Not-So-Secret Diary

Looking Back at 2019

Hello, me again!

Last year, I made a few New Years resolutions and documented them on my blog.. today, I thought it would be a good idea to look back at the goals that I set myself and see how much I achieved, if any.

I have found over the past few years that I either set my goals far too high or just don’t manage to maintain them and then feel extremely dissatisfied with myself. This year, although I set some goals, I have told myself that it is only a goal and if I don’t succeed in reaching it, it’s okay. It doesn’t mean you have failed. It just means you have to break the goal down further to reach mini achievements of that goal.

Anyway, without further ado.. I will write a list of the goals in which I set myself last year and a little paragraph on what I have achieved/what I still have to work on. Hope you enjoy, and remember it is always good to reflect on your goals, even if you haven’t reached them!

Bettering Myself

This goal was definitely far too broad as there are many ways in which one can better themselves. I should have broken it down to more simplified goals such as: volunteer more, use positive words more, greet strangers etc. I have, in fact, volunteered with local charities in 2019 and I would like to keep that up throughout the coming years as it wasn’t something I really did previously. 2019 goal, achieved.

Be more Positive

So, in some occasions, yes I have partially had a positive mindset but not as much as I would have liked. I still don’t feel like I say yes to as much things as I probably should, I lack self-love and can be very negative towards myself. Therefore, this is a goal I am going to continue pursuing throughout 2020 and hopefully have a more ‘positive’ outcome at the end of the year (see what I did there)!

Stimulate my brain by reading more

This is a goal that I’ve definitely achieved! I have read plenty of novels in 2019 and I am one of the few that prefer reading to watching TV. I find it so much more relaxing, you can create the characters in your mind and relate to them more (unless there a serial killer, which strangely most of mine are.. haha!) I definitely want to keep this up as it’s something I really enjoy doing but just don’t take enough time out to do it.

Live a healthier lifestyle

No, no, no, no, no, no. No.

I can safely say, I have failed this one massively. To be fair, at one point, I was doing really well with cooking fresh homemade meals but then I feel like I was starting to get bored with repetitive meals and couldn’t find recipes that I liked, so we resorted in eating lots of….. take aways. Yes, that’s right, Chinese food.. chip shop.. Nando’s.. Frankie and Benny’s. Eating out – overload. This is obviously, definitely something I want to sort out this year. It is so unhealthy and harmful to the old bank balance as well! I will, I repeat, I will find recipes that I enjoy and cook more with lots of veg and fresh meat.. watch this space.

Anyway guys, it is safe to say that I still have things I wish to improve on this year and hopefully will have a more positive, healthier outcome at the end of this year too. Do you have any tips on eating healthier or have any go-to recipe’s? I would love to know as that is my main struggle at the moment and really would love some tips!

Let me know if you have any goals that you have made over the years and you struggle to stick to them or even if you have goals that you have achieved.. I would love to hear about them and how you managed to achieve them.

I hope you enjoyed this post, and I will speak soon!

Lots of love

L x

Fresh Page of a Brand New Book

Hey everyone and Happy New Year!

Can not believe we are in the year 2020.. life literally just keeps whirling by and before we know it, another decade will be before us. I have been ill with headaches over Christmas and new year, and so I haven’t really done anything exciting apart from lounge around in fresh PJ’s, play board games and eat chocolates (diet starts Monday.. not!) did you do anything nice? What were your plans for Hogmanay? I have always wanted to go through to Edinburgh to celebrate Hogmanay, always next year..

Anyway, for this post I thought I would write down a few goals for 2020.. do people still even set goals and resolutions? Well I am, I don’t always stick to them but for the first part of the year it seems to give me some structure and motivation, something to work forward to! So, without further ado.. here are my goals:

Improve my baking skills

I enjoy baking and through 2019, I have baked a few cakes and treats for friends and family.. I would like to improve on my skills by practicing lots through 2020 and potentially make a living from it.. I will insert some of my attempts below from this year!

Avengers Birthday Cake
Pupcakes and Cupcakes
Victoria sponge cake
Huge french fancy
Lemon drizzle cake
Old school sponge traybake

Invest more time into blogging

This year, I definitely want to spend more time into creating more content from my blog.. I enjoy it when I am doing it.. it is just the taking time out to properly invest into. So, expect lots of content to come out throughout this year!

Spend more time with friends and family

This one you may think is pretty obvious, but since moving out into my own home and being 20 minute drive from all my family and friends, I have seen myself not putting enough time into visiting them and spending time with them.. even if it is just to pop in for a cuppa. Family and friends are so important, and sometimes we take it for granted that we have them. Don’t realise just how lucky some of us have got it!

So that we’re my three goals for 2020.. it doesn’t seem much, but I feel like if you set too high or too many goals, you will fall at the first hurdle. I will come back to my goals later in the year with an update on each of them as I am super motivated already.

Have you set goals for 2020? Do you believe in setting goals in the new year? Let me know.. always intrigued by others’ opinions.

Lots of love

L x

T’was The Night Before Christmas..

It’s Christmas Eve!!

I’m a bit gutted this year as I don’t feel very Christmasy or festive at all. I have yet to wear a Christmas jumper, haven’t been ice skating, spent 10 minutes at a Christmas market and have been working most of the days with no time off.

As you are reading this, hopefully, I will be at bowling (winning, of course) with Chris and maybe that will make me a little excited as I just don’t feel how I normally do at this time of year. We always do some sort of activity on Christmas Eve or go for dinner, just as a little pre-activity on the countdown of the hours.

2 weekends ago, we visited Edinburgh Christmas markets, which I normally go to every December.. but.. it was absolutely freezing and I forgot to bring my gloves and so that explains why we rushed round the market in 10 minutes and headed straight for the nearest Wetherspoons for a few cocktails, before getting the last train home. I love the sparkling lights and all the little nick-nacks that they sell.

One night, I also decided to get my DIY head on and made a unicorn ornament for my tree, I documented the steps over on my Instagram account and have saved as a highlight, feel free to pop over and have a look. I really enjoyed doing it, and definitely going to be making more videos over there, so stay tuned!

Last Saturday, we went into Glasgow to see Jack and The Beanstalk panto, it was fab! Elaine C Smith has always been a favourite actor of mine, I think she’s hilarious and love her in Rab C Nesbitt and Two Doors Down. And once again, she didn’t disappoint – she was amazing! Along with Johnny Mac, Jonathan Watson and the rest of the cast. The production was fantastic and our seats were perfect too, would highly recommend going to see anything starring this amazing cast!

I’ve also completed my Christmas shopping.. well to be fair, I completed it in November! I am very organised this year, just don’t feel it Christmassy at all. I can’t wait for the big day and to see all the family and spend time with my nearest and dearest.. I think that is the most important part of this time of year!

So anyway, I decided to pop on just to wish you all a very merry Christmas and all the best in the new year when it comes.. I wish love, health and happiness on every single one of you and would like to thank everyone that has subscribed to my website or that just follow and read my posts, your support means everything to me! My next post won’t be until the new year and I am hoping to have lots of new content on Instagram too, so if you want to follow me, my handle is @leighbuurns.

Thank you once again.. eat loads, be merry and stay safe.

Love you all

L x