2025 in highlights
We are almost one week into 2026. So it's time to write my yearly review. Here is my 2025 in highlights. It was a year with mainly good things!
january
a big milestone > The new year always starts with the daughters birthday. She turned 4! And that also meant: her first day at elementary school!DIY projects > We did all sorts of DIY projects around the house. I gave the daughters bedroom wall a warm pink color, a new shoe cabinet was put in the utility room, and a new mirror was installed in the bathroom. We are slowly but surely getting the house we want.
hiking month > One of my New Year's resolutions for this year was to go on walks more often, even in cold or bad weather. And I succeeded! We started walking (almost) every afternoon after school. Wow, we walked a lot! It was wonderful to be outside this much.
february
bathing > February was definitely the month for bathing. I took a bath at least once a week with a lovely Lush bath bomb. The Epsom salt bath bomb was especially nice!new favorite > During my last visit to the thrift store, I found my new favorite cardigan for just a few euros <3
ceramics workshop > This year's annual work outing was a little different. Instead of going out for dinner with the whole group, we spent two afternoons doing pottery. And it was fun! I made a garden stake with lots of little fruits in ton-sur-ton turquoise.
march
escape carnaval > The first weekend of March was the weekend of carnaval. We decided at the last minute to book a weekend away. We stayed at the Maasduinen holiday park in North Limburg near Belfeld. It was a lovely weekend with lots of swimming, a visit to Mind Mystery, and a trip to Overloon Zoo.the sniffles > Ugggh, I've been sick pretty much the whole month. It started with the flu at the end of February, then a bad cold for the whole month of March, and then sinusitis. Ugh.
lots of playground days > What stands out this year is that we spent a lot of time at the playground in the afternoons this month. Most days were dry and fairly sunny. January was definitely the walking month, March is the playground month.
party > This month, the daughter went to her very first children's party ever! It was for her classmate L.
the theatre > Last year I bought the ticket and this month I got to finally go. I saw Eloi Youssef X Kamerata Zuid in the theater. I didn't know what to expect beforehand, but it was beautiful!
april
spring fever > The first three months of the year started with a lot of fatigue, feeling listless, and putting many (fun) things on hold for that reason. It seemed as if I had to process the busy winter months at work for an extra long time this year. But in April, spring arrived, bringing more sun and warmer temperatures. And with that, finally, that wonderful energy that I missed so much!deep sleep research > All my life, I have been chronically exhausted. It's something that comes with fibromyalgia and hypermobility for me. In April, I suddenly had the idea to track my sleep for a month, to see if I was going through all the stages properly and what I could possibly improve.
time for commitment > About 10 years ago, I did a thing: a 100-day project (with linocuts and stamps at the time). In April, I felt the urge to do it again, so I started a 100-day Qi Gong project. Let's see how long it will take me!
an old hobby resurfaced > In 2024, I hadn't been particularly creative, and in 2025, I wanted to change that. Since linocuts didn't seem appealing enough to get me back into crafting, I dusted off an old hobby: paper cut collage.
ASIWYFA > I think it was the fifth or sixth concert I've seen them play. And I realized that I've been going to their concerts for about 20 years now! We saw them in Cologne this time, and it was as good as ever, full of energy. Loved it!
may
custom print > I was so happy I had the honor to make a custom print of a small town with all it's iconic buildings for someone. It was meant to be a birthday present for someone who grew up in the town. I loved working on it!van gogh > One of my birthday presents this year was a big Van Gogh rug. I've put it in the attic where I do my qi gong practice. I can do this now on my bare feet (the way I prefer to practice) and keep them warm on the rug <3
garage sale > In out little town there was a garage sale this year. The weather was really shitty - with several rainstorms - so we didn't sell all that much. But one thing that made the day a succes, was selling the daughters car seat that she grew out of. That really saved the day!
hyperfocus > Oops, I fell into a new hyperfocus this month: iron beads. I got all the supplies that exist for it and made the daughter a flower curtain from beads. Let's see how long this one will stay this time...
qi gong presents > This year (on my birthday, no less!), the qi gong teacher offered a bunch of workshops. I was able to buy them at very reasonable prices, yeah!
mothersday > The daughter gave me a super cute Mothersday present. Her teacher made a picture of her with her best smile. And the daughter crafted a frame. So cute!
june
lillörday > I heard about this concept for the first time this year; it's a kind of weekend day planned on Wednesday (evening), to give you that holiday feeling on a weekday. We went to Maastricht, walked around and ate at a pizzeria. And it's true what they say, that this give the rest of the week a more relaxed feeling. Have to do this more often!cuddle sheep > After at least 20 years, I visited my uncle, aunt, and nephew E again for the first time. This time with my parents and the daughter, because they got new sheep. We played in the garden, watered the plants, harvested strawberries and had good talks.
school outings > I went on a field trip with the daughters kindergarten class to the local museum. It was so cute with all the children! They got the assignment to match colored sheets of paper with the right paintings that were hanging there.
from cup to disc > (this one is for all the ladies...) This month, I made the discovery of the year. I had been using a menstrual cup for many years, but in recent months it hadn't been feeling quite right. I stumbled across a disc online by chance and decided to take a chance and try it. I'm so glad I did, because what a world of difference! I can recommend it to everyone!
fathersday > This year, Fathersday felt ambiguous. We visited my parents for pie, like every year. But just met my mom, because my dad was back in the hospital with his pancreas again, unfortunately.
gift certificate > This month, I used the gift card I received for my birthday from the in-laws. I bought two Elena Essex puzzles (so beautiful!) that had been on my wish list for a long time. So happy with them!
games > Another new level unlocked for the daughter: she's playing more and more games. Lots of quartet, Lotti Karotti, Spaghetti Spaghetti, and Connect Four. She still finds Buckaroo a bit scary.
okay bye > It was the first time since the daughter started school, that she forgot to say goodbye to us at the gate and just walked in with a friend :' )
july
zwemmen en duiken > Something we did a few times this month: going to the swimming pool. The daughter proudly shows off every time that she can now dive with goggles! New feature unlocked!spletterdesplatter > This year we'll spend the warmest days outside in the garden with the daughteres new pirate water play table. We have to find ways to get through the hot days!
drie etages cake > We visited aunt T to celebrate the 15th year of her business's anniversary. The whole family came along to eat the three-tiered lemon cake she ordered for the occasion. It looked so beautiful and it was delicious!
sloddervos > The daughter has been really into audiobooks lately and loves listening to them continuously all day long, either in the background or on her headphones. At the moment she's most fond of Woezel & Pip and the Sloddervos.
free hand drawing > I went to tattoo artist Sara for the first time this month to go through my tattoo plans for September. She's tattooing my lower leg, and she's making the first sketch today. I can't wait to see it!
last minute tandarts > The gum infection I thought I had, turned out to be an infected root, ouch! I (fortunately) got a last-minute root canal (the week of our vacation, too, phew) and was able to live my life pain-free again.
august
grüß gott österreich! > For our summer vacation this year we drove to the mountains in Austria. It was my first time there! I thoroughly enjoyed the mountains, the nature, the peace and quiet, and the "doing nothing" experience.peace in parenting > On the way back from vacation, I bought and started a course from "Peace in Parenting." Not because I think the daughter is so uncontrollable ;), but because I personally would appreciate having a few more tools to deal with more challenging situations and my own triggers. It taught me a lot!
splash > August was definitely the month for swimming. We spent every moment we were free together at the pool. And each time at a different outdoor pool. I'll remember that for next year, because it felt like we were on vacation (in our own area)!
duolingo is back! > Together with the husband, we took out another family subscription to Duolingo. Last year, I stopped using it because the levels were too easy and I couldn't stay motivated. Now I discovered that I can skip some parts! Let's hope the habit sticks this time.
big girl > In August, the daughter started school again after summer vacation. We had become so accustomed to our vacation routine that it took some time to adjust to the school routine again. Since she only attended first grade for 6 months last year, she continued in first grade this time. We observed her grow and change so quickly! And not just in clothing size ; )
september
the yearly solo trip > This year, I took the longest trip you can take in the Netherlands ; ) From the most Southern tip to the most Northern tip of the country! And what fun it was! Definitely have to visit Groningen some time again.vinted > September was the month of Vinted. I thoroughly cleaned out the closets because I had some items that no longer fitted me. I found all kinds of things that could go. And to fill in the gaps, I also found some nice replacement items!
boycott > It was also the month I switched from Spotify to Tidal. I had been disagreeing with Spotify's values for some time, and this month I found a good replacement.
the runarounds > It's not often that I listen to an entire album on repeat. And I mean really on repeat, as in listening to that album every spare moment, days and weeks on end. I saw the series The Runarounds and instantly fell in love with their music!
a kid or a dog? > When you asked the daughter what she wanted to be when she grew up, she always said, “I want to stay a child forever.” This month, she decided that had to change, because she changed it to “I want to be a dog when I grow up.” : )
story of the day > I have been writing my ‘story of the day’ every day for a number of years and had been looking for a way to immortalize it for a while. To preserve it just like my printed photos. This month, I came up with the idea of filling a one line a day book with it.
october
dzzzzz > My leg tattoo was actually scheduled for September, but it was unexpectedly postponed to October. At the beginning of the month, it was finally done! Very happy with it!fresh air > This year's annual friends weekend took us to Nieuwvliet, Zeeland. We had a great weekend at the beach and the weather was good too! We slept in a tiny beach hut, which was really cozy!
mushrooms > A must every year is to go on at least one fall walk. We went at a good time this year, because we saw lots of mushrooms and beautifully colored leaves.
secondhandstore loot > It's not often that I have time to go to the thrift store. This year, I've only been there two times. So I was very happy when I was able to go again this month and immediately brought home the best haul ever (at this thrift store at least).
de grootste reis ooit > Every now and then, our daughter gets really into something, and this month it was the book 'de grootste reis ooit' (The Greatest Journey Ever). We bought it at the Children's Book Museum in The Hague and read it one hundred thousand million times ; )
more cozyness at home > At the end of the month, the clocks changed to winter time, and I felt even more inclined to make our home cozy. A colleague gave me a large bag of walnuts, and I placed large rosehip branches in the red flower vase.
disney > Our daughter is now at an age where we can start watching Disney movies (yay!). One Sunday this month, the three of us sat under a warm blanket, with brookies (a mix of brownies and coockies), and watched Frozen!
yann tiersen > On the last Monday of the month, we drove to Eindhoven to redeem my birthday present. I'd got tickets to Yann Tiersen's concert. It was good to be at a concert again!
november
color by number > The daughter has rediscovered coloring by numbers on the tablet. She saw it once on her grandmother's tablet and has loved doing it ever since. This month, we sometimes sit on the couch together coloring the same picture, and she keeps asking, “What have you already painted, Mama?” and “Look how far I've gotten!” and “Ohhh, this one even has three numbers, woooow!” :')the big sinterklaas book of toys > You just know you're making new core memories when the three of you are sitting at the dining table on a Sunday morning, leafing through the big Sinterklaas toy book. The daughter is cutting all the toys out and sticking them on her wish list, in hopes she gets all of them from Sinterklaas <333
I've painted! > Yeah, I finally managed to paint this month. In January, I painted the wall in the daughters room, and she immediately said she wanted the other part of the wall painted too. It's a lot cozier now!
gold-yellow > November was the month of yellow leaves. We still had quite a few days with clear blue skies and sunshine, and the yellow against it was really beautiful!
cheating? > I almost felt like I was cheating :' ) After four years, I switched to a different Qi Gong teacher. It felt strange at first, but it turned out to be very beneficial for me.
photo upgrade > It was also the month of the photo upgrade, because I traded my Camp Snap camera (first version) for the new pro. That was a good idea, because just about everything about it is better. Very happy with it!
learning words > This month, the daughter started practicing words more often. She got a letter board from friends, and she loved finding the letters to make words. She was able to spell “cat” without help and recognized more and more letters. Cool to see how she's developing!
sinterklaas kapoentje > Every Saturday, there were three pairs of shoes waiting by the vinyl cabinet. Saint Nicholas must have thought we had three children running around here ; ) And every Sunday, there was something in them! The twinkle in the daughters eyes when she got up, knowing that a surprise was waiting for her downstairs. Wonderful!
logo > Together with the daughter I took part in the design competition for the new logo for the school parents' association. In the end, it took quite a few hours of work, but I see that as my contribution to the school in the form of volunteer work ; ) Other moms contribute by going on outings, I do it this way (and also go on an outing now and then).
goodbye tooth! > I was lying in the dentist's chair, yet again... This time, fortunately, it wasn't to open up and treat my molar again, but to remove it. I finally got rid of the infection, yay! I felt so much lighter.
december
advent calendars > If you've been following me for a while, you know that I get very excited about advent calendars every year. There's something special about opening something every day (or a few days a week), especially during those dark December days... This year, I went for the merry&bright puzzle calendar. And the daughter had a really cute wooden tree, where she could hang a new bauble in every day.new bathroom > We were looking for a new cabinet for the bathroom for some time. And this month we finally found a very pretty one that we couldn't not buy. We had to drive to Belgium for it, but it was all worth it! I love the wavy glass doors and the mint colored steel frame!
happy color advent > I didn't just make advent puzzles this year. I also participated in the Happy Color advent challenge. Which meant: make one color-by-number drawing every day until Christmas. I loved participating!
finally a date > As both moms with kids and work (and living 1 hour away from each other), it's not easy to meet up a lot. So I'm always over the moon when we plan a date and can drink a coffee together. This month it finally worked to meet, yeah! The energy that I get from meetings like this is so lovely!
hospital support > One of the daughters friends had to go through an operation on her back. We went to the hospital loaded with gifts to support her and her family.
advent wreath > I loooove making advent wreaths every year at work. And I love having one on the dining table. It's so cozy and I like the concept of lighting candles and counting down to Christmas, the most cozy time of the year!
first prize! > In November the daughter and I turned in the logo for the design contest and in December we heard that we won first prize! So proud of us!
christmas play > The daughter had her first school Christmas play ever. She played one of the sheep and she looked really adorable!
the best holiday > It hadn't happened the last 5 years, that I had 1.5 weeks off from work during Christmas break. So we made the best of our time together and did lots of fun things! Like swimming, go to a trampoline park, watch Christmas movies with home made popcorn and a visit to the zoo.
some new lino's > This was not the best year for my art... I didn't use my gauge that often. But in December I was determined to make 2026 a year full of art! So the last 2 weeks of the year, I made 2 linocut cards. One New Years card and a card for the daughters birthday.