Silver Linings Search: December!

Here we are at the end of the year. I cannot believe that this is it. The year has gone by so fast. I've been doing this, noting the good things from throughout the month, since January. I began doing this as an exercise in positive thinking. I wanted to somehow record the good things that happen in the month to preserve them. In doing so I do not allow them to be overshadowed by the bad things that happen.

I'll put together a little post with a collection of all of my silver linings search posts so I have a collection of all the good things that the year has brought me. I'll see what I can remember and what still stays with me.

• I booked two weeks off this month from work as paid holiday. From November 30th - December 14th I had time to just chill and work on things that I wanted to work on. 
• For my hard work my boss gave me two tickets to see my favourite play which was super sweet.
• I went to a really cool party and ate free food and danced the night away. What more do you want?
• December 14th was my partner's birthday and we 
•  I finally dyed my hair blue! I've been wanting blue hair since my final year of university and I never got around to it. Once I got the okay from my boss I just went for it. I mixed a blue and a green and I just love it!
• After a meeting at work, I went out for breakfast with some of my lovely co-workers. We had a lot of laughs and then went to see a movie. It was lovely. 
• I spent a lovely few days with my partner. There was one day where for about 6 hours we didn't leave my room. We just snuggled down and hid from the cold for a six hour cuddle.
• Christmassy vibes! It all began on the 6th of December when we put up the tree, decorated it and threw Christmas ornaments everywhere. Suddenly the house was filled with candles and wreaths. Beautiful!
• I exercised my baking/cooking skills and I managed to make some delicious onion relish and goat cheese puff pastry things. They were wonderful. 
• I also did some chocolate crafting and made loads of yummy treats. I had to test them for poison before I gave them to people. Yes. That was the best part.
• On December 8th I got to see my sister perform in a Christmas concert full of great music and winter favourites. That's when it started to feel Christmassy
• I got to spend some real quality time with my sister and we had the opportunity to just talk this month.
• My Dad and I went on a long walk which enabled me to spend some quality time with him too. We got up early one morning and walked through the forest and got a coffee together. I love spending time with my Dad and that afternoon is/was precious to me. 
• I got to spend some lovely time with my partner too. I especially loved having one or two really lazy days where we just worked on our laptops in bed and put no make up on and cuddled. Perfect. 
• I performed in a variety show where I sang 'Let It Go' from Frozen. It's probably a sin but, as I write this, I still have not seen Frozen. That said, I did my best to fill the role of a Disney Princess. 
• CHRISTMASSSSSSSS! Yes, Christmas day gets an entire bullet point.
• I love the general vibe of the month of December: everyone is so charitable and merry. It warms my heart!
• I got to spend Christmas day with my beautiful partner for the first time ever. We've previously spent Christmas with our respective families but she joined me for Christmas. We opened presents together and went to visit my aunt/uncle/cousins together. It was the best!
• I got so many rad Christmas presents. I am stocked up on books for the next few months. I'm so happy.
• I spent Boxing Day with my partner and my future mother/father in law and we feasted. Then I curled up and read a book by the fire. Is that not perfection?
• The day after Boxing Day I went to a really swish but laid back dinner party. I had prawn cocktail three days in a row - no complaints. It was delicious. I've eaten like a Queen this month.

Silver Linings Search: April

So this is my fourth month doing this. The idea is to record nice things that happened in the month because it's important to remember that good things do happen, even if they're little things. Those little things can add up to big happiness.
Here are some little things that made me happy in the month of April:

• From the 3rd of April until the 5th, I had a glorious 3 days off. A three day rest was just what I needed.
• I started to look at graduate jobs. I've enjoyed my current job, I've gained a lot from it, but it was always going to be a temporary thing. As I write this I'm currently eyeing up a position as a university librarian. I've been a librarian before. I'd love to be a librarian again. It's quiet work, surrounded by books... 
• I finally got to see a doctor about my knee and he actually took it seriously unlike the last prick of a doctor I had to deal with. 
• I did a lot of gardening. There was one day, a day I had off work, where I just sat in the garden in the sunshine with a beer in my hand. I've planted lots of lovely flowers: lobelia, aster etc. I've planted four different kinds of pepper, tomatoes, cucumbers. We're going to be growing an entire salad bar at this rate. I've found that gardening is truly calming. 
• I won a big sales competition at work, ahead of the best seller and it looks like I'm about the win another. Work hooked me up with a wonderful meal for two. My partner and I each had a full three course meal and left the restaurant without having spent a penny which was a wonderful feeling - such a gorgeous meal too. 
• My Dad does little adorable things sometimes. He's not the most outspoken person when it comes to his emotions, he won't come up to you and tell you that he loves you, but he shows it in his own ways. Like, yesterday he bought me peanut M&Ms because he knows they're my favourite. If I'm unwell he'll make me a hot water bottle and wrap me in a blanket. It makes me smile.
• My boss gave me an Easter Egg as I was leaving one day. We all got one as a thank you from the company. 
• I applied to some new jobs with more confidence than ever before.
• I won an Easter Egg at work at our last meeting for my superior film knowledge
• It may seem like a little thing but on the 6th, I had a wonderful bath with a gorgeous bath bomb from Lush Cosmetics and I curled up, the room lit with candles, and listened to The Vampire Armand on audiobook. It was so relaxing, it left my skin smooth and my hair in curls. Little moments of relaxation like that make life a little easier. 
• On the 7th of April I stayed up until 2am to watch the season 4 premiere of Game of Thrones. I was so happy for the return of my favourite show. 
• I got to see the wonderful Within Temptation. The last time I saw this band live was probably around 2011. They were awesome as always and it gave me a chance to meet up with friends old and new. 
• My Dad and I had a day in London: we went to a Harlan Coben book signing, wandered around Camden and ate foods from all around the world: Japan, Iran, Italy - it was wonderful!
• My sister and my partner spent some quality time together which was all kinds of heart-warming. There's something really nice about the people you love loving each other and being good friends.
• Some baby chicks hatched out on the home farm: on the first day three chicks hatched out with a fourth still pipping through her shell. Within two days we had seven beautiful baby chicks. They're all different breeds so it shall create a wonderful variety of chickens. Here's hoping they're all hens!

April was a decent month. I didn't do VEDA or Camp NaNoWriMo as expected but I'm sure the month of May will be just as positive and productive. 

The B425 List: New Years Resolutions and achieving the things you've always wanted to...

I've noticed that a lot of people right now have been accessing and reading my blog post about my B425 List. My B425 List is a compilation of all the things that I want to do, achieve or experience before turning 25. I assume a lot of you are looking for things to add to New Years Resolutions. I highly recommend writing a list of resolutions but also writing out you own B425 list or a 30 Before 30 list. This way you ensure that you are constantly moving forward and doing the things you want to do in life which should, in theory, help you to achieve ultimate happiness. If you feel like time is passing you by and you're not happy or not having the adventures and experiences you want ask yourself, why not? 

For 2014 write your resolutions, but maybe consider writing a bigger list of aims and things you want to achieve and set yourself a time frame of five years, maybe ten years. I hope to do a new one every five years to ensure I'm getting the best out of life. I hope you can do the same.