Happy New Years Eve everyone!
May 2011 be the year of Living every moment, Laughing every day and Loving Beyond Words!
#reverb10 is a site that has been put together to help people Share their Story. For each day in December, different writers provide you with prompts for you to think about. These prompts are such great thinking tools. While there is one prompt for each day of the month, i wont be doing all of them....i will be picking and choose which ones allow me to share my story and what i have time for.
I couldn’t have been more wrong. I think I had been living the past few years in one of those places where, in the back of your mind, you constantly wonder how things would have been if you had taken a different path. I wondered where I would be in my life plan, how I would be living and who I would have in my life. But this trip didn’t send me into a crazy, depressing spin….instead it was a very eye opening trip for me. It was what you would call a defining moment. I came home realising that where I am is exactly where I was meant to be. I understood that life is just as difficult over there as it is here, that the dreams and ideas that I had in my head were possibly from a very childlike place.
The Prompt
Describe a defining moment or series of events that has affected your life this year. (Author: Kathryn Fitzmaurice)
In August I got to go back to America. I had very mixed feelings about going back and wasn’t sure if it was going to be one of those things that would leave me feeling undone. I was scared that I would come back and dredge up all those feelings of what if’s…..
I couldn’t have been more wrong. I think I had been living the past few years in one of those places where, in the back of your mind, you constantly wonder how things would have been if you had taken a different path. I wondered where I would be in my life plan, how I would be living and who I would have in my life. But this trip didn’t send me into a crazy, depressing spin….instead it was a very eye opening trip for me. It was what you would call a defining moment. I came home realising that where I am is exactly where I was meant to be. I understood that life is just as difficult over there as it is here, that the dreams and ideas that I had in my head were possibly from a very childlike place.
My time that I spent in America will always be special to me, but I now am able to live my life more secure in the choices that I made all those years ago.
#reverb10 is a site that has been put together to help people Share their Story. For each day in December, different writers provide you with prompts for you to think about. These prompts are such great thinking tools. While there is one prompt for each day of the month, i wont be doing all of them....i will be picking and choose which ones allow me to share my story and what i have time for.
The Prompt
Sift through all the photos of you from the past year. Choose one that best captures you; either who you are, or who you strive to be. Find the shot of you that is worth a thousand words. Share the image. (Author: Tracey Clark)
There are many words that i think of when i look at this picture of myself, but the one that i love the most is FUN.
#reverb10 is a site that has been put together to help people Share their Story. For each day in December, different writers provide you with prompts for you to think about. These prompts are such great thinking tools. While there is one prompt for each day of the month, i wont be doing all of them....i will be picking and choose which ones allow me to share my story and what i have time for.
The Prompt
What’s the thing you most want to achieve next year? How do you imagine you’ll feel when you get it? (Author: Tara Sophia Mohr)
Next year is my year for losing the excess weight and getting to a place where I feel healthy. I know that this has been on my list of New Years Resolutions for forever now but this is my year. My year for losing weight, making new friends, trying new things, finding a man, making a difference and stretching myself to get a new job.
The main theme around all of my goals for next year is happiness. Happy with who I am and how I look. Happy with the relationships in my life. Happy with the impact that I am making on my small section of the world.
This arrived in the post just in time for Christmas. What is inside is beautiful, but what is on the outside is just as lovely. I couldn't have dreamed of a more prettily wrapped box.
#reverb10 is a site that has been put together to help people Share their Story. For each day in December, different writers provide you with prompts for you to think about. These prompts are such great thinking tools. While there is one prompt for each day of the month, i wont be doing all of them....i will be picking and choose which ones allow me to share my story and what i have time for.
The Prompt
Nothing brings me joy quite like filling my home with fresh flowers. It doesn't matter what time of year it is or what type of flower it is - they all bring me joy. 2010 has been filled with many beautiful bunches of flowers, the plan for 2011 is to include many more in my life.
This Christmas has been magical. We have had so much fun, it has definitely been one of my most favourite Christmases.
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| All the gifts wrapped up on Christmas Eve |
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| A white Christmas morning. |
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| Santa's little helper. |
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| The Gruffalo show - wohoo! |
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| Drum Roll please! |
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| Surprise! |
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| Is this what i think this is? |
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| The anticipation is mounting.... |
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| Ta-da, the boat of his dreams! |
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| A biker dude in the making. |
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| The dinning table |
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This whole eating thing is exhausting.... |
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| Magies vol ogies toe! |
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| M&S pudding at its best. |
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| Hmmm, what am I going to get to have for pudding? |
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| All my gorgeous gifts. Lucky, lucky girl! |
Merry Christmas everyone!
#reverb10 is a site that has been put together to help people Share their Story. For each day in December, different writers provide you with prompts for you to think about. These prompts are such great thinking tools. While there is one prompt for each day of the month, i wont be doing all of them....i will be picking and choose which ones allow me to share my story and what i have time for.
The Prompt
Travel. How did you travel in 2010? How and/or where would you like to travel next year?
(Author: Tara Hunt)
Having a South African passport means that i havent been able to do much traveling before now. Needing a visa to go to most countries meant additional expenses to the holiday as wel as additional stress. So, having finally got my British passport i decided to make the most of it and at the same time appease my travel bug.
I went back to New York to visit the lovely Rayola...
to make new memories in New York City
And watching some amazing acrobatic moves
I also got to go back to South Africa and see the local art
take in some gorgeous scenery
and watch two dogs having a wonderful time in the ocean
2011 I would love to travel somewhere new. Perhaps Ireland or even Paris. I am also planning to go to St Louis, Missouri to attend the Women's Conference with Joyce Meyer. Looking forward to some good travelling Next Year!
This is my first collage of photos for My Life in 365 Photos Project.
I am really enjoying this one!
Friday night was supposed to be our teams Christmas meal out. Its been planned for weeks along with Secret Santa for the team, however this bug or flu or whatever is going round is a real knocker and so with four out of seven people in the team feeling awful with this sickness, we decided to cancel the evening meal and do it after the new year.
So, instead of exchanging Secret Santa pressies in the new year, we took a quick break from the office and waited in anticipation until Santa Mark got around to handing out all the pressies.
I was so pleased when he handed me this package. Not only was i sure that there would be a gorgeous gift inside, but it also came with a fantastic paper bag!
And here I am taking a little sneaky peak into my bag while waiting for everyone to get theirs'....
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Having to wait those few moments was killing me! I couldn't wait to rip into my beautiful pink gift!
Bow undone, stickers ripped and pink tissue paper excitedly thrown to the floor........all to reveal this..
How much do i love this gift and just how gorgeous do i look :-)
#reverb10 is a site that has been put together to help people Share their Story. For each day in December, different writers provide you with prompts for you to think about. These prompts are such great thinking tools. While there is one prompt for each day of the month, i wont be doing all of them....i will be picking and choose which ones allow me to share my story and what i have time for.
The Prompt
December 14 – Appreciate. What’s the one thing you have come to appreciate most in the past year? How do you express gratitude for it? (Author: Victoria Klein)
This year I have been lucky enough to meet an amazing woman. Since I left America, I have really struggled with making friends here. I have met many people and have formed some good acquaintances but I hadn’t met anyone who felt like a real friend.
I feel totally blessed to have met Rayola and become friends with her, but when I decided to move here I didn’t understand how lost and lonely I would find it without her. Meeting and getting to know Aliyah has filled such a lonely spot in my life. Someone who is kind, and caring and who I can say anything to. I don’t have to sensor my thoughts or my emotions despite how personal and private they be.
I Appreciate this wonderful lady being in my life!
You know what i love most about this Art thing that i do?
That i can try anything and it doesnt matter if it turns out looking horrible. It doesnt matter if you crumple it up and throw it in the bin because its art. Its taking a risk and trying something new. There are no reprecussions for mistakes or changes or deviations. And best of all, its often those moments of saying *Woops* that lead to the best discoveries and projects!
And for said explanation, here is one that i did earlier! :-)
I wanted to make snowflakes to go on my gifts this year, so i found myself a pattern on the internet and had a go! But, it turns out that i dont really like them and therefore will be finding myself a new idea!
This time next week i will be finishing work at 2:30 instead of 5pm, i will be making my way to mom and dad's with a car full of beautifully wrapped gifts, my camera in hand and of course the tom tom to make sure i arrive before Christmas is over with!
Christmas is a difficult time of year to be on a diet. Not only is the all the yummy food that makes it way into the office each day, but its the parties and meals out and even something as simple as the cold. This week has been tough temptation wise. Delicious, gorgeous smelling food. But i have been good and managed to avoid any badness.
So to say that i was dissapointed when i climbed on the scales this morning is an understatement. A lose is a lose i know, but for how much effort i have had to put in this week i just feel like i should have lost more.
So to say that i was dissapointed when i climbed on the scales this morning is an understatement. A lose is a lose i know, but for how much effort i have had to put in this week i just feel like i should have lost more.
Now, onto the results.
This week i have lost 1.2lbs
In total, i have now lost 28.2lbs
One more week and i have made it to the eight week mark. That means that its another photo reveal. Well done me!
#reverb10 is a site that has been put together to help people Share their Story. For each day in December, different writers provide you with prompts for you to think about. These prompts are such great thinking tools. While there is one prompt for each day of the month, i wont be doing all of them....i will be picking and choose which ones allow me to share my story and what i have time for.
The Prompt
December 1 – One Word. Encapsulate the year 2010 in one word. Explain why you’re choosing that word. Now, imagine it’s one year from today, what would you like the word to be that captures 2011 for you? (Author: Gwen Bell)
Looking back over 2010 the word that comes to mind that encapsulates my year is
Courage to face my fear and go to the dentist. To not only have my wisdom tooth out but to have a root canal done as well.
Courage to go back to America and spend some time with my best friend.
Courage to go back to South Africa despite my feelings of uneasiness.
Courage to put myself out there and make a few new friends – even if just new acquaintances.
Courage to take my first exam in ten years.
Surprisingly I didn’t have to think very long and hard to come up with my word for 2011. Well, its actually 3 words but hey, who’s counting right? My words for 2011 encapsulate how I hope to live during the year ahead….
And Cute! Need i say more?
#reverb10 is a site that has been put together to help people Share their Story. For each day in December, different writers provide you with prompts for you to think about. These prompts are such great thinking tools. While there is one prompt for each day of the month, i wont be doing all of them....i will be picking and choose which ones allow me to share my story and what i have time for.
The Prompt
December 11 – 11 Things What are 11 things your life doesn’t need in 2011? How will you go about eliminating them? How will getting rid of these 11 things change your life? (Author: Sam Davidson)
I thought it would be a good idea to have a little fun with today’s prompt from reverb10.
1. Chocolate – Chocolate in 2010 has been a pretty consistent thing in my life. I ate it to celebrate good things in my life, to comfort me in times of sadness, to keep my hands occupied while watching tv. 2011 is going to be a very different thing when it comes to chocolate…..no longer will it be my best friend, my comfort. It will be a distant cousin who I only see once ever so often….like at birthdays or Christmas.
2. Comfort – I am ashamed to say that 2010 saw me living my life in comfort, in my safe place. When it came to putting myself out there to meet new people or guys, I would chicken out and decide that sticking with what I know is easier and safer than trying something new. I know that my weight had something to do with it, but 2011 will not be a repeat of 2010. 2011 will be the year that I be brave, face my fear and go out there to make new friends and meeting some guys.
3. Boring underwear – Yup, you read that right. Gone are the dreary black and white undies and the granny pants. Say hello to the matching sets with push up bra’s, the frilly, red polka dot shorts and the fantastically cheap wonerbra’s off of ebay!
4. Clutter – I live in a one bedroom flat and clutter is not my friend. Be it clutter from paperwork or coursework, shopping bags or shoes it really gets on my nerves when my flat is a mess.
5. Leaking ceilings and blown ovens – 2010 was my year for household problems. Leaking flat roof’s followed by more rain and water. Then my oven decides to blow. Here’s hoping that 2011 is going to a little more problem free – at least when it comes to things to do with my flat.
6. Moving home – Over the past three years I have moved three times. Moving is stressful at the best of times but for it to become a yearly occurrence is insane. So, 2011 I plan to stay in my place and not move anywhere!
7. Root Canals – I had my first root canal this year and it was not a pleasant experience. I can definitely do without one of them in 2011.
8. A sense of unworthiness - Unworthiness is something that I do not want in my life in 2011. It’s been around for a few years now and I plan to exchange unworthiness for a sense of worth in the year ahead.
9. Spiders – Now I know that this isn’t actually going too happened but hey, a girl can dream cant she?
10. Friends who are takers – You see I have this friend and she is a taker. We have been friends for years and pretty much every time I spend any time with her I end up leaving her feeling drained and exhausted. I know that it is not doing me any good to keep the friendship going with her, but when the number and quality of friends are scarce, you sometimes need to keep those friends closer than you would like. 2011 will be the year that I make better friends and eliminate those friends who are takers.
11. So few pieces of handmade loveliness – I am saddened to say that I have never really bought anything handmade. I love all things handmade but for some reason I have never actually purchased anything. So, I have decided that my 2011 needs to include some handmade loveliness!
Christmas has officially started in the Nelson-Berg house! The tree is up, the lights are on and the Christmas music is playing. I really do *heart* this time of year, it makes me happy on the inside.
Here is my Christmas tree for all to see. Its small but i love it! My one bedroom flat doesnt allow for much more of a Christmas tree.
And keeping with my yearly new decoration tradition, i have found myself this cutie....
