Travels

This week i've been trying my hardest to stick to my budget which will hopefully make my bank balance look a little healthier and help me save to move out. I've been praying about friendships too and 2 opportunities have sprung up...both of which cost a fair bit.

The first is to fulfill a promise i made to a best friend 18 months ago when we said goodbye at Gangnam Station and I left my home and life in Seoul. I told her I would visit her in Texas when she returned to the States and she's been back for a year already. However, she's also looking at returning to Korea this Autumn so my time window to visit has suddenly shrunk! After scanning the internet for flight prices we've settled on March for my visit to Texas and i'm so excited to see her again and all the state has to offer!

The second is to go with new friends at Church to Bergen in Norway over the Easter weekend. I'd never really thought about visiting Norway before, I mean it's not that I didn't want to, it just never jumped out at me as a place to go to. After checking the weather averages I can't say i'm ecstatic about the thought of a cold, snowy city break but I want to go with those people, so to Norway I will go!

This is a little scary but i'm going to be tracking my weekly weight and exercise goals this year:

Weight: 80kg
Exercise: Managed 3 gym trips,3 swim trips and a climbing evening this week. 
Using the MyFitnessPal app is really helping with logging diet and exercise, plus it's motivational as friends can see how much you're eating vs. the calories you burn! 

Getting 2014 off to a Smashing start!

My favourite type of craft has to be working with papers. Think scrapbooking, card making etc. and you get the right idea. While browsing my local craft shop for post-Christmas bargains I discovered the Smash book brand. This is a little like Project Life and some of the other memory project ideas I've done throughout the years. I'd originally thought about a memory jar this year but my new Smash book will definitely be more fun!

So month by month i'll be filling in a couple of pages and hopefully have a beautiful book full of memories by the end of the year! Considering I have made no New Year resolutions as such this should keep me busy while also focusing on the positives in life.

Check out your local craft shop for Smashbooks and affiliated products, or click the link below. Their inserts are cute and quirky and I would actually love to use everything in their range but doubt my budget would stretch that far.

http://www.smashbooks.co.uk/

(Smash Books aren't endorsing this post, I just really love their craft idea!)

2013 In Review

 

Being my first Google Blogger year (a Tumblr graduate I like to think) I thought it would be fun if I did as some of my (more successful/grown up) counterparts do and write about my year in review. 2013 was a tough year and i sure do hope 2014 is better on almost all accounts. However, I still have a lot to be thankful for so in bullet-point form, here I go:

1. I finished graduate school and became a teacher

2. I met this fantastic man who I can be silly and real with

3. Lots of friends got married so many chances to celebrate

4. I finally visited a best friend in Berlin

5. There were days spent sailing with loved ones

6. Long dog walks and bike rides in the New Forest National Park

7. I went to Barcelona...finally!

8. I saw my first West End show 

9. I did some charity work with teenagers

10. I went on great nights out with friends 

While creating this post I found pictures I'd long forgotten about! I'm glad I did this - give it a try! So from me to you, Happy New Year! May 2014 be filled with God's love and promises, with joy and laughter, all year through. 

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to you all! To us today a saviour is born, so Happy Birthday Jesus!

Christmas 2013 has been a quiet one with close family, the 25th being the 2nd of 3 family celebrations. Today we break the mould by eating Spanish chicken and tomorrow we will feast on Cheese raclette Swiss style (at the Swiss family residence). Gifts are all beautiful and gorgeous; I'm such a blessed girl. 

Hoping you have a lovely Christmas Day and are maybe even decked out in your Christmas sweaters too..?

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve seems like the perfect time for my first post, as I relax with my family in front of a murder mystery (which i don't understand) surrounded by sweet smelling Christmas candles. 

I have said my goodbyes to my handsome (rather more exhausted today) man as he's left the county to spend Christmas with his family, and feel a little despondent about it. Something feels a little wrong without him to spend Christmas with...However, i am glad i'm home for the holidays  this year and am excited to have time off work to relax, eat, sleep and have some fun. 

All plans for amazing batches of Christmas cookies, perfectly wrapped presents and an inspiring tree have been lost along the way somewhere, but you know what, that's okay. It's okay because Jesus is the same amazing saviour, my family are celebrating together this year, the food has been delicious so far and my dog continues to entertain no matter the season. 

The Christmas lights are pretty in my neighbourhood this year...