Saturday, 4 January 2025

This week my Word of the Week is: New! #WotW

This week my Word of the Week is:

New

It has to be new, with it being a new year. I hope you have all had a good start to 2025. We've had a good week. I am still lost with what day it is. Wednesday felt like a Monday, Thursday felt like a Friday and yesterday did actually feel like a Friday.

We had an amazing new years eve! We did something new for us and went out and stayed out until gone 1am. We had such a great evening though. We had a meal, then danced and sung our way into 2025. There were no hangovers the next morning, I was more tired than anything!

There has been no new year resolutions, I started my changes before the new year. I have decided to use more skincare and pamper myself a bit more which hasn't been a challenge at all since I got a load of skincare products, bath stuff, face masks and things like that for Christmas. My face is feeling better for it already and I've only been using the lotions and potions for just over a week!

A new year see's new programmes on the TV and one which is new to me is The Traitors! I have heard people talking about it in the past so made a point of watching it on New Years Day, I know it's one of those that you have to watch each evening to keep up with what is going on and I am hooked!! 

I have also been watching a lot of Wrestling. It has all moved onto Netflix which is going to save me a fortune in the long run. They added all their past pay per views and I have been working my way through all the Wrestlemania's (their big show of the year). The new episodes of their weekly shows start next week which I am so excited about.

Ellie decided, just after Christmas that she would start watching all the Marvel movies in chronological order. It is all new to her, she knows bits from hearing me talk about them but she is learning lots. hehehe She is just starting Iron Man 3 as I write this.

I have got my new snuddie on today, the one Becky got me for Christmas and it is needed! It's so cold and is set to get colder. I did laugh at the weather warning, don't go out early in the morning or on an evening because of the ice. Becky would love not to but she has to go to work on an evening and come home early on a morning. Snow and ice doesn't stop people needing care in residential homes. I hope everyone of you stays safe and well in this awful weather! 

I don't think there is any more newness in my life. We are just sticking with what we know and what we're comfortable with creeping into 2025. I think if I was to chose a word of the year I want it to be "plodding". I don't want an amazing year, I just want a steady, average, unexciting year but I am wishing you all the best for 2025!

I am of course linking up with Anne who blogs at Raisie Bay for her Word of the Week linky!

Word of the Week linky

Friday, 3 January 2025

What I have loved this week! Week 1. #FridayFavourites

Hello there! Happy Friday and Happy 2025! How is it we prepare for Christmas for months and it's gone in a flash? We're not quite ready to get back to real life, routine and early mornings start on Monday. We are still in holiday mode here and I am enjoying it! I am linking up with Erika and Andrea to share some of my favourites from this past week.

What I have loved this week!

Squid Game!
Season 2 dropped on Netflix last week and I finally got around to watching it, of course after I had watched the first season. It's so good and why did they have to end it like that! The highlight of the show was him with the purple hair, I went from hating him to loving him! The Mingle game song has been stuck in my head all week. lol

A tidy house!
I love having the Christmas decorations up but there comes a point after Christmas when I start shouting at my family that we need to tidy up and clear away Christmas. That happened on the 28th. This is before and after!

Before and after tidying the living room

 We found homes for our presents, took the tree down and gave everywhere a good clean. It feels so bare in here but the space is nice.

Proper food!
Over Christmas we eat nothing but leftovers from Christmas dinner and picky food like sandwiches, cheese and crackers and party food. It has been nice to eat some proper meals this week. Fish fingers, chips and beans and spaghetti bolognese! Next week we are back to getting the Gousto recipe box delivered.

New Years Eve!
For the first time in over 19 years we went out for New Years Eve! Usually we stay home in our pj's but we decided to go for a meal and hang out at the pub! We got dressed up and had some lovely food. We had planned on staying in the quieter side of the pub away from the DJ and singer but spotted a table a little bit closer and we ended up moving there. We had such a good night, we didn't get home until after 1am, we slept until late on new years day and thankfully didn't have sore heads. hehehe

My top 9!
I love seeing what photos made it into my top 9 on Instagram. I have got back into using Instagram towards the end of the year and it shows as 5 of them were taken in November and December. My top 9 photos of the year: My birthday pressies, matching xmas pj's, Christmas dinner, eldest & Deadpool, bingo winnings, wrapping Christmas presents, my youngest, my youngest on the day she was born and me in York!

Top 9 insta photos

New bedding!
For Christmas I got some Harry Potter bedding, it's such a boring present but I love it. It is flannelette material and it is so cosy and nice to sleep in. I need to change the bedding over the weekend and I am hoping to get it washed, dried and back on the bed in one day as I honestly thing I am sleeping better because of it. I did go to buy another set just as a spare but they had sold out. Hmmf.

New nails!
I put some false nails on for New Years eve! I love the colour of them, they went perfectly with my dress that I wore. It was only when I glued them on that I realised that the hearts might have gone the other way up. Oh well, nobody said anything and I was happy with them so that's all that matters.

New nails and a bluey onesie

A bluey onesie!
My youngest got a onesie in the Boxing Day sales. It's a character from Bluey I am told. I had no idea. lol It's hardly been off her. She doesn't sleep in it so I have been washing it on an evening and drying it the next morning so she can wear it for another couple of days. We have been living in comfy clothes for the last 2 weeks so it has been perfect.

What have you loved over the last week?

Friday Favourites

Thursday, 2 January 2025

365 Days Of Gratitude. In December I was grateful for..

I have seen many people on social media list something every day that they are grateful for and thought I would join in. I did this for the whole of last couple of years and it has really made me realise that even on the bad day's I have something to be grateful for.

December flew over but it seems ages ago since I wrote my November grateful post! We had a fantastic month, Christmas and end to the year. To be honest I am glad the year is over but at the same time it has been one of those years that I am glad happened as we have learned lots.

Grateful

Day 336 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful that Becky thinks of me when she's out! She brought me home a Terry's chocolate orange brownie!

Day 337 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful that Stu got some overtime in at work on his usual day off. The extra money will come in handy in January.

Day 338 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful for a lovely gift from a friend! A Christmas gonk! They know me so well!

Day 339 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful for a day by myself. I got to have an extra long shower, do my nails and just potter about the house.

Day 340 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful for an early Christmas dinner out! It was such a lovely meal with good company! I am also grateful for a lift home from town from a friend who I've not seen in ages! 

cracker and prawn cocktail

Day 341 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Yesterday I was grateful to go to my dad's. I went a month without going to his with him having a rotten cold and then me! It was lovely to have a catch up! 

Day 342 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful that I didn't have to go out in the stupid weather!

Day 343 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful for my dad taking us shopping. We have now got all the freezer food for Christmas and a few extras.

Day 344 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful for my brother's power tools! He helped fix our fence after the storm took a few panels down.

brother fixing the fence

Day 345 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful for another Christmas meal out! It was the best one I've had so far, from our local pub!

Day 346 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful that I had a day with no real plans. I could just potter around the house.

Day 347 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful for online shopping!

Day 348 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful for lunch at my dad's. It's becoming a regular thing now which I love.

Day 349 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful for so much! It has been a good day! Sunshine, my dad's partner popping around for a catch up, Christmas deliveries from friends and family and the Strictly final!

Day 350 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful for Christmas nails!!

Christmas nails

Day 351 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful that Stu and I managed to pick up a few Christmas presents for us while we were in town. I loved that Primark had some new Harry Potter pj's in, I had to get them for myself!

Day 352 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful for a lift into town off my dad. It saved me having to faff around with the bus.

Day 353 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful for a night at the pub! The unplanned nights out are always the best!

Day 354 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful that Stu cooked tonight. Not the meal I had planned, we had a stir fry instead and it was so good!

Day 355 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful that I ticked lots of things off my to-do list! There's so much to do at this time of year!!

Day 356 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful for my brother bringing a big bag of pressies round for us all.

Day 357 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful that I had some time this afternoon to watch some Christmas films. December has flown over and it feels like I haven't watched that many.

Day 358 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful for my family all pulling together to get the last of the things sorted for Christmas!

youngest wrapping presents

Day 359 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful for Christmas dinner! We had it a day early so Becky could enjoy it with us!

Day 360 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful for a nice relaxed day! It has been so lovely just to sit in front of the TV.

Day 361 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful for clean pj's and fresh bedding! I will sleep well tonight.

Day 362 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful that we got some bargains in the sales in town.

Day 363 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful that the girls helped sort the house out. We tidied and cleaned all day! 

Day 364 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful for the laziest day! We have done nothing productive at all. It has been lovely!

Day 365 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful that Stu could go to work today. It means he get's tomorrow off! Hooray!

Day 366 of #365DaysOfGratitude
Today I am grateful that I've been grateful for something every day this year.

What were you grateful for in December?

Wednesday, 1 January 2025

Week 52 of #Project365 22nd - 31st December! A photo every day for a year!

Here we are at the end of the year and a bumper edition of Project 365, I wanted to end the year in one post but it does mean the first week of the new year will be short one. You also get the extra day as this year was a leap year and I forgot when I started in January. 

I hope you all had a good Christmas, if you celebrate. We had a fantastic one, it was so chilled. For the last week we have done nothing but eat, watch TV and stay in our pj's. Last night we got all dressed up and ventured out to the pub to see the new year in. It's the first time we've been out for New Years Eve in years, Stu and I have never been out for NYE so that's at least 19 years.

Now for a photo every day!

Pony and a tray with food on
Christmas dinner and my presents
A foggy garden
McDonalds and tidy living room
Squid game and new nails
A random shelf in my house

357/365 - 22nd December
The cutest pony at the farm shop. He's clever, he comes running when you arrive so your thoughts turn to thinking he wants a carrot. We asked while we were paying and bought him one. 

358/365 - 23rd December
Picky bits for tea. When my girls were little they loved these trays, with different sections and now we bring them out usually on Christmas Eve, they still get excited which makes me happy.

359/365 - 24th December
We had Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve and it worked so well, we will be doing Christmas this way in the future. I might not be the greatest cook but I can knock up a great Christmas dinner, we all enjoyed it.

360/365 - 25th December
Christmas day and all we had to do was open our presents. It was such a lovely day and I was spoilt rotten with gifts.

361/365 - 26th December
It was so foggy here for a few days. This was when I thought it was at it's worst, it got worse.

362/365 - 27th December
We headed into town and of course stopped at McDonalds for lunch. We got a few bargains in the sales and Ellie happily spent the money that she got for Christmas.

363/365 - 28th December
Christmas was packed away and the girls and I spent the afternoon tidying up and cleaning. I say it every year but it looks so bare in here now.

364/365 - 29th December
Season 2 of Squid Game arrived on Netflix just after Christmas and I decided to watch the first season before seeing the new episodes. I've watched the new episodes and how can they end it like that!! I've read season 3 will be here in the middle of 2025! Phew!

365/365 - 30th December
New nails for the new year! I put them on and then realised the the heart ones might have looked better the other way around.

366/365 - 31st December
Just a random shelf in my house. I had a lazy morning yesterday and spent the afternoon getting ready for our big night out.

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