Seasonal Tastes – Gingerbread lattes and sugar cookies for dessert, cinnamon coffee and belgian waffles on the weekend, and candy canes when no one's looking! I love how the smallest corner of those foods that are all about the holidays can launch me into a really beautiful mood.
Staying Cozy – As soon as the snow flies, coming home and getting out of the cold feels like winning the lottery! Lately I've been getting up early and waking up slowly by sipping my coffee and knitting while listening to podcasts. It's an easier start to my mornings, and I'm in love with my new routine.
Amazing women who know themselves – I feel like this year I've learned so much about myself, and I want to keep growing and working to find my personal style and my voice. I love when everything about a person works- from how they express themselves to how they dress and the things they do, and I want to focus on finding that core for myself and having everything I do come from that authentic, focused place.
Have my next tattoo consultation! In January I'm going to be extending my shoulder piece into a three quarter sleeve, complete with gorgeous birds native to the Manitoba prairies. I've fallen so in love with tattoos and with my artist's work it's not even funny, and I can't wait to hear his ideas and suggestions this month.
Keep working through my anxiety – In October I found out I had Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and since my diagnosis my life has become so much happier and easier. I've found a great medication that's working for me, and now that I have that under my belt I'm starting cognitive behavioral therapy- a specific kind of therapy that's amazing for reducing anxiety & helping you see anxious thoughts for what they are so you can stay positive. Until my first appointment I've taken to informing Jesse that only my therapist understands me, because I'm complicated and artistic ;)
Buy local and handmade – Every time I purchase a gift from a local retailer or from an artist online I'm supporting someone's dream and helping it grow, and I love that feeling. This month I'm going to be thoughtful about how I spend the money I've set aside for gifts and make sure it reflects the way I want the world to be- full of artists making their living from what they love, and strong local businesses.
Resolve to live moderately through the holiday season – I'm a shop girl until January, so I'll be working straight through the holidays including, Christmas Eve and New Years Eve. I usually love to bake and try to have a handmade element to my gifts, but this year I'm not going to stress myself over it! I'm purchasing thoughtful gifts, and I'll be begging my mother in law for some baked treats to snack on at our house. Better we be short a few sugar cookies than I pull an all nighter and become terrible to be around! I'm all about getting enough sleep, enjoying the season where I can, and not stressing myself about having a perfect Christmas.
LAST UPDATED ON: December 2nd, 2010
CATEGORY: All Business & Blogging Posts
TOOOOTALLY agree with you on buying homemade and local! Etsy already eats up my time, but now it is about to eat a little bit more! And besides, it always makes me get a little skip in my step when someone buys my things, so I’d love to do that for someone else! :)
I adore this post. I love reading about you growing and finiding your own. This month, I too am inspired by being cozy and holiday tastes. I’m inspired by spreading cheer and the piles of yarn in my room waiting to be crafted. I’m struggling with wanting to craft over my paid work, but life’s about balance.
Last year I bought 80% local or handmade and this year I want to bump that up to 100%. Nothing beats knowing my purchase is helping an actual person instead of a giant corporation far, far away and I love to introduce people to local and handmade resources they might not have known about previously.
Those are some awesome goals! My only real one is making to Christmas without this baby being born!
I’m so glad you’re working though your anxiety with what sounds like very supportive people.
i love that you’re extending your tattoo – it’s going to look incredible! :)
mmmm cinnamon coffee. i’ve been drinking lots of it lately!
Great goals. It’s so good to hear that therapy has been working for you. I cannot imagine to be in a constant state of anxiety like you were.
I’m really looking forward to seeing your new tattoo (or rather the extension of the old one) when you get it done. I’m not really a tattoo person (I don’t have any) but I love the one you have on your shoulder.
I’m so so so so so jealous that you’re getting your tattoo extended. I want A tattoo, let alone an awesome sleeve! I’m just still not 100% ready for it I think, it’s so hard to pick what I want to get!
I’ve lately been seeing how I’ve been letting my own anxiety hold me back. It’s really interesting to hear about your own therapy and I hope you continue to talk about it!
I’m just excited that December is here and to enjoy the season! :)
Your new routine sounds absolutely lovely Kyla! I need calmer mornings as well, I think they would help with my stress level throughout the day!
Also, I’m so excited to see your half-sleeve when it’s finished! I love the idea of using birds native to your area.
Oh, and don’t fret over the holidays, I’m sure they will be lovely<3
I love the idea of buying things from local and handmade. I think the gifts are better anyways, and you get to lift someone else up too. It’s perfectly beautiful really.
I am really trying to be minimal this December. Its actually one of my New Years Resolutions as well. I am trying to adhere to a life of simplicity and minimalism. Do I need 5 of the same shirts in different colors? No. Do I need to buy that extra pillow for the sofa? No.
And I am looking forward to seeing your new tattoo. Knowing you and your style, its going to be LOVELY. :)
Nice blog! This month, I’m inspired to be more generous to those in need. My wife and I have always sponsored a local family in need for Christmas but we also rolled up our sleaves to feed the hungry during Thanksgiving.
New tattoo! YAY! Can’t wait to see it. The piece you have currently is beautiful.
Ooohhh I’m so excited about your new tattoos!! I’m in love with the floral one you had done and it’s just soo gorgeous! My husband is covered in tattoos so everyone assumes that I have them, too, but I have absolutely zero!! I love them, though! This year we are making everyone’s gifts and it’s quite a task…making gifts for 17 people is really intense!! We just realized that we only have about a week and a few days until they need to be in the mail – yikes!!! Staying calm…staying calm…
Hi Kyla! Seems like some great goals, university classes have just ended for the month so i can start my own cozy new routines. Since I live in Winnipeg as well, and am also trying to do a handmade Christmas this year, do you have any suggestions of cute shops around town that would be great for finding handmade items? I’m pretty familiar with the Village, the Exchange District and Corydon..but any thing you can think of ?!
This month I’ve been inspired to stop fighting the snow/cold and start enjoying it by taking up snowboarding. I’ve been inspired to enjoy the hustle and bustle of the season, and also I’ve been inspired by you and your pathway to therapy, to consult with a Cognitive Behavioral Therapst myself (who ironically enough is 2 blocks from ym work.) So thank you, and good luck with your December goals/inspiration.
Hey! I love this. I agree with you on buying handmade & independent. I’m really trying to focus on giving unique gifts this year, whether I’m making them myself or buying from independent sellers. It’s such a cool idea. And usually a lot more cost effective too! I’m inspired by hot tea, good books (lately: spiritual memoirs), and snow! since we don’t get any here, haha.
Getting up early and easing into the day can really alter your entire mood. It’s something I just discovered myself. Now to carry it through December and make it a habit.
I already see you as such an authentic person who just radiates ‘Kyla energy’. I’m super curious to see what you focusing on that front will present.
I have been getting SO MUCH better at being present lately! So I want to keep focusing on that. I want to enjoy and cherish the holiday season at home with my family because so many people do NOT get to spend it with their family. I also really need to get going on my Christmas gifts. For budget reasons we are going a lot SMALLER this year and I want to add those personal touches so this Saturday is blocked out entirely for getting ready for Christmas :)
It sounds like December is going to be a wonderful month for you :) You’re getting MORE tattoo? Amazing!! I had my consultation however they need a $1000 deposit…. which I clearly do not have right now… lol but I am thinking very seriously about getting another one elsewhere that isn’t going to cost $7000 :)
SO good to see you last night, and everything I said about you being in such a better place is coming across through your blog as well as in person. Let me know how CBT goes for you and let’s focus on changing those negative, non-sensical thoughts into positive ones reflecting the true, lovely person you really are. :)
See you in 2 days!!
What a great post. I woke up today & realized that it’s the holiday season & I’m jazzed! I love posts with imagery like this & I wish you the BEST December ever. I think you need some gingerbread latte’s & candy cane shaped sugar cookies for being so awesome. Also, I cannot wait to see what your 3/4 sleeve is going to look like!
Those are all great goals So proud of you, Kyla, and so happy that the meds are working for you. I did cognitive behavioral therapy in the spring of 2008 and it was so helpful for me. I hope it’s helpful for you, too! :) It’s really nice to talk to someone who is totally outside of your life. Their fresh perspective helps.
My goals for December are to keep my budget in check and not go over board. But I also want to treat myself occasionally to things like seasonal holiday drinks.
Also, I bought my Paris plane ticket today so the planning will start! I won’t be planning much on this trip because I just want to go and take the city in, but I do want to plan a couple of things for my week away. It’s just over 2 months away! :) So excited!!
I’ve learned a bit about cognitive behavioral therapy in my psychology classes. :)
I’m glad you’re buying gifts instead of making them because it will help greatly when dealing with stress. The holidays are stressful at times, anyway!
I’m definitely a fan of buying handmade items from Etsy. We do a giftswap every year at my husband’s great-grandma’s, and I received my husband’s cousin. The gift limit is $25, so I ordered a handmade scarf on Etsy for her, and I think she’ll love it! :)
P.S. My parents gave me a Kindle for my birthday, and I’m loving it so far! ;) I’ve downloaded a couple book samples, and I hope to add to my list of “books I’ve read” soon!
Congrats on extending your sleeve!! I’m so glad you found an artist that you love! So crucial! =)
Buying indie/local is key for me, too… although this year I must admit I’ve been going further and agreeing on “I’m not buying for you, don’t buy for me” with my closest friends. That way we spend the money on something like drinks downtown or a spa day. Most of us are still in the student/beginning professional budget set, so it makes the holidays a little less financially stressful.
I agree 100% about buying local and handmade. I’m determined to accomplish my handmade holiday this year, and I’m excited to share afterwards the new Etsy shops I’ve discovered. (I’m afraid if I share them beforehand on the blog though, some people might guess what they’re getting!)