Goodbye 2013...

2013 was a great year. It wasn't the most exciting year, but it was busy and that's how I like life!

In February, I work full time at the Festival du Voyageur for the first time. I got to be around horses all day!

I found a new job in March, which I was really excited about, but it didn't quite work out...

April was spent studying of exams and fundraising for Germany. You would be surprised how much money a bake sale can give you!

I travelled to Germany in May and half of June. It was one of the best trips of my life! Germany is such a beautiful country, the people are incredible and I just can't wait to go back!

In June, I celebrated my 19th birthday. A few girls and I went out in Berlin to a club and partied until 5 am! I'm telling you, it's the weirdest thing: you leave the club, and it's sunny out, the subway has started running already and the bakers are going to work.

July was all about readjusting. I found not one, but two jobs for the summer and volunteered at the Winnipeg Folk Festival. 

August was a busy month! I started blogging, I started writing my book, I was preparing to go back to university, all the while working two jobs and trying to find one once school started!

In September, I started school again, and I couldn't have been more excited! I started thinking of ideas as flowers, and making banana splits on a whim!

October was when I really started getting involved with the blogging community. I got a Liebster award, I did my first link-up for Halloween and even made a Facebook page for my blog!

I participated in NaNoWriMo in November. That was a huge deal for me, and a big push for completing my book. We also adopted Lola, our newest addition to the family, and I premiered my little movie "Donuts," a project I did for class.

December was great! I hosted my first giveaway, I participated in a blogger's Secret Santa and I completed the 30 Day Squat and Crunch Challenge!

2013 was an amazing year, and I'm sure 2014 will be even better! I can't wait to see what's in store for me!

Challenge Completed, On to the Next!

Today is the last day of my 30 Day Squat and Crunch Challenge!

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As of today, I have completed 3,295 squats and 2,035 crunches this month! I can already see a different in my legs; they are thinner and tighter and I feel good!

When I got around the 200 squats mark, I started getting so sore, but it still felt awesome to check off another day of the challenge, which is why I'm doing another fitness challenge starting January 1st! Well... 2 actually: Lunges and splits!

I will be posting before and after pictures for the splits at the end of the month to see how much progress I made!

If you're looking for a great website with a bunch of ideas for challenges, check out 30 Day Fitness Challenges! Not only does it have challenges, but it also has various exercises and recipes to try!

What are YOUR fitness challenges for January?

Friendship is a Struggle.

Friendship.
It's something I never really was able to come to terms with, and something I still struggle with every day.
For years, I was bullied, and as a child, friendship was something I didn't experience. I hated everyone around me who had friends, everyone who was happy. Finally, I changed school and things got better. Of course, everybody wanted to be friends with the new girl. That lasted a month, then slowly, I stayed friends with those who really cared.
That didn't last long.
Every time I get close to someone; become their best friend, it's an amazing friendship. We become inseparable. Then? They leave. No goodbyes or explanations. They just leave.
So, for a while, I pushed everyone away. I found any possible excuse not to be friends with them, not to be around them. I really mean, any excuse; "they hang out with so and so," "I don't like their siblings," "they talk funny," "they have too much energy sometimes," etc. Why not leave them before they leave me?

What's wrong with me?
Why does everyone keep leaving?
Why are my only lasting friendships with people online? People I can't be around?
I give them everything I have. I'm always there for them. It breaks my heart every. single. time. I try so hard, and get nothing in return. People just forget about me. I'm that person in the yearbook that no one remembers.

I'm the friend who helped "her" go to the women's clinic when she got pregnant, or was there for "her" when she was raped, or got "her" help when she cut herself, or even listen when "his" parents went through a divorce.
My thank you note? Silence.

I watch everyone around me get invited to go out all the time, who have friends who love being around them, while I sit here in front of my computer, alone, uninvited, forgotten.

Am I supposed to stop trying?

Christmas 2013

Christmas this year was really great! I spent Christmas eve at Alex's house with his family, then we drove to my house for Christmas with the whole extended family! It was a great supper, we all ate way too much, and the desserts were amazing! (Obviously, I got made fun of by my uncles for taking pictures of food, but you know, that's what uncles do.)

Sugar cookies, Toblerones and homemade Skors

Sugared oranges wrapped in chocolate

My sister made these amazing Eggnog spiced cupcakes!

Of course, I dressed up for the occasion. I wore my new necklace and ring that I got for Christmas and tried something different with my hair.

Isn't it adorable?! It's like it's giving my finger a hug!

Harry Potter fans, you'll know what this is.

I had a wonderful Christmas and I hope you did too! Merry Christmas everyone!

Christmas Movies that Aren't Christmas Movies

During Christmas time, we all watch the classics; It's a Wonderful Life, The Grinch, Santa Paws, Fred Claus, etc. But what about the movies we watch all year long that are actually set during Christmas time? You'll see what I mean.

Lethal Weapon (1987)

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Rocky IV (1985)

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Edward Scissorhands (1990)

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Less Than Zero (1987)

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Just Friends (2005)

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Die Hard (1988)

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Do you know any other movies set during Christmas Time?

Confessions of a Blogger

Danielle at A Writer in Love tagged me in her "Confessions of a Blogger" post and I thought I would answer the questions as well!

1. When did you first start blogging and why?

I started blogging on a different platform in October 2012. I had read a couple of blogs and I wanted to do it too, so I started my own blog. Then, the site shut down, so I quit blogging for a few months, then picked it back up here!

2. Have you had any past online presence?

I had another blog in which I just wrote the most random things. One post was literally "I can't sleep." repeated over and over. I didn't show it to anyone, though, and now it's gone! I also blogged  for the CSSG program while I was in Germany.

3. When did you become serious about your blog?

When I started Daily Emilie. My first blog was more like a place to rant when I was bored in class, but I knew I wanted this to be different. I wanted to be able to meet people and have my thoughts out there, even if no one reads them.

4. What was your first blog post?

It was Summer Lovin', a post about the end of summer. I can't believe how much my writing has changed since then, but also how different life is!

5. What have been your biggest challenges blogging?

Actually having something to write. I don't have the most interesting life ever, and sometimes I feel like I have absolutely nothing interesting to say, and that because of this, readers won't take my blog seriously.

The other thing has been designing this blog. Blogger can be pretty finicky and I forgot all my HTML. (Good thing my friend Keira is designing a brand new look for me!)

6. What is the most rewarding thing about blogging?

The people I've met. There are so many people out there that I would have never met or been able to reach out to if it weren't for blogging. Even if there's a chance I'll never meet them in person, it has still been my biggest surprise, but also the best part. It's things like the Secret Santa exchange that make you meet and discover to many bloggers that are so like-minded!

7. What is the most discouraging thing about blogging?

When I feel like no one is paying attention. Sometimes I write something I think people will or should read, and there's no response. Even if I blog for myself primarily, it's still nice to know you're heard.

8. What is your lasting inspiration or motivation?

The other blogs. I love reading other blogs and knowing that I can do that too, that I'm doing it.

9. What is your blogging dirty little secret?

I used to refresh the stats page over and over in hopes that the page views would go up. Also, I have to keep myself from going through my old posts and deleting them.

10. What is your current goal as a blogger?

Just to keep doing what I do and meet more people! I am thinking on starting another blog just for my writing, to keep myself on track.

11. Have you learned or become passionate about anything through blogging that caught you by surprise? 

Writing. I started writing again just around the same time as I started blogging and I met a lot of aspiring writers this way, and it just makes me want to write that much more! 

There you go!  I'm going to tag the following bloggers:

Sara from Sara Magdalena Ali from Happerly Ever After Julie from Silver Lining

Postcrossing

When I was in Germany, my friend Julia introduced me to the website Postcrossing. This website is made for people who love receiving mail. It sounds silly, I know, but we rarely receive mail anymore! I don't know about you, but I always get really excited when I get a letter!

With this website, you get to send and receive postcards from all over the world! For every postcard you send, your name is entered into the pool and you'll receive a post card!
I haven't sent many, since I was always too lazy busy to go out and buy postcards, I didn't get a chance to participate too much, but up to now, I've gotten some really great ones! Take a look.

My favourite, from Taiwan

From Arkansas, USA

From Koecklare, Belgium

From Calgary, Canada

From China

Happy Friday!

Christmas Spirit

The first step to celebrating Christmas has always been putting up the tree and decorating the house. This year, since we are hosting the whole extended family for Christmas, we (my sister) went all out!
(I also just realized how awful the pictures from my phone are... Can you tell the difference?)

What gets YOU in the Christmas spirit?

Secret Santa

Kym over at Travel-Babbles hosted a Secret Santa this year, and I jumped on the chance to participate! (You can click here to see the gift I sent.)

My Secret Santa was Renée from So Fill Your Heart and it was perfect! It made me smile for the next two days. Thank you sooooo much!!!!

A book, a notepad and some chocolate is exactly what I needed! It was a very thoughtful gift and I'm really thankful for it. You should all go check out her blog So Fill Your Heart!

Have you ever done a secret santa gift exchange?

A Beautiful Lie

I recently re-discovered the band 30 Seconds to Mars, which I used to be obsessed with a few years ago, but then it became a little too intense for me when I drifted to folk music. One thing that I remembered of this band was their music videos. They have always been really artistic and I love that about them.
I don't really watch a lot of music videos (I prefer to just listen to the album), but I looked it up and re-watched all the videos of the album I have (A Beautiful Lie), which is their second album. One of their songs, which has the same name as the album has an incredibly beautiful music video.

It's music videos like those that really make me want to do that for a living. I want to create something that beautiful one day.

There's a couple other videos that have this effect on me, here are my top 10 (that I can think of):
30 Seconds to Mars - The Kill
Avicii - Wake Me Up 
Avicii - I Could be the One
Kelly Clarkson  - Behind These Hazel Eyes
Diam's - Jeune Demoiselle
Green Day - Wake Me Up When September Ends
Simple Plan - Untitled
Paramore - Misery Business
David Wax Museum - Born With A Broken Heart
Miley Cyrus - Can't Be Tamed

And a bonus because it has such a great message:
Headhunterz featuring Krewella - United Kids of the World

There are a ton more great music videos out there, those are just the ones I could think of off the top of my head.

What are some of YOUR favourites?

And the Winners are....

Last week, I did my first every giveaway! I was giving away three ruffle scarves that I made. The giveaway ended last night and here are the winners!

I will also be emailing you to let you know that you won! Yay!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy Monday! :)

Blogmopolitan

Erin over at Two Thirds Hazel had the awesome idea of doing a Cosmo quiz, but for us bloggers! Because what girl doesn't want to be a celebrity for a day? I filled it out and there ya go!
Go download the quiz and participate with the rest of us!

Happy Friday!

A Splash of Colour

I tend to wear a lot of black or neutral colours. One thing I do to add a little colour to my outfits, even if no one can see it is with my socks. I love wearing colourful socks! I've always worn them, and though they used to be all mismatched, I grew out of that.
I'll let you in on a secret. The best place for colourful socks? Giant Tiger.
I know it's random, but hey! Random is good. So are socks.

 

Anyway, enough about socks! I'm off to study for my exam now...