2016 New Year Resolutions

To start I decided to make a collage with my favorite outfits from 2015. 

Through this exercise I came to the obvious conclusion that I should have worn lolita more this year. My health and the obvious fact that our community is so inactive probably did not help with that, neither did the fact that work keeps me so busy. Anyway if it wasn't for my health I'm sure I would feel different about this year... but alas since its still not resolved and its been a long time since i've felt under the weather the feeling is bound to remain.

This post is a reflection of what has happened this year and what my goals are. It is meant as a positive reinforcement that live is not stagnant and one should always strive to improve and fight despite having to go agains all odds. 

I urge you all to try to be equaly positive, changing year means nothing in practical terms but mentally creating these goals can have a powerful impact. 

The goal that I set myself to achieve on the last new years eve was achieved right then and there and it was certainly not an easy task and that is just an example.

Thing I achieved in 2015

• Lost some weight
• Stopped smoking
• Continued improving my house
• Wore themed lolita, something that makes me unconfortable
• Attended more international events
• Attended my first Angelic Pretty tea party and it was magical
• Visited our familly in Japan again 
• Became full time at work
• Was sent in a work PD trip for the first time. 
• Made and uploaded my first youtube video (althoutgh i do not have the guts to list them yet)
• Sent another contest participation form to the Gothic & Lolita bible and actually won something (a post card, not that exciting but still...)
• 
  

New year resolutions for 2016

• Lose weight (hopefully now not because I am sick)/ exercise more
• Manage to find out what my illness is and fix the problem
• Improve my language skills
• Get a drivers licence (part of my 2012 resolutions)
• Travel more with my husband within Europe (part of my 2012 resolutions)
• Be more sociable and go out more
• Wear lolita more often as casual daily wear again 
• Save money, have a savings account
• Be more positive
• Improve my terrible video editing skills
• Get in a sewing course, hairstyle course, cooking course... whatever! Learn a new skill.
• Improve my self asteem!
• Find a balance between being a good professional and stress free/ having time for myself. Big struggle for me during 2015.
• Figure out what I really want to wear and sell everything that does not fit in.
• Finish my 2nd floor bathroom
• Fix the maquise issue
• Get a balcony done on the 3rd floor
• Freaking finish DIABLO 3.... (i got it when it came out)

Suprise! Most of these are the same from previous years proving that most things never get done.
I am proud of having completely quit smoking even though I was a smoker for many years even though the fact that then this was the year that I became sick kinda makes it kinda ironically hilarious.

Anyway I really do hope 2016 will be much better for me and I am looking forward to it.
A big hug to you all, I hope tonight is magical to all of us regardless or where we are and at what time it'll take place.

<3
Jo

Portuguese Christmas

Hello readers,

It has been too long!
Christmas is one of my favorite holidays and so I'd love to share a bit of how it was to celebrate it this year.

I am not sure if you are aware but one of the reasons why I am so inactive is due to my lack of energy. I have been sick for most of 2015 and I cannot find a reason let alone a cure. I have seen multiple doctors and taken several tests but so far nothing found completely explains my state. Anyway it makes me so much less active than before i'm becoming a bit apathic.
I apologize for the inactivity. <3

Anyway we here start festivities around dinner time on the 24th where we gather with our imediate familly around a table and eat codfish.
This year was the first time in a while that we have spent the holidays at my mom's and not our place so it felt different somehow.

We left our presents home which ended up being a good idea because my daughter actually fell asleep right after dinner and we can only open presents after midnight. We waited till midnight and then opened the presents that my mother gave us. 

She got me two pajamas and two lovely hand painted antique boxes. 

This is our traditional meal, boiled vegetables, eggs, codfish and octopus. 

After opening all the presents we got ready and eventually left the house to go to my mom's. 

On Christmas day, for lunch and dinner we have the same. The first course is called Roupa Velha which is basically a recipe made out of all the leftovers from the previous day!

After that came the turkey. Everyone has their own version but ours is just a roast with stuffing... our stuffind was chestnuts, bacon and Farofa.

Dinner was interesting because a cousin I haven't seen in a while decided to join us and right on a night when he was actually on tv because he is part of the Casa da Música choir. Then one of my mom's friends, someone my daughter and I love, came over and we ended up playing cards for a while too. It was just nice. We left quite late, around 2 something a.m.

And that's how I spent my Christmas this year. 

To finish off I'm posting this year's Christmas coord as well as my Christmas haul. 

 I think it might have been the first time I actually put this dress on except for when i got it to try it on. Shame... :\

I sent around 10 postcards this year and got only 3. I have no regrets. Thank you for these, i love receiving mail. <3

Click for a bigger pic. I cheated though, i got the bag and boots for myself. I fell in love with the bag and really need shoes... now i need oxfords. 

I hope you liked the post, let me know if you have a christmas post somewhere so I can read about yours too! I love this season! <3

Love,

Jo