Happy Almost New Year! I hope you have all been having a restful and restorative week! I have been enjoying myself immensely; lots of sleep, puzzles, books, food, and wine. We spent a few days at my parents, which is always fun, and involves games and food and more wine.
As is usual at this time of year, I’ve been reflecting a lot on the year that’s passed and the year that is to come. One of the biggest benefits to having a blog is the ability to look back, and wow, have we come a long way since this time last year. Late December/ early January were an absolute low point; things were dismal. Happily, on our Roller Coaster of Life, things have been more up than down; so let’s take a look at what happened in the Boyhouse in 2022.
January
The New Year started off pretty bleak and grim, with winter break extended and all diploma exams cancelled, and to distract myself from complete despair I talked about my concepts and mantras I try to live by every day, the kids did go back to school and I decided to stop reading the news, I talked about actual quantifiable goals that I work towards every day, I talked about how much I hate filtered photos, how I actually thought about Botox, and how I was unfriended by a high school acquaintance not once but twice, and I had a roller-coaster of a week that included new neighbours, a cancelled trip, a mouse in the house, and a possible hoarding issue with macadamia nut milk. This month’s Favourite Things were of the Hygge variety, appropriately enough.
February
I talked about all the fun physical changes that come in one’s forties, including but not limited to moustaches and chin hair, I had massive gratitude for all the Galentines in my life, I showed you a Week of Winter Outfits (spoiler: lots of sweaters and legwarmers), and I talked about automatic car starters and marital mismatches. I also told you all about the daily choices I make to show myself some love.
March
All Covid restrictions were dropped, and I went to Costco and lost my mind, it was exactly two years since the pandemic started, and we celebrated my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary, two years and one week in, we got Covid, and we eventually recovered enough to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary with a Banff getaway, and my son turned 18. While we were isolated, I talked about the things that made my recovery happier.
April
I talked about the juxtaposition of my desire to wave at every neighbour and my reluctance to talk to them and hear insensitive comments about Barkley (god, that was hard for me to read), there were many signs of spring in my life, Salvadore came into my life and brought so much gnome-related happiness, we had a massive snowstorm and I scheduled appointments like a boss. It was my birthday and I talked about 47 things I love.
May
I was absolutely exhausted from the neighbour’s construction, our internet went out for seven hours and somehow we all survived, we had a lot of snow and I went to the garden centre, I shared my Week of Spring Outfits, and my son had his high school graduation ceremony, dance, and banquet, none of which I thought would happen, and I am eternally grateful. At that point I stopped my Weekly Covid Count. I also shared with you my makeup routine, and included my 4:00 am bare face.
June
I lived on the edge and planted my tomatoes slightly early while the construction guys listened to Dick in a Box, I had a weird medical mystery, my midlife crisis manifested in me giving Salvadore an actual bubble bath, and I confessed to having Low Level Shame about ghosting my long-time hair stylist. I also joined my husband in Banff for a Fancy Conference. Well, I was there for the Fancy part, he was there for the Conference part.
July
On June 30, we said goodbye to Barkley, and we were all brokenhearted. We started off the summer with some visiting relatives from California – including my teenage pen pal – and our usual trip to the lake for Canada Day, I found solace in hiking, my garden, and cooking, and I also snapped at door-to-door solicitors, I talked about Cart Karma, I started a Big Project and Curated my Closet, and in the face of a Calgary Heat Wave, I shared my Week of Summer Outfits. It was also the Ten Year Anniversary of Nicole’s Favourite Things!
August
We went on vacation, I read a lot, I vowed to have Just One Backup of everything in the house and kind of failed, I got all nostalgic, my husband and I went to Mexico where I spoke broken Spanish and sang karaoke, and I read a lot more. Notably and for the first time ever, I travelled with ONLY carryon, and I can never go back, proving that YOU SHOULD NEVER JUDGE.
September
Life has its ups and downs, and to that end there were mice in the house and the boys drank our expensive Patron mixed with Dr Pepper, on the same day I cleaned my kitchen with a toothbrush, the Queen died, my son turned 17 and when I went grocery shopping I realized I had some kind of Psychological Long Covid, and I thought about house staging and photo filtering, and showed photos of my unstaged, unfiltered home. My son went backcountry camping and to distract myself from thoughts of giardiasis I talked about a variety of Favourite September-Related Things.
October
My son did not get giardiasis, but we had a number of run-ins with local wildlife, one of my students introduced me to the concept that Gratitude Is The First Step To Joy, and I listed off some of the things I am grateful for, Rex came into our lives and has brought us so much happiness, I shared my Week of Fall Outfits, I talked about body changes and the concept of “flattering” when it comes to clothes, and I prepared for Halloween like a crazy person. I also celebrated all things fall-related!
November
I rapidly shifted into Winter and Tiny Secret Festive Season, we celebrated our one-month Rex-aversary, I finished my Christmas shopping, I joined all the cool kids in doing a Day in the Life post, I revealed my longtime desire to join a flash mob, and my son decided to join the throngs of men who observe Movember. I talked about Christmassy favourites and just regular favourites.
December
We all started Advent calendars, and mine was a puzzle one, I went to an actual holiday party with actual people and actual fancy clothes, I answered your questions about the holidays, I took the car in for servicing and it was a huge ordeal, I revealed my favourite childhood gifts, and I celebrated my girlfriends. On Festivus I talked about my favourite holiday things and also how I jerry-rigged the furnace.
It has been quite a year! 2023 will be a year of change for me; I’m not great with change, and I love my life as it is, but change is part of life, so here we go! Time to jump in. Happy New Year to all of you. Thanks for being here on this journey with me. xo
Happy New Year to you as well. I’m glad you had a nice holiday.
Speaking of change, will both boys leave home at the same time next fall? That will be a lot to process, if so.
There is definitely going to be a lot to process this year!
What a really lovely recap. I love that your holiday break is full of books and puzzles, food and wine. I also love that you and I share a birthday month. 💕
Here’s to 2023! Xoxo
GIRL, SAME! April all the way!
Haven’t you mentioned moving to another province? Is this the year?
Lots of changes afoot, Erin!
Loved reading this year in review, Nicole. Definitely feel you on the difference in the way 2022 started vs. now. So glad I found you this year… (Found you again–I used to read your lunch blog!)
That’s so fun – the lunch blog!!!
What a lovely recap – I love that picture of Rex in his hat! Change is hard, especially for routine lovers. Sending you good thoughts as we enter the new year and what’s to come!
Thanks Lindsay – Rex tried to take the hat off immediately after that photo!
Wow, what a year! I was looking back on my mood at the end of last year, and it has VASTLY IMPROVED. Maybe 2023 will see even more happiness?!?! And hopefully Rex photos?!?!?! You are going to weather the change ahead, I know you will. Lots of love and happy happy year to come!
Oh my goodness, last Dec/ Jan was GRIM. GRIM!!! I’m glad we are on an upward trajectory and don’t you worry, there will be Rex photos aplenty!
Happy New Year, Nicole!! Yes, in the year ahead you will face changes and you will roll with it. Fingers crossed that 2023 will be a good (and healthy) one for all of us! xo
Thanks Gigi, Happy New Year!
Happy New Year! What a lovely way to celebrate the year by reviewing your blog posts. It’s such a great way to record the ups and downs of your lives and I’m so glad you write for us every week!
Thanks Engie, it really helps me to see what all happened in the year. I sometimes have trouble remembering what happened last week!
I am so happy to have met you this year! And there is a chance that we can maybe meet in person in 2023 (if that doesn’t totally freak you out – ha!). I am hoping to meet my long time blogger friend that lives in Fort St John. We want to meet in Calgary and then go to the Banff area to do some hiking! We used to see each other once a year until we had kids! But now her youngest is turning 1 and we think/hope a meet up will be possible in 2023! So maybe/hopefully we could meet for tea/coffee! I love your blog so much and feel like you are my surrogate big sister in a way since I feel we have similar interests/priorities and you are like 14 years ahead of me in the parenting journey. 😉
Your Christmas sounds wonderful, though. Can’t go wrong with wine and puzzles!! We had a pretty nice Christmas, too. And I am feeling big energy for a new year and fresh slate!!
Oh Lisa, I would love that so much! I will send you my contact info. Eeee! How exciting. I don’t know if you’ve been to Banff before but it is magical. There are so many beautiful hikes to do! I am excited for you!
I have never been so I am THRILLED!! I will keep you posted on our trip planning. I think we will probably come in the summer as we both have kids starting kindergarten in the fall so life will really change come fall w/ adjusting to having a kid in school and such. But I am SO excited to see this friend and explore a new area of Canada! I’ve really only been to BC – Victoria, Kamloops, and Vancouver. Which I loved!!
What a lovely review of 2022, and I’m thrilled you’ve had a wonderful Christmas holiday.
Looking forward to following along with your adventures in 2023.
I struggle with change too, but somehow get the sense you’re going to get through the various transitions with incredible grace and good humour.
Happy New Year my friend!!
I sure hope so, Elisabeth! Change is definitely not my strong suit!
Wow, what a year. I remember most of these posts, but want to go back and read a couple of them again. I’m excited to see what changes are coming your way this year! Glad you’re enjoying this week “between the years.”
Thanks so much Jenny!
This was a fun look back at all things girlinaboyhouse. I fondly remember these posts that showcase your great sense of humor, your positive outlook, your reading selections, your cute fashion choices, and so much more.
Change is hard. I’ll be here, ready to read about what happens in your world and to admire Rex in all his cuteness. Wishing you good health and much happiness in 2023!
Thank you Ernie, and good health and happiness to you too!
I enjoyed reading your year in review and clicking the links back to the earlier posts. I found your blog fairly recently, so I enjoyed looking back. And I’m looking forward to following your adventures in 2023! Happy New Year!
Thanks Michelle! I hope you enjoy!
Happy New Year! It always seems like the years go by so quickly, but when you sum up everything that happened, it’s A LOT! You are a great storyteller and I am looking forward to hearing about your adventures in 2023.
Oh Sarah, thank you so much!
Happy New Year!
(Frequent reader, rare/never commenter)
Hi Katie! Thanks for reading and Happy New Year to you!
I still giggle thinking about the Face Filter thing….who wants a PILLOW FACE?
Happy new year. You had some Ups and Downs and I was happy to be there for all of them! XO
NO VISIBLE NOSES!
Happy new year, friend! Looks like a beautiful year, even with some of the downs. Change is so hard for me, too, and it’s a big anxiety trigger. I hope everything goes well with the changes – we’ll be here cheering you on and offering any words of encouragement that we can!
Why can’t things stay the same forever??? Wahhhh!
Happy New Year, Nicole… and what a great way to recap your year. Reading through it, I remember quite a few of these blog posts and I have loved following along this past year. I can’t wait to read more from you this year 🙂
Thanks San!
I loved this so much I had to comment with the Latest Comment Ever. 🙂 I particularly loved the meditation you shared in the picture. I may have screenshotted (sp? is that even a word?) it to save it. <3 I have loved reading along in 2022 and look forward to doing so in 2023… The Year of Change (and also Of Rex? Please?)
Isn’t it a great meditation! Thanks for reading!