2012 – It was good!
This has fast become my year end meme 
Thank you Wenchy for starting me off on it.
Running a smidgen late for 2012 but here it is!
You can take a look at {2009}, {2010} and {2011} if you like.
1. What did you do in 2012 that you’d never done before?
Petted baby {lions}!
2. Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I have stopped making resolutions, that way I cant disappoint myself when I break them
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope, although a lot of Twitter friends had babies.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My Uncle and my moms best friend and 1st cousin.
5. What countries did you visit?
I didnt leave South Africa.
6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
More me time.
7. What dates from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory?
December 21st, the day I survived the Apocalypse ;)
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Taking the time and making the effort to be closer to Paul!
9. What was your biggest failure?
I cant really think of any ‘failures’.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Besides having THE WORST winter of colds and flues in the history of, ever? Nope, no major illness or injury.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Flowers for my garden.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
My kids. They have been stars this last year. They are maturing, are polite, play together so nicely. Im very very proud of them.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
No one I can think of.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Petrol. 2012 was a killer!
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My brother Matt finally got engaged!
16. What song/album will always remind you of 2012?
{Goodluck}. A fantastic local band. I have their album on repeat in my car.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
- Happier or sadder? Happier
- Thinner or fatter? Fatter
- Richer or poorer? About the same.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Cooking. I did a lot of baking but not that much cooking.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Wasted time. I want to be more efficient.
20. How will you be spending Christmas
We spent the day with family having a braai.
21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
Paul and my mom.
22. Did you fall in love in 2012?
No. Im still in love with my husband and my children though.
23. How many one night stands in this last year?
None.
24. What was your favourite TV program?
Grimm, Supernatural, Hawaii Five-0, Arrow
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No.
26. What was the best book(s) you read?
I read so much that I honestly cant tell you what was my best.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
28. What did you want and get?
A new Kindle Touch.
29. What did you want and not get?
Nothing I can think of.
30. What were your favourite films of this year?
Sjoe! I cannot actually remember any of the films we saw last year o_O
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Good grief! I have absolutely no idea. That is either a very very bad or a very very good thing!
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Not having any family grief.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
Casual.
34. What kept you sane?
Cipralex! And my amazing husband. Always!
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
None, I am so not into politics.
37. Who did you miss?
My brother Cliffy.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Gosh, so many wonderful people have come into my life.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012.
Kids will make a mess, leave it until they go to sleep, then, clean up. You will drive yourself crazy trying to clean up while they are still making a mess playing.
Photo by Jeanette Verster Photography
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year?
{ If you’re happy and you know it…} – I have sung this song till my face turned blue and every time, no matter what, I was so much happier after singing it
How do you read?
Julia over at Unwritten posted this meme and I thought I would give it a bash
How do you organise your books?
Oh hell, seriously? I try and keep fiction and non-fiction apart, I try keep books by the same author together and books in a series together, I also have an issue getting rid of books so at the moment my books are an utter mess because there just isnt enough space for all of them.
Do you prefer series books or stand alone books?
Both, I just love to read
Do you have a favorite time of day and/or place to read?
Whenever and wherever I can. I love my new Kindle that I got for my birthday, its small enough to pop in my hand bag so I can read wherever I am.
Are you the type of person that only reads one book at a time or can
you read more than one at a time?
I would love to be able to read more than one book at a time but I just cant, I tend to loose myself in a book and I just cant concentrate on more than one at a time.
What is the last book you bought?
Hmmmmmm, the last book I bought was a fairytale book as a birthday present for one of the kids friends. For myself, I bought The Dragon Who Loved Me by G.A. Aiken, book 5 in a series of books about, you guessed it, dragons.
What are you currently reading?
Witches Under Way (Book 2 in the Witchlight series) by Debora Geary. Its a spin off series from her A Modern Witch series which I have read. These are also the first books that have been shared via Kindle with me. You have a few days to accept the loaned book and once you accept it you have 2 weeks to read them in. I heart Kindle!
If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop to look it up right away?
If I am near my computer then yes, if not I try to remember to check when I have access to my computer.
Do you snack while you read? If so, favorite reading snack?
I pretty much snack all the time, so yes, I snack when I read. Its usually whatever is handy.
Me me me me meeeeeeeeeme….
I saw this meme on Jenty’s blog and then on Alida’s, Laura-Kim’s and Angel’s…
My turn!
- Right now, I am lying on my bed, trying to get warm.
- I’m currently obsessed with the Merry Gentry novels by Laurell K. Hamilton.
- Cannot live without hugs.
- I’m reading Seduced by Midnight – Book 3 of the Merry Gentry series.
- I’m listening to my dogs eating what was their breakfast.
- Favourite place in Joburg dont really have one exactly. I love discovering new places though.
- Favourite place in SA is Jozi. I love everything about my city.
- Favourite place in the world the Kotel in Jerusalem.
- I’ve lived in Jozi and Israel.
- Next up on my bucket list perhaps I should actually make a bucket list…
- The last thing I crossed of my bucket list see above
- I realized I was an adult when I looked into Aaron’s eyes for the very first time.
- I realized I’d never be an adult when I accepted that I love animated films!
- In the movie of my life, I want to be played by Julianne Moore.
- Best invention since the wheel: PVR.
- A house is not a home without dogs.
- This week I’m crushing on my very warm feather duvet!
- I’m currently working on not much.
- I’m really proud of Aaron, for being the politest little boy I know!
- You’d be amazed if I showed you my teeth before I had braces. The stuff of nightmares. No really!
- I cannot survive winter without hot chocolate.
- Signature dish Sjoe… No idea. I love testing new recipes and very seldom make the same thing twice unless it was very very good. But after a few times I move onto something new.
- Guilty pleasure soppy romance novels.
- When no-one’s looking I sing. Loudly. And badly
- In my next life I want to be a dog in my house. Spoilt brats.
- Every morning I am late. I hate waking up.
- I believe that anything is possible and that things, good or bad, happen for a reason. Also that Karma is a bitch and you will get back what you dish out.
- I’ve really got to work on building my immune system. At this point it feels like I dont have one at all.
- Best advice I was ever given Do the right thing, even if it hurts.
A meme
I havent done one of these for a while so when I saw this on Wenchy’s blog I jumped right in!
Shot a gun
Gone on a blind date X
Skipped school X
Saw someone die X
Visited America
Visited Mauritius
Visited Europe
Visited Australia
Visited Sun City X
Visited Cape Town. X
Been to Victoria Falls
Been to court. X
Been lost X
Travelled to the opposite side of the country (by car!)
Visited Pretoria X
Swam in the Ocean X
Cried yourself to sleep X
Played cops and robbers X
Played cowboys and Indians X
Recently coloured with crayons X
Travelled by train X
Sang Karaoke X
Sang a solo or duet in church
Paid for a meal with coins only
Made prank phone calls X
Laughed until some beverage came out of your nose X
Caught a snowflake on your tongue
Had children X
Had a pet X
Been skinny-dipping outdoors X
Been fishing X
Been boating X
Been downhill skiing & made it down the hill without falling
Been water skiing
Been camping in a trailer
Been camping in a tent
Flown in a small 4-seater airplane
Flown in a helicopter
Flown in a hot air balloon.
Walked on a glacier
Driven a motorcycle/been a passenger
Been bungee-jumping
Gone to a drive-in movie X
Done something that could have killed you-but didn’t
Done something that you will regret for the rest of your life X
Met Nelson Mandela
Visited Asia
Rode an elephant
Eaten biscuits or cake for dinner: X
and ice cream for breakfast. X
Stolen any traffic signs
Stolen any traffic cones
Been in a car accident X
Donated blood
Played bowls (old man’s marbles)
Play along with us. Mark all the things you HAVE done with an X
Gratitude: Days 24 to 30
Im taking part in a photo challenge.
You can see the first 6 days here and days 7 to 14 here.
You can see days 15 to 23 here.
Day 24: gratitude - I'm so grateful that I'm able to make even this small contribution. #CutForCANSA
Day 25: artwork - the print we bought at the iPhonography exhibit. @Jenty sold it to benefit #teamjp
Day 26: transportation - my baby
Day 27: daily routine - tea! Can't start my day without it. Even if it's just one sip
Day 28: nighttime - the street light outside my house
Day 29: light - through the clouds. The sun will shine
Day 30: self portrait - mwa!
Im a little bit sorry I wont have anymore daily photos to take. This was fun!
Random facts are me :)
I was given an award by Tanya over at Dear Max (check out their spiffy new home on the web!)
So I have to tell you 7 random facts about me and then tag 15 bloggers to do the same.
Here goes!
- I hate painting my finger nails but love having my toe nails painted.
- I could speak in full sentences (no baby talk) by the time I was 1 year old.
- I have a very short temper but a very short memory too, once its over its over, I move on.
- I cant sleep with my feet out the blankets, they have to be tucked in.
- I always wanted to own a book store with a fire place reading nook, just so I could curl up with any book I liked and read all day.
- I wish I was tall.
- If I could have a 2 hour nap every single day I would be the happiest person ever.
And the 15 bloggers are:
- acidicice
- Because I Can
- Cinderella Trippin’
- Everything In Between
- Getting By
- Her Royal Cuteness
- I am Tamiya
- Jessica Giggles
- Keeping up with the Walkers
- Kambabe’s Thoughts
- Love.Cybelle
- Lovely Light
- Mandi Made It
- Mom’s Meanderings
- Roro’s Rantings
Gratitude: Days 15 to 23
Im taking part in a photo challenge.
You can see the first 6 days here and days 7 to 14 here.
Day 15: technology - no one said it had to be modern tech. My grans original electric sewing machine
Day 16: - animals - this is my mothers dog Bones. I'm grateful that I get to live with her 3 pups
Day 17: memories - thanks mom for taking the photos
Day 18: something new - fresh summer fruit
Day 19: best friend - @wendilk. She had to send me the pic cause she doesnt work with me anymore 
Day 20: seasonal - or unseasonal since its supposed to be hot and sunny. I love this weather though #nofilter
Day 21: where you sleep - Im so so so grateful for our king size extra length bed. @pauljacobson is slightly more grateful though #talldude
Day 22: clothing - my outfit today. Dress from my moms cupboard. Jeans from Truworths. Shoes from local artist at the Bryanston Organic Market.
Day 23: in your closet - Ummm ja. Not gonna happen. It's a mess. Sorry 
Gratitude: The next 8 days
Im taking part in a photo challenge.
You can see the first 6 days here.
Day 7: something funny - Faith's bed head
Day 8: favourite colour - #red
Day 9: inspiring person - my mommy! The strongest, smartest, most beautiful lady I know!
Day 10: nature - a corner of my moms garden. Bliss
Day 11: something old - Funk & Wagnalls dictionary circa 1949
Day 12: Hands - Hubband and wif
Day 13: written words - support the cause
Day 14: movement - how awesome is it that I get to watch my baby girl wiggle around
Gratitude: The first 6 days
Im taking part in a photo challenge.
Here are the first 6 photos.
day 1: favourite food. All food is my fave, today this tops my list
day 2: smile - I'm so grateful to be able to draw smiles with my big boy!
day 3: happiness - my almost 1 year old
day 4: leaves - I am so grateful to have not 1 but 2 purple bougainvillea plants outside my bedroom. The 'petals' are actually leaves
day 5: morning sky - I'm grateful for the rain we might get later today #nofilter
day 6: books - just a small portion of our book shelf... About 1/5 of the space...
zoom in on gratitude: 30 day photo challenge
I found this awesome photo challenge over at Alida‘s blog (she found it here) and I think I am going to give it a bash
From tomorrow Im going to post every day to Instagram and will do a summery post every few days here for those that dont follow me on Twitter (why dont you? No, really! Go follow me now!)
Blessed Cupcake Book Club's bookshelf: read
15 members
For those who enjoy smultzy romance novels or something a little hotter!
15 membersFor those who enjoy smultzy romance novels or something a little hotter!
