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NBR..(or maybe not!).. how was 2015?

31 posts, 22 members
trudijoy
8375 posts
Posted this on my IG and decided to ask here too...can't sleeeeeep.

How was 2015? Its nearly over!

What were your highlights? Lessons? Triumphs? The moments that made you cry (but hopefully made you stronger!)?


Share anything you wish about *your* 2025 x
Farmers-Wife
2052 posts
Hmmm I seen this on your IG page and man did it get me thinking! This has been a year from (cough)

This year has show me how strong my relationship is with my husband. It's shown how strong I am as a person. It's shown me that friends/family who tell you they love you don't know what the word means and can be evil. Yet it's shown how to see the good in people even when you constantly get told otherwise. It's shown how no matter how much the physical pain is, I can still blow the socks off my specialists, friends and family how I can push the boundaries and succeed with physical rehabilitation.

I've learnt alot about myself and enjoyed so many fun things and my first ever concert. Yesterday I got back on the harley and managed to cope with a trip central & back. I've learnt how I am quite a good experimental cook & baker.... this list could keep going.

Thanks Trudi for a cool thread
Rezee
1964 posts
This is a hard one! I don't really think 2015 has been a very eventful year in postive or negative experiences!I've got rid of user friends,  met some new ones, have enjoyed having more free time with 3 kids at school and one at kindy, I became an aunty for the first time, I'm slowly  learning to manage my anxiety better, I've enjoyed being on here too!I guess overall this year was good but I'm itching for some changes so I'm looking forward to the next two years (although next year is my 30 year and I so do not feel mature enough to be 30 yet!).  Great thread though, it really got me thinking!
Jesse
745 posts
Overall 2015 has been a goodie for me, more highlights than low :) Only particularly large lowlight was a car accident which knocked my confidence for a bit, but made me a much more careful driver!

Highlights... passing all my papers at uni this year, trip to Raro, snowboarding for the first time and more quality time spent with loved ones. I also have a few new lovely trinkets!

Excited to see what 2016 brings :)
Julieal
915 posts
I had a really happy and sad year which is probably usual. I have enjoyed so many lovely moments with my daughters and grandchildren, went on a lovely holiday with my partner to Mooloolaba ,got lovely neighbours ,met some really nice people , took a 90yr old to Messiah as a secret Santa to him and he was so wowed he cried and lost my brother in law in November who was such a nice person. I am greatful for having had him in the family and will miss him.
Thebeautycontext
1768 posts
My year has been in a bit of a stand still and I haven't accomplished alot. However I am grateful that I managed to go to perth twice this year to see family, aswell as start my own beauty blog. Something I have really ended up loving and something I would love to work on and grow next year. 
Macs
5351 posts
Looking back. I'm disappointed that I didn't start my studies this year. I lost alot of friends and family this year. Hopefully in the new year I can rebuild whats broken but with an awareness to set some boundaries to prevent what happened this year. An ongoing battle with smoking and a huge increase in weight. Im double what I was last year. My relationships been on a rocky road, and its been challenging. I just hope I don't enter the new year as a single mum. We'll see what happens. In relation to BR I managed to form some good friendships, became a review hero, reached 10,000 points, U review, Im at 300 and something reviews  which are all milestones Im happy I achieved. 
MrsLissy
301 posts
This year has been a big year with some awesome higs and pretty sucky lows. I started my blog and that's been going well and I'm really enjoying building a readership. We went to England it was my first time there and I finally met some of hubby's family that I hadn't ever met before. I won an award at work and then got the highest grade in my yearly review round. Then I went and got a new dream job and have been settling into that for the last month. Then on the crappy side there's been lots of sad health news like my mum being diagnosed with cancer and some stuff that's been really hard. There's been lots of good this year which I'm really thankful for but the sucky stuff has been really sucky. 
Rezee
1964 posts
Macs, that's not good to hear. You guys have been through a rough time job wise though, hopefully it can only get better next year. Xxx
MareeB
5239 posts
Oh Macs, that's awful. I hope you can work it out!

Sorry MrsLissy - I'm holding out for the 29th so the baby can be my birthday buddy!!! Funny, I have several friends whose birthdays are tomorrow....
Mumof3Munchkins
2718 posts
Great thread for reflecting Trudi x

For me I have had a few ups and downs as life sometimes gives you, but the main highlights for me were graduating with my Diploma in March, and finally passing all my papers enabling me to graduate next year with my Bachelor.  It has been a long journey and it is with sad and happy tears that I reflect about it.  It has been such a huge chapter in my life and have met so many amazing people with whom I now call good friends.  

I also flew all the way to Invercargill to proudly watch my little brother graduate with his Bachelor and able to celebrate with friends and family.  My brother has now moved back home and his girlfriend is coming up to join him, the best highlight about this is that my brother said she is the one and is now considering becoming a father (something he said he would never want to do lol).

I have met some amazing friends this year, some of whom I feel extremely lucky to know, started a new business and am applying for my first job in nearly 12 years (eek) next week. Sold our house which we really wanted to get out of and are now happily renting a friends house where even the cats are happier ha ha ha.  

Unfortunately I lost my Granddad this year and my Dad has been in out and of hospital with numerous surgeries so that has been a difficult time but this has made us stronger as a family and brought us much closer together and for that, I am extremely thankful. 

I am looking forward to what 2016 brings us though.  Hugs to all xxx
trudijoy
8375 posts
loving the honesty and the sense of everyone finding positives, ladies xx

For me this year could have gone several ways. I have been very, very low at several times over the year. I spent literally two weeks flat on my back just before Easter with a gastro bug followed by strep throat, which set me up for a weak winter (and some weight gain). My dad is very, very sick, and his condition is worsening daily. I was more or less trapped in a job I was resenting instead of loving and I really felt like a hamster on a wheel.

So I decided to take action and go with the positives. I hit some stunning career highs including being invited to the home of the Consul-General of Japan in Auckland a couple of times, serving as secretary on a national committee, helping 308 kids become world champions (and in the process, becoming one myself), taking 6 kids to Japan on the trip of a lifetime, which was almost entirely free, being invited (and funded) to attend two international conferences, and present at a few both nationally and internationally, and ultimately being offered (and accepting) my dream job.

I end 2015 in a different job, and a totally different mindset.

I still don't weigh what I want to - that will come this year. I'm still single (but there are possibilities raising their heads!). Dad's still sick. People still keep telling me that if I don't have a baby soon i'll be out of time (i'm thirty freaking four people, not 90)

BUT

I'm happy in my own skin for the first time in a long time. Properly happy. I like the way I look, and I've never honestly been able to say that. I don't mind that I'm not super thin, and my body goals are finally centred around health and strength, not skinniness and being sexy to men. I am successful. I am less stressed because I made smart choices and got myself out of a toxic, unhealthy environment work wise. I can let more go because I know that people being idiots is about THEM not me.

In some ways, 2015 is the year I took my soul back :)
trudijoy
8375 posts
Also....

Farmers-wife, it's amazing how hardship shows some people up as terrible friends.... I'm so glad you're pushing through that pain too x

Rezee i'm nearly 35 and still not convinced I know how to adult totally! Anxiety etc is a bugger; sending you love and strength! x

Jesse - my poppa always used to tell Mum (and she told us) that 'it's not that you're not a good driver, it's that everyone else on the road has the potential to be an idiot'...scary when you are on the end of that idiocy!  Sounds like a great year otherwise though x

Julieal - what a lovely thing to do for the 90 year old!  What/where is Messiah?  Sorry for your loss x

Binary I'd call the blog an accomplishment!  I think people forget that you can achieve in things that are important to you maybe?  Own that, I've read some of your stuff and it's great! x

Macs I hope 2016 is the year that turns everything around for you.  Sounds like you're doing it tough atm.  Hope it all sorts itself out soon x

MrsLissy that's a rollercoaster!  England sounds awesome but sorry to hear about your Mum.  I'm in the same boat with Dad and I totally get it :S x

Mumof3 wow what a big year for you!  Well done, that must be an awesome feeling to get all those study/career milestones ticked off x
 
MrsLissy
301 posts
I'm sorry to hear about your dad Trudi xx It's hard watching your parent go through it.
trudijoy
8375 posts
You got that right! Thanks x
Mumof3Munchkins
2718 posts
Hugs Trudi and hugs to all that have and are still experiencing difficult times.  It really is hard to watch someone you love become sick and not be able to help them as much as we would like to take the pain and sickness away.  All we can do is be there for them, support them and let them know how much we love them and spend as much time as we can with them xxx
tannygirl
3392 posts
Ahhhh 2015...

Well the lows were moving back in with dad, my sister getting lice (luckily I didn't catch it), the end of my first long term relationship, my grandmother passed away in another country so I wasn't able to say goodbye. And more bad news.

To end on a positive note, I was able to get quite a few things off my wishlist, beauty stuff I wanted, the relationship wasn't going anywhere and at least it ended okay (still painful it always is), my phone got upgraded, I got to spend quite a bit of time with my family, my mom is now living here and I participated in three successful secret santa groups.
Macs
5351 posts
Aww you ladies always know how to cheer me up . I hope I can get through this rough patch. xSometimes I look back at what I write an think omg Im oversharing lol Just haven't got any family support atm . Its moments like these I wish mum was here x I hope that the new year is good for us all. 
Shana_Banana84
567 posts
Ah 2015, I am not sure I like you but I can tolerate you.....

I learned the feeling of complete and utter helplessness when it come to saving my son from the heartbreak of his 'fathers' actions earlier in the year.  I learned the feeling of utter hate for another human being, that being the same person.  My lesson from this was, keep my thoughts and my emotions about him to myself because my boy still adores him and I won't be the one to hurt him with hate words about his father.

My triumphs were having a break through with getting my son the help he needs at school and finally getting an appointment for a diagnosis.  I learned how to love him with all my heart but also how to let him go a little bit more and to keep my anxiety in check a bit more.  I also got to meet three gorgeous ladies from BR and am thankful that I have.  I have a best friend in one of them whom I cherish and love heaps!

The main lessons I learned are, to let go he's ok, to allow others to help even when your pride is far too much, exercise is my drug, It's ok to be scared and most of all how to let my son in more
shazatron101
5112 posts
Hmm... I think I'm a bit boring as nothing that amazing happened. I do have a few highlights though - This year I met three of the most amazing, beautiful and funny women I've ever known, and they have all become very close friends of mine. We can talk to the moon and back without getting bored of each other. They cheer me up when I'm feeling down and can't get words out to explain what's wrong. They're just amazing and I love them. So much. They know who they are ;-)

A low point was a very close friend getting cancer - what is it with cancer!?? - and he passed away recently. We got to know each other quite well through our work as we were together everyday for 3-5 hours starting at 8am and it was just us. I miss him a lot. A "good" thing that came out of this though was his daughter bought forward her wedding so he could be there. It was a really nice day! This also made me cry ... a lot. I've never had anyone that close to me die and when I went to see him after the wedding I was pretty inconsolable. 

We got a few good things our way this year - our petrol was paid for once but nobody knows who by, my neice loves to come and give me cuddles now and she says my name :D, my gardens are thriving, I've recieved a few RAOKs from a few beautiful people and I won $150 on a single scratchie once. Nothing has broken (knock on wood) and I set my pool up for that instant cool down during these hot days. I got a cheese kit and a worm farm and I could cry from how happy those two single things make me. 

I can't say I've triumphed or learned any lessons or had a life changing moment because I'm not sure I have. My year was pretty good, so if next year could be about the same I wouldn't complain. x 
itsclearascrystal
2055 posts
This year was a weird one. I feel like I didn't really feel like I moved forward in any way this year. I had small successes with my film work and a memorable moment with my 21st. But overall I've felt rather dissatisfied this year and far too busy. 
idomakeupnz
150 posts
For me 2015 has been almost one huge negative for me, with a few positives here and there.
I entered the year with high hopes and an air of positivity I hadn't felt before. I was a qualified beautician fresh out of school and was looking eagerly for a job. Turns out that no where would hire me, not even McDonalds. I spent the first 3 months of the year applying for jobs only to be knocked back time and time again. It put a huge damper on my self esteem and it made my depression even worse. I ended up being put on the sickness benefit because my mental health had put me in no position to work (even if I could find a job).
So that went downhill, I got worse and worse without really knowing it. I felt the worst I had in years, since I was first diagnosed with depression and I didn;t know what to do.
Then the man I thought I would spend the rest of my life with left me and has since moved on. We were together almost 5 years and best friends for 6. I've known him since I was 15, he was a constant in my life and suddenly I had to learn how to live without him. It's been incredibly hard and still is. That spun me into the darkest of places and I had to deal with things I didn't think I ever would. It took me months of battling my inner demons to get to the place I am now.
As for the postives, I was introduced to a gorgeous woman whom I have become incredibly close to and if it wasn't for having her come into my life then I honestly don't know where I'd be. She's been amazing and I am so thankful for her.
I learned just how wonderful my best friend is, in ways I hadn't known before. She was there for me through my break up and it really made me appreciate her even more than I already did.
Though it won't seem like a postive to most, I "quit" the beauty blogging industry. At the start of the year I brought a domain and started a professional blog. I put so much time and effort into it only to get nothing back. It was draining and in the end I realised that the beauty industry (from the blogging side of things) just isn't for me and now I feel better than ever.
I also have begun my journey to self love and acceptance. It's a difficult road but one worth travelling.
So I hope the new year will be much, much better for me. I have goals I want to achieve and so many things I want to acomplish.
I wish for you all to have a happy and healthy new year too, we all go through tough times that test us and push us to our limits. But we are all strong and we can all battle through xx
Amyxxoo
1155 posts
2015 has been a good year not great but good :) With anything life threw obstacles our way, a few road blocks which we had to work to overcome them and in the end we did. 

Its ts been a year of family. This year we introduced a new little addition to the family, the perfect little puzzle piece to our now completed family. We have been told we can no longer have any more babies so we are enjoying the baby phase :) It's time for us to sit back and teach and watch our children learn and grow.

My partner has been in his job for some years now and has just recently said he would like to go in another direction, I suspect 2016 will bring some new beginings.

Our health, love, life and family have been good in 2015, 2016 will be to make it a great year :) A year where I'd like to stick to my goals.
jessickaxnz
1176 posts
This has been a really interesting thread to read. I hate that so many of you have had horrible things happen - I genuinely hope 2016 is a better year for all of us. 

2015 has been mostly a good year for me but has had its dark moments. One of my close friends is extremely ill and has been given a year to live. It's extremely difficult to deal with because I am totally helpless in the situation. If I could give him my organs to prolong his life I absolutely would but that's not possible :( I'm hoping that he will be well enough to have a transplant and so can continue with life but that all depends on how well he is in the next few months. 

My sister had her first baby this year which has totally changed my life. I never knew I could love a child so fearlessly and ferociously. I adore my niece and am so overjoyed for my sister and her partner. It has made my relationship with my sister much closer as well, which is something that makes me extremely happy. 

I also managed ages to go on my dream trip this year. I honestly never thought I could do it but I did and I'm super proud of myself. I even got over my fear of flying! The USA was an amazing place, I knocked Disneyland, Universal Studios, Vegas, Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon off of my bucket list. The Grand Canyon was a profound experience for me even though I got altitude sickness haha. The true highlight of my trip though was to Mexico City. I managed to get better at Spanish and grow as a person there. The things I saw and experienced in that country have changed my soul. It made me grow up and stop being so selfish and self involved. I'll never forget the lessons I learned there and am actively trying to be a kinder person. 

 Seeing the Dia De Los Muertos festivities made me absolutely joyous and immensely grateful to be alive. It was so special to me and it is something I wish I could do every year. We also went to Isla de Muñecas - or doll island, which was always in the realm of impossibility for me. That alone made the trip for me. Experiencing how other people live and being on massive canals was the happiest and most peaceful thing I have ever done. 

In contrast, seeing the poverty and people in totally desperate situations got under my skin and to this day makes me feel guilty that I have a job and food on the table etc. It has made me realise how blessed we are in this country and how lucky I am. 
chelseaadelaide
703 posts
Wow, a successful but sad year for all. 2015 was a 'getting there' year for me. It was my final year of my now completed studies, a year back home with mum and dad (which is a major positive!) and a few friendships became even stronger. 2015 was fine, but I am really looking forward to 2016 as it begins with my dream job and moving cities. I am a bigger believer that everything happens for a reason in regards to changing direction and I'm super excited for 2016 - it begins with a sparkly makeup case packed away to move to Tauranga! 
MareeB
5239 posts
Every day at work was a low point, and every night on BR was a high point. To be honest, there's not much in between! I don't have any hobbies other than BR (although I do spend a lot of time gardening, reading and watching tv - all neutral points). This season's Aussie Biggest Loser was the most inspirational/motivational point for me, not only because they lose so much weight, but this season showed how valuable team work is in being successful. I loved it! otherwise, it was a pretty uneventful year.

I'm going to make better goals and plans for 2016, and try to achieve a lot more.
Danni
324 posts
Highlights were definitely passing my first year at uni, getting my restricted and adopting my little fur baby from the SPCA. 2015 is probably one of the more lonely years I've had in terms of not having friends and I'm pretty sure I've developed some form of social anxiety which makes me feel horrible when trying to meet new people (These encounters havn't gone well I always say the wrong things) HOWEVER I have my goals set in stone for 2016 and will make baby steps to achieve them!
Rezee
1964 posts
Thanks Trudi.  I think of your dad,  I keep wishing good thoughts for him. screw the people who keep asking about babies, you have plenty of time and theres heaps of options out there anyway.Danni, you make me want to give you big squishy hugs!
Ksjc_nz
370 posts
Such a good thread Trudi - I'm sorry so many of you have had such hard years, wishing you fantastic 2016s xx
This year has had its ups and downs, finally made the decision of what I really want to be when I grow up, so got the ball rolling on that one.
Finally started trying to ignore what people think and say about me and just wear makeup how I wand when I want.
Have had a rough year with hubby, I think it's on the up now, but we will see
A close family member has been battling cancer this year, so that's making things a little harder to be in the holiday mood with.
I'm optimistic about next year though, and I hope it's going to bring the important things I'm hoping for
ragingfrog
1289 posts
I have thought about this since it was put up and I have decided that this is a "meh" year, not the worst ones 1998 and 2011 take that award but not the best 2002 is that winner.

While I end the year as I started, single, I am happy within my own skin. I have good close friends that are fantastic, ironically they are all single too.

I have improved my brand at work and I am progressing well even though I have not moved off the floor, I have done things that get my name out in a positive light and gets me known in the company. I have made friends with some of the newer people at work that I think will be long termers in my life I hope.

I still await with baited breath from my renal specialist to never see him again, maybe in 2016. I do know I need to exercise more and lose some weight but I have never really been a fan of exercise. 
Pifithrin
1243 posts
Great thread. I haven't really reflected on 2015 until now.

2015 was a pretty good year for me - I did well with uni-related things which allowed me to attend my second international conference (this time in the south of France) and give a talk to my international peers and colleagues, and also some more European travel. I fell in love with Paris and Scotland especially. A close friend had a baby, and he is healthy and gorgeous. On the last day of 2015 I bought my first car!

Low points occured beacuse of my travel - I missed both my godson's first birthday and I was not around to give support to a close friend.

I'm looking forward to what 2016 has in store.

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