Once More, For 2015

A two-in-a-row repeat, after a long dry spell!

1. What did you do in 2014 that you’d never done before?

Bought a house. Mothered a middle-schooler. Everything else was a continuation (more or less successfully) of things already started.

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

I kept a few, and let a few slide. I didn’t improve my skin care routine, but I found good day and night creams that work, and I wash my face every night (oooh, fancy). I’ve given up on wearing lipstick on any sort of regular basis– it’s just not for me. And, as stated above, we bought a house!

I’ve been thinking a lot about my resolutions for 2015. Resolutions didn’t used to be important for me, and the general ones like “lose weight”, “save money”, “find love”, still seem too vague and superficial. So I’ve decided to be specific this year, since that seemed to work out so well last year. Here we go– three resolutions for 2015:

1. Pay off $10,000 of non house related debt. We got rid of a lot of high interest debt in 2014 although our total (non mortgage) debt load only went down by a few thousand dollars. This year I think we can pay off a big chunk of debt.
2. Keep my nails well groomed, hands and feet. Although regular mani/pedis are expensive (and contradict the above), having them done help me not pick my hands and feet, so I feel more professional and adult. This won’t be a hard resolution to keep; having spa treatments is not like going to the dentist after all, but I want to hold myself to it.
3. Walk every day, and document it. I think this will be a good self care project for my (mostly) fortieth year, without adding loaded expectations of going to the gym or losing weight. Afterwards I want to put together a book of pictures documenting where I was and my journey along the way.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

No babies to snuggle, boo! I did get a kitten to smooch though.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

As in 2013, thankfully not.

5. What countries did you visit?

Spain, again (rolls eyes at how jaded I sound).

6. What would you like to have in 2015 that you lacked in 2014?

Last year I wished for a down payment for a house and dewier skin. This year I want to work towards having more patience with my kids, more energy for my life, and new knowledge at work.

7. What dates from 2014 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

Jonah graduating from 5th grade. Buying the house. Our road trip.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

I still really love my job, and again, I felt like I’m doing a really good job. In fact, I even got a promotion! I think 2015 will be part of a really interesting professional journey.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Last year I wrote “I’m still not patient enough with my kids but I would add that I need to work on being more present than patient. Too often I get distracted from giving them my full attention, and soon they won’t be so patient with me.” Unfortunately this is still so, so true.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

My fibromyalgia was really bad in 2014. I even started a post (still sitting in my drafts folder) called “Fibromyalgia Can Suck It. I went through a couple of bad episodes that tested my knowledge of what to do to make it through. I tried a few medications, got a series of great massages, participated in a treatment trial. Things are better, for the moment, but who knows what turned things around. The therapy sessions helped me understand a few things about living with fibromyalgia, which has already been helpful.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

The house.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

My kids. They are super awesome, and I try to tell them that as often as I can. As cranky as I can be, being their mom makes me really happy.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

My kids.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Like last year, housing topped the list. We also really like to eat, both at home (duh) and out. Thanks to daily budgeting, I could tell you exactly where every penny went in 2014, but I won’t, ’cause I’m no longer a personal finance blogger and I’ve learned to be more discrete about things like that.

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

Work. Our new house. Did I mention we bought a new house?

16. What song will always remind you of 2014?

Let it Go. Let it go, through wind and snow!

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? About the same– still pretty happy!
b) thinner or fatter? Fatter! Weight Watchers rocks, but I can only keep track of so many things at once. Managing our money and my fibromyalgia took precedence.
c) richer or poorer? Poorer, thanks to the house, and richer, thanks to paying off debt.

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

More crafting. I’ve already planned a couple of projects. More walking, hence my above goal. More time with my kids.

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

Yelling. And spending time on social media as a habit and distraction.

20. How did you spend Christmas? (And I’ll add Hanukkah).

With my kids and my husband and my mother. Opening presents, watching good TV and eating.

21. Did you fall in love in 2014?

Nope– not any more than in 2013!

22. What was your favorite TV program?

I didn’t watch a lot of TV this year. I did zip through two seasons of House of Cards in about two weeks though– good TV!

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

Nope.

24. What was the best book you read?

I read a lot of library books this year, and while I don’t think it was the best, Gone Girl certainly was the one that stuck with me the longest.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

I should probably just remove this question…

26. What did you want and get?

A house! A kitten! Great children!

27. What did you want and not get?

Nothing.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

I think I saw fewer movies in 2014 than in 2013. Gone Girl was the last movie I saw in a theater and it was good (although not as good as the book).

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

I turned 40 and spent the day at work, in a very decorated office. My team mates and boss went all out and I felt really loved and appreciated.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

More sleep, definitely. Less pain.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2014?

I’m definitely identifying a look: solid colors, or muted, small-scale patterns. Relaxed fit, layers, scarves and clogs. Higher quality clothes and fewer of them.

32. What kept you sane?

My kindle. My kids (without whom I’d probably be saner). A few dear friends.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

I should remove this question too.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

Debt (including student loan debt), and the growing inequality between rich and poor.

35. Who did you miss?

Our friends and family in France and across the US who we don’t get to see nearly often enough.

36. Who was the best new person you met?

I’ve deepened relationships with people I met in 2013, but I haven’t really met anyone new in 2014.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2014.

Small steps make for big progress. I feel like this could be an answer for NPR, what with their 6 word statements!

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

I think we’re down to a total of 35 questions, with this one and the other two gone?