Since a lot of bloggers  are doing a year in review post, I figured I’d jump on the bandwagon.  I’ve never done one, but it seems like a good idea. It really made me think about last year and all that happened. The first week of January isn’t over yet. I’m still saying Happy New Year to people, so I think this post is still valid.

Right?!?!

So let me break it down for you into categories in no particular order because randomness is more fun anyway.

TRAVEL

The only trip I took was to Greece. I needed to satisfy my addiction. I didn’t care how much it cost and didn’t bother to save it. It set me back a bit and even put me in the red (tsk, tsk, I know). and put our joint account to just a few hundred dollars. Thankfully, that didn’t last too long and I was able to get it in better health.

I didn’t regret going to Greece, just regretted not planning for it financially.  😉

Since we only went to Santorini, I want to go on another separate trip just to the Greek Islands. The phrase “island hopping” sounds so cool!

FITNESS

Aside from my day job as a public servant, I am a group fitness exercise instructor. So fitness plays a huge part of my life and puts me in a good mood. Thank goodness for it because I am not a naturally happy-go-lucky person.

I didn’t end up writing a post about it but last fall I signed up for a TRX (total resistance exercise) camp. Yes, I do get a decent workout from teaching my classes (Just try talking and yelling for an hour straight while doing jump squats, lunges or push ups and you’ll see what I mean), but those workouts are more for my participants. I personally felt that my fitness level had hit a bit of a plateau and needed to be challenged.

Check out this video of TRX exercises. My favourites include the pike (where she folds herself into an upside down “V”) and the jumping lunges.

 

You can buy the equipment and do the exercises on your own, but it was way more fun and motivating doing the workouts as a group.  I highly recommend it if you want a challenge. Remember what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.J

HOUSE

Our house is pretty old and was very peach.  For the record, I HATE peach. Growing up, I had my bedroom painted peach (I don’t know what the heck I was thinking back then). How ironic is that the house we end up buying has the entire main floor and basement painted in peach. Why the upstairs wasn’t painted peach is beyond me. It would have been hard to go to sleep. I would have probably had peach nightmares.

I count my lucky stars that my fiancé is a handyman. We’ve got enough tools to start our own Home Depot. I tell him he should team up with his handy brothers and call is Bro Depot.  I am also very thankful that is so patient and willing to teach me how to do things.

I can gladly say that with the exception of our kitchen and basement (the peach is less bright down there), the majority of our house is doesn’t look like you’ve time travelled to the late 1970s. Now I can add ripping drywall, putting drywall up and palm sanding to my resume.

I can’t wait till we re-do the kitchen. Don’t know when exactly but it’s going to be a big one. There will be knocking down walls. I’ve already got one of my demolition songs picked out:  Sabotage by the Beastie Boys.

Awwww yeaaah!!!

 

Since I consider myself to be a so-called “Personal Finance” blogger, I suppose I should have a Personal Finance section.

PERSONAL FINANCE

I received a nice lump sum retro payment from my work with the majority of it paying for the ceremony and reception locations (all one venue). I finally got an updated raise.  The amount of overtime hours has increased, hence doubling our overtime pay. It’s almost like getting an extra regular pay cheque at the end of the month.

I took an Investing For Beginners Course offered through the continuing education of a local university. I felt it was well worth it. It was nice to be back in the classroom and listen to lectures that I actually found interesting. Although I’m sure many people would have found lectures on investing quite boring. I learned a lot and bought more stocks.

 

Oh yeah, I got engaged or to be more accurate, “we got engaged”.

What can I expect for 2015?

A wedding

Maybe a honeymoon

Getting older

Increasing my net worth and investing more due to increased knowledge about investing

Running an obstacle course (because just plain running is boring). In the Mud.

Maybe a Master’s in the Spring or Fall. To be honest, I kind of forgot about it

Hopefully a change in my career-cross your fingers for me, folks!