28 things - wear a bold red lipstick

Another late addition to the party, I decided to try wearing a bold red lipstick.  I've never been one for bold makeup.  With my skin tone it can make me look quite washed out.  However, inspired by my friend Loreto, who is rarely seen without her red lippy on, and some new outfit choices, I decided to go for it at game night last week.  I was waiting for someone to give me a funny look or tell me to go wipe it off but there was nothing of the sort.  Nico said it may take some getting used to but it's not going to be my every day look or anything.  I also happened to have the perfect shade in my avon samples from my avon lady days so this one was another freebie!  It's something I think I'll be trying again.  Unfortunately, I don't have a decent colour photo of the evening but I think you get an idea of the effect from the picture above.

One Hundred Names

While I am still struggling my way through my first German novel of the year, I'm breaking it up a little with some English reading in between.  This, the second of my Christmas buys was perfect.  Ever since P.S. I Love You, I have been a big Cecelia Ahern fan.  I love that her novels are easy reading, chick lit, with a moral.  This one did not disappoint, it took less than a week again and made me laugh out loud as well as cry.  One not to miss.

The Saturday Update

A much nicer, calmer week this week, thank goodness.  With two days off and a bit more breathing space because of that, I feel much better going into February.  

I wasn't well on Monday which meant missing weightwatchers again...I am a little disappointed and am promising to be better with it in February.  (It's the only monthly goal I didn't achieve so it has to be top priority this month.)  On a positive note, I am back into my size ten trousers!! 

We had a good end to the semester, celebrating winning the football tournament with our class.  Such things are what I definitely missed when I didn't have a class.

On Thursday, we had dinner with a colleague of Nico's as a thank you for when he helped her move.  It was really nice to get out of the flat and, for me, to meet someone new.

Yesterday, we put the wording together for the invitations so we will be printing them out and sending some off today!!  I also set up our gift list so it feels like we have made decent progress this week.

I think we are going to relax some more this weekend before the new semester starts on Monday, I go back to Weightwatchers and the cycle starts again.  On the positive side, the wine tasting that Nico bought me for Christmas is next week and Loreto is coming over for a catch up next weekend.  I am also planning to take part in Sarah at Yes and Yes' nine days of nice.  Have a great week, wherever you are.

Monthly goal round up

So we officially start the new month today which means it's time to round up those monthly goals from January and set myself some new ones for this month.  So, to recap, here's what I set myself for January:

• Lose two kilos

 Not done.  I did start off well with a surprisingly low gain over Christmas followed by a loss but with work and the weather, I missed one meeting and completely ate what I wanted in between.  Must work harder next month.

•  Pay something off my cards AND seperate the school finances from my own now the class account is finally set up!

Done.  I payed more off my cards than I put on them (I only used them to book my travel to England for the hen do and I got a bargain deal).  School finances are also fully functioning now.

• Get the invitations made and sent

 This is on the verge.  We are hoping to send them out tomorrow so it's safe to say that most of this goal was achieved.

• Have two Skype chats with two friends (one arranged for tomorrow with Hayley)

Done.  I Skyped with Hayley mid-January and my Mum and Gran a week or so later.  Really enjoyed it.

• Tick three things off my 28 things list

Done.  This was also a fun one and I'll be posting about the third one on Monday.

So, now to the future.  I have been taking part in a fantastic goal setting project from Elise over at Enjoy It and this photo is part of it.  I think it's a great new way to document what I'm doing without just presenting you readers with reams of text, so here goes!

Inspiration

source

Jar of Joy!

 

Here's a new idea I'm trying out this year after reading about it on the blogs this month.  Every time something nice or good happens, I write it down and pop it in this jar.  On New Year's Eve next year, I can open the jar and remember all the great things this year has brought.  It's also a great way to recycle that candle jar from the summer gift swap last year. 

Andorra

 The recent weather has reminded me of another trip I took while on my year abroad.  While I was studying in Barcelona, the Erasmus group organised a skiing trip to Andorra.  I had never heard of the place but wanted to try something new - having never been skiing before either and it was great fun.  Unfortunately we got lost on the way to the tutorial and ended up at the top of a mountain coming down the long, slow, hard way and it put me off so much that we just built snowmen on the second day. It's an experience I'm considering trying again - making sure I make the tutorial next time - it's only taken me seven years to get over it!!