2016 - You are done and dusted!

2016

There are years that are rather "meh" and "what happened?"
2016 has been such a year!
Not bad, but nothing to report as well!
(That's why I know 2017 is going to be much better! It has to be, right?)

This meme is doing the rounds, grabbed from Nafisa's blog. (Thanks Tanya (Dear Max and Rebecca) for reminding us!)

1. What did you do in 2016 that you’d never done before?
Nothing! I should definitely address this issue! (Note to self!)

2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
No, I do not do New Year's resolutions any more, but I got up on the 2nd of January this year and decided that I am a vegetarian. I still am!

3. How will you be spending New Year’s Eve?
I do not like being at home this time of the year! I even tried unsuccessfully last night to book us two nights through Lekkeslaap and Airbnb. Of course it did not work because everything is fully booked. I am very disappointed that you can't search for places that are still available. You have to apply for each and every place on the sites! (Thumbs down from me!)
But Hubby organised a braai with friends at home and New Year's Eve does not seem so bleak any more! We also went to the Wonder Caves at Kromdraai today, and it was a great outing! (Definitely something to put on the to-do-list with the family!)

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No! Thank you, Universe!

5. What countries did you visit?
None! (*crying*)

6. What would you like to have in 2017 that you lacked in 2016?
I do not have anything lacking in my life!

7. What date from 2016 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
No, can't think of anything! That's why I call it a "meh" year!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
? Meh!
I nearly forgot! I got a certificate for an Online Social Media short course through UCT.

9. What was your biggest failure?
? (That's not so bad!)

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My car

12. Where did most of your money go?
Necessities and school! A new car! (Also a necessity!)

13. What song will always remind you of 2016?
The Kiffness: "Away from here"

14. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Spend time with friends.

15. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Eat.

16. What was your favourite TV program?
This is us

17. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No

18. What was the best book you read?
The Red Fish Project, by Andrew Gillmore

19. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The Kiffness - only noticed them this year

20. What was your favourite film of this year?
Rogue One - Stars Wars

21. What did you do on your birthday?
I only made a small mention on my blog about my birthday this year! It was very low key!
Next year I want to go to Mauritius and I want a Star Wars party! (Ha-ha-ha! But it's on my list for 2017!)

22. What kept you sane?
My family! Not taking everything too serious!

23. Who did you miss?
We miss the family who are overseas, especially with family get-togethers!

24. Who was the best new person you met?
Boyfriend of the Eldest! He makes her happy!

25. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2016
Do not take life too seriously, and do not get overwhelmed by other people's negativity!


Happy New Year!
2017 is going to rock! For everybody!

Wordless Wednesday #315 - Ballerina 2016

Wordless Wednesday #314 - Halloween at Jackal Creek

Jozi Meetup at Cafe Zing - Score!

It is always a "score" to attend a bloggers' meetup. And I am not only talking about the goody bags. Thanks to Laura and Heather for organizing this via SA Mom Blogs!

It is always great to meet other bloggers and to reconnect with the bloggers we read on a regular basis. We are more than virtual friends, and some people I have know from the beginning of my own blog.

Roxy Hutton (CGS Creative) gave us lots to think about blog branding and Salome Nourse (Yellow Lab) had great tips about photographing. I learnt a great deal!

Here are my shares on social media this weekend.

Cool product @EntertainerZA #jozimeetup pic.twitter.com/rGmSmTgvXT

— Karen du Toit (@karentoittoit) August 6, 2016

.@roxyhutton about how to make your blog more beautiful #jozimeetup pic.twitter.com/mTAtxb6fcn

— Karen du Toit (@karentoittoit) August 6, 2016

Products from @Dischem #jozimeetup @autograph_pr @cafezingsa TX! #bloggers https://t.co/lizNwNAKRb pic.twitter.com/8MsoczdOEF

— Karen du Toit (@karentoittoit) August 6, 2016

Salome @yellowlab_studio about how to take better photographs #jozimeetup #bloggers https://t.co/ZW7pjdkXUJ pic.twitter.com/gaqxpUQIs7

— Karen du Toit (@karentoittoit) August 6, 2016

Thanks so much @heatherss3 @harassedmom for #jozimeetup today! @safricanmomblogs https://t.co/sqwSHHdShE pic.twitter.com/4FkhIdGfAe

— Karen du Toit (@karentoittoit) August 6, 2016

All the spoils #jozimeetup #swag #goodiebag TX!!! @safricanmomblogs

A photo posted by Karen Du Toit (@karentoittoit) on Aug 6, 2016 at 6:54am PDT

Wordless Wednesday #291 - Back to school

2016 - a few notes on the start of the year!

This is the week that everything goes back to reality!
I have been back at work since last week, so it does not feel as alien, and I don't have the millions of emails to sort through!

Little Miss asked me this morning if school is going to start tomorrow. She was very relieved to hear that she has two whole days left of holidays!

Little Miss in 2016

- She is not as excited about Grade 2 as she was about Grade 1.
- She is also worried about bullies in her class this year. I told her that we would sort them as soon as they start with bullying. We have already asked that she not be placed in the same class as two kids who made her life miserable the previous years. (I hope so, but I trust the school will honour our request!)
- We bought a new school case, but I recycled most of her stationary from the previous years. She was upset at first, because it's "old"! Luckily the complaints stopped when we put everything in a new stationary box for school. You can't see the difference, and we saved a lot of money!
- She is getting big and I love all the conversations we are starting to have. Real existential questions and remarks. I was in awe last night about the depth of her understanding about spirituality!
- I will try to write it down and share it here! (If she allows me!)


MomAgain@40

- This little blog has only a year left before the 40 won't ring true anymore! (Heavens!!)
- Little Miss is also getting bigger, and I am starting to censor more about what is being put here!
- I have a year to decide what I am going to do with this blog, but I think I will re-purpose or start a new blog with a new theme! I still love blogging, the community of bloggers and what I have learnt while blogging!
(There is sooo much I have gained from my experience here!)


Me, Myself and I

Yes

- My word and my motto for this year is Yes! I already had the opportunity to say yes without thinking twice this year because of this!
- I have never regretted saying yes to new opportunities, and this year is going to be better and bolder!
- I still need to work on a Vision Board for 2016. It really works! (Does any one knows about a good Vision Board app? Off to search...)
- On the second of January of this year I became a vegetarian. I have always said that the moment I have to kill for my own food, is the moment I would stop to eat living things! I have been a hypocrite for most of my life! I am taking it day by day, but it is not as difficult to make other choices!
I still eat eggs and dairy which makes me a ovo-lacto vegetarian! (Little Miss tells me that I should stop eating eggs as well! For now I am feeling proud of myself for getting 10 days into the new year without eating any meat!) My family supports me, but it is difficult as we love to braai (barbeque)! My go-to food now for a braai is a mushroom! (Sorry Hubby!!)


The Student

- I feel unsettled about The Student as this is her year to start with a new job and finish the final studies.
- Everything is uncertain, and we don't know yet what is going to happen...


The Hubby

- I am extremely grateful for Hubby who keeps us together and fed!
- I am sorry for upsetting the equilibrium by becoming a vegetarian. (Thank you for taking it in your stride!)
- This year is going to be a better year for you as well! I know it and I feel it!


2016 is starting with new things, new challenges and lots of uncertainty!
BUT I have good feelings about 2016!


May 2016 be good to you as well!
What new things are in the pipeline that is worth sharing?

We nearly started the New Year with a third dog

We waited and celebrated the New Year in Pretoria. We were visiting friends, and stayed overnight as to not be on the roads.

We had a great New Year's Eve!

But we did worry about leaving our two dogs alone, especially since the black dog is highly strung and people are still doing fireworks...
(How stupid and irresponsible as our social media streams are filled with lost and injured dogs today!)

We got a Whatsapp notification this morning from a concerned neighbour about a black dog running around near our complex. From the picture it looked exactly like our dog. Luckily we could ask the neighbours to catch her. Little Miss freaked out and wanted us to go home immediately!

Our friendly complex neighbours caught the black dog, and put it "back" in our yard.
It is only when we got the picture and message about "three" dogs that we realized it is not our dog!

The one being sniffed on the photo is the one that was running around. Luckily she was taken to the vet and she has a micro-chip!

It all turned out well!

Thanks to concerned neighbours, and thanks to a dog that is micro-chipped!


Photo by the complex neighbour!

Yes! for 2016

Here we come!

Of course this holiday has raced to an end, and I did not do everything I wanted to do the last week of 2015!

2016, you are starting us off with a to-do list!

I uses this blog as a way to look back on a year. That makes me realize each time that I have more to be thankful for than a few disappointments and low budgets! We have family and we have good times together!

I have found my new word of the year 2016! 

It will be YES!

YES to new opportunities!

Saying YES to everything coming my way!

I don't have specific plans for 2016! Yet! 

But I will say YES to Life!

What is your word for 2016?


Related post:

Joy for 2014