New year’s traditions

January 4, 2013

I have quite a few traditions on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day (well early morning anyhow). I think I always took it pretty seriously because 1-that’s just how I am and 2-my birthday is the 1st and maybe I was trying to lay the groundwork for a good birthday. Over the year certain things have changed and it’s always hard for me but I’ve held onto a few.

1. Sometime on New Year’s Eve I find a quite place alone and pull out my resolutions from that year and see what I’ve accomplished. Some I remember and some are a pleasant surprise. I did pretty good this year. Then I pull out a new sheet of paper and think of some resolutions for the next year. I try not to take it too seriously but I do add a couple of larger goals to give myself a push during the year.

2. This year Walker and I stayed in and had a New Year’s throwback party just the 2 of us. By throwback I mean how I used to celebrate with my family when I was younger. I made a few of my favorite foods (cream cheese with crab and cocktail sauce, spinach dip, veggies and dip, olives and other tasty treats). We also played games and had mini dance parties to pass the time.

3. Trying to make sure everything is perfect can sometimes put me in a bit of a bad mood. Walker called me out on it and lightened the mood by photographing my sillyness.

4. At midnight I try to take a picture while toasting, saying happy New Year, blowing a noise maker, getting a smooth, and making sure someone says happy birthday (ha). This year we were sort of confused because of the time difference. At 9pm pt we celebrated Michigan New Year.

5. Since it was midnight in Michigan I got a few calls from my family members wishing me a happy birthday.

6. An hour later we celebrated the New Year in Texas.

7.Finally at our midnight we celebrated New Year’s! Woo!

7. The final tradition is to stay up until 1:22 am (my official birthday time) and take a picture, light my candles, happy birthday gets sung, I open up my gifts, and then finally we can all head to bed. This year though we both fell asleep about 10 minutes before 1:22 and when I woke up at 1:47 I was pretty upset. The candles did get lit and happy birthday was nearly sung but I was a bit too tired to enjoy it. I did open my gift before deciding what I really needed was some sleep and that I could enjoy the rest of my birthday once I woke up.

8. This year I didn’t plan anything for the day (except for dinner). I did what I wanted as it came and Walker and I had a great time mostly relaxing!

 

 

My birthday is on the first

January 3, 2013

Yes that’s right I share my birthday with the year! Woo! It’s sounds more exciting than it really is. Every year I complete with the year in celebration of our birthdays. Sometimes it’s exhausting and other times it’s quite wonderful. This year was a mix but I think the good won overall. {more on this tomorrow when I talk about my traditions I mentioned on the 31st}

We woke up relatively early on my birthday and the sun was shining! Woo! We ate breakfast which mostly consisted of leftover food from the night before and the black eyed pea soup Walker had made the day before for good luck in the new year. It was actually quite good. We took advantage of the sun and went to a spot with a great view and took a bunch of fun pictures. I’ll share more on another day. It was pretty fun.

Then we stopped by our favorite doughnut place for yet another food that brings good luck in the new year and headed home. We relaxed for most of the day and cuddled at home. Really what more could I really want on my birthday. The days that I don’t plan are so much more fun. This I need to remember. At 6 we had a dinner date at a restaurant very close by. We tried a couple of delicious foods and chatted about the previous year and what’s to come for us in 2013. Then we popped into the chocolate martini bar and shared what I would think is the best chocolate martini (although I don’t have a lot to compare it to).

Finally we headed home and I put on my comfy clothes. I lit my candles for the 2nd time and made a wish, ate some cupcake, and snuggled on the couch to watch a movie. It was a lovely birthday and I was so blessed to have so many wonderful friends and family call me to chat and wish me happy birthday. It helps that I have a memorable birthday.