Now that we’ve entered the second half of the year, I thought it’s a good time to do a bit of a midyear “stocktake” of what’s been going on during the first half of 2014. This post was inspired by Sonia from Sonia Styling who did her version of her midyear edition. Go check hers out! (after you’ve finished reading mine, of course. Tee hee hee!).

It’s been a good year so far. 2014 hasn’t been super fantastic but it hasn’t been bad either. Here’s my version of the midyear edition.

Making: Lots of soy candles for the home. I make candles almost every month of the year except for summer (why add more heat to an already hot kitchen?). The open-plan kitchen and living room smells beautifully of lavender for days!

Cooking: Anything that uses a slow cooker or an oven. Less faffing about the stove, the better! Plus hearty meals from the slow cooker and the oven makes a lot of sense in winter, don’t you think?

Drinking: Organic almond milk. I never thought I’d like it especially since it’s the organic version is a lot more expensive than any sort of milk. I used to tease Tim for getting all “health nut” on me for switching from soy to almond milk but after I’ve tried it with my porridge, I love it! These days, I’m using it for smoothies as well and they’re delicious. The taste is not as strong as soy but it’s still delicious. Oh and lots of genmaicha too.

Reading: A lot more than I did last year. Last year, I read very little books and devoured more magazines. This year, I told myself I need to read less magazines and more books. I kept a list of books that I’ve read in my Google Keep app and while it’s not a lot, I’m onto book #26 now. Currently reading Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.

Wanting: A Roomba or any robotic vacuum cleaners to sweep up Janey’s hair for me. She sheds like crazy! Or anyone who would vacuum my floors for me. Payment in Aldi coffee. 😛

Looking: At the window, watching the rain fall. How relaxing! I may not like the smell of rain (yeah, I’m one of the rare ones who’s not a fan of “rain smell”) but I love watching the rain.

Playing: Fetch with Janey. She’s funny in the sense that she will not play fetch when we’re outside because there’s just far too many distractions around her. Not even a new toy would distract her. My dad suggested I play frisbee with her but there’s no point because I’ll just be throwing AND fetching the thing myself. At home, on the other hand, is a different story. She loves to play fetch then.

Deciding: On what bag to get for myself at the end of the year. In January, I took up the 52 Week Money Challenge to save up for a bag. I’m not to buy any bags until the challenge is up. Every time I see a bag I want, I have to tell myself “eyes on the prize!”. The thing is, I don’t know what the prize is! Any ideas? The problem with me is that I change my mind every 2 seconds. I’m not surprised if by the time the challenge is up, I end up buying a pair of Google Glass instead. 😛

Wishing: My family would visit soon. My parents, brother and his girlfriend will be visiting in September and I can’t wait to see them again. My brother hasn’t visited me since I moved to Australia, that bugger! 😛

Enjoying: My afternoons with Janey. We don’t do much; I’m writing and she’s snoring next to me on the couch. But these are the moments I really enjoy.

Waiting: For the other shoe to drop.

Liking: Couch time with Tim. Even though our living room only has space for one couch, we made sure to get the biggest, most comfortable 3-seater we could find. After dinner, we’ll catch up on our favourite TV shows on the couch.

Wondering: Why the leaves are still on the trees in my yard. During the past few winters, my trees would have been bald by this time but there are still green leaves on the trees. Maybe it’s not cold enough? Damn, it sure feels plenty cold to me.

Loving: My new short hair. I haven’t had hair this short since my uni days. Hair washing and drying times are now much shorter than before. I love it! Although, in hindsight, I reckon I should have cut it in summer because my hair used to keep my neck warm. Now, not so much. 😛

Pondering: How I can create more storage space out of my tiny home. Methinks it’s time for another trip to IKEA.

Considering: Selling a lot of my books, especially the ones I don’t read anymore. I’ll be listing them on Gumtree very soon in case any of your are interested in checking them out.

Watching: Janey sleep. She snores, she kicks, she barks and then she wakes up with the most puzzled look on her face. And then she goes back to sleep. Amuses me to no end.

Hoping: This trying-to-conceive business will yield results soon. How many more procedures do I need to go through? Sigh. Another story, another time, folks.

Marvelling: At a few bloggers whom I admire. They work very hard and reap the benefits. Well-deserved!

Needing: A break. Which sound silly because I just had one last month! A break from a break from another break, maybe? Ahem, first world problems, I know!

Smelling: My current favourite perfume, which is Jo Malone’s Silk Blossom Cologne. Not exactly a winter fragrance but I’m not one to use perfumes seasonally. I didn’t think I’d enjoy such a floral scent so it’s a very pleasant surprise.

Wearing: My grotty Old Navy sweater. My mum left it with me when she visited a few years ago and I’ve adopted it as my own. The sleeves are too short, it’s shapeless, full of old curry stains that I can’t remove but it’s the most comfortable sweater to wear in the cold weather.

Following: My heart. It’s worked so far.

Noticing: How some YouTubers have gained a form of celebrity status where people (usually young girls) would scream and cry when they meet their favourite YouTubers at YouTube conventions. Baffling, very baffling.

Knowing: That every little shitty thing that happens? They too, will pass.

Thinking: That I really should exercise more. I haven’t been walking Janey much no thanks to the constant wet weather. Any ideas for someone who’s too cheap to pay for a gym membership? 😛

Feeling: Blessed with family and friends who love me. They’re not just with me during the good times but helping me through the bad as well. I really couldn’t ask for more.

Admiring: People who actually enjoy ironing their laundry. Really, there are people who love it! I don’t know how they do it because to me, it’s the worst chore. EVER.

Sorting: Out receipts before we meet our tax accountant. There’s got to be a more fun way to do this. Ugh.

Buying: Yet another pair of leopard print shoes. To date, I think I have about 5 pairs. It’s a leopard print addiction!

Getting: To know you readers is a lot of fun! If you’ve been a long-time reader but have never commented, it’s time to de-lurk! Do say hi in the comments or hit the Reply button if you’re subscribed to my blog posts via email. 🙂

Bookmarking: Lots of recipes from food blogs I’ve been following. Problem is, I’m bookmarking more than I’m cooking!

Disliking: The passive-aggressiveness I see on social media. Irks me greatly as it’s so unnecessary.

Opening: Parcels on Fridays. I usually pick up my mail from the PO box every Friday and it’s something I highly look forward to every Friday. They’re usually my shopping haul or products sent to me for editorial consideration. I won’t deny it; it almost feels like Christmas every Friday.

Giggling: At the way Tim plays with Janey. She enjoys her “bum play” time with Tim. It sounds a lot dirtier than it actually is. She lies on her back, Tim pats her rump and she’ll wriggle from side to side. It’s very cute to watch!

Snacking: On slices of light cheese and bits of dark chocolate. To be honest, I’m not a big snacker but when I do eat snacks mid-afternoon, it will usually be a slice of light cheese and/or a piece of dark chocolate. Oh, and coffee. Have to have my coffee with my snacks.

Coveting: A Thermomix. Oh yeah, it’s not beauty products or shoes or even bags. Instead, I’m highly coveting a Thermomix. Is my “auntie-ness” showing? 😛

Helping: To answer any questions you, my dear readers, have (shoot ’em over any time!). Also helping bloggers to troubleshoot their technical blog problems.

Hearing: Lots of smooth jazz and bossa nova music on Pandora. Okay, technically, it should be “listening” but I’m sure you know what I mean.

How about you do your midyear stocktake too? Just copy and paste the following for your blog:

Making:
Cooking:
Drinking:
Reading:
Wanting:
Looking:
Playing:
Deciding:
Wishing:
Enjoying:
Waiting:
Liking:
Wondering:
Loving:
Pondering:
Considering:
Watching:
Hoping:
Marvelling:
Needing:
Smelling:
Wearing:
Following:
Noticing:
Knowing:
Thinking:
Feeling:
Admiring:
Sorting:
Buying:
Getting:
Bookmarking:
Disliking:
Opening:
Giggling:
Snacking:
Coveting:
Helping:
Hearing:

If you’re not a blogger or don’t feel like doing a blog post on this, do pick and choose any of the above and leave them in the comments below. I’d love to know your version of a midyear stocktake too.

Over to you!