With the roaring twenties just around the corner, hereβs my look back on the last of our teen years, 2019.
βItβs been an incredible year for us as a familyβ.
Weβve had so many adventures, learned so much and conquered a few fears along the way too. Personally, I failed my crappy 2018 resolutions within the first month – but this year has really given me a boost in the right direction. I know what I want and I know how to get it. This year has taught me that you really do need to take care of yourself, mentally and physically.
It really is ok, not to be ok and there is support for literally anything you need out there. You just gotta ask! Thereβs no shame in asking for a bit of help.
After a year of learning about my own self help development, finding thingsΒ I enjoy and becoming better at looking after my own mental health, I have learned that Iβm not here to please everybody, I do not need to βfit inβ and that my own state of happiness is far more important. I have no desire to be like everyone else. Your individuality is what makes you, YOU. Β Iβve learned that my self worth does not need everyoneβs approval. If you like me, thatβs great, Iβll be your friend. If you donβt, fair play, have a nice day. Iβm ok with that. I can (now) happily live with myself knowing that I donβt need to βjump through hoopsβ trying to impress you with my life stories for you to validate me … Iβm just me!Β And to be honest … I couldnβt be happier!
2019
January
I always enjoy January, itβs so full of hope for the new year. I started my stretching and yoga with such good intentions ha ha! But failed after about a month.
We had family nature walks, fed the ducks, enjoyed a short break away at the beach, car shows for daddy, Β enjoyed lots of snow play in the first snowfall of the year and slobbed about the house on our lazy days. Bliss!
February
My favourite month – my birthday month! We kicked off February with a kid free weekend to York, and it was one of my most romantic, funniest weekends away with the boy in a while. Just what we needed. We planted fresh seeds in the vegetable patch, had a picnic at the farm. There was some very sad news also this month but we stuck together and got through it – as a family.
March
The littlest child celebrated her birthday with a trip to the trampoline park with some friends and had such a fun time. We harvested potatoes from the garden and made a pie. The eldest had a performance at the theatre, the circus came to town and was incredible. We had sunny walks and muddy days at the nature trail, the weather was lush, we even dined alfresco! In March! Shocking really, for Britain!
April
April flew by with bike rides at the lake, playtime at the park, Easter egg competitions, the eldest joined the double figures gang and turned ten! And we had our first camping week of the season by the beach – which was just awesome! After having a break from camping and switching to a caravan, it was so nice and relaxing going back to basics for a week.
May
We were back in the car for more travelling! We started with a weekend in Blackpool loving life on the slot machines. Then it was a trip to The Cadbury World Factory and ate our body weight in chocolate with friends – which was an ace day out. Next we had a long car journey to Devon, where we celebrated daddyβs birthday on the beach, swimming in the sea and travelling around the βEnglish Rivieraβ, through Devon, Dawlish, Teignmouth, Torquay, Babbacombe and Paignton. This was a fantastic uk break away and is one of my absolute favourite memories of the year.
June
June was an exciting month, we had a family wedding, I was a bridesmaid – which was so nerve wracking! but the day was lovely non the less. The girls had great school reports so treats where given, work had started on our house and it looked like a building site for quite sometime, but we worked around it … and then it came … my big day … Bon Jovi Live at Wembley! Ha ha, Oh my goodness I cried so hard! We had a great weekend in London, sightseeing at the natural history museum, shopping down the high street. One of the best weekends with the boy, ever! Gosh heβs so good to me!
July
The groundwork on the house was almost complete and starting to look amazing, our friends got married (abroad) and had a uk party to celebrate, we dined alfresco again in the sunshine. The girls had their first theatre performance with the dance studio, again more tears were shed, but they smashed it! So so proud!
School was out and we planned our adventures for the summer holidays. Bike rides along the canal, picnics in the park and cooking with more vegetables from the garden.
We ended the month with another car journey down to Cornwall. My favourite place!
August
Starting the month in my soul home, Cornwall. Relaxing on the beach, swimming in the sea, soaking up the glorious sunshine, learning to body board, a trip to the Eden Project, conquering fears, dancing all night, family bonding, visiting eight bucket list beaches, watching the sunset, living like travellers on three different caravan parks, every day a beach day, afternoon tea, tug of war on the beach, jumping in the rainy day puddles. Oh my goodness the list is endless for August! My favourite month of the year … and to end it … we hopped on a plane to Dublin, Ireland. We spent our nights down at Temple Bar taking in the Irish nightlife with a bit of βdiddley-iydye!β we had a trip to the Guinness Factory and pulled our own pint, had a photo with an Irish leprechaun haha! Β Drank far too much alcohol – but had so much fun!
September
September was full of giggles, and whatβs not a better way to start the month than a game of Bonkers Bingo down at the theatre …. if youβve not been, itβs a must! This is not bingo as we know it! A fantastic night with friends. The kids weβre back to school and normality could begin! The work in the garden was finished and it time to shop for plants! My favourite thing to do! A family trip to the forest for a picnic, fire pits and roasting marshmallows in the garden, the littlest went to watch her first football match and loved it. Russel Howard Live at the NEC Birmingham was a fab night for us parents, always such a giggle. And finally another trip to the Peak District for a day in the sunshine.
October
After a lot of thought, The Jolly Pixie was back up and running and I have been loving it! Itβs good to be back! We had snuggles in bed, lazy days and the Christmas elves sent mail. There was a trip to Cheshire oaks and the Trafford centre for winter clothes. A fancy meal with the kids, the leaves started to fall and our walks were looking very colourful, we harvest boxes for the food banks and took our last mini road trip to Llandudno to watch the fireworks on the beach. They have to be the best fireworks we have ever seen! A trip to a magical woodland walk was just as hygglig as Iβd imagined and we thawed by the fire pit with marshmallows and hot chocolates. We ended the month with a quick weekend trip to Blackpool to see the illuminations – it just has to be done!
November
This month, our littlest child celebrated completing her 30 miles race at your pace and won herself a medal, so chuffed for her! Β Another dance show at the theatre where both the girls made us super proud parents, again! And a trip to Liverpool with the kids to see the Christmas markets and the festive lights … and we ate so so many chocolate crΓͺpes – worth it!
December
And finally, December, we decorated the Christmas tree, the elves came to stay and caused so much mischief throughout the month, the eldest went on a residential stay for a week with the school and had an amazing time, the littlest child performed in her last ever Christmas play at the school. I made homemade chocolate fudge for Christmas gifts, we dined with Santa and had a very festive meal at Trentham Gardens. Finally school was out for the Christmas holidays and we kicked it off with a Santa Sleepover at Alton Towers and had such a fun filled weekend with friends. The big day came and we had the most relaxed, thoughtful, calm Christmas. We even had Christmas dinner in our pyjamas! It was just so nice, after all the hustle and bustle of Christmas parties, and visiting friends and family, our Christmas Day was just pure bliss. I couldnβt of asked for better.
… And that was our year! Itβs so amazing to look back and actually see all the wonderful things we got up to. We are so grateful and blessed to be able to do all the wonderful things we do. We donβt just do these things to βshow offβ, itβs just the way we are. We are wanderers, we like to be outside, we live for the little adventures as a family and we are fortunate enough that we can do these things.
We work hard and we save hard.
I hope 2020 is filled with just as many more adventures for us all! …. Although, my planner is currently empty! Who knows what we will get up to!
Do you have plans for 2020? Any New Years Resolutions?
I wish you all peace, love, health and wealth for the New Year!
happy adventures
nay nay x
nay nays adventure 