this was december
December was packed! The beginning of the month feels so far away already!
It was a month of celebrations. It started with a little bit of Sinterklaas. We celebrated 'pakjesavond' at home with some small presents.
After Sinterklaas went home again, we started preparing for Christmas. At work and at home. It's the busiest time of the year, but also the most 'gezellige' and cozy time. We enjoyed lighting the Advent wreath every Sunday. And I made an effort this year to decorate the house with a lot of cozy Chrismassy things.
Most days of the month were not cold. They didn't feel very wintery at all. The first three weeks were soft, but around Christmas that changed. We got frost and cold (but mostly sunny) days!
I enjoyed catching up with family. And because Christmas was in the middle of the week this year, I had some extra days off from work. A whole week, to be exact (that never happens!). My wrists and knees were also happy they could recover (after the third day off, they stopped aching).
december in highlights
advent calendars everywhere!December is, like every year, month of the advent calendars. This year we had several (because I found so many good ones and had trouble choosing!). The daughter and I both colored in the Happy Color drawing by number app, where there was a 25 days advent challenge. I got a Clipper tea advent from the husband. And I made the merry&bright advent puzzle. The daughter also had a good one: a cute wooden Christmas tree that you get to hang full of baubles every day.
drawing a logo
The daughter and I worked on a small project together. For a logo contest at school, we designed a logo. I was happy how it turned out in the end and we even won first price!
everything to ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ
So I've made the decision this month to delete some of my blogs. I had separate ones for years; one personal blog, one linocut blog, one photo blog. All of a sudden it started to itch. It felt like this constellation didn't work for me anymore. I wanted something different. That’s how my ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ blog came to life. And not long after that I decided I wanted 1 space for everything. I transferred all my linocuts to this blog. And after that my personal blogs too. Happy with this decision!
details worth remembering
/ I made the super merry & bright advent puzzle every week/ I took 2 epsom salt baths to calm my muscles
/ the happycolor advent challenge was completed
/ we played A LOT of games this month
/ we celebrated pakjesavond
/ we visited little B. in the hospital
/ I had a date with E.
/ the daughter won the logo competition at school
/ the daughter played in the school Christmas play as a sheep
/ we baked Christmas cookies
/ I made a linocut: a new years card
/ we celebrated Christmas with the families
/ I made a 'christmas holiday to-do list' and crossed some things off
/ had some quality time with the husband in the city <3
/ even had a dinner date (sushi!)
/ and saw nuremberg in the cinema
what I listened to
birthday card – chet faker & marcus marrrobag wruhme - venq tolep
weval - movement
what I read
we need your art, aimee mcnee ★★★★★why everyone should start a blog, jamesphilbrick
what I watched
plattfuss kino film ★★★☆☆palm royale S2 ★★★☆☆
platonic S2 ★★★★☆
that christmas ★★★★☆
the boss baby: christmas bonus ★★☆☆☆
nuremberg ★★★★★
one battle after another ★★★★☆
goals for december
✔ finish the daily advent drawing in the HappyColor appThe first week of advent I colored every evening. Then I forgot about it and life got busy, and I made 4 drawings at once in the weekends. The last week I had to catch up a lot. But I made it!
✔ complete the merry & bright advent puzzle calendar
This was a really fun advent puzzle calendar! I had a lot of fun making it. The illustrations are so lovely. I hope I can find another one next year that is as good as this one!
✔ qi gong: follow as many daily lessons as possible from Jeff
I'm pleased with myself and the amount of lessons I could do. The last years I took a qi gong hiatus in winter time. So every lesson I do follow is a win in my eyes. I made at least 2 and sometimes even 4 lessons a week. Yeah!
✔ look out for a dresser for the living room
This one I can cross off. Not because we found a dresser. But because the second cabinet that was meant for the bathroom, doesn't really fit. So I moved it to the living room. For the future I would like a dresser that fits better at that spot. But it's a nice in between solution.
✔ have at least one family movie afternoon
We saw that christmas. Fun movie!
✔ take an epsom salt bath
I even made 2!
✔ start preparing the daughter's birthday
I got all the ingredients for strawberry cheesecake, I got balloons, I got birthday cake toppers, I got party garlands, I got gifts. I would say we are almost finished!
goals for january
> buy storing boxes for the attic> organize the attic
> finish the acupressure course
> meditate before sleeping
> make a linocut
> make the first puzzle of the year
> focus on making it a healthy month
> think of ways that suit me, to participate in the analog life project