Bake, read and grow!
As per norm, at this time of year, many people have asked what resolutions I’ll be making for 2012. I like to think that you can make fresh starts, have new goals or change your life no matter the time of year. There is a lot of pressure in January to stop doing this or that when I think the focus should be more about the things you want to add to your life.
I have a few plans in mind for the year that I’m still pondering over (house, money, shop, blog and travel) but in the meantime I think it’s the small things that give me the sense of happiness I want to achieve in my life. It’s the lifestyle that I lead that maintains happiness – eating nice food, living in a comfortable and homely house in a pretty town, having love in my life, good health, enjoying time with friends and family and to read, write and create. That’s it really. That’s not to say I don’t have ambitions; there’s so much more I would like to do and achieve in my life. I think once you strip it all back though, it’s the small things.
So I thought it would be nice to list a few things that kept me in check last year that contributed to my happy lifestyle, followed by a couple of new things I’d like to add to it. As for the big stuff I’m still pondering…
Walking
We are so lucky to have the best countryside surrounding us. If I’m walking with friends/family or on my own it clears my mind of any stresses/anxieties, gives me chance to work off all that cake I eat and reminds me why I love living where I do. This year, I would like to attempt a walking routine. Once I’m walking I love it but getting me off the sofa and out into the cold takes a little persuasion!
Lighting candles
This sounds really silly but it’s a routine (trust me, I’m not a routine type of gal) that I’ve noticed I enjoy a lot. When the sun starts to set, I begin the process of popping round our tiny house lighting candles and oil burners and turning on our twinkle lights in the bedroom. It makes me feel happy, cosy and settled and welcomes the evening in gently – oh dear, I am silly.
Writing in notepad
Writing in my notepad(s) is a big deal to me. It not only keeps my dilly-dally brain free of clutter but I like the process of putting pen to paper. I have 5 main notebooks that I use – one for blog ideas, for craft/design ideas, for thrifting and one for writing (play/character ideas). Then there’s a random one just for lists. I have a problem, I know.
Making tea
Oh tea. I cannot get over how it cheers me so. You know the deal already. Tea is awesome. The process of making tea is as comforting as a snuggly duvet.
Resolutions
As for resolutions, apart from making bread I already read and grow herbs – but not as much as I’d like. I want the following three resolutions to be a part of my daily life as much as checking emails and brushing my teeth!
Reading
We popped to the library the other day and have promised to go in each month to get our books and read, read, read. I tried last year to do the same but realised I need actual ‘reading time’ instead of trying to find time here and there. Ooh if you could recommend any books that you’ve enjoyed lately, I’d be grateful! Currently reading: The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald.
Bake bread
Reasons to bake bread – relaxing, fills the house with divine aromas and tastes goooood.
Grow!
I sowed a few seeds last Spring for our kitchen windowsill and didn’t do the best job at keeping up with them. I use herbs daily so it seems silly to keep buying them from the shop when I have plenty of seeds at my disposal (Mum has a stash!). I’d like our outside patch of grass to have a few nice pots and plants too. Must and WILL try better.
How about you? Have you made any resolutions this year?
♥
11 Comments
Elizabeth
Oh, I love the idea of lighting candles every day. I tend to forget about mine a lot or save them for special occasions, which is just silly.
I also have lots of notebooks, and initially they had different uses until I started cross posting and now my head is all over the notebooks!
x
bundleofbooks
Oooh, I also love tea and candles… Might go light mine up now! 🙂
adjectivedave
I also have a few notebooks, but not as many as you! I have one for book/story ideas, one that I take out with me whenever I leave the house, and one for general notes and lists.
I love looking through the notebooks I’ve already filled up, it’s the closest thing I can imagine that compares to pensieve from Harry Potter.
A house that smells of baking bread is a house I would always visit! The most fun thing about making bread is all the things you can do with the dough before you cook it!
I try not to make resolutions as around mid-February I always think of better ones I could be doing!
Cassie
I LOVE those grow pots. LOVE LOVE LOVE them. I think I will actually create those, they look like so much fun. I, also have to write in a notepad …. everything. Things to remember, my “to-do,” my thoughts, quick math…whatever! Good luck with all of your goals.
Isla Flood (@whatislaate)
I just started reading the Great Gatsby too! What do you reckon about it? I’m about a quarter way through now. xxx
Rosie McKeown
Hi Lisa – may I recommend some reading to you? Try Siri Husvedt’s ‘What I Loved’. Super intriguing, rich and complex but very human too. And do you like poetry? Try anything by Sharon Olds – gorgeous, sometimes dark, writing.
Really glad you’re back on form for the new year!
Best regards, Rosie
Lisa-Marie
I LIKE these. They are all full of good. Also, a house full of reading and candles and tea sounds pretty good!
I need to nurture my brain a bit, and study a bit more – not for Uni or anything, but for myself, so I am with you on the reading.
I am also going to grow things, and look after the growing things we have! Our garden is so unlooked after because we don’t live by it, but if we start early this year, we should be able to look after it a bit better i think.
Siobhan
I totally get the candle lighting thing. It helps me when I get home to feel relaxed and like a nice long evening is ahead of us. And it makes the house feel cosy.
I love the things you enjoy that help you and think reading more, baking and growing more sound like wonderful aims for the year.
niceday4asulk
I’m so pleased to be able to read your delightful little posts again! Welcome back. The simple pleasures of life are the best to things to wish for.
Gaelle
x
Caroline
I love the walking routine idea. I did quite a lot of running a couple of years ago and found myself get slightly obsessed once I saw the results. I don’t like it though and feel so low at the moment having not picked it back up so have been thinking I might just get up early and go walking before work I just don’t know if that’s enough exercise but I do love it.
I’m with you on the herbs too! I’m so rubbish at looking after plants it’s such a shame I would love our house to be prettier and we also use herbs all the time! x
Kat got the cream
You’re so right about the little things. I love The Great Gatsby and am hoping the latest film version will be good!