a look back at 2016.

This is definitely the latest that I've ever written one of these, but I figured I'd rather have the record 7 months late than none at all. So here it is, a look back at 2016... in August 2017:

1. What did you do in 2016 that you'd never done before?
Made the switch to natural skincare, cosmetic, and cleaning products—including deodorant! Went to an ice and snow festival. Won $2000! Used eyebrow products. Took a cooking class, and then another. Curled my hair with a straightener. Traveled on a sleeper train and saw the terracotta warriors. Celebrated our wedding anniversary. Went to a Pride parade and visited Peggy's Cove. Got pregnant.

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions and will you make any for this year?
I didn't make a resolution for 2016, other than telling T I want to be more intentional. And that's something I'm still working on and probably always will be. I want to be more intentional about how I spend my time, what I eat, what I say, everything really.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Haha I almost said, Me! But then I realized it's 2017 now and I'm writing about 2016. See what happens when you put something off for so long. So the answer is, I don't think anyone close to me gave birth in 2016, but I might be forgetting. Sorry if I am!

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, thankfully.

5. What countries did you visit?
South Korea! (We were supposed to go to Sri Lanka for Christmas but last year's heart problem + being pregnant meant no traveling. Womp womp.)

6. What would you like to have in 2017 that you lacked in 2016?
More chill. I can always use more chill.

7. What dates from 2016 will remain etched upon your memory and why?
October 19 because I found out I was pregnant. October 21 because we saw the little appleseed for the first time and it became real!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
See, I almost said having a baby, but again—we're talking about 2016, not 2017. So let's go with getting pregnant.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Same as the last 3 years: Getting caught up in the little things. Gossip, small arguments turned into small fights, overthinking everything. When will I learn?

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
2016 is actually the healthiest I've ever been! Chalk it up to prenatal vitamins?

11. What was the best thing you bought?
At first I couldn't think of anything and then I remembered we paid to upgrade my insurance to cover maternity, just in case. Phew. Yup, best thing we spent our money on.

12. Where did most of your money go?
I can tell you that because I've kept up a budgeting app since 2016! Most of our money was spent on eating out (that includes ordering in). And wow, the amount we spent is sobering. Embarrassing to say, but I hadn't realized it until now. Definitely something we should look at.

13. What did you get really excited about?
Having a baby!

14. What song will always remind you of 2016?
I can't think of any, which makes me a little sad because I love music.

15. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder? Thinner or fatter? Richer or poorer?
Happier because I have a baby, but also, being a mom is hard so...  Fatter because baby. Richer—thank God for insurance.

16. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Same as last year: Enjoying the moment.

17. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Same as last year: Worrying, always. (Guys, I'm sensing a pattern.)

18. How did you spend Christmas?
With T, in our apartment in Beijing. It was cozy and our first time spending Christmas at home, just the two of us.

19. What was your favourite TV program?
I didn't watch a lot of TV this year—I'm behind even on my usual faves—but I fell in love with This Is Us and The Crown. T and I also started watching an oldie but a goodie: Mad About You. (This is what made me think of the name Mabel.)

20. What were your favourite books of the year?
From looking at Goodreads, I know that I read 57 books in 2016 and my faves were To Kill a Mockingbird, The Nightingale, and Secrets of a Charmed Life.

21. What were your favourite films of the year?
I'm sure I watched movies in 2016 and I'm sure some of them were great, but I don't remember them. Let's blame that on the baby, too? Baby brain is a thing, guys! (But also, it's August 2017 now so...)

22. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?
Oh man, I was 7 or 8 weeks pregnant, but no one knew and I was so sick and never wanted to eat anything but T forced me to go to dinner with friends anyway, where I barely ate anything and drank ginger ale and left my own birthday dinner early. But I'm glad I went haha. I turned 27.

23. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Less worrying.

24. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2016?
I do not have a personal fashion concept. And again, almost said maternity clothes, but I didn't need those until 2017. This is why you should fill these things out in January and not August. Ooh, but I just remembered I bought a romper in summer 2016 and loved it!

25. What kept you sane?
Tony, Melissa, my Nan, and surprisingly, social media. Well, some people on social media. I was intentional about that.

26. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2016.
If you're able to, buy insurance. Also, worrying doesn't help anything, so just don't. (I probably still will.)