On the Tenth Day of Christmas...Normality Resumed

So today I went back to work. Properly back. I was in work for two and a half days last week, but there was still the smell of Christmas goodies floating up from the kitchen so it was difficult to concentrate and knowing that there was another long weekend on the way made it even harder. It wasn't as bad as I was expecting. I was a little tired, but it helps when you do a job that you love and even more so when you like a structured routine.

New Year's Eve was a bit of a non-event for us this year. In the morning Mum and I went into Bromley for some retail therapy and then into Asda on the way home for the dreaded food shop. Mum allowed me to watch Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 even thought I have it on Blu-ray and I tucked into half a pizza and garlic bread that was in the freezer to use it up before the clock struck midnight. I climbed into bed at about 11pm and watched the first part of Robbie Rocks Big Ben Live. I just about saw the New Year in, but the fireworks went on a bit too long for my liking so I turned the TV off and enjoyed my first sleep of 2017!

Mum and I had a really productive New Year's Day de-Christmasifying the house. All the decorations came down and were put into piles so that we could sort out all the boxes before putting them up into the loft for another year. Once they had been put away, we cleaned and hoovered the living room, then moved the furniture back to how it usually is (my sofa is nearer to the fire again - whoop whoop!). We then hoovered the dinning room and the stairs and decided that was probably enough for one day. After all that hard word we deserved to enjoy our first roast dinner of the year with our feet up watching Skyfall. 

 

Yesterday I slept through my alarm, so it was a good job that I didn't have to be at work! After breakfast the dream team were at it again, this time waging war on the chaos and disorder that is my bedroom. There are, *counts on fingers*, quite a few boxes that have been piled up in the corner since I moved back home last year/came back from university/went to university... You get the idea. We didn't finish yesterday by any means, but we cleaning all the shelving and drawers and I decluttered and cleaned my desk. We also sorted a couple of boxes. My mission for the first part of this year is to GET. IT. SORTED! All of it. I want it done!

I also started my Slimming World journal again yesterday. It definitely makes me more aware of what I'm eating and drinking. Today I went over my syn allowance, but by writing it down I can track how it affects my losses and gains each week. I am determined get to target by my holiday in August. I do have a target weight in mind, but it may be that I feel comfortable before then especially if I gain muscle doing Jazz, Walking and Yoga and still lose inches. We shall see.

While normality has returned for the main part, Rainbows don't go back until Saturday and my fitness classes don't start until next week so I've got more to look forward to (I really do love routine!). 2017 is going to be so much fun. I can't wait! In the meantime I'm going to start my first book fold of the year.

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On the Ninth Day of Christmas... I Cleared Out my Bag

I love reading and watching 'What’s in my Bag?' blogs and vlogs so I thought I’d do one for you as part of my Twelve Days of Christmas series. I have a really bad habit of just putting stuff in my bag until it's totally full so let's just tip it all out and see what we've got...

 

Phone
I love my iPhone 6s Plus. Everyone says it's huge, but it's no bigger than my Sony was and so far seems to work better. I also have an iPhone 5s (maybe) for work, but the battery doesn't last very long.

Purse
Holds my driving licence, debit card, Younique card, Oyster card, Girlguiding, Trefoil Guild and Women's Equality Party membership cards and my gym membership (which is now expired so out it comes!). There's also a photo of my mum and me, those loyalty cards you get stamped for the Wild Bean Cafe and the hairdressers, a post-it with what looks like a password on (no idea what that's for). In the coin section are my shinies from Slimming World, some Metrolink tickets from when I went to Manchester (chuck), an appointment card to get my eyebrows waxed (put in my diary and chuck), two books of stamps, a discount card for Pizza Express which expired yesterday (chuck), some receipts (they look business related so I had better file them) and a Younique charm. Oh and 36p. I'm rich!

  

Loyalty Cards

I hated putting these in my old purse as there weren’t enough slots and putting them in the coin bit just stretched it all out. I ended up stealing this idea I saw on Pinterest and punching a hole in them all and securing them with a split ring. So much easier and I don't lose any now.

Business Cards

No explanation needed really. I have a business. These are my business cards. And they are in my super cute pink case.

Glasses Case

Matches my purse. Matches a lot of stuff I own come to think of it. I have to wear my glasses all the time and for that reason I also have prescription sunglasses. I find that with the sun being so low in the sky during winter, I often have to wear them when I’m driving as much as I do in the summer so they pretty much stay in my bag all year. And if they aren't in my bag then they're in my car.

Diary & Notebook

I have about four different diaries and planners for various things, but this is the one that comes everywhere with me. It's got all my personal and work appointments in it and I'd be a bit lost without it. As with my diaries, I usually have about three notebooks on the go. This one is my business one so that if I think of an idea while I'm out and about, I can jot it down straight away.

Pens

I am currently favouring the blue freebie which I picked up at a training for work because it has black ink (can’t stand blue) and has a stylus on the end to use with my phone and iPad. I also love the pink one that my manager got me for Christmas. Not only is it pink on the outside, but it has pink ink too!

Snacks

Bottle of water from a Happy Meal I had on Friday, a tin of mints, a couple of hi-fi bars that I didn't have at work because I had the Happy Meal and some bourbons that are looking a little crushed. Might just put them out of their misery now actually...

Lip Balms

It's a miracle that I even have one in here. My bag is usually a Bermuda Triangle for lip balms. I love Burt's Bees because it makes your lips feel all tingly, but I also love my Lip Bonbons because it's tinted and smells and tastes great. (Public Service Announcement: please do not eat lip balm!)

Badge Tab
I'm not sure why this is in here because I don't do Rangers anymore (sob) and I didn't even wear uniform to the last meeting of the term because it was Christmas. I'm kinda glad it's in here though as it shows how much a part of my life guiding is. In case you're wondering the navy badge at the top is my Promise badge (not my original one as I think that's still on my Guide badge tab), the gold and blue one is the World badge, the diamond-shaped one with the horse is the Greater London Kent Country badge, the aqua, diamond-shaped one is my Chief Guide's Challenge Award and the globe is from when I went on a GOLD project to Russia.

Cosmetic Bag
I've had this little cosmetic bag for years now and it goes in whatever bag I am using at the time as it's full of essentials. In it I keep Paracetamol for headaches, Nurofen for period pain, Strepsils for when I have a sore throat and tissues for when I have a cold. I also keep a couple of sanitary towels in there in case Shark Week strikes when I'm not expecting it, Rescue Remedy Pastilles, a hairband in case I lose the one that lives on my wrist, my blingy compact mirror for make-up emergencies, lens cleaner because I can't stand it when my glasses are grubby and a tape measure because I am my mother's daughter and she's taught me that you never know when you might need one.

Hand Cream
I suffer from sore, dry hands really badly in the winter. They've not actually been too bad so far this year because of how mild it's been. I usually use Soap & Glory's Hand Food, but Zoella's Hungry Hands is currently in my bag because it smells like Christmas!

Tea Bags & Honey
Until recently I hadn't drunk tea since I was little when I used to drink it from a Tommee Tippee cup. Someone recommended Lemon & Ginger tea for when sore throats and since I often get throat infections, I've made myself acquire a taste for it. Now I drink it most mornings. I was also recommended Manuka honey which has a double use because I don't think I could handle the ginger without it. This one also has Vitamin C in it so helps to fight those pesky common colds that lead to my throat infections in the first place.

Chargers

Not only do I have a fear of my phone running out of battery, but I also tend to listen to music or podcasts on it in my car so my lightning lead stays in my bag and the one that came with my iPad stays at home. Again I think I’d cry if my Fitbit were to die while I was out and about. Knowing my luck I’d end up doing loads of steps that day. I don't have a spare so it's quite risky having it out and about with me. I also got this power bank at a training I went to in December, but it's probably not even charged. USB? I don't know why!

Camera Bits

This little tripod is years old from when I had a compact camera. It was so handy and it seemed a shame not to use it so I took the phone holder off my selfie stick (which I don't even use - I got it off Groupon) so I could attach it to the tripod. I've also got the remote that came with the selfie stick, but when I tried to use it at Christmas I couldn't get it to work.

Torch

I bought this for £2 from Wilko back in October and it has been in my bag ever since. I know everyone essentially has a torch on their phone nowadays, but it drains the battery so much (see above fear) so I find this handy to have on me particularly when it's dark in the mornings and evenings. I also imagine it would be great to shine on various surfaces to wind up a cat, but seeing as I don't have one I can't test that theory.

Random Crap
Letter from a friend in France that came with our Christmas card, a payslip, tickets from when we went to see A Christmas Carol, a lottery ticket which I just scanned and it didn't win and a pompom which appears to have come off a pair of socks I got at Christmas!

So that is the contents of my bag. Now I need to decide what items are essential enough to put back in and what I need to find an alternative home for. So far most of it has just gone back in my bag, just more tidily.

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On the Eighth Day of Christmas... I Looked Back on 101 Things I Did in 2016

HAPPY NEW YEAR! I say it every year, but this year has gone so quickly so I've been keeping a list of some of the highlights so that I could share them with you.

1. Saw in the New Year in style at The Lighthouse in Deal
2. Kind of completed Forever Living's C9 programme (I didn't manage the Aloe Vera Gel)
3. Moved back in with my mum
4. Did my first two-liner book fold
5. Took myself on a Valentine's date to see Deadpool
6. Went to Girlguiding's event Spark at Alexandra Palace to celebrate The Senior Section Spectacular and World Thinking Day
7. Went to a Mother and Daughter Makeover and Photoshoot after receiving it as a leaving present from my old colleagues
8. Starting messaging with Katy Chapman and soon realised I had a friend for life
9. Saw Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice at the cinema
10. Completed 10 laps in the Wheels for Wellbeing Bunny Race
11. Got my tragus pierced
12. Cried uncontrollably during the last scene of the 'Parting Shot' episode of Agents of SHIELD 
13. Went to the Weald of Kent Craft Show at Penshurst Place
14. Saw Captain America: Civil War at the cinema
15. Had my eyebrows waxed for the first time (not as bad as I was expecting)
16. Visited the Isle of Wight to say a final goodbye to my nan and granddad
17. Won one of Sarah Payne's patchwork birdies after my email was read out and then drawn from the giant pink polka dot cup on Create and Craft TV
18. Went to Barcelona for the fifth time
19. Had a fringe cut in... again
20. Went to see my friend's gig up in London (Bryde - check her out, she's awesome!)
21. Saw X-Men: Apocalypse at the cinema
22. Met Giovanna Fletcher for the fourth time at the book signing for Always With Love
23. Went to see Me Before You with Sophie and annoyed her by repeatedly whispering "I love you" whenever Stephen Peacocke entered the scene
24. During the trailers at the above replied to something that Sophie said by saying "It's fine, I'm used to disappointment in my life," just as it went deadly quiet
25. Had a fabulous time at Emmi's Younique make-up party
26. Took part in the Pride in London Parade with other members of Girlguiding and was worried my hearing wouldn't be the same after all the whistles being blown constantly
27. Joined Slimming World with my mum
28. Walked 600,000 steps over 60 consecutive days and raised money for the Duke of Edinburgh's award in the process
29. Had to get a new windscreen after getting two chips on the same day and one of them cracking
30. Got my helix pierced
31. Booked an extra night at the hotel I was staying at for my friends' wedding so I could pamper myself, eat pizza and watch films to my heart's content
32. Celebrated with my friends at Will and Claire's wedding and cheered at their totally awesome first dance
33. Was introduced to the concept of 'Speech Bingo'
34. Went camping with Chislehurst Division where I got to hold a Barn Owl named Wizard
35. Met Carrie Hope Fletcher for the third time and Pete Bucknall for the first time at the book signing for Carrie's book On the Other Side
36. Was awarded Slimmer of the Month for July after an amazing first month during which I also got Slimmer of the Week, my half stone award and Bronze Body Magic award
37. Ended my 20-month relationship with Android and returned to the dark side when I upgraded to an iPhone 6s Plus in Rose Gold
38. Discovered The Guilty Feminist Podcast and fell in love with it
39. Read Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in a day
40. Enjoyed some much needed relaxation during a family holiday in Spain and cherished every moment spent with my niece and nephew
41. Had a tarot reading done at the Benijofar Sunday market
42. Went in the sea for the first time in years on the last day of our holiday
43. Returned to the University of Surrey to celebrate ten years since graduating by having a picnic by the lake
44. Joined the gym again
45. Saw Carrie Hope Fletcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
46. Saw Lee Mead at stage door after watching Chitty and tried not to faint
47. Realised how much I missed guiding in Swanley after going to 2nd Swanley Rainbows' Leadership Team meeting and having a real laugh planning for the term
48. Celebrated the wedding of one of my oldest friends Katie and her husband Patrice and survived another round of Speech Bingo
49. Compiled the most awesome song request list for the DJ with Nicola and then thought I was going to pass out from all the dancing
50. Volunteered at Use Your Voice, Girlguiding LaSER's 2-day democracy festival for members of The Senior Section
51. Got bored of my fringe and started growing it out... again
52. Started taking Jazz classes and enjoyed it so much I didn't even mind that Sam used a Justin Bieber song for one of the routines
53. Attended a RenewYou workshop down in Hampshire and had extra coaching time because only two of us booked on to it
54. Started helping at 2nd Swanley Rainbows on the Saturday mornings that I'm free and revived my old Leader name, Robin
55. Took part in a photo shoot for my Dad's Laser Gun company
56. Celebrated a year at Blaze Maintenance
57. Finished paying off my Barclaycard
58. Took the plunge and joined Lou's team by becoming a Younique Presenter
59. Delivered three training sessions at Girlguiding GLK's County Day
60. Bought a new iPad
61. Nearly died of shock when I fitted into one of my favourite dresses
62. Scored what I like to call 'The Fletcher Hat Trick and Bucknall Bonus' after meeting Tom Fletcher at his booking for The Christmasaurus
63. Achieved White Status as a Younique Presenter
64. Auditioned (unsuccessfully) to go on The Chase
65. Had a bit of a DIY disaster when I broke part of my brand new chest of drawers while putting them together
66. Had a girlie sleepover style film evening at Emmi's after she found out I'd never seen Pretty Woman although upon watching it, it turns out I had actually already seen it
67. Dyed my hair dark brown again
68. Squealed internally when I received the proofs for my Gloriously Graceful business stationery
69. Finished paying back the money that I owed my mum 
70. Went to the Younique UK Anniversary Event at the London Palladium
71. Did my first ever Christmas tree book fold despite the fact that it's one of the easiest fold you can do
72. Became a little overwhelmed when my Gloriously Graceful business stationery arrived - IT'S SO PRETTY!!!
73. Subscribed to DisneyLife just so I could watch The Nightmare Before Christmas on Halloween and then fell asleep during it because I was ill
74. Signed up for The Girls Mean Business 30 Days to Boost Your Biz Before Christmas course
75. Totally forgot that I had pre-ordered Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick and got a little over excited when I got the dispatch and out for delivery emails within about an hour of each other
76. Did the sorting quiz for Ilvermorny on Pottermore and discovered I'm in Wampus house (Slytherin still rule though!)
77. Went to Simply Christmas Stitching, Sewing & Hobbycrafts Show at ExCeL and bought a glitter tattoo kit, just because
78. Saw Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them with Mum at the cinema - the magic lives on!
79. Attended the first ever Women's Equality Party Conference in Manchester
80. Stood on stage in front of 1,500 people and talk about how Girlguiding encourages girls and young women to use their voice
81. Ended up getting a lot of unexpected interest in my book art when Giovanna Fletcher shared a photo of the one I made for her on social media
82. Signed up to The Girls Mean Business Awesome Business Club so that I can take Gloriously Graceful to a whole new level in 2017
83. Got a little over-excited about being in charge of our work's Christmas do and made personalised menus and bauble table favours for everyone who came
84. Fitted into a dress from three years ago for the Christmas do (Get in!)
85. Had a Christmas shopping day with my mum in Guildford
86. Said a fond goodbye to Auntie Ivy who passed away at the amazing age of 100 and shared memories of her that I'd forgotten I had
87. Went to a Sparkle & Shine training day for Younique Presenters in Norwich
88. Said farewell to Petts Wood Senior Section at our Harry Potter themed Christmas party after making the difficult decision to leave
89. Gasped in shock at the mid-season cliffhanger of Once Upon A Time prompting my mum to ask how old I am
90. Convinced Mum that we should go and see A Christmas Carol at the Lyceum Theatre as a Christmas treat because she loves Robert Lindsay - little did she know Carrie and Giovanna Fletcher would also be in it
91. Successfully gave blood for the first time (when I say successfully, I mean I didn't faint)
92. Used my powers of deduction to figure out that my Secret Santa was Cheryl (It was wrapped in pink, had a silver pom pom on it like her hat and contain WKD Blue - it couldn't have been anyone else!)
93. Had an amazing Christmas down at Hazelhurst with the whole family
94. Technically completed my Bronze Voyage Award (but I still need to get all the sections signed off)
95. Created a Vision Board for 2017
96. Completed 15 book folds
97. Wrote 38 blog posts (and I thought I'd struggle with 12)
98. Lost 1st 6lb at Slimming World since the end of June (it was more, but... Christmas!)
99. Saved £3,234.32 towards my house deposit
100. Saw in the New Year by watching Harry Potter followed by Robbie Williams while tucked up in bed

Something I have most definitely learned this year is that it doesn't matter how the year starts, it is how you finish it that truly matters.

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On the Seventh Day of Christmas... I Made Seven New Year's Resolutions

Sometimes the first thing that comes to mind is the thing you want to do the most.

How many times have you made New Year's Resolutions and broken them within a week or two? The 7 Things Project by Day Zero suggests using these seven prompts as an alternative to boring New Year's Resolutions and to help us think about what we really want to achieve during the coming year.

I wasn't very successful with last year's list so I've given this year's some serious thought and I'm posting it here on the Interweb in the hope that my lovely readers will help hold me accountable.

Learn how to speak Spanish
"But you studied Spanish at University, didn't you?" Yes. Yes, I did. But I did it as a beginner and never got to the level that I would like to have reached. Then after uni I went into a job that didn't involve languages and pretty much lost everything I had managed to learn. Since we have a villa in Spain I really want to get my Spanish up to scratch so that I can speak to the locals while we're out and about, understand the headlines that I see on the TV or a newspaper and even pick up a magazine or book and read it without having to think about it. 

Start doing yoga... again
I started doing yoga a couple of years ago, but then I moved to Orpington so I stopped going (I think I actually stopped going before I moved, but that's the excuse I use). Towards the end of last year I started going to the gym and enjoyed it, but then I started doing Jazz and enjoyed that even more. I realised I didn't want to pay for both so I quit the gym and I've decided to use some of the gym membership money towards yoga. So when classes start up in the New Year I'm going to do yoga on a Monday evening and Jazz on a Wednesday after Slimming World.

Stop taking my medication for depression and anxiety
Of course this isn't going to be a "Right, it's 1st January so I have to stop taking these now!" kind of resolution, but I now feel I'm in the right frame of mind that I will soon be able to start reducing them. All being well I'll be done with them well before the end of 2017. I'd like to say that once I'm off them I'll never take them again, but this isn't my first time. To a certain extent depression and anxiety will always be with me and if the time comes again when I need a little help, I will have no shame in asking for it.

Take a holiday to Germany
Of course I've got my usual summer holiday at the villa, but I really want to go to a German Christmas Market. I went to a one in Birmingham a few years back and loved it, but I want to go to a proper one in Germany like my parents used to. Some people wouldn't consider this a holiday, but for me even a long weekend away somewhere I wouldn't usually go is a holiday. I wanted to go to one this year, but things ended up getting a bit crazy. I already had Barcelona booked and then I went to the villa so I ended up not having enough holiday left at work. It's at the top of my list for 2017 though. In fact I told one of my managers back in November that it was something I wanted to do and she said the same so maybe we can arrange a work jolly.

Find the time to just sit and read 
I love reading. I started a book club with my friends because I love reading so much. In recent years though I have found it a struggle to find the time to sit down and enjoy the reading process. It doesn't happen all the time. Sometimes I'll be waiting for a book to come out and when it's finally released I'll devour it in a couple of sittings. More and more though I find I'm too tired to even bother picking up a book to start with. After a day at work I just want to watch TV or scroll mindlessly through social media. So in 2017 I would like to dedicate some time each day to sit and read, even if it's just for 10 minutes.

Try to take more photos and start to vlog
I used to take a ridiculous amount of photos and I have a box full of albums in my parents' attic to prove it. Every now and then I'll sit and have a flick through them and the memories of the time they were taken come flooding back to me. I don't know why I stopped taking them as much, but there was no reason to as we all have cameras on our phones nowadays and I also have an amazing DSLR that I really want to learn to use properly. In addition to taking photos I'd love to start vlogging to capture those moments that don't always come across as well in a photo. I'm hoping that I can start my Silver Voyage Award soon and I would love to use recording and editing videos for the Skill section.

Be more organised
A lot of people would say that I am already extremely organised, but in reality it's an organised appearance that disguises complete and utter disarray. Not only do I want to make and keep both my room and work space tidy, but I also want to organise all the different aspects of my life too. I have family, friends, work, Girlguiding, Younique, Women's Equality Party, fitness classes and I'd also like to fit some me time in there too. I know people that do loads more than me and are able to cope so I just need to use my time more effectively.

So these are my New Year's Resolutions for 2017. I'll no doubt write about them at various points during the year to let you know how I'm getting on. What are yours going to be? Let me know in the comments, especially if you decide to use these prompts.

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On the Sixth Day of Christmas... I Did an Oracle Reading for the Year Ahead

Today I thought I'd share with you my oracle reading for the coming year which I do as part of My Shining Year workbook. Well, I say oracle reading, but I haven't actually used any of my oracle cards. Earlier this year I bought yet another set of cards to add to my collection. They are Michelle Buchanan's Numerology Guidance Cards. I've always been fascinated by Numerology so I thought I'd give these a go this time round. 

January

I have always embraced my individuality so I think this is just a nice reminder that I'm on already starting the year on the right track. One thing that I did take from the guidebook that  accompanies the cards is that "what others think of you isn't your business anyway, and it's impossible to please everybody, so you must focus on pleasing yourself."

February

Don't go getting any ideas. I'm not pregnant. That would be the immaculate conception! I make no secret of the fact that I want children, but it's not going to happen any time soon. No, I think in my case this card relates to my role in guiding. I've been wondering whether I made the right choice in leaving Rangers and just doing Rainbows part time, but this card reminds me that the "ability to teach, nurture, and guide the next generation raises the vibration of the world. Every ounce of time, attention, love, and support invested in a child pays dividends down the road."

March

I'm going on a fitness retreat in May, but I'd already decided that I wanted to go away somewhere different for a weekend where I can have a mini retreat by myself. I hadn't decided where or when, but now I've drawn this card, I think I have a better idea of the "when". The "where" is still up for grabs though. Somewhere fairly picturesque so that I can go on some nice walks and maybe with little phone signal so that I'm not tempted to be glued to a screen constantly.

April

"Rather than surrender to self-pity, laziness, negativity, or frustration, you must utilise your inner power, for your are STRONGER than you think." Now I've chosen it as my word of the year, it's just going to keep cropping up, isn't it! "When the going gets tough, the tough must get going." Time to add a bit of Boyzone to my 2017 playlist. "So pull yourself together, and have faith in your success." OK, so now we get to the part I really need to listen to. I can be successful, but it won't be easy, so just make sure you don't give up!

May

I'm not so sure about this one in all honesty. I have an interest in things like tarot cards, numerology and astrology, but that's all it is and I don't have a great deal of knowledge. For the past few years I've wanted to go to the Mind Body Spirit Festival in London, but I've never gotten around to actually going. Maybe it's time I did! 

June

I started a major overhaul on my health during the middle of last year. After being on the pill for more than ten years, I decided to take a break for various reasons, the main being that I'm convinced it doesn't help my depression. Then during the warmer months I was walking up to five miles a day which boosted my fitness for when I started Slimming World at the end of June. Going back to my word of the year, I mentioned in yesterday's post that I intend to become stronger in every aspect of my life. By June I would like to have reached my target weight by continuing eat healthily. I'm also starting Jazz and Yoga classes and would really like to take up running. 

July

I know some people think that the whole Law of Attraction thing is a load of old tosh, but not me. I might have the totally incorrect understanding of it, but I liken it to karma in a way. You do good and good things happen, you do bad and you had better be prepared for what's coming your way. That's why I hate the saying "karma's a bitch." No, no, no. You reap what you sow. But, and here's the important bit, you've got to have appreciation for what you already have in order to be able to manifest your dreams.

August

I guess this links to the last card somewhat. Your dreams are not going to come true overnight. There's going to be a lot of hard work to do between now and then. And just to make things a little more tricky, life might throw you some curve balls along the way. That's why you have to have faith that things will happen when they are meant to. "It isn't your job to know how things will unfold; it is simply your job to believe and know that all is well." 

September

Again I think this relates well to the previous two cards. "Since you attract what you believe, you must improve your perception of the world." This is something I've been working hard on this year and will continue to do so next year. There's an amazing books called Flip It: How To Get The Best Out Of Everything and that really helped me to change the way I look at things.

October

"This card encourages you to have faith in your ability to teach, because teaching is simply passing on to others information they didn't already know. You probably already do this by sharing the lessons you've learned and the discoveries you've made with your colleagues, family members, children, or friends. So please don't underestimate the importance of what you have to say." My immediate thought when I drew this card was training for Girlguiding, but then I realised that what I would love by October next year is to have my own team running their own Younique businesses and I would love to pass everything that I've learned and will learn on to them.

November

It's not even January yet and I already have a huge pile of books on my desk to read, a playlist full of audiobooks and podcasts to listen to and some awesome modules to work through to help strengthen my business. Never mind November being the month of Personal Growth. 2017 is the year of Personal Growth! 

December

They only thing I am surrendering to in December is everything Christmassy! The songs, the decorations, the food and drink. I don't think that's entirely what this card is about, but it's my interpretation! Once December hits, there's very little else on my mind.

So that is my reading for the year ahead. I'm planning to check in on this once a month just to see how things are going and if there's anything I feel I should be focussing on. For now though I'm going to get some sleep so I can enjoy the last day of 2016 tomorrow. Night night  all!

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On the Fifth Day of Christmas... I Chose My Word for 2017

If you've been reading this blog since the beginning then you will know that I am a fan of Leonie Dawson's My Shining Year workbooks (so much so that I am an affiliate for them - you can find out more using the link to the right). One of the tasks in the workbook is to set a word for the year that you can focus on.

2016 was the first time that I actually did this and boy did it work for me. This year's word came by chance when I was on the way home from work and the song 'Glorious Year' by Moulettes came on. For once I listened to the lyrics properly and decided that 2016 could, no, would be my glorious year and from that moment 'GLORIOUS' became my word for the year. 

Within a couple of weeks of the start of 2016, I didn't see how it could possibly become the glorious year that I had hoped for, but this life is what you make it and so it became my mission to turn it around. My word for the year not only inspired the original name of this blog, Tracy's Glorious Year, but also the name for my business. I wanted something catchy and I love a bit of alliteration so I decided to see if my word for the year would help me. Suddenly it was so clear. Gloriously Graceful was born. This year has been one of progress and success for me and I truly believe it's all down to my choice of word. 

Before my workbook even arrived this year, I had an idea about what my word for 2017 might be, but something held me back from putting pen to paper. When I floated the idea around on the workbook's Facebook group, I was momentarily deterred by a comment that it "can reek of judgment". There were suggestions that maybe the conjugation could be altered. Yet I was still drawn to this word. I guess it's similar to when you flip a coin and in that split second that it's in the air, you know what you want the result to be. When I saw the comments, I found myself defending my word. Had I already made my choice without realising it?

The other day I did one of those things on Facebook where different things flash across the screen and you have to take a screenshot to reveal what's in store for you. I know they are silly and are just meant as a bit of fun, but sometimes it really rings true. 

While I don't always rely on my intuition to make decisions, it is something that I trust and with that in mind I am sticking by my gut instinct. My word for 2017 will be 'STRONGER'. This year I have become stronger with regards to both my mental and physical health. My financial situation is stronger than it has even been before. Relationships, old and new, have been strengthened. And next year I can become stronger still, not only in these aspects of my life, but in others too.

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