2023 Highlights

1. We got sick around the first week of the year so we spent the New Year binging K-drama and playing card games.

2. Ito rin yung year na, after 18 years of smoking, nag-quit na si Kenneth! At kung hindi pa sya nag-positive sa COVID, hindi ‘to mangyayare.
3. Had a long video call with Mama—learned about their mala-teleseryeng love story ng Papa. Sobrang nakakaaliw.
4. Started logging my calls
5. Golden Potato II message: be patient (reminding myself to read this private blog post every once in a while)
6. Waking up at 5 or 6 AM, spending the quiet mornings reading, journaling, meditating or just staring at the clouds, and if I’m lucky, witnessing the sun rise.
7. Been using a menstrual cup for 2+ years now. It’s way better than pads, it’s good for the environment, and it saves me money. Win-win-win.
8. Brunches at Clementine Cafe

9. My learnings while tuning in to a live feed of a bald eagle nest
10. Finally made an illustration of Walnut

11. Subscribed to Headspace
12. Being an office girl again! So far this is the easiest job I’ve ever had. That’s why sobrang saya ko nung natawagan ako.
    
    An excerpt from my journal: “Akala ko monetary lang yung makukuha ko dito sa work pero ang dami nyang binigay 😊” I’ve been meaning to blog about this. Next year na lang siguro sa last day ko.
    
13. Listened to A LOT of podcasts and audiobooks while at work
14. Finished another French Super Sprint and got refunded
15. Became Canadian citizens

16. Ate Arlene made parirutong! My childhood favorite snack.
17. Watching The Voice with Kenneth at feeling namin coaches din kami kung maka-criticize ng contestants 🤣
18. After watching all those pretty slimes on my IG feed, I finally got some for myself when I received my first pay. But after a few days, I realized that I like watching slime videos more, rather than actually playing with them.

19. Made a private Facebook account for families and long-time friends that I frequently interact with.
20. Journaling hangouts with Glenie, Charisma and Pearl
21. Watching the seasons change through the windows.
22. Trail walks
23. Hanging out with Winnipeg friends and their babies
24. Training Walnut to be comfortable inside the carrier and seeing major improvements

25. Fun video calls with family and friends
26. Letting go of a toxic, fake friend, and nurturing relationships with the true ones
27. Bowling with cousins (minus the rude lady)
28. Crying at the office. Kasi dalang dala ako sa pinapakinggan kong mga audiobooks (lalo na sa A Little Princess)
29. Reading Michael Pollan’s books. Cool na cool talaga ko sa kanya. Wishing I were half as good a storyteller as he is.
30. Handling red-sided garter snakes at Narcisse Snake Dens

31. Picnic date!
32. Started tuning in to what I thought were boring content: finance podcasts and Kryz Uy’s vlogs. Now I’m obsessed!
33. Being consistent with our weekly couple sessions
34. Cashew tagging along with Kenneth sa pagsundo when I was still working evening shifts.

35. Learning that marriage is not 50/50
36. Got serious with fasting because of this life-changing book. The longest time I went without food is 28 hours. Hope I can do the 36-hour fast next year.
37. Started our 2-person book club with AJ
38. Learned to set firmer boundaries and be more clear with what I need.
    
    “To be clear is to be kind.”
39. These chunky clouds

40. Kenneth singing Let it Be after my Golden Potato III (let them be)
41. Got a letter from Mommy 🥹

42. Diaz fam’s 4-month vacation:
    
    • Long walks at the park
    • Food trip
    • Celebrating Thanksgiving for the first time
43. Our entire Alberta-BC trip especially:
    
    • Witnessing the majestic rocky mountains!!
    • Seeing an architectural beauty: Calgary Central Library
    • The Lake Minnewanka cruise was magic
    • Takkakaw Falls’ refreshing mist
    • The most beautiful lake I’ve ever seen, Moraine Lake. Literally heaven on earth.
    • BC food trip
    • Speaking French with the lady at the macaron shop
    • Bungee jumping
    • Riding a Tesla
    • Forest bathing
    • Seeing wildlife (marmots, bears, an elk, etc.)
    • Walking on Athabasca Glacier and drinking glacial water
    • First time to get a cat sitter on this 2-week trip

44. Sent a postcard to my family in the Philippines while we were in BC. They received it after 2 months 😄

45. Participated in the Barbenheimer phenomenon

46. First time to see a hailstorm. Sobrang lakas nung *tak tak tak* kawawa si Walnut nagtago sa likod ng toilet bowl.
47. $4 movie tickets on National Film Day
48. Starbuck’s pink drink with chocolate cream cold foam. Sarap!
49. Leaving my seasonal job, but then receiving a call from them after 2 months, asking me to come back. Yay!
50. Geese watching with Walnut

51. Up close encounter with deers at King’s Park!
52. Got swept along by the craze on the IG planner community during Hobonichi season. Felt giddy and frantic at the same time. I love my new foutain pens!
53. Waking up before my alarm
54. The mountain-like clouds that reminded me of Alberta

55. Going back to Calgary to look at showhomes. Met new and old friends.
56. Cozy vibes while rereading and rewatching Harry Potter. Di ko pa tapos but here are some of my favorite moments:
    
    • Nung sinampal ni Hermione si Malfoy
    • Ron’s failed attempt to ask Hermione at the Yule Ball
    • Molly and Sirius’ intense back and forth at the dinner table
    • Ron learning about Ginny’s boyfriend and acting protective
57. Replacing my old phone
58. Had a pretty long and fun conversation with Papa (which was rare)
59. Completed our sinking funds by the end of October
60. Evening chats with Kenneth before I go to sleep
61. A 90-minute massage with my favorite masseuse
62. Our podcast is still alive and kicking 😂
63. The kitties on their Halloween costumes

64. Went to therapy. I had four sessions. Di ako 100% satisfied sa therapist ko pero gusto ko yung soothing voice nya. Feeling ko nag-dump lang ako ng thoughts and feelings ko sa kanya (with bouts of crying) at yun yung nakatulong.
    
    Baka kelangan ko lang ng someone that I can be 100% transparent with. I guess I felt comfortable talking to her because all the things I’ve shared, she probably heard them before.
65. My cousins complimenting my oreo cheesecake cookies

66. Turned 35 this year. Ang amazing na 35 years na ko dito sa mundo. I must’ve learned a lot already, but it feels like there’s a lot more to uncover.
    
    May napanood akong docu series about centenarians. Nung binanggit nung researcher na 61 years old na sya, ang sagot ni 101-year old lola, “You’re still a kid!” So feeling ko tuloy at a young age of 35, I’m still a baby.

67. Potator Corner’s truffle fries!!
68. Narnia vibes

69. The kitties on their Christmas costumes

70. Christmas with friends and family
71. Read 26 books
72. Saved $600 this year by staying on prepaid
73. The readers of this blog 🤍
    
    Personal archive ko lang talaga ‘to dati pero ang saya pala pag may nagbabasa at may nagre-react sa mga sinusulat mo.
74. This year’s memorable reads:
    
    • Recapture the Rapture
    • The Guest List
    • Conversations with Friends (kasi SOBRANG PANGIT)
    • The Secret Garden
    • Happy Place
    • Elon Musk
    • Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
    • Steve Jobs

75. This year’s memorable films and shows:
    
    • Kiki’s Delivery Service
    • Fantastic Fungi
    • How to Change Your Mind
    • Stutz
    • Beef
    • Barbie
    • One Piece
    • The Devil’s Plan
    • Beckham
    • The Voice (seasons 23 & 24)
    • The Bear (season 1 & 2)
    • Elemental

Paalam 2023!