Looking Back on 2013
Judging from the response to my last post (I only got one and it was via Twitter lol), Livejournal is officially dead. However, I'm going to keep my Livejournal alive somehow. I shall still try to post here from time to time. I'll start off with this end-of-year survey because I've been doing it every year -- can't even remember when I started.
2012 was my year. I owned it, so it was no surprise that 2013 turned out to be a mix of highs and lows. The wheel of life turns and we can't always be on the upside of things, right? Thankfully, it started out amazing and only got tough near the end. Here's to 2014! I have a good feeling about this year.
1. What did you do in 2013 that you'd never done before?
I got married! That alone means a lot of things I've never done before -- walking down the aisle, saying I Do, moving in with someone, being a newlywed, doing proper home-cooking, etc.
My husband and I also got to go to our first ever big rock concert. We saw Aerosmith live, and it was on a whole other level compared to all the concerts we've been to before.
I also set up a proper blog for the first time - TheBluePurse.com. It was my project for the year.
It was also the first time I got to take an extended vacation. I concentrated on the wedding and building a new life with my husband. Work took a backseat this year.
2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
In 2012 I was way too busy with work and wedding preparations, so I resolved to be less lazy and have more time for non-work-related stuff. In 2013, it was exactly the opposite. I had too much non-work-related stuff done, though I still didn't write in my journal and the apartment still needs work especially since hubby moved all his stuff in and we don't have a place for everything. I got to focus on my obsessions in 2013 -- blogged, went to the gym, did yoga at an ashram, read tons of books, learned how to cook... the list just goes on and on.
This year, I'm not really sure what I want to do, but the one thing I want to make sure of is that I become a morning person again. I'm an insomniac but I have always loved mornings, so I resolve to wake up early from now on. The husband and I have been having trouble waking up early, and that needs to change. I tend to get more things done when I wake up early too, so I really need to make an effort with this one.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Hmm I can't think of anyone at the moment.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My Uncle Aping passed away in May. My cousin Lek and I had to make an impromptu trip to Bicol to represent our families at the wake.
5. What countries did you visit?
Didn't travel at all this year. Half of the year was spent on wedding preparations while the next half was spent just bumming around. Edit: I forgot that the hubby and I took a quick trip to Tagaytay with his mom and cousin after our wedding. That's within the country though.
6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
A new job! I lost my job early last year when the company closed, but I got a pretty good final package from that so I got to take a break for several months to focus on my wedding and newlywed life. Now I'm ready to get back into the swing of things. I have no idea what's in store for my career next.
7. What date from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
The day of my wedding, of course. <3
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting married! My husband and I always said we would make the most of our 20s and get married in our 30s and we did exactly that. Our wedding was 13 years in the making!
9. What was your biggest failure?
I don't think I failed at anything this year.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I still got sick a lot the first half of the year - mostly my rhinitis and fever, the usual - but I was okay the latter part of the year. I'm sick again though. Been sick since the start of 2014. Bleah.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
That would probably be my iPhone 5s. The phone is so darn awesome! I also love my Zara bag, but my husband got me that. It's the new Blue Purse. ;)
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My husband's. It has been both such a wonderful and hard year, and he has been amazing throughout everything. We now know what that we meant it when we said "for better or for worse" at the altar.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
There were some people who were appalling and depressing but I'd rather not think about that anymore.
14. Where did most of your money go?
The wedding and newlywed life.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My wedding day, obviously. :)
16. What song will always remind you of 2013?
The Cranberries' Dreaming My Dreams and Aerosmith's I Don't Want To Miss A Thing. We walked down the aisle to those songs.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
Happier or sadder? Happier and sadder. Like I said, 2013 was a mix of highs and lows. Thinner or fatter? Fatter! I was thinner for my wedding then I gained back the weight when I became a bum, heh. Richer or poorer? Definitely poorer. I was richer because of my severance package, but not having a regular job means frugal mode.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
None, really. I had way too much time to do stuff this year, heh.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Be busy. Juggling two families for the first time made the husband and I have less time for each other. This year we need to minimize our social engagements and focus on quality time.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent Christmas with my family and Aleq and his family.
21. How will you be spending New Years?
I spent it with Aleq and my family.
22. Did you fall in love in 2013?
Always in love with Aleq.
23. How many one-night stands?
Zilch, nada, never again.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Doctor Who, The Carrie Diaries, and It's Judy's Life on YouTube.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't hate anyone in particular at the moment.
26. What was the best book you read?
Definitely Rainbow Rowell books. I loved Eleanor & Park, Attachments, and Fangirl.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Just Imagine Dragons I guess. I didn't really listen to a lot of new music this year. I was more into 90s stuff because of our wedding playlist.
28. What did you want and got?
The wedding we always wanted. We will always be thankful to the fates that we didn't hit any snags that day. It was everything we hoped for and more. We wouldn't have it any other way. <3
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. I know I'm forgetting things. There were a lot of awesome movies this year.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 32. Just had a low-key celebration with husband and family at our favorite neighborhood restaurant, Poco Deli in Kapitolyo, because it was just days after the wedding.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Not losing my job, haha. It was another dream job I had to let go of. I should aim for non-dream jobs now. Maybe that will work out, heh.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?
I have no idea. I didn't do much shopping this year. Just stuck to my personal style that isn't too girly/feminine. Oh and I loved wedge sneakers -- the proper ones.
34. What kept you sane?
Aleq. Always.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Austin Butler, aka Sebastian from The Carrie Diaries! That boy is hot lol.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The Napoles case and the Yolanda calamity! I am usually apathetic but I hated these issues. It made me realize how much work this country needs.
37. Who did you miss?
My mother. Forever.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
I don't think I met any new people in 2013.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013.
All things shall come to pass.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year?
"I'll be dreaming my dreams with you. There is no other place that I'd lay down my face. Dreaming my dreams with you..."
- The Cranberries, Dreaming My Dreams.
2012 was my year. I owned it, so it was no surprise that 2013 turned out to be a mix of highs and lows. The wheel of life turns and we can't always be on the upside of things, right? Thankfully, it started out amazing and only got tough near the end. Here's to 2014! I have a good feeling about this year.
1. What did you do in 2013 that you'd never done before?
I got married! That alone means a lot of things I've never done before -- walking down the aisle, saying I Do, moving in with someone, being a newlywed, doing proper home-cooking, etc.
My husband and I also got to go to our first ever big rock concert. We saw Aerosmith live, and it was on a whole other level compared to all the concerts we've been to before.
I also set up a proper blog for the first time - TheBluePurse.com. It was my project for the year.
It was also the first time I got to take an extended vacation. I concentrated on the wedding and building a new life with my husband. Work took a backseat this year.
2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
In 2012 I was way too busy with work and wedding preparations, so I resolved to be less lazy and have more time for non-work-related stuff. In 2013, it was exactly the opposite. I had too much non-work-related stuff done, though I still didn't write in my journal and the apartment still needs work especially since hubby moved all his stuff in and we don't have a place for everything. I got to focus on my obsessions in 2013 -- blogged, went to the gym, did yoga at an ashram, read tons of books, learned how to cook... the list just goes on and on.
This year, I'm not really sure what I want to do, but the one thing I want to make sure of is that I become a morning person again. I'm an insomniac but I have always loved mornings, so I resolve to wake up early from now on. The husband and I have been having trouble waking up early, and that needs to change. I tend to get more things done when I wake up early too, so I really need to make an effort with this one.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Hmm I can't think of anyone at the moment.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My Uncle Aping passed away in May. My cousin Lek and I had to make an impromptu trip to Bicol to represent our families at the wake.
5. What countries did you visit?
Didn't travel at all this year. Half of the year was spent on wedding preparations while the next half was spent just bumming around. Edit: I forgot that the hubby and I took a quick trip to Tagaytay with his mom and cousin after our wedding. That's within the country though.
6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
A new job! I lost my job early last year when the company closed, but I got a pretty good final package from that so I got to take a break for several months to focus on my wedding and newlywed life. Now I'm ready to get back into the swing of things. I have no idea what's in store for my career next.
7. What date from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
The day of my wedding, of course. <3
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting married! My husband and I always said we would make the most of our 20s and get married in our 30s and we did exactly that. Our wedding was 13 years in the making!
9. What was your biggest failure?
I don't think I failed at anything this year.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I still got sick a lot the first half of the year - mostly my rhinitis and fever, the usual - but I was okay the latter part of the year. I'm sick again though. Been sick since the start of 2014. Bleah.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
That would probably be my iPhone 5s. The phone is so darn awesome! I also love my Zara bag, but my husband got me that. It's the new Blue Purse. ;)
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My husband's. It has been both such a wonderful and hard year, and he has been amazing throughout everything. We now know what that we meant it when we said "for better or for worse" at the altar.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
There were some people who were appalling and depressing but I'd rather not think about that anymore.
14. Where did most of your money go?
The wedding and newlywed life.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My wedding day, obviously. :)
16. What song will always remind you of 2013?
The Cranberries' Dreaming My Dreams and Aerosmith's I Don't Want To Miss A Thing. We walked down the aisle to those songs.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
Happier or sadder? Happier and sadder. Like I said, 2013 was a mix of highs and lows. Thinner or fatter? Fatter! I was thinner for my wedding then I gained back the weight when I became a bum, heh. Richer or poorer? Definitely poorer. I was richer because of my severance package, but not having a regular job means frugal mode.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
None, really. I had way too much time to do stuff this year, heh.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Be busy. Juggling two families for the first time made the husband and I have less time for each other. This year we need to minimize our social engagements and focus on quality time.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent Christmas with my family and Aleq and his family.
21. How will you be spending New Years?
I spent it with Aleq and my family.
22. Did you fall in love in 2013?
Always in love with Aleq.
23. How many one-night stands?
Zilch, nada, never again.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Doctor Who, The Carrie Diaries, and It's Judy's Life on YouTube.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't hate anyone in particular at the moment.
26. What was the best book you read?
Definitely Rainbow Rowell books. I loved Eleanor & Park, Attachments, and Fangirl.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Just Imagine Dragons I guess. I didn't really listen to a lot of new music this year. I was more into 90s stuff because of our wedding playlist.
28. What did you want and got?
The wedding we always wanted. We will always be thankful to the fates that we didn't hit any snags that day. It was everything we hoped for and more. We wouldn't have it any other way. <3
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. I know I'm forgetting things. There were a lot of awesome movies this year.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 32. Just had a low-key celebration with husband and family at our favorite neighborhood restaurant, Poco Deli in Kapitolyo, because it was just days after the wedding.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Not losing my job, haha. It was another dream job I had to let go of. I should aim for non-dream jobs now. Maybe that will work out, heh.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?
I have no idea. I didn't do much shopping this year. Just stuck to my personal style that isn't too girly/feminine. Oh and I loved wedge sneakers -- the proper ones.
34. What kept you sane?
Aleq. Always.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Austin Butler, aka Sebastian from The Carrie Diaries! That boy is hot lol.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The Napoles case and the Yolanda calamity! I am usually apathetic but I hated these issues. It made me realize how much work this country needs.
37. Who did you miss?
My mother. Forever.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
I don't think I met any new people in 2013.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013.
All things shall come to pass.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year?
"I'll be dreaming my dreams with you. There is no other place that I'd lay down my face. Dreaming my dreams with you..."
- The Cranberries, Dreaming My Dreams.