My daughter Kelly and I recently had birthdays. I turned 43 on the 7th and Kelly turned 16 on the 8th. Sweet 16. It's hard to believe. Like me, Kelly's an introvert and didn't want a party. She also didn't want to go out to eat, like we normally do on her birthday, so I cooked a meal for her - pasta bake. I hadn't made that one in awhile. It had been a few years, actually. I had recently bought the ingredients for it and when she asked me what I had at home that I could cook, pasta bake was on the list and she chose that. She chose an Oreo ice cream cake for her birthday "cake".
My gifts: 3 books (An Undisturbed Peace by Mary Glickman, Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys, and Me Before You by Jojo Moyes), a chef's knife, a batter bowl (by Pioneer Woman), and a set of mixing bowls (Denmark, from Bed, Bath and Beyond). All things I wanted and asked for.
The mixing bowls I got were replacements for the plastic set I'd had for about 20 years or so. Plastic being what it is, they were getting pretty worn out and it was time to throw them away. I did keep the biggest one though.
Kelly's gifts: a couple books, a couple video games, a large black pillow for her bed, and a t-shirt.
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I mentioned above that the batter bowl I got was by Pioneer Woman. I had gotten Pioneer Woman plates for Christmas. Late December or sometime in January, I also got a Pioneer Woman paper towel holder. Obviously, I love her stuff. :-)
I'm not really into chickens as decor, but I thought this was pretty.
Other recent purchases:
This purse I got from Dillard's. It's by Brahmin. I paid a lot of money for it (well, a lot for me), but I had saved up for it. Money my mom gave me for Christmas helped. I had been searching for a new black purse, but most of the ones I saw were too blah/plain/old lady. This one I loved and was the only one I saw that I wanted. I carry it all the time. :-)
And this skirt by Ralph Lauren that I got from Macy's. It was originally $125, but I didn't want to pay that much for it. By December, it had been marked down quite a bit and I only paid $25. :-)
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Charlie had to go to Atlanta around the first of February. He came home in time for Kelly's and my birthday, then went back to Atlanta on the 9th. He came home again this past Sunday because he had a doctor's appointment yesterday, but the weather (snow, sleet, freezing rain) was bad so he had to reschedule. He went back to Atlanta today and will probably be gone until sometime next month.
1. What did you do in 2015 that you’d never done before?
Took a DNA test and started vacuuming the church on Saturdays.
2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't make any resolutions.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
None. :-/
6. What would you like to have in 2016 that you lacked in 2015?
A bigger home so that I can have a room just for my library.
7. What date from 2015 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Sunday, March 15th. It's the day Charlie went back to church with us. :-)
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I did some climbing and hiking. Something I wasn't sure I would be able to do, what with not being in the best shape, but I did and it was fun. :-)
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not praying enough.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I somehow hurt my back while on vacation in September by walking on the beach a couple hours a day for 2-3 days. A day or two after coming home, I was in so much pain I couldn't move. I had to go to the doctor and he gave me a shot in my back.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Books, clothes, purses, and shoes.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Sean's. Most kids his age don't love going to church and worshipping God like he does. And my husband's for getting back in church.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
I've been appalled at the behavior of those who once served God.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Bills and groceries. One of those bills is for our dog Pippin. He became very sick with pancreatitis in October and had to go to the emergency vet for a few days. It was very expensive. I'm hoping we can pay it off when we get our tax refund.
15. What did you get really excited about?
Charlie going to church with us, vacation, day trip to the mountains (Blue Ridge Parkway, Boone) in October, church every Sunday and Wednesday, football games (go Panthers!), basketball games (go Tar Heels!), and a few NASCAR races (go Junior!). :-D
16. What song(s) will always remind you of 2015?
Mercy Tree by Anthony Evans.
Actually, every song on the Real Life/Real Worship CD. And some of the songs we sang at church.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. Happier or sadder?
Happier.
ii. richer or poorer?
A little richer.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Pray, read my Bible, travel.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Can't think of anything.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent it with my husband, my kids, and my mom.
21. How many one-night stands?
Yuck! None.
22. What was your favorite TV program?
Outlander, Who do You Think You Are?, Finding Your Roots, The
Amazing Race, Vikings, House Hunters, Rizzoli and Isles, The Last Kingdom, Turn: Washington's Spies, Sleepy Hollow, Fixer Upper, and House Hunters
International.
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
I don't hate anyone.
24. What was the best book you read?
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I don't think I had any last year.
26. What did you want and get?
Books, clothes, boots, purses, and best and most important of all, Charlie in church with us. :-)
27. What was your favorite film of this year?
Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
28. What did you do on your birthday?
Nothing. My daughter Kelly's birthday is the day after mine, so we focus on her.
29. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2015?
Classic, feminine, lady-like in the spring and summer. Still feminine, but with some leather (vest, jackets), denim, and biker-type boots in the fall and winter.
30. What kept you sane?
Prayer and faith in God.
31. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
The
same one it's been since I saw him in The Fellowship of the Ring on DVD
in August 2002 - Orlando Bloom. Also, Jude Law and Tom Hiddleston.
32. What political issue stirred you the most?
None really. I'm not into politics. Though I do vote.
33. Who did you miss?
No one.
34. Who was the best new person you met?
I didn't meet anyone new. Or rather, I didn't get to know anyone new. We have some new people at church, and I've talked to a few of them, but I haven't really connected with them.
35. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2015.
