2016 Survey

Yep, that title is correct. I'm a year behind. But what's new? This is my life now. The good news is- I'm planning ahead for 2017 and I'm not publishing that a whole year later- haha!

In case you have (or haven't) been following along here are the previous years...

2013 Survey
2012 Survey
2014 Survey
2015 Survey

1. What did you do in 2016 that you’d never done before?

Make a Halloween costume. Well, I kind of made it. I mean I gathered materials and such. So that kind of counts, right? 

2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I haven't made new year's resolutions in years. I did want to make some but never got around to it. Maybe next year?

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

My childhood best friend had a baby girl. She and I aren't as close as we used to be but still it's exciting!

4. Did anyone close to you die?

My Father-in-law. Although he and I were not by any means close, it is worth mentioning. It definitely caused some emotional upheaval in our household as well.

There were also a few distant relatives. This is a stark contrast from the way life used to be. My father's mother had 16 siblings- they all aged at the same time which means a cluster of funerals that no one ever believes. That's a story for a different day.

5. Did you visit anywhere exciting?

Bermuda!! Last year it was just hubby and I, this year we were able to take our children and my parents even came along (super helpful!!). I love that place. Hopefully we will make it back soon!

(spoiler alert: we haven't been back yet)

My babies and I on the beach

The best group picture I could get. My little girl is asleep in her stroller!

We also took a cruise. It was my children's first (hopefully not last- I have my eyes set on a Disney cruise) and my parents first as well. My brother was missing for both of these trips!

6. What would you like to have in 2017 that you lacked in 2016?

I can't really post about that on such a public forum. But it comes down to finding my passion and pursuing it.

7. What date from 2016 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

1. My children's first international flight.
2. All of the milestone birthdays we were able to celebrate!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Being a wife, mom of 2, daughter, sister, friend, and employee. I wear so many hats and keep on juggling. I also joined the PTA at both my children's school. Life can't get any busier... or can it?

9. What was your biggest mistake?

Letting things I can't control get to me. Generally I am pretty good at distinguishing the difference but sometimes things can get rough!

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Luckily the extent of it was the common cold and allergies.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Every year I invest in family pictures. I sometimes struggle with this because how much of an investment is too much. Then again I don't want them to be crappy because then the worth is lost. I wish my brother would be more open to doing portraits. He's a still life photographer and that's where his comfort zone lies- I need him to photograph me and my family which would be even more meaningful!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

My son started Kindergarten this year and I am extremely proud of his transition. I was probably more nervous than he but he's soaring and I couldn't be happier!

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Facebook trolls sometimes get to me. I can't stand keyboard warriors.

14. Where did most of your money go in 2016?

My children. Between childcare and extra curricular activities- these little guys take it all! But then we did travel a lot too so maybe they didn't take it all.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Both of our trips. The Bermuda trip was planned and I looked forward to it the entire time. The cruise was very, very last minute and I was pretty skeptical about going but I am so glad we did.

16. What song will always remind you of 2016?

Rhianna's Work featuring Drake has a (to me) a Caribbean feel. Since I absolutely love Bermuda and it was a big deal for me to go there with my family this song is it!

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

Exhausted. Although I'm sure I was exhausted last year at this time too. Is there anyway to become well rested?

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Praying, Blogging, Exercising, Saving. Sleeping.

(Some things never change)

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Eating sugar (i.e. sugary foods). I have awful eating habits and tried to make a conscious effort to change that. In April and May I did really well and ended up losing quite a bit of weight. But then excuses happened, follow by lack of self control, followed by more excuses.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
With my loved ones the same way it's been for years!

21. Did you fall in love in 2016?

Absolutely, although I haven't met or her yet.

22. What was your favorite TV program?

I probably watched a grand total of 5 hours of TV in 2016. Ok, perhaps that's an exaggeration but still, TV watching is never on my to do list.  I've watched an entire season of Bring It, an episode or two of Ayesha's homemade, Tia Mowry at home, and that about sums it up. What's probably worse is that I just found out that we have a Netflix account. My husband downloaded the app on my iPad and I have since watched nothing.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

Much like in previous years, my answer is still "No". I consciously remove "the negative" from my life. That will never change.

24. What was the best book you read?

I don't get to read for pleasure. I read to my children almost nightly but I rarely get to read grown-up books. However- leave your recommendations in the comments. One day I will get to read for pleasure again.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

I took a liking to Nick Jonas and Tove Lo's Close. It's really catchy.
I also like Flume's and Kai's Never be like you. Also catchy. FYI: I prefer the radio version
And I can't let a music reference go by without mentioning Beyonce. Hold Up is my jam!

26. What did you want and get?

I got to travel overseas with my family. I had hoped we'd be able to pull this off when hubby and I went in 2015.


27. What did you want and not get?

I'm still without a computer. As you can tell by absence from my little blogging space.

28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I spent it with my loves! I started at work (boo!) which is surprising because I refused to work on my birthday. But my job is going through quite the transition period and taking a day off is almost like hell when you return. Then I had to take my son to his 5 year well visit. This was not fun. At. all. He hated every moment of it. I felt really bad (not a fun way to spend your birthday). Hubby made it all better with a wonderful meal made specially for me :-) And there was cheesecake too!

Crab legs, broccoli slaw, sweet potato chips, caprese salad, lobster tails, and pasta shells for the littles!

29. What’s one thing that would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Meeting some of my financial goals.

30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2016?

Fashion... what's that?

31. What kept you sane?
I truly picked a good man. My husband keeps me so sane!

32. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I tend not to "look up" to them too much. I feel like they have to much pressure to have a public persona and a lot of that isn't genuine.

33. What political issue stirred you the most?

I think this is worth repeating...

Black Lives Matter, and just in case you didn't know Black Lives matter is not anti police- it's anti police brutality (yes, there are some who have gone overboard), and BLM also doesn't mean that other lives don't- it means black lives matter as well.

34. Who do you miss the most?
All my grandparents. Grandparents are awesome!

35. Who was the best new person you met?

I've become a lot closer to some of the mom's in my neighborhood. It's been great! We have a lot of the same ideals (that mainly center around our children) and together we've been able to affect some change in the schools. I really like these mama's and best of all- no drama!

36. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2016?

I can do anything I put my mind to.

37. What are your new years resolutions for 2017?
I typically don't do resolutions. But I am doing a word of 2017 and that word is GRATEFUL.

It's my birthday!!!

I have exactly one second to update this little space of mine to celebrate my birthday. I consider this day my 'new year'. I have so many goals, hopes, and dreams for this coming year ahead. But first birthday cake...