2023 Yearly Round Up

And with that the 2023 season comes to an end… and 2024 kicks off. There’s so much to do and see this year but, before we look forward, we should also look back at the year that was and remember the best bits of 2023. This year had major ups and downs for both of us but we have survived and come out the other side in one piece (more or less). We had our confidence knocked as blog writers but a new year is a fresh start and we shall start as we mean to go on: with a blog post and part of a plan because, let’s be real, who really needs a whole plan? It’s time to grab life by the horns and make it work for us rather than let it pass us by. We have learned a lot of lessons and taught some too. But in the words of Gracie Hart:

“I haven’t slept all night, I’m starved, and I’m armed. Don’t mess with me!”

We have things to do and not a lot of time to do them (according to the schedules Niamh made), so let’s jump right into it.

But before we go: From both of us to all of you, in 151 countries around the world: Happy New Year. May it bring you good health, happiness and all you could hope for. Much love and thanks for sticking around,

From E & N x

Interests

Book of the Year

N: Suddenly a Murder – Lauren Munoz (yes it’s YA and incredibly impressive.)

E: Throne of the Fallen – Kerri Maniscalco (this woman could publish a shopping list and I would buy it.)

Cheesy Book of the Year

N: Somewhere in the Crowd There’s You by Katrina Logan (Is it really Eurovision season without reading a fictional love story set at Eurovision?)

E: The Rules of the Road – The Irish Road Safety Authority (does that count?)

Movies & TV

Movie of the Year

E: Elemental – it was adorable, fun and cute in the best way and shows that even people with profoundly different backgrounds and interests can still work as couples.

N: Agreeing with Emma on this one ‘Elemental’ was adorable and the movie I have rewatched the most from this year. Opposites truly do attract.

Movie Disappointment of the Year

E: Your Place or Mine – I cringed and turned it off. I couldn’t finish it. It was bad bad.

N: Barbie – honestly it could be because everyone loved it and it was so hyped up but, I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would.

Cheesy Movie of the Year

E: Love at First Sight

N: No Hard Feelings (still asking myself why did I watched this)

TV Show of the Year

E: Brooklyn Nine Nine (Cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool no doubt no doubt no doubt no doubt. Pretty sure I’m a Peralta kind of person) or The Night Agent. It was a toss up between the two.

N: The Last of Us

Game of the Year

E: Spider Man 2

N: Hogwarts Legacy

Music

Top 5 Singles of the Year for you (according to your Spotify Wrapped/ YouTube Recap)

N: ‘Close to You’ Chasing Abbey

‘Lie’ Chasing Abbey

‘Live Without You’ Wild Youth

‘What Am I Here For’ Moncrieff

‘Lately’ Chasing Abbey (I don’t think people realize the lads make up 90% of my let’s get shit done Playlist in work.)

E: ‘My Sails Are Set’ feat. Aurora – Sonya Belousova & Giona Ostinelli

‘Karma’ – Taylor Swift

‘I Can See You (Taylor’s Version)’ – Taylor Swift

‘Stay Stay Stay (Taylor’s Version)’ – Taylor Swift

‘bad idea right?’ – Olivia Rodrigo

Top 5 Albums of the Year

N: Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) – Taylor Swift

The Best of the Early Year – The Coronas

Victory (with choir and strings) – Cian Ducrot

The Show – Niall Horan

Unreal Unearth – Hozier

E: 1989 (Taylor’s Version) – Taylor Swift

Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) – Taylor Swift

Hercules (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – Various Artists

WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? – Billie Eilish

Lover – Taylor Swift

Top 5 Artists of the Year (according to you Spotify Wrapped/YouTube Music)

N: Chasing Abbey

Taylor Swift

Moncrieff

Wild Youth

Mimi Webb

E: Taylor Swift

Niall Horan

Giona Ostinelli

Sonya Belousova & Giona Ostinelli

Selena Gomez

Top New Music find of 2023

E: Connor Price

N: Tomike

Favourite Gig of 2023

E: The Coronas, The Olympia.

N: Roisin O, The Academy

Favourite Gig moment of 2023

E: *‘and it’s like that’ hand gestures* Every Time. And I’m going to keep doing it too.

N: Roisin O The Academy “Give It Up” on the phone to Aoife screaming our hearts out. Apologies again to the women beside me.

Song of 2023 for you?

E: Stamp On The Ground – ItaloBrothers. That was the vibe and we’re rolling with it for 2024 as well. It’s a banger.

N: The song that will forever make me remember 2023 is ‘Oh my Johnny’ Chasing Abbey. It was everywhere for ¾ of the year. Song of the year nomination? Pending

Personal

Sum up the year in three words:

E: Just Do It (Hint: I didn’t do it and now I regret it)

N: Everything Has Changed (in the best possibly ways)

What major life lesson did you learn in 2023?

E: Waiting doesn’t pay off because everyone has a different perspective on any given situation and we all read the same story differently.

N: I’m stronger mentally then I thought I was even when broken.

Did you set goals for 2023 and did you achieve them?

E: I set exactly no goals because I started work around January 5th and just kept working since then. I had no time for much else. People should be thankful I managed to get to anything this year.

N: Yes, by the end of the year I got there with them. Starting 2024 as we mean to go on and conquer a few more demons.

An obstacle/challenge that you overcame this year?

E: I didn’t manage to overcome it entirely but I’m working on my confidence and assertiveness. It’s paying off slowly. I’ll get better.

N: Began to understand and set boundaries for overcoming my lack of a work/life balance. We’re getting there.

This year I learned the following about myself?

E: I overthink to the point that I freak myself out but that people letting me down is a reflection on them not me.

N: I always have time regardless of when all the deadlines seem too much, we always have time to get it all done!

What made me laugh the hardest this year?

E: Niamh’s reaction to me FINALLY calling people out on their BS

N: In the middle of a Eurovision fan crowd, getting my Eurovision programme signed by one of the contestants, and he says “So, do I put my phone number at the end of the page or, can I get your phone for that?” Still laughing at this munchkins moves.

My best memory of the year was?

E: The panic to send Niamh money when she managed to grab us Taylor Swift tickets. It wasn’t funny then but it’s funny now.

N: Walking in to work on the first day of my new role and a Co worker saying “Everything can go wrong today, I don’t care because Niamh’s in charge and she’s got this!”

My biggest regret of the year was?

E: Missing out on so much.

N: Not fighting harder.

If I could change one thing about this year it would be?

E: Finding a balance between work and life.

N: Finding a balance between work and life a little sooner.

This year I travelled to (outside of Ireland)?

E: Nowhere exciting. All the international trips are next year.

N: Liverpool

This year I broke out of my comfort zone by:

E: Being more confident that I know what I’m talking about regardless how much people question me on it in multiple situations.

N: Travelling by myself more

What I am most grateful for this year is…

E: My friends, who kept me sane, and my workmates, who are always a great laugh and so willing to help me even at the roughest points.

N: My chosen family, my friends. This year was filled with extremely highs and extreme low points. They helped me keep my head above water and close to the ground when I needed them without even knowing it.

If I could travel back to the beginning of the year here’s some advice I would give myself:

E: Fortune favours the bold.

N: What doesn’t kill you made you stronger. Stick with it!

Favourite Things

Favourite thing about this year?

E: Getting some recognition after working so hard for so long.

N: Hard work finally paid off

Event of the Year

E: New Year’s Festival in Dublin.

N: Eurovision 2023

Moment of the Year

E: ‘This is your Christmas present’: 2 Red Bull Racing factory tour tickets.

N: Cha Cha Cha at Eurovision Semi final 1

A Quote to sum up your year

E: “I do not know anyone who has got to the top without hard work.”

N: “The way to develop self-confidence is to do the thing you fear and get a record of successful experiences behind you.” –William Jennings Bryan