Saturday Question: What Are Your 2018/9 Resolutions?

/ AustralianPerfumeJunkies

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Portia

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Hello Fellow Fumies,

At APJ we have a Saturday Question. Everyone gets to chime in with an answer, chat with other responders and it’s a fun event each week. Taking sides never means taking offence and everyone keeps it respectful and light, even though we can sometimes trawl the depths.

The idea is you’ll see it on the weekend or chime in through the week. Hopefully you will come back regularly and see if anyone has responded to your comment and you can reply to them. The aim is to generate real conversation and connection even though we are scattered around the globe.

 

Over 100 responses I will draw a Scent Sample Pack (from my collection)
This week:
Sample Pack

  1. Tendre Nuit by Isabey
  2. Cristalle EdP by CHANEL (vintage)
  3. Trefle Pur by Atelier Cologne
  4. Voile d’Ete by Guerlain (vintage DCd)
  5. Belgravia Chypre by Penhaligon’s

Last Weeks Winner: JackieB

eMail me at (portia underscore turbo at yahoo dot com dot au) with your address please

Saturday Question: What Are Your 2018/9 Resolutions?

I know we were going to talk thunking but I’ve had an idea for 2019 that will be a slight change but not such an enormous one.

Resolutions! Do we make them? Keep them? Are they binding? Are you someone who just can’t even? Maybe you make them on Dec 31 and have them all broken by Jan 2, earlier if you’re a high achiever?

My Answer:

As you know the last part of 2018 has been about combating diabetes. I’ve been eating better, exercising, cutting most of the added sugar out of my diet and generally trying to get my health in order. Obviously I’m not perfect at it but nearly 10kgs (22lbs) has fallen off since September. I’m trying to do it kindly to myself, allowing treats but not being ridiculous. I resolve to continue that battle.

There will be a sale of fragrances that aren’t getting spritzed. Last year I offloaded a bunch and it felt good to get them out into the world, where hopefully they are living new lives and being drained to the dregs. I resolve to move at least 50 full bottles.

Turbo Trivia needs me to get out and do some upselling over the next 12 months. Ideally we should be running 20-25 events a week. That would give 8-10 Drag Queens enough work to live off and everything else they earn could be cream. It’s really hard for me to go and do the meeting and greeting of prospective clients but I resolve to get my finger out and see 5 new clubs, pubs or venues a month.

What would I like you guys to resolve to do? Tell a couple of friends about Australian Perfume Junkies and get them on board. Before the crash earlier in the year we had about 1300 followers over all platforms, now we are at less than a quarter of that. I resolve to start getting my butt into gear and promoting us a bit more too. As always, the more the merrier.

My Saturday Question to you is:

 What Are Your 2018/9 Resolutions?

172 thoughts on “Saturday Question: What Are Your 2018/9 Resolutions?”

  1. 1. New job. I have a few in the pipeline, just waiting on results.
    2. Move out of my sharehouse. I’m deadly sick of sharehouses at this stage. With new job income, Aaron and I should be able to rent a nice little place without the drama of housemate nonsense. Bonus points if it’s closer to our work.
    3. Add some solid exercise into my routine. I go swimming but it’s not a regular appointment – I want to change that, make it at least once a week.
    4. Sell or trade my old clothes. I have a heap stashed under the bed that either doesn’t fit or isn’t to my taste any more. I’ve donated a lot, but I need to try and recoup some funds, so I’ll probably have to organise a stall at some 2nd hand market, or go to the trouble of selling piece by piece on eBay, ugh. I have a real bee in my bonnet of late about cleansing/sorting my belongings – fun new outlet for my anxiety I guess?
    5. Generally do more fun & social stuff!

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  2. 1. Gain some weight through muscle mass. Because I am naturally thin I have been severely neglecting my body, mind and spirit. I used to have a very rigorous daily exercise, yoga and meditation routine that has fallen by the wayside because of fatigue and distractions (including perfume blogs-LOL!). I am hoping to get back into some sort of routine again and also to start eating better (MUCH less sugar and naughty fats!!!) Portia you have inspired me!!!! If you can do it so can I!!!!
    2. Don’t sweat the small stuff….I worry a lot (mostly about the mini Marzipans) but have come to realize after the fact that the worry was just a waste of my energy because in the end life unfolds exactly as it should
    3. Use up what I have perfume wise and stop pining away for new and shiny (I think I am already on the right track with this goal but I would like for it to continue into 2019) It also helps that I have a small circle of perfume peeps I call my friends and we share and rotate and the perfume love goes round and round 🙂 A few of my close perfume friends and I have resolved ourselves to the goal of NO BUY for the whole year…help me do this, APJers!
    4. Cherish my loved ones which includes all those in my inner circle (not just family but great friends) and appreciate the life I have and all that I am blessed with

    Portia- I am going to start spreading the word whenever I can about APJ. We need more folks on board..this is such a lovely, open and inviting place to be…and thank you for making it so xxoo

    Liked by 2 people

  5. My resolutions are largely the same as Brigitte’s: eat better, worry less, and don’t keep pining after the new & shiny. I am committing to a 2019 perfume no buy as I truly do not need any more and have been spending far too much on it. I also really need to find a social activity that engages me, as my natural introversion has turned me into a virtual hermit (partly due to a ton of grief I have been going through). I have a new puppy who needs my attention and care, so I plan to start working on agility and obedience with her. It will get both of us out of the house and improve our dispositions. 🙂

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    • Sorry you’re feeling emotional pain, and I hope you really do get yourself out there next year. I don’t know how you feel about exercise classes or aqua fit but when I started at them years back it was a very gentle introduction to other people and the added bonus was the natural antidepressant effect from exercise. It’s a win win situation 😉
      And we’re always here if you want to vent!

      Liked by 1 person

      • Fortunately my exercise regime is quite good – I go to yoga class 4 times a week and cycle twice a week – but these do not really involve socialization as the cycling is just with my husband, and I don’t interact a lot with the other yoga participants. It definitely helps my depression and anxiety. But I think getting involved with a dog agility club would help both me and the dog tremendously.

        Liked by 1 person

        • Your little Papillon would love this! They’re highly intelligent dogs (albeit stubborn) and have plenty of energy. It’s a great mental and physical outlet for her/him and you would be meeting all sorts of other folks with similar interests. I say go for it!

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        • Tara, good on you! On my New Years list is to get back into yoga once a week – best get myself Into to gear to catch up with you. I did think about a spin cycle class to get the heart rate up. You take care xx

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    • Tara, sorry to hear about your long period of grief. I can relate. Hope this year will bring you the peace of mind you’re looking for.

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    • Hey TaraC,
      Two really excellent resolves.
      Good luck with both the perfume No Buy and getting out into the world. The agility crew seem like a really fun bunch. My mate Lisa Wright does weekend agility courses up here in NSW. You will probably meet her on your adventures. Tell her you’re my mate.
      Portia x

      Liked by 1 person

    • Tara, I hope you’ll get to know a lot of friendly people in the new year. Walking with your puppy can surely help you get into conversations with other dog owners and they are mostly nice people.

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  6. 1. Get my house cleared out. There’s a huge pile of absolute shite within these walls that has to go! My hubby is a terrible hoarder, so I would need him to be gone for a few days and then order a big skip and fill it – the ensuing row would likely be ferocious, though.
    2. Get same house on the market. I thought two years ago that I’d be out of it the next year.
    3. Get to the bottom of a few medical issues that have been niggling at me this year. They’re holding me back a bit so time to take the gloves off and start the fight back.
    4. Same as every other year: stop spending money foolishly. I will have broken this one by midnight on the 1st.
    5. Get my paws on First Cut and Casablanca. Oh wait, have started on this already😉 Ordered them last night! They are winging their way to me right now.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Cassie we did this a few years ago. Rented a dumpster and filled it thereby emptying out the basement. Unfortunately the crap is building up again. And yes to getting my favorites in samples!!! I hope you love them!

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    • Hey Cassieflower,
      House clearing is so refreshing. Good luck getting him out.
      Selling the house!! What is the plan from there?
      Medical Issues. Good luck mate. I’m a chronic ignorer of anything medico, Jin is the exact opposite so we are happily finding a middle ground.
      HA! I too am a money fritterer. Fingers crossed for both of us eh?
      Portia xx

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      • Ha, I wish me luck getting rid of anything!
        We plan on finishing off our other house, or, if we have a brain fart, will put both on the market and see if there’s any bite. We don’t live in a hot property area unfortunately ( rural, no public transport, car is essential)

        Liked by 1 person

    • I wish you luck with your resolutions Cassie. They are not the easiest ones. I’ll be supporting you chatting-wise out of my huge experience 🙂

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  8. I vow to continue with my diet. I cut sugar and dairy, which comprised about 90% of my intake, out of my life (for now). I have lost 30 lbs in 5 weeks and plan to lose 20-25 more. Happy New Year, Portia!❤️

    Liked by 2 people

  9. I have a few this year:

    1) perfume related–use up 12 samples and 1 FB. This is pretty much the same as last year, and I was able to use up 16 samples and 3 FB, so I figure it’s better to keep the goals attainable, and if I blow past them, then I’ll fell great!

    2) cosmetics related–use up 2 full size nail polishes and 6 minis. Last year I was able to use up 4 full size and 6 minis, so again, attainable goals with the hope of going past them.

    3) Life-in-general–give more money to homeless people when they ask. Right now, I do this sometimes. But I’d like to try to do at least a little something every time someone asks. I’m in a pretty good place in my life financially, and want to pass that along.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Hey Missionista,
      Excellent goals.
      Particularly the giving one. I often find myself without even a dollar in my pocket because EVERYTHING is card based nowadays. I too would like to flick a couple of dollars to every asker.
      Portia xx

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  10. First is to spend more time here. I have gotten into a rut that has me withdraw from anything that might challenge me socially. Sadly, I have gone away from all forms of social media. Still on FB for perfume reasons and to keep in touch with far away friends I’ve had pre FB. That means I miss out on the fab conversations here.

    Second has been a self inflicted slap in my face. After my diagnosis 2 years ago, I allowed myself to grieve. It hit me hard that I will never grow out of my difficulties. So, I became a victim of my trappings. Sorry, Kate, but this IS it and not everyone is gonna like you. This coming year will be to shake off that self pity mantle and be the best I can be. And be ok with that.

    Third is to do more travel off the beaten path. My mum is getting older and will require more care as she gets on. I may not have much opportunity to travel later, so if I cram some in now, it may soothe the itch for when I can’t. Backpacking budget style. And I need a motorbike license too, for I intend to bus, train and bike as much as possible.

    I had no idea our numbers had dropped so drastically. Let’s make 2019 the APJ Phoenix year.

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    • Sometimes we just have to accept ourselves as we are, warts and all. It can be very sobering, but all any of us can do is live the very best life we can – and feck the begrudgers. And anyway, not everyone will like you, the same as you won’t like everyone either. Jeez I’m just full of wisdom (or something)🙄

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    • I am going to piggy back on what cassie said …as an introvert who prefers to spend her time at home in a “cave” (my bedroom) wearing her bathrobe all day long I completely get not wanting to put yourself out there…I think as human beings we all have shortcomings but we all have something to contribute and we must be kind to ourselves as much as we are to others… I am going to leave you with some lines from one of my favorite poems- Desiderata:
      “Beyond a wholesome discipline,
      be gentle with yourself.
      You are a child of the universe,
      no less than the trees and the stars;
      you have a right to be here.
      And whether or not it is clear to you,
      no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. ”

      Happy New Year Kate!

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    • Kate, “not everyone is gonna like you” resonates with me. So they won’t, big deal. Hope all your plans for 2019 will come true. As Portia once said, be kind to yourself. Wishing you a whole lot of happy days!

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    • Heya Kate,
      We would LOVE to see you more around here.
      You know being diagnosed with anything takes time to adjust. Most of us hibernate through the formative stages of acceptance. It sounds like you’re ready to come out of the cocoon. That’s a big deal in itself.
      Woo Hoo! We love having our motor bike licenses. The original idea of getting them was to do The Motorcycle Diaries journey. It hasn’t happened yet but hopefully. The best time to travel is always ASAP. Jin and I dedicate time to it because no ones getting any younger.
      Phoenix year indeed, that would be awesome.
      Portia xx

      Liked by 1 person

    • Offering you my full support and asking you to please visit and comment more frequently.
      Self-love and self-acceptance are a life long job. We all deal with our personal challenges in the best way we can. It is never easy and there is no one right way. But just know that you are exactly who you need to be at this moment. You are and always will be a valuable human being who deserves love both from without and within. Wishing you a kind and peaceful New Year 😘

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    • Kate, the problem is that no one ever told us, let alone taught us, that life is not beautiful and easy. They tend to keep us in a bubble in our childhood. Not everyone is a born fighter and some cannot handle the reality easily. In the end, the most important thing is to be true to yourself and not get influenced by the society, which is hard and you feel lonesome at times. We mostly learn this rather late. The other thing is to find time to learn what we actually ARE. Sometimes we don’t like the outcome but when we face it, we learn to live with it and in the end even to enjoy it. I bet you can do it! Put yourself in the center of your universe and don’t feel bad about it. YOU are supposed to enjoy the ride, let the others take care of their part.
      And YES to the motorbike license! Go for it girl!

      Liked by 1 person

      • Thanks, Neva. I certainly didn’t have a bubble wrapped childhood; far from it. More a case of The Ugly Duckling trying to find its place in the world. Got so tired trying to figure out what was/is so wrong with me. Now I know, I can choose to hang with those more like me.

        Keep on being you, Neva. You add sparkle to life. Xx

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  11. I forgot to say Happy New Year to you, Portia, and thank you for being the host with the most. I love my moments of escapism on here,(Probably too much).

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  12. Jackie B, congratulations on your win!

    I stopped doing NY resolutions properly years ago because life has its own ways to shit on my parade, and yet, there are a few things I want to see happening in 2019:
    1. Move to another town/country. I’ve had my reasons to stay in my hometown but I want something new. I used to move every three years ever since I turned 17….
    2. Learn Italian. I probably should scratch that and tell the truth: stop being such a procrastinating lazy ass.
    3. Find a new source of income. I need more money for perfumes 🙂

    Portia, I’ll post about APJ on my IG account, just need to take a nice captivating photo to lure some fumeheads, lol.

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    • Love your no.2 Diana. I learnt some basic travel Italian some years ago before I visited that beautiful place. Am super lucky to have visited twice, aiming for visit three. Get a CD/ borrow from the library if you can and play it in the car. Strangely enough in time of stress I count in Italian – changes the focus and makes me feel smarter xx

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      • Thanks for the encouragement, Melanie. I can understand basic Italian since I learned a bit of Latin at university and I speak French and a little Spanish, becoming fluent is my goal. I have my own way of studying languages, not that it’s very unusual, – I watch films dubbed in a certain language. The only problem is to do it regularly. I watched a whole season of Doctor Who in Italian recently, it was educating but not hearing David Tennant’s voice kinda bummed me out.

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    • WOW Diana,
      these are three HUGE resolutions. If you even get one of those together for 2019 I’ll be cheering like mad for you.
      You’ve got till May to move nearer St Petersburg, Moscow or Lake Baikal. Then we can meet each other while Jin and I are honeymooning.
      Thanks for the IG post. that will be fabulous. Have fun taking the shot, or you can steal any of our stuff from FB or the blog.
      Portia xx

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      • Thank you, Portia! Meeting you two would be wonderful!
        Hope 2019 will be wondereful for you and Jin and your sweet dogs. Thank you for making us all feel welcome here. I’ve just realised that I first came to APJ about a year ago so I’m going to have raise a glass to my first anniversary here.

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    • Diana, I’m not sure about your age, but I think that moving to another place is a wise thing to do. It doesn’t have to be forever. Uranus is in the sighh of Taurus so during the next six years there will be plenty of changes on the material lever which means moving to different places, changing jobs. The chances are great for your wishes to come true 🙂 I hope for the best outcome.
      You’re great with languages, just start the Italian course. You’ll surely notice a progress quickly.

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      • Neva, thank you for your wise advise. I do hope everything will go the way I plan or better 🙂
        PS I’m 33, will turn 34 in March.

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  13. Happy New Year to Portia, Jin, the doggies and all the APJ’ers!
    And congrats, Jackie B!!
    Here we go:
    1) quit slipping into cranky old bat mode
    2) stop resenting the inconveniences/pains and general annoyances of advancing age
    3) zero stupid blind buys for 2019 cuz they’re always a bust
    4) make Mr. LH stop playing with his bloody grinder in the basement. He’s a menace. Flipping it on and off every 30 seconds. Sounds like there’s a freight train running through the house and now my office floor is vibrating 😬
    5) sell the house and the grinder with it. Keep Mr LH.

    Liked by 1 person

    • 😂 wtf is he grinding down there? Oh lord but my mind heads straight to the gutter. Is he perhaps building his own chainsaw?
      Are you really a cranky old bat? You don’t come across as that. A bit ferocious maybe😉
      My equivalent of a noise menace is the TV, his nibs is hard of hearing and he turns on all the speakers because the surround sound makes it easier for him to pick up dialogue. But my ears are still pretty sharp so there’s an ongoing bitchfest over that. But when I’m listening to music it can’t ever be too loud. But that drives him mad. How we have lasted the course is anybody’s guess.

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      • 😂😂 Oh lord, Cassie. You kill me! No, not cranky to others, I love getting people to laugh so that keeps me in good humour. But I am cranky with myself, too critical, I suppose. The self talk that goes on inside my head! Sheesh! You don’t want to know. My bloody brain is always in overdrive, hence the loads of exercise to try to shut it the eff up!
        Some by-laws will be broken if the two of you ever get to watching TV and listening to music at the same time. Come on over here and do it, you’ll drown out the bloody grinder!

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    • Marcella, yes to getting old without becoming cranky! You can do it! C’mon, with your funny and witty personality I bet you attract plenty of young people into your life.
      What’s all the hype with selling houses? Where are you gonna live anyway? 😀

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  14. Portia i’ve read about your exercise and about trying to eat healthier and get healthier, and i just wanna congratulate you ; 22lbs from september until now is really awesome 👍🏻👍🏻 And even if they were just 5kg or 3kg, you would still be great, on the right path. Anything that goes in minus through exercise it’s a step forward, always. I’m a personal fitness trainer and i’ve met a lot of different people that struggle like a lot, just to loose 1kg in a month. So you are doing great, congratulations, sport+healthy food( as much as we can) and obviously fragrances 🙂 = Love. As for new upcoming year, i would like to get better and better in all the aspects of my life. Happy New Year all of you perfume addicts 😜🤗 and thank you Portia for creating and hosting such a great place like APJ ✌🏻

    Liked by 3 people

    • Hey Alen,
      Lovely to have a PT in the crew. Luckily I’m a guy and have a pretty fast metabolism even for a bloke. I’ve given myself a free pass over the Xmas and New Year period without the stress of doing weigh ins. That doesn’t mean I’m eating really terribly and I’m still doing light exercise.
      Where are you based? Sydney?
      Yeah, a general working towards being the best we can be is a good goal.
      Thanks, we love having you here as part of the APJ Frag Family.
      Portia xx

      Liked by 1 person

  15. I tend not to make resolutions at the new year, but have odd moments of firm decisiveness overcome me at odd times.. Those are the ones that stick. Right now I am off booze entirely and will stay this way forever I think. It’s been well over three years and no desire to change. I didn’t have a huge problem, just knew it wasn’t good for me psychically or physically. Possible harder was giving up Coke Zero! But I did that too!

    Also in a saving money mode with my person so we can build up toward a big purchase. I budget in some perfume money and am doing well on this too.

    I need to get back to an exercise routine and am waiting for that resolve to appear!

    There are all sorts of boring things on the work front, but I’ll soare you those!

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    • Hey Amy,
      Yeah, booze and Coke Zero must have been really hard to kick. They are ubiquitous.
      Saving money is a big one. Jin and I have decided to pay his loan on the apartment down together so we can kick it before 5 years is up. It’s taking a LOT of our play money away and we are definitely feeling the pinch. Nice to be doing this together though, it’s exciting to see how much is in the account each month.
      Good luck with the exercise, I find it particularly hard to stay focused even once I get myself into routine. Fingers crossed for you.
      Portia xx

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  16. Reduce my fragrance collection. If I can reduce it by even 20 percent, I would consider it a success. Controlling the temptation to buy is hard, trying to reduce collection feels an even harder thing to do. I have said in the past I want to keep what I love and sell what I like eventually but it seems I underestimated how tough it is to get rid of ‘like’ as I fear I might desire them again in future.

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    • I have kept what I like and love and started unloading what I dislike on eBay. But, I buy more than I sell. And I like and love lots. Next phase needs to be the okay group.

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      • Most of my collection is ‘loves’ and ‘likes’ because I get rid of ‘dislikes’ as soon as possible. If I keep the ‘likes’ as well, I won’t really be able to reduce my collection as the list of ‘loves’ is not that short either 😉 Another reason for my struggle is that I do not just treat it as a hobby but also take an intellectual approach to it. So there are some perfumes I want to keep not because they are some I would wear often but because they are important part of history or they are good representation of eras gone by, such as 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, and so on.

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      • Ah yes. The ‘memory’ reasons. Isn’t that the reason why we keep too much stuff in general?
        I had to rent a storage locker to keep trunks of my daughters’ baby clothes, art work and school projects in 😒. No more room here and, of course I’m ‘convinced’ that they will really appreciate it 🙄

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        • Oh dearrr, another hoarder. Be careful 😄. I won’t tell hubby that this could be an option for his old diaries, payslips, notebooks, vhs tapes, dead checkbooks, pens, notepads from hotels, flyers, show programmes, travel brochures, medals, pool & badminton tournament trophies, coins, clothes, tools, tool boxes, old machinery, nuts, bolts, screws, postcards. And tractors and cars. Ffs!!!
          I’m becoming ever more aware that this will overwhelm our poor daughter when she has to clear out the detritus of our lives. The only thing I collect is perfume, and at least I know she’ll love that.

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        • All of the mini Marzipans’ stuff is in the basement at the moment…but I have already told them that once they have their own place they will be taking said stuff and can do with it what they want.

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      • Exactly Cassie. Sometimes talking to you here feels like being in a self help group for perfume addicts 😀 …but it surely makes me feel better 🙂

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      • I need all the good luck 🙂 I have been feeling overwhelmed by the size of the collection for a long time and I am also hoping that 2019 is the best year ever in my life (hopefully) and for all of you guys as well. So 2019 might be ideally suited to start doing what I have been planning for a long time.

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  17. Thanks everyone for the kind wishes, and please DNEM this week Portia.
    2020 will be the year of not being so grumpy, and hand in hand with that is learning to keep my mouth shut!
    Happy new year to all!

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  18. I don’t make resolutions. The only “must” that is in my mind now is to find a job. My position was eliminated on Dec. 10. The money runs out in February. I have to find a good-paying job in my field by then or else. I also don’t even look at eBay or Facebook groups anymore. I can’t buy anything nonessential.

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  19. I achieved my 2018 resolution, which was to read and review 80+ books. We also successfully moved house and did the tree change, which was big for us.

    There are all the usual weight loss resolutions people make and break; mine is different. My aim is to get my long term average blood sugars down to 6.0 or less. It’s easier to measure and track how you’re doing on something like that, and focusing on that will result in weight loss, better diet and greater health anyway.

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    • Congrats Greg on your achievement…which reminds me of what I should include into my resolutions.
      With a proper diet you can keep your blood suger okay I’m sure. Have you tried ayurvedic medicine? It helped me anyway and there’s no synthetic medications, only dieting and herbal medications and a slight change of lifestyle. I hope you’ll make it!

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      • Neva- are you on an Ayurvedic diet? I looked into it a few years ago…I think I am Vata? The skinny person with a flittering mind and dry skin….I am supposed to eat unctuous and warm foods (nothing dry or raw I think).

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        • Same here Brigitte, although I am a combination of Vatta-Kapha. Yep, only cooked warm food, nothing from the fridge, less fresh fruit and salads. And then there’s the specific details according to your health issues…

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      • I do the 10k steps daily program but I’m finding that it’s starting to tail off. Your body learns your exercise routine and becomes more efficient at doing it, so it doesn’t burn so many calories doing the same thing. I have decided that I need to mix it up a bit this year, do different exercises and challenge myself more. Walk/jog/run sessions, cycling, cross-trainer and some weights. I hate weights but at my age you have to do them to improve your bone density and posture.

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      • I have to be very careful about medications, including natural remedies. I have a few chronic conditions that require me to take some serious horse pills with lots of contra-indications (St John’s Wort, for example, is a BIG non-no, as is royal jelly). I’ve had one episode where I took two medicines that didn’t agree. I took just half of one tab of the new drug, and it laid me out for a week, costing me thousands in lost income. So I am not an experimenter when it comes to diets and remedies.

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        • I guess the right way would be for you to start following a diet prescribed by the ayurvedic doctor. After several months without certain food you’d feel better, your blood tests and the rest would become better and you’d be able to skip some of your medications or change the dosage. In the long run there’s a chance that you won’t need classical medication. I’ve reached that stage after ten months and I keep it like that for four years now.

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  20. Speaking from experience, I won’t stick to all of my resolutions by the end of 2019 but I’d love to:
    1. meditate daily – to help me find some answers within myself. This one I break every year. I’m probably afraid to get to the bottom of myself. What’s lurking inside?
    2. read more books
    3. find myself a nice man to bring a portion of male energy into my life (errrr… is it a resolution???)
    4. perfume wise – to keep on chatting with you lovely people 🙂
    Have a wonderful, happy and healthy New Year APJ-ers! Special thanks to Portia for keeping us together!

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  21. I tend to avoid resolutions, because I am so contrary by nature about rules that resolutions are just demanding to be broken. But, like Amy, I have “odd moments of firm decisiveness overcome me at odd times” and then things really stick (4 years of not smoking coming up in a couple of weeks, for example. I just decided it was time.)

    So I’m looking at them as goals for 2019 instead–big ones and the little ones I need to get there. And they are all positive ones:
    * Submit my thesis. Which means the small goal is to do useful work five days a week. Which means easing up on the destructive perfectionism and the ostrich habits that ensue.
    * Lifting and competitions. There are specific numbers on my bench goals but I’m wary of writing them down yet. So: train, and train well, and acknowledge that it’s a slow journey. Seven weeks until Nationals.
    * Eat more like an athlete again–consciously, deliberately, and carefully. The goal is two part: regain the composition for my body and my lifting, try to achieve the right balance to prevent the seesaw between discipline and self-loathing.

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  22. Longtime lurker from Germany here…
    Wishing all a Good and Happy new year.
    I dont have many resolutions. Will try go exercise more, as i have to sit at my desk for long hours. Still using my crosstrainer regularly 😊
    And i am trying to limit my perfume spending a bit, but i began to slide down the rabbithole just last year , so this is not easy.

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    • Well;come to the perfumed rabbit hole Tanja,
      Great to have you here and commenting.
      Ahhhh, crosstrainer! Jin is just teaching me the intricacies of it. I like working against my own weight.
      Enjoy the ride with the APJ Frag Family.
      Portia xx

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  23. My goals for 2019 are:
    – to figure out an exercise routine that I will actually do regularly; most exercise bores me, but I know I need to improve strength, balance, bone density, and aerobic fitness;
    – to “shop” in my own closet more, including for fragrances, and “thunk” more samples;
    – to continue the decluttering I’ve started;
    – to enjoy my family! (I always do that, but I don’t take it for granted).

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    • Hey there OH,
      Enjoying the exercise is the ONLY way that you will stay motivated. That’s why I love Aquarobics. It’s in the pool that I love and it’s really fun.
      Oh yes on 2 + 3. I think we can all concur.
      #4 is really important. People forget to be grateful.
      Portia xx

      Liked by 1 person

  24. The new year for me is going to be
    Some weight loss, some yoga and drinking less wine.
    Finishing all the half started knitting projects before I start anything new.
    More reading, less angst, more laughing.
    And lots of perfume news, gossip, friendship and fun from being here with all of you xx

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  25. Wanted to wait until January 1 to actually mention that I’ve put a resolution in action: changing up my exercise routine. I did a new DVD today, and might have a line on a swimming partner, since I cannot motivate myself to get there on my own it would seem. Will also try to continue with project Use It Up, both decants and lotiony things…

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    • You’re not alone with your decisions. Seems a lot of APJ’ers are either in the exercise camp or the Use It Up/Thunk club. The latter can be combined with the LOW BUY/NO BUY option. Wow! This place is getting complicated 🧐.

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      • I’m firmly in the low buy camp. Perfume is a hobby and as long as I have funds tucked away for a rainy day I prefer to spend some money on perfume. No blind buys, that is a sensible approach at any time, I guess.

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  26. No resolutions for me, but some goals.

    I need to cut down drastically on CokeZero, and this time make it a lasting change. It’s close to an addiction.

    I also feel the need to get back to my slim self, but getting the boring part of excercise done is just as important. Sadly I don’t get the adrenaline rush, not even after 1700 meters swimming, which is my limit at the best of times.

    I have complicated ankle surgery scheduled for the end of this month and will have to work hard just to get back on my feet quite literally. Knowing I will need care services for 2-3 months before intensive rehab, I really have to work on the mental part, it will be easy to snap at doctors and nurses when the help offered is far from perfect.

    Soooo, I’m really going to need the perfume crowd here as an escape in troubled times. Good thing I’m not one to get real depressions (so far), but I get cranky.

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    • Oh dear! Ingeborg, you’ve got a long row to hoe. Not exactly how you’d hoped to start off 2019, I imagine.
      It sounds like the ankle surgery will hamper your efforts to start exercising. Good luck and take it one step at a time. As for getting cranky, well we all do at times. Try to maintain a positive outlook and hop in over here for a morale boost

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    • It sounds very nasty but we’ll help you through, Ingeborg. You can count on your APJ family to chat with you daily. And you’ll be able to read all the books that you wanted .

      Liked by 1 person

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