So I missed it - I'm six days too late but this is my 'New Year' post and what better way to start the year than with resolutions?!

Resolutions:

Initially I decided not to have New Years resolutions because I have, erm, how do I put it, 'issues' following them through. I do follow them through, only much later than I should. For example, last year I decided that getting fit was one of my resolutions.
I did it, yes, only about 6 moths later. Hey ho, I got there!

Anyway, I've decided to have smaller resolutions this year. Actually they aren't really smaller, they are just a lot more personal and selfish. That's right, this year I'm focusing on myself. I hope that's ok.

• Be more decisive, 
• Keep fit,
• Eat better,
• Improve my time keeping, 
• Work on Made By Fatima 

I've decided that 2016 is going to be a creative and productive year. Even more creative and productive than last year!

What are your plans for the year?

Here's to new beginnings!

Guess what!? It's my Blogiversary! That's right, I've been blogging for three years as of last week :)

This year has been quite eventful blog-wise:

• I finally bought my own domain - now I'm .com :) OH YEAH! 
• My reader base expanded according to Google Analytics and that, for me, is awesome!!
• My blog got a makeover thanks to Noor :) 
• I finally wrote travel posts which is something I'd love to do more of,
• My photo skills kind of improved - kind of, even though this post doesn't have one...ooops...
• I've started writing fiction! 

Anyway, I was trying to think about what to write for this post and decided to go through my previous Blogiversay posts - the advice in those posts still stand. In fact, I've taken the advice from this post and added to it - experience and all that...


What's your advice and tips? 

Also, on a side note, this will be my last post till next year!! See you on the other siiiiiiide! 

Seasons greetings all and I hope you enjoy your holidays and celebrations :P 

Whilst having a super lovely catch up with my friends last week, this question came up:


Actually, that wasn't the question exactly. The actual question was what would you do if you won the lottery but, religiously, I can't play the lottery - it's ok, I'm actually ok with this so please don't worry yourself too much. Therefore I tweaked the question a little. The question is still the same because the focus here isn't on where the money had come from, it's what you'd do once you had it.

What I'd do if I came into a lot of money, for myself, - is what I've always wanted to do and in actual fact, I don't need money to do this. See, my grand master plan, in an ideal world, ultimately, would be to leave - travel the world. I'd work random jobs, meet amazing people and eat way to much food. I'd volunteer along the way and help in any way I can, hopefully teach and write.

That's it. That's what I want to do. Here's the thing, my answer here, doesn't depend on money. What struck me is that, for myself, I wouldn't actually use much of it.

Ok, granted, if I had more money I'd be able to fund further study for myself and buy a house - which I could then rent out whilst I travelled, but that wasn't my first thought when asked this question. My first thought is to do something that doesn't depend on money, something that I can do already. How stupid is that?!

For sure I'd spend the money - I'd give some to family members or buy investments for them (like a house, flat, fund business/study - something that will help them in the long term). I'd help towards that deposit my friend has been working so hard to save, I'd fund study for my friends, help to buy out the flat one lives in so he can have it for himself. I'd help another start a business and complete her studies. I'd donate to charities - build wells, houses, hospitals, bridges and roads. Give to schools and universities, help to build more educational establishments and I'd pour money into research. And then, the rest, I'd put it into my bank account and save it for a rainy day, use a little where I needed it, just dip into it, it'd be my safety net if, for some reason, I ever has to stop working.

And that's it, that's what I'd do. Only I don't really need all of that money to do what I really want do I?

Maybe money isn't always as important as we make it out to be. Yes, it can buy us things and make us feel good, it can be a step in the right direction towards achieving our dreams, but, we should be our own driving forces. We are the root to our own happiness.


What would your answer be? What would you do if you came into a lot of money?

Don't you just hate awkward situations? Like when your minding your own business drinking tea and stuffing your face with biscuits when your little brothers friend suddenly wants to know where all the biscuits have gone. Like I just ate them all. Did you not see me in the last fifteen minutes you've been gawking?! Also, that's rude. You should at least close your mouth whilst gawking. Honestly, youth these days!

Ok, so this kid has been sitting in our kitchen for a while now. He appeared when the kettle made the whistling sound to say it's boiled. Our kettle does that for some reason - anyone downstairs can hear it. I offered him tea but he just shook his head a took a seat opposite me. Right, I thought, I'd better carry on like normal then. Lucky for me this kid isn't much of a talker and there was a magazine on the table right beside by breakfast. Handy!

I don't like drinking scalding hot tea and always wait for my tea to cool down, and so, because I didn't fancy toast this morning, I opted for biscuits.

Anyway, the whole time this kid was sat opposite me quietly watching with his mouth open. I'm not really sure what he's staring at because I'm a mess. I'm in my pyjamas and my hair is scare-worthy - seriously sometimes I get scared in the mornings when I catch my reflection - so it can't be me. I've offered him biscuits and tea and there really isn't anything else worth gawking at. But I can't say anything, he's only seven years old! I can't exactly just at say 'what you staring at?!' He might burst into tears! (It's happened before and I really don't want to explain to my mother that I made an seven year old cry...again).

And then, to top it all off, after having said nothing the whole time, he suddenly decides to speak. He has this adorable little voice and it's as if he's finally plucked up the courage to say something. What he does say is this:

"Where have the biscuits gone?"

It's only then that I realised that I've managed to finish the whole pack whilst reading a magazine...oppsie!

Lucky for me my brother ran into the kitchen at that precise moment and skidded to a halt just in time to miss the table. 

  "Why are you here?" He askes his friend, his tone is way too accusatory for my liking but I'm not going to get involved.

  "Do you want to eat something?" He questions further in the same tone.

The kid shakes his head.

  "Then let's GO!" moving his hand in a sweeping motion towards the door, just to be sure the kid knows which way to go.

And with that, the kid sneaks a quick look at me and then the empty biscuit pack and runs out of the kitchen followed by my brother. That is of course after my brother throws me a dirty look as if to say it's all my fault.

Honestly, kids these days!!

It sucks right, this whole 'being a good friend' business. Last week my best friend told me that I don't express my feelings very well. That's nothing new, I knew that already. Ask me how I feel about something and immediately I'll answer 'it's ok', 'I'm ok', 'fine'. They are my three favourite answers. But she's right, these answers don't tell you anything important, heck they don't even mean anything most of the time. They are simply used by me to ward of more questions. I'm an expert at that.

Apparently she doesn't mind this tho, she said at times it's frustrating but eventually I, in my own time, let her know. Anyway, this doesn't really bother me because it's true. Every person is different and I like it that way. How boring would it be if we were all the same? Yuk! What does bother me is that this isn't the first time I've been told this. That's when I start to think that maybe I should go round telling people exactly how I feel. At least that way people know what I'm thinking?!

Only there's one teeny tiny flaw to this plan - if I were to do this, I'd offend a lot of people. Sometimes even I don't like what I'm thinking! What a load of malarky. What I do know is this, if I have a problem, I'll let you know. See, I'm one of those people that would rather say it to your face than behind our back. I'm a front stabbing-friend. That's ok right?!

Keep looking ahead...

What's a front-stabbing friend you ask? Well, I'll explain:

You know that people you don't like stab you in the back, well I believe people who like you do the same, but in the front. Only this time it's in the front because they mean well, they want to stop you from getting hurt. That's what I've been telling myself anyway. How else do you justify telling someone you like something that isn't necessarily very pleasant? But only if it's something they need to know.

So here it is. This is, what I'm calling, the Confessions of a Front-Stabbing Friend. Let's do this! You want feelings, I'll give you feelings. 



p.s Greeting everyone! Hope you are all well. So I've decided to try something a bit different and what you read above is the start of that. It's pretty much all FICTION - only it may be inspired by a few true events :) I'll let you know. Please do comment with your thoughts!

Hope all is well and you haven't missed me too much! (HAH) Also, in case you haven't notice I revamped my About Me page - go and take a look! :) Leave comments and also links for me to read your blog!!

Anyway, it's getting colder, darker, wetter....blah, that doesn't sound good does it! But as the dark gloomy days approach, I thought I' do a post on my they are my favourite, yes, as much as I love summer, autumn and winter are still my favourite. :) Here's why:

<3

The Rain 

I love the rain - both when I'm indoors and when I'm outside. I find comfort in the sound of the rain and love falling asleep to it!

Clothes 

So clothes wise, I wear what I want whenever I want regardless of the season - I'm not kidding, I haven't even put my Birkenstocks away yet!! Also, layering means you can wear summer clothes in the winter! However, winter clothes are still my all time favourite - boots, jumpers, coats, scarfs, hoodies...so comfy!! I love winter colours too. :)

Food

Often when we go out to eat they have a 'winter warmers' menu with foods such as soups...yummy!

Atmosphere/Holidays

This is the time of year for fireworks, drinking hot chocolate and curling up on the sofa watching films. It's the time of year where people get together to either celebrate or for the holiday season and this makes me smile.  I love the festive atmosphere and when people come together!

Also, this time of year seems perfect to have Lord of the Rings marathons!!


Have I sold it to you yet??