So here are some of the good things that happened in January that made me happy and that have made me look forward to February.
January is always a hard month, not least because I got paid before Christmas so it seemed twice as long and expensive, but there are lots of good things about January too. Even though it feels a bit like all I did was stay at home and work, I actually managed to fit a lot of things into the month, making it a pretty great start to 2022. So here are some of the good things that happened in January that made me happy and that have made me look forward to February.
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If you know me in person or you follow me on social media, you'll know that I like gin. I feel like I should point out that I've liked gin for well over a decade, so long before it became the "cool" drink to like and way before the pink gin craze meant that you can only get hideous fruit-flavoured options in Asda.
I used to think I didn't like gin as all you could really get was Gordan's with Schweppes tonic (a combination that I still hate with a passion). However, my Grandad introduced me to some different options and showed me that gin was definitely my drink. When I moved up to Leeds, it was a bit eye-opening, as there were way more types of gin available than in the south-west at the time. This is when I started trying more varieties and first signed up to Craft Gin Club, which is now a monthly treat that I always look forward to. When my Grandad gave me the antique drink cabinet I had always liked, I promised that one day I would totally fill it. In the end, not only did I fill it, but I also ended up buying two more drinks cabinets that are also completely full. Over the years, I've tried some good, bad and amazing gins that I can't get enough of. Even though I tend to have a lot of bottles at any one time, here are 10 gins (in no particular order) that I really love and come back to time and time again. Anyone who has ever been to my house will know that I have an obsession with candles and home fragrance. The place not always be the tidiest, but you can be sure that it smells great as I will always have a candle lit or incense burning.
A few months ago, my husband "tidied" up my candle collection so I have no idea where they all are. While I got away with buying some new ones in the run-up to spooky season as I always need some autumn fragrances, I was then told that I was not allowed any more candles until I used up some of the ones I already had (I should point out that I very rarely get put on a purchase ban as my husband understands that I work hard for my money and will buy what I want). As someone who likes a good range of fragrances to choose from, the candles I did have access to were not nearly enough to keep me satisfied. However, I did have 200 tealight candles to get through, so I figured I could bend the rules and buy some wax melts instead. Of course, I wasn't satisfied with simply buying some standard wax melts from my local supermarket – not least because most of them smell horrific – so I started exploring Etsy. I have to give props to Etsy's algorithm for quickly figuring me out because in no time at all, I was being recommended nerdy candles and wax melts. This is how I discovered Wax Witchery. I haven't written one of these blogs since April 2019, which I think says a lot about my mindset for the last couple of years!
Luckily, this last year has been much better and I have had a lot to be happy about - not least welcoming my first niece into the world, getting closer to my ride or die mates and really enjoying my job. As I'm feeling much better about life in general and we are starting a new year, I thought I'd take a look back at last year and just some of the things that made me really happy during 2021 - it was really hard just sticking to 12! I am a big fan of making plans and writing lists. Whether it's a simple trip to the shop, everything I need to do at work in a day or packing to go on holiday, a plan and a list will get jotted down.
When it comes to important dates, they go in my phone, on my kitchen calendar and in a diary, because I absolutely hate not knowing what I've got coming up. On top of this, I always look for anything that adds some positivity to my day, even if I'm stressed out of my mind. This is why I jumped at the chance to give Mal Paper's Daily Goal Setter a try. I know what you're thinking - who starts a diary in July? The goal setter isn't like your normal diary though, it doesn't have dates already included and it runs for six months instead of 12, so you can start it at any point throughout the year and pick it up as and when you need it. It also isn't just about what's happening on any given day, it allows you to set yourself goals, celebrate your accomplishments - no matter how small - and understand what is important on a day-to-day bases and what you can let slide. I'd say it's quite similar to a bullet journal except the structure is created for you, making life much easier for the busy. |
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