New Years Tag

Okay guys don’t be too shocked, but it looks like I’m posting twice in one week! :O I know, I can’t believe it either. 😛 As regular readers will know, I stated at the start of 2020 and the end of 2020 that I would only post one post a week moving forward and only post more for special occasions. This is one of those special occasions.

I was recently tagged by one of my best friends (yes Sarah, you’re classed as one of my besties now!) to take part in the New Years Tag and I didn’t want to miss out on taking part, nor did I want to push back any review posts, so I thought I would do two posts in one week! 😛

Sarah over at Raiin Monkey has actually created this tag, as well as tagging me to take part. She created it as she isn’t a huge fan of resolution posts and I can’t say as I blame her. I used to write them all the time years before, but for the past couple of years, I’ve not bothered. This is a great tag to kick start the New Year, whether it be to share your New Year related answers, or to even introduce new readers to your blog!

Either way, I’m so excited to take part and again, thank you so much Sarah for tagging me! Make sure to go and check out the original tag post AND go and read Sarah’s answers! 😀

It’s chilly this evening so go and grab yourself a hot drink, or even run a hot bath and read this as you have a soak! 🙂

Tags always include rules, right? So, here’s mine:

1. Copy the questions to your blog.

2. Link back to my original post, and also thank the person who tagged you (linking theirs, too).

3. Answer the questions.

4. Add your own question (if you want to).

5. Tag 4-6 friends to answer it.

6. Give yourself a pat on the back. You blogged!! You’re awesome!

The Questions:

1. Let’s start by looking back at 2020. What were three good things that happened to you?

I went to Japan for two weeks in January, literally less than a week after my 30th. It was amazing and the memories both me and Dane made there were something I held to dearly throughout 2020. I’m taking part in Japanuary over on Instagram (theremightbecoffeeblog) for the whole of January and being able to talk and share my trip to Japan last year is really helping. I miss Japan so much right now and I’m already contemplating going in 2022…

This is kind of a bad thing that became a good thing, but we had some water damage in our bathroom that affected the kitchen ceiling. We were able to claim this damage on insurance BUT we decided enough was enough and jumped at the chance to get our bathroom redone… It’s been almost six months now since we had it done and it’s changed our lives. It’s gorgeous and we’re so happy with it.

I can’t actually think of a third one… It’s really hard! I guess one thing lockdown helped me with a little is to “live a little” and do things that I’d wanted to for a while. Whether that be take up a new hobby (resin making), or buy something I knew I’d wanted for ages. I started buying clothes from Black Milk Clothing again and this time they were brand new, not second hand or brand new with tags on eBay. I also started to buy things that had sat in wish list for years as I wasn’t spending my money during lockdown on petrol, nor when I’d be out and about with friends shopping, eating out, etc.

2. What was a positive to come out of spending all that time at home?

Both me and Dane were able to start making a list of things we needed to do at home and things we have meaning to do since we bought our house almost five years ago. We had a week off at the start of December and got loads of those things done! Alongside that we also started a new hobby together, which is resin making. Dane focuses more on making polyhedral dice and I focus more in keyrings and items like that. It’s lovely having that hobby to do together, especially if we’re feeling creative.

I’ve also been working at home since March 2020 and whilst I do miss my colleagues and the office, I do enjoy drinking decent coffee, and generally my own home comforts. Plus I don’t have to worry about missing parcels. 😛

3. Did you start any new hobbies in 2020? Discover any new interests?

I mentioned before that I started resin making. I’d watched people play and make resin pieces on Instagram for years and had always wanted to give it a go myself. Around the start of lockdown me and Dane decided to give it a go ourselves. We bought some silicone, resin, mica powder and more things to make our own polyhedral dice molds and then dice. The molds didn’t go great but since then we have experimented more with resin and bought molds from people. I’ve grown an interest in having a go at making amigurumi (Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small, stuffed yarn creatures) but I need to do my research first… I’d also love to FINALLY do Twitch streams! I’d look to Twitching some older games, as well as indie games. I’ve got some ideas in mind and plan to have a play around and test the waters to see what can be done. Watch this space!

4. What was your best watch and/or read of 2020?

I’m not going to lie, I read fuck all in 2020… I’m quite ashamed of it to be perfectly honest.

I did watch some amazing shows and films however, so I’m just going to pop a list below:

TV Shows:

Don’t F**k With Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer

Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness

I May Destroy You

Pose

The Mandalorian

The Haunting of Bly Manor

I May Destroy You

Movies:

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

1917

Parasite

A Whisker Away

Soul

5. Name five things or people that helped get you through the gloomy times?

Animal Crossing: New Horizons – This game came out just as lockdown happened in the UK in March 2020 and whilst I was working from home, playing Animal Crossing everyday really did help to take my mind away from what was happening in the world. I don’t pick it up everyday like I used to anymore, but I still love playing it. It’s good to just zone out to when you have things on your mind, or if you’re feeling lonely and want company.

Retail therapy – I hate putting this, but honestly a bit of retail therapy every now and then has really helped. When I’ve been bored and not known what to do with myself, I have gone onto Etsy or my wish list for a bit of online window shopping. Sometimes if the mood has taken me I’ve bought something. I don’t think I’m the only person who has done this either to be honest with you. I did go on a spending ban around August 2020 as I’d been spending a lot and I needed to be good. I’m actually planning to go on a spending ban in February as I want to try and save some monies up. I’d like to start saving to do some more stuff to the house, as well as another trip to Japan in the (hopefully) near future.

My friends – My friends (online included!) have all been amazing. Whenever I feel rubbish they’re always on a DM to me cheering me up, or supporting me when I really need someone to vent or talk to. I cannot thank them enough. I’m not going to name people here, but you all know who you are. 🙂

My parents – I’m not going to say much here, but they’ve been there to listen to me bitching on FaceTime and for company when I’ve been really lonely during the day. I may live with my boyfriend, but working from home, some days are quiet and I get incredibly lonely. So I’ll call my mom or dad for a bit for a natter and then return to work.

Dane – Finally I want to mention my boyfriend. He’s been my absolute rock throughout everything, and I don’t just mean through the gloomy times of 2020. He’s the main person I see and speak to day to day and I appreciate him for putting up with me so much. 😛 He’s just an amazing human being and I don’t know how I can tell him that anymore than I already do.

6. Okay, phew! We can forget last year now!! Share something you want to achieve this year.

I’d like to get a 2022 trip booked for Japan. I want to go for two weeks again and explore more of Japan. I’d also love to go around cherry blossom season.

I would also love to start selling some of my resin pieces. I’ve made so many and I look at them and hope they can find forever homes in the future.

Twitch! I really want to do it. I love playing games and I love talking, so why not mix the two? Watching PayMoneyWubby has really inspired me to give it a go. Even if I’m not playing games, I’d love to do some general chatting videos and maybe even talk and share some geeky stuff? I don’t know, as I said earlier in the tag I really need to take a good look into it all.

I want to improve my home. We NEEEEEED to do the garden up, we also need to save for an extension. If it turns out I’ll be working from home more often in the future, I’d love to get my own desk set up in our office… But I don’t know yet.

Finally… I would love to extend our family and bring a miniature schnauzer into our lives. It’s a big thing to get a dog and it isn’t something I’m taking lightly. We looked at adopting last year and to be honest as soon as we started to apply I got anxious and not in a good way. I’m glad we didn’t get a dog as I don’t think it was the right time. I’m hoping this year will be right, but who knows. 🙂 I do want a dog… But only when I feel ready…

7. Tell us three things you’re looking forward to.

I’m hoping things start to go back to normal by autumn this year.

I’m looking forward to seeing my family and friends again as I really do miss them. I especially miss being able to give my parents hugs and going on shopping dates with my friends I miss going for sushi and not knowing what I felt worse about, the expensive bill after eating at YO! Sushi or by how much food I’ve eaten. I don’t miss going out for food by all means but I miss being able to if I wanted, you know? I’m the same for if I wanted to spontaneously go shopping for stuff for the house, a day trip and more. So I’m excited to get able to do this again… Hopefully. 😛

I’m actually really excited to seeing My Chemical Romance in June! I remember the hell I had trying to book tickets whilst in Japan and then a week after I got back I was able to get both me and Dane a ticket. Dane isn’t a fan of the band, but he’s coming with me because he’s a good egg like that. 😛 I’m getting my nails done black with glitter, very much how I used to in my emo days back in 2007 that morning and I’m going to try and dress up. Can you tell just how excited I am? 😀

I know it sounds sad but I’m actually looking forward to getting my garden fence done. It’s been something we’ve been meaning to do for a while now, but with Japan, our bathroom issues and more… Meh. It’s been pushed back. I think we’re going to wait for the weather to brighten up a little and then we’ll buy the goods, book some time off work and get it done! 😀 I want to try and do my garden up a little and make it a nice place to sit in in the summer.

8. Other than our current global situation, what’s one thing in your life that you’d like to change in 2021?

One thing I’d like to change? Erm… I don’t know really. I’ve felt so creative in 2020 and so far in 2021 but I’ve also felt low because I can’t put that creative energy into anything. I have my blog and that’s great, but sometimes it doesn’t feel… Enough. I think that’s why I love my resin so much, but resin is something that we can only do late at night and over the weekend. I’d love to take up a new hobby this year, aka amigurumi to try and do something creative there. In 2020 I started to use my Instagram stories more to talk and share things and I loved it and I think that’s where my creative juices flow. I love sharing stories, items and talking about anything. I’m a talker. If there was an Olympic sport for talking, I’d be looking to win a gold medal! Hence why I would genuinely love to try Twitch. I’d love to look back on 2021 in a years time and see me achieve something new as quite frankly the only thing I achieved in 2020 was going to Japan. I want to try and do something in 2021 that makes me proud. 🙂

I tag:

Everyone who reads this post to give it a go! I would tag people, but my brain is empty for who to tag. 😛

I know this post is quite late up tonight, but I hope you guys enjoyed it! I really enjoyed writing it and filling in the answers to Sarah’s questions! 😀

Do you think you’ll give it a go? What do you think of 2020 and what are your hopes for 2021? Make sure to let me know in the comments below.

Until next time all, take care and keep safe. ❤