna, and
Oz got to play with her. It was just lovely, as always, to see everyone.

I hope you all had an equally lovely Christmas! I am super excited for
Christmas next year now (which is so unlike me this early on!). Although these past 3 months have been the hardest ever, we've had an amazing year and have lots planned for 2014!! ;)

Saira xo

Sunday Social: 23/12 Christmas!

Can you believe it's so close to Christmas! Sorry I'm a day late this week -  yesterday was mega hectic with hub doing his last minute shopping and cleaning up the house ready for our guests!

This week's questions are all about the big C, of course!
1. What is your favorite holiday season tradition? I have so many, but probably having Christmas coffees with my sister, Christmas shopping with my mum, and opening one present at midnight with Woody on Christmas eve/day.
2. Do you have a certain holiday movie you watch more than others? If so, what is it? I've watched Yogi's First Christmas twice already, I've watched Jingle All The Way, Elf, The Santa Clause, Disney's A Christmas Carol and I have A Muppet Family Christmas for Christmas day!

3. Show us your favorite decoration or pinterest decoration you wish you could have? I love having a turquoise tree! I do it every year because its our favourite colour. Slowly, the whole house is turning turquoise ;) This year, one of my favourite decorations is this cute little owl tree topper! My mum found him for me, after I couldn't decide what to top my tree with.

4. What is your favorite holiday song? I am loving White Christmas by Michael Buble and Shania Twain! It's such an upbeat version of a great traditional song.

5. What is your favorite holiday dessert? I never liked Christmas pudding as a kid, but I have started to eat it more recently with clotted cream :) But my favourite dessert is probably egg nog french toast. We made it once with powdered sugar, egg nog and of course bread, and it was amazing.  

6. What is on your wish list this year?
Something pretty to wear, whether its clothing or jewellery :)

Your turn! Answer the questions, grab the button, and link up!
Next week's questions

1. What is the best New Years Eve you've ever had?

2. Are you doing anything for NYE this year and if so what?

3. Name a book we should all read come January?

4. What are your new year's resolutions? 

Have a great Christmas, guys!

Losing a pet is devastating...

Yesterday we lost our beautiful little man, Einstein. 

I'd originally bought the rats, Einstein and Freud, for Woody's birthday in 2011.

For 2 years, they'd been hectic, fun-filled, cheeky little things that would spend 8+ hours a day out of their cage, on the sofa with us, asleep or watching tv. 

We watched as they got older, and more laid back, wanting to play less and sleep more.

We knew their time would be coming. They were 2.5 years old, and a rats lifespan is 2-3 years. But we weren't expecting it to happen so suddenly. 

A lot of people expect rats to be dirty vermin type creatures. I guess that's how they're portrayed in the media. But let me tell you now, rats are super intelligent, extremely loving, and highly entertaining! 

Yesterday started like any other. I came downstairs first thing, cleaned up the dog mess, fed the dog, sat down and ate breakfast and watched the news. Only when I started doing my hair did I look into the cage and see poor Einstein laying across his food bowl. I thought it odd, and obviously as I looked closer, I noticed his eyes were open and he wasn't breathing. His brother, Freud, was up and about and I instantly realised. I burst into tears and ran upstairs - Woody was just waking up but when he heard me sobbing he instantly got up and came to see. 

Of course, the unimaginable, unthinkable had happened, and Woody scooped him up quickly for a goodbye cuddle. He was still warm, and I kick myself thinking that maybe if I had looked in on him before feeding the dog, before eating my breakfast...maybe I could have been there with him for his final minutes. But I mustn't dwell on the what-if.

We said our goodbyes, gave him a kiss, and Freud sniffed him goodbye, and Woody bravely dug a grave in the garden and we buried him.

The oddest thing - as we were digging the hole, Woody came across a little angel ornament that just appeared in amongst the soil. Perhaps it was always there, but we never noticed it before. So it now sits above Einstein, always to keep him company.

And now, amidst the random outbreaks of tears, I am focussing on Freud and making sure he is okay. We bought him a teddy and placed it where Einstein has been laid. He nudged it, breaking my heart, to see if it was alive. At night, he snuggled next to it. Daddy sat up with him when he was a bit nervous, and told him he'll be okay because he has his daddy here so he's not alone.

My heart is broken, but I am so so happy to have been able to know the little dude, and have had him in my life, and been able to give him the best life I possibly could.

Einstein Wood; 30/07/11 - 16/12/13. 

With all our hearts, we will miss you forever. 

xo