The life and times of Libby Withnall

PERSONAL

Make time for hobbies that I truly enjoy

Have more quiet time – relaxing in sun, sitting on beach, having baths, walking (when able)

Read and review at least one book a month (romances not included )

Sort out all our home movies and put them into iMovie

Plan a wonderful trip to celebrate our 20th Wedding Anniversary in Dec

- at this stage we’re tossing up Europe (Italy, France, Greece) – we’d go in Oct, Walt Disney World (kids choice) and Hawaii. Please share your thoughts.

Possibly try horse-riding (haven’t been since I was a teen) and scuba diving (had a panic attack last time)

Complete ALL online classes that I sign up for

HEALTH/FITNESS/FOOD

Tackle my weight gain once and for all (have appointment with weight loss surgeon for the 6th Feb so have till then to get myself on the right path)

Remove all junk/over processed food from the house

Simplify the way we eat – healthy, wholesome, homemade food, fruit & veg for snacks, make treats really treats

Work out more simplified exercise routine including yoga, cardio and weights.

Try a different type of exercise – eg swimming, aqua-aerobics

HOME

Simplify homemaking routines – currently trying Speed Cleaning approach with a couple rooms per day.

Revise budget and stick to it

Help the girls to develop, and stick with, their own routines

Reorganise the spare room (again). Going to make it MY room for nail polish, exercise stuff, sewing, etc.

FAMILY/FRIENDS

Meet at least 1 new online friend – I LOVE this aspect of blogging

Monthly day out with Mum

Weekly Family Movie Night (Sat)

Weekly Family Documentary Night (Sun)

Monthly Family Fun Day Out

Invite a friend over at least once a month

Organise craft weekend for my friends

Have a weekend away with family every other month

Photo from The House of Smiths who chose this word last year.

This years WORD came to me so very easily.

SIMPLIFY

I can apply this to almost all areas of my life. And if I manage to stick with should see some wonderful changes.

• Simplify household routine
• Simplify how we eat, with a focus on simple, wholesome foods
• Simplify my exercise routine
• Simplify my hobbies (and decide which ones to let go of)
• Simplify my wardrobe (and that of the girls)
• Simplify my daily routine
• Simplify how we live
• Simplify what I expect of myself

So do you have a word for the year?

It’s been a fairly uneventful year I guess. I turned 40, traveled to Alaska and Fiji, suffered from bad arthritis and a heal spur and generally feel happy with my life. I don’t however feel as I have achieved very much – especially with personal goals….

PERSONAL

Develop crochet and sewing skills   NO

Complete Project life – new kit just arrived   NO But working on it

Develop photography skills   NO

Master basic digital scrapbooking (and possibly do digital album for our Alaska trip)    NO

Make a list of (non-Romance) books I have to read and work my way through the list   NO

Feel great about myself when I turn 40 in June   NO

Try to find some way to get involved in Amy’s high school  NO

Have more baths (once a week would be great)    YES!!!! Especially since discovering Lush

Have a full body massage (never felt comfortable enough to do this)    NO

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HEALTH/FITNESS/FOOD

Follow Weight Watchers and attend meetings every week (where possible)   YES for a while…..

Maintain regular (2-3 times a week) RCR workouts   NO

Start the Coach to 5K running program    NO

If complete above – look into doing a 5K race   NO

Continue to experiment in the kitchen by trying new recipes   Sort of

Help Christy to improve her eating    YES (but not very successfully)

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HOME

Work out new household routine and incorporate zone cleaning each week   NO

Declutter (again) both the garage and sewing room and  keep them organised     KIND OF – did garage but sewing room still needs work (again)

Revise budget and actually stick to it (was doing well up until a few months ago)    NO – same as last year

Hope the girls to develop, and stick with, their own routines    NO – still trying

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FAMILY/FRIENDS

Make more time for real life friends    YES

Try to make at least one new real life friend (our social set is dropping every year)   NO

Meet at least 2 bloggy friends (have 3 probables at this stage )   YES – Paola, Vanessa and Brenda

Monthly day out with Mum    NO

Weekly family movie night   YES

Monthly family fun day    NO

Time reading with Christy most days   YES

Last night I headed back to my old stomping ground in Sydney to attend a High School reunion for our year 10. Being that I went on to year 12 there were quite a few girls that I did not remember.

It was fantastic to catch up with “my group”, whom thanks to facebook I’m in more regular contact with now.

Amanda (on the left) was my Math buddy and I haven’t seen her since 1988. You might remember Suzanne from when I met up with her in London last year, and Kimberly (right) lives abroad (and I also haven’t seen since 1988). Overall most girls hadn’t changed very much. Most just have much better hair these days .

Of course, you know my best friend Leanne and her other best friend, also Leanne. Being that I spend much of the night sitting on the couch (due to sore feet and then a headache) I nearly missed getting a photo of the three of us.

It was really great to catch up with Nicole (our Mum’s were great friends) so even though we weren’t school friends we spend a lot of time together as children.

A lot of girls really didn’t seem to know who I was. Not sure I knew either as my high school name was Liz Given and for the last 19 years I’ve been Libby Withnall .

Now my hair was not actually naturally curly when I was younger but unfortunately school photos were taken right when I had a LOVELY 80s perm. When I saw the photo I kind of got why know one knew who I was.  What do you think? Would you have recognised me?

Despite feeling really poorly I was glad I made the effort to go. It was just a shame I couldn’t fully enjoy it.

10 years ago….

and today….

Another video for you. I did a blog post a while back on what’s in my bag but thought it would be fun to do a video update – not that much has changed . I wish I’d done this back when I worked and when I’d had young kids. It’s amazing how thing like this change.

Please let me know if you do a post sharing what’s in your bag. Go on – it’s fun and it’s easy.

On Saturday afternoon Amy & I got dressed up and headed up Sydney for our special VIP night to see Enrique Iglesias.

After a “slight” detour over the Harbour Bridge and back (lucky we had extra time) and trouble finding the parking station….

we made it to the Gin Garden in The Estalishment for a pre-show cocktail party. It was  cute place with a glass roof.

Amy & I enjoyed some lemonade and yummy nibblies. We also received our goodie bags which contained a CD, chocolates & an “I like it” travel mug.

After an hour here we boarded a bus to take us to the Acer Arena. At this point I was VERY glad I didn’t drive as there was LOADS of traffic because there was a big sports game on nearby  plus the concert.

Shortly after we arrived DJ Havana Brown – whom I had never heard of – went on. Her music was okay but it was LOUD and way to BASSY. Luckily Amy wanted some food so we headed out and she was finished by the time we got back .

We were in row 13 on the floor and just 2 seats away from the middle runway ….

which meant we were able to jump out of seats really quick and stand right by the rail.

Then was time for Pitbull, who we enjoyed.

And then the man we had come to see….

Lots of photos ahead so if you don’t think he’s as hunky as I do you’re free to leave now .

It was a fabulous show and I loved being so close the action. I’ve been a fan for years and actually went to see him by msyelf back in 2004 when he was last here. Definitely well worth every cent I paid for these tickets. And so fun, and special, to be able to share it was Amy. Unfortunately though I think she’s going to be very disappointed at her next concert!!!!

The show ended (almost) with Pitbull and Enrqiue on stage together to sing I Like It.

It finished about 11pm and we got back on the bus into the city, then drove home. I think I tumbled into bed around 2am, tired but very happy.

PS. I’m so grateful that my feet are good at the moment. They were sore after the concert (and standing for hours) but I don’t how I would have coped a few months ago.

One year ago on the 19th of July, 2010 I was in Scotland with a sick child, driving from Glen Coe to Inverness.

Two years ago in 2009 I was in Western Australia travelling with the girls and my parents visiting the Pinnacles.

Three years ago in 2008 I was in Alice Springs with all my family at the end of trip to the middle of Australia.

And 4 years ago in 2007, like today, I was at home doing something totally mudance and unblogworthy .

I love blogging because it allows me to take little trips down memory lane whenever I want. What were you doing this day last year?

PS. I do believe I am coming to the end of my cold/flu and will be back to normal very soon.

After a busy morning (getting an injection for my heel spur), and a relaxing afternoon (having manicure and pedicure) it was lovely to spend the evening with my family and close friends.

We just had pizza for dinner – one of my favs. plus very little clean up required.

And there was birthday cake for desert.

I recieved some lovely presents. A still-to-be-selected outdoor table setting from Mum & Dad (though I told them looking after the girls for 3 weeks was the best present EVER). The Powells gave me this lovely  wall hanging that Leanne made and some gorgeous photo frames.

The Burkes got me a beautiful scarf and glass clock – engraved with Life is a Journey.

The girls got me this wall hanging (which I actually spotted while out shopping).

There were also plenty of kids, which made for a noisy party.

It was a really fun night and I really enjoyed spending time with the people I love most.