So long 2018!!

Tonight at midnight we say goodbye to 2018.  Its been a lot of ups and downs and I'm curious what 2019 is going to throw my way.

1)  What did you do in 2018 that you'd never done before?
Participated in my first (and definitely not last) 5k!

2)  Did you keep your New Year's resolutions and will you make more?
I don't usually make them, I make a few goals and I'd say yes I'll be making more

3)  Did anyone close to you give birth?
My baby sister had twins and my cousin Jennifer had a baby boy

4)  Did anyone close to you die?
Nope

5)  What countries did you visit?
Zero!

6)  What states did you visit?
Nevada, Colorado, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana & Tennessee

7)  What would you like to have in 2019 that you lacked in 2018?
I wouldn't mind it being the year of my own little bundle of joy but who knows how those cards will be dealt.  I'd also like to get back into the classroom.

8)  What date(s) from 2018 will remain etched upon your memory and why?
The day my little seester gave birth to twin girls.  I'm already an aunt to 2 "real" ones and a stepaunt/honorary aunt to 16 so this was special.

9)  What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Doing some spur of the moment things, like driving to the Opry to see Garth last minute!  Life is about memories and who you spend it with.

10)  What was your biggest failure?
Not speaking my mind on a lot of issues.  That's changing for 2019.

11)  Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nope!

12)  What was the best thing you bought?
Hmmm...well I had to update a lot of my wardrobe so probably that

13)  Who's behavior merited celebration?
This is a tricky one

14)  Who's behavior made you appalled and depressed?
All I'm going to say is this saying is true:

15)  Where did most of your money go?
Bills, bills, bills!

16)  What did you get really excited about?
All the fun stuff we had planned for the year

17)  What song will remind you of 2018?

18)  Compared to this time last year, are you:

a. happier or sadder? in the middle

b. thinner or fatter? in the middle

c. richer or poorer? in the middle

19)  What do you wish you had done more of?
Standing my ground and speaking my mind...oh and scrapbooking

20)  How did you spend Christmas?
Part 1 was with my in-laws, Part 2 was just us and part 3 was with my family

21)  Did you fall in love in 2018?
I continuously fall in love year after year

22)  How many one night stands?

Zero

23)  What do you wish you had done less of?
Worrying about others

24)  What was your favorite TV program?
Oh this is a tough one.  I'm a fan of New Amsterdam, A Million Little Things and Chicago Med

25)  Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate last year?
I have a few people on my highly dislike list.

26)  What was the best book you read?

I can't pick just one book that is the best.  Check out my Goodreads list and see for yourself.

27)  What was your greatest musical discovery?
Bradley Cooper can sing!

28)  What did you want and get?
an epic birthday, which was at Cedar Point Amusement Park in Ohio - so much fun!

29)  What did you want and not get?
To finish scrapbooking and be caught up...yeah not happening yet!

30)  What was your favorite film this year?
A Star is Born, any of the Disney movies

31)  What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?
I had 2 celebrations - one with Keith & I at Cedar Point Amusement Park then a family one at Eckert's Apple Picking.  So much fun!

32)  What was one thing that would have made your year immensely satisfying?
Getting back into the classroom

33)  How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2018?
trendy yet casual comfy

34)  What kept you sane?
the opportunity to go to my own room and do my own thing in this house

35)  What celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
None really this year

36)  What political issue stirred you the most?
Bye Bye Greitens...Hello Mr. Parsons

37)  Who did you miss?

My momma day in, and day out

38)  Who was the best new person that you met?
My coworker Danielle - I will miss her once she moves branches come January

39)  Tell a valuable lesson you learned in 2018?
Speak up, don't let people walk all over you.  The truth needs to be told

40)  Quote a song lyric to sum up your year:

Cheers to the New Year!

St Louis Zoo Wild Lights

I'm totally behind on my Christmas activities posts but each one is magical that they deserve their own and its always fun to relive activities.

We did our best this year to try new things around the STL area and one of those was the US Bank Wild Lights at the St. Louis Zoo.

Majority of my family was out of town during this so we had a small group that went.  However the weather was perfect, not too cold, and the lights were gorgeous.  Your ticket got you inside, rides on the carousel and a few other fun things.

It was a fun night.  We had never done it before so we were eager when the opportunity presented itself.

If you didn't get a chance to see them, I encourage you to go next year.  This will definitely be on our list to check out again.  They also offer Boo at the Zoo, which we've never had a chance to get to either so I hope to check that out too.

What's Up Wednesday!

I can't believe Christmas is here!!!  Such a wonderful time of the year!!

What we're eating this week:

Sun - flatbread

Mon - buffalo chicken wraps

Tues - quesadillas

Wed - out

Thurs - stirfry

Fri - out

Sat - xmas party food

What I'm reminiscing about:

all the fun Christmas celebrations we've been doing.  Last weekend was Zoo lights

What I'm loving:

all the family time lately

What we've been up to:

We have been busy busy.  Tons of fun stuff this holiday season in STL and we've been banking on it all!

What I'm dreading:

Honestly I'm afraid to pick up our christmas cards tomorrow.  Its been a huge hassle with the photographer.  We had to reschedule 3 times due to her and then the weather.  Then I kept having to remind her that I wanted them for Christmas cards.  Then she sends me the gallery but no download button.  I contact her again, she promises to fix it.  I got to the cut-off for ordering cards and had to fix the picture myself.  I finally had to really get an attitude and request a refund then I suddenly got pictures.  No refund but fingers crossed these pictures look ok.  It was an okay session, some turned out cute but such a hassle.

What I'm working on:

Honestly nothing!  I'm trying to get my husband to make decisions on our bathroom remodel.  He's had 2 months.  Otherwise I need to scrapbook bad!!

What I'm excited about:

going to a new Christmas thing at the science center tonight then the Brewery tomorrow night.  So much fun!

What I'm watching/reading:

Currently catching up on Shark Tank.  Reading has taken a side step but I need to get going on the pile on my bedside table.

What I'm listening to:

The new Brantley Gilbert/Lindsey Ell song

What I'm wearing:

anything comfy!

What I'm doing this weekend:

Science Center Christmas, Brewery christmas, christmas party for Dad's work, family ugly sweater party then church music service.  So much fun!

What I'm looking forward to next month:

I have made a personal goal for 2019 and January is the start of it.  I've been taken advantage of and walked over by a certain aspect of my life and its time that it stop.  I have no need to cover up any aspect of my life anymore and its going to feel great not to be masking me stuff.  Wish me luck!

What else is new?

Nothing honestly.

Merry Christmas everyone!

November Books!

Can you believe we are in the month of December?!?  Don't blink because 2018 is going to be over faster than we know it!

I read quite a lot in November.  I'm kinda shocked about it:

4 stars

This was well worth the overdue fines I've gathered because of not finishing it fast.  Its a long book but it is extremely good!

3 stars

This book is a long read.  I kind of got bored with it but wanted to finish it because she's one of my favorite authors.  I did not like how it kept going back and back as the chapters went on.  It makes sense why once you're finished.

5 stars

I loved this book!  I hate that we have to wait until next year to read book #2 but go read this book!!

4 stars

Everyone makes a bucket list of some sort in their life.  This book shows how you can achieve all that when given a life altering diagnosis.  It hits home with a sister in law of mine but I hate giving things away so you'll just have to read it to find out!

4 stars

This book was an interesting read.  It shows you how 2 opposite worlds can come together with a common goal.

2 stars

I had high hopes for this book as I saw so many good reviews on it and I just wasn't that impressed with it.  I skipped around a lot.

3 stars

I'm trying hard to read holiday books right now and I enjoyed this quick little read.  Opposites attract in this fun holiday novel.

What are you reading?

Check out my Goodreads list.