Five Years Time

Winter Solstice Reflections and Anticipating New Beginnings

December 23, 2023 Grace Black
Winter Solstice Reflections and Anticipating New Beginnings
Five Years Time
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Five Years Time
Winter Solstice Reflections and Anticipating New Beginnings
Dec 23, 2023
Grace Black

As the festive season envelops us in its warm embrace, my podcast, Five Years Time, becomes a place where we hold dear our traditions and the new memories we create. This  episode finds me, Grace, and my little Ro basking in the quietude of slow mornings and the vibrant energy of holiday preparations. We're making the kitchen the heart of our celebrations, welcoming my mom's cherished roast  recipesstraight to your ears. But it's not just about the food; it's the shared anticipation, the laughter, and the soft glow of reflection that lights up our conversations. I recount the restless nights and the search for the best children's Christmas movies, all while finding solace in the comfort of familiar festive rituals.

Ro and I stumbled upon a little breakfast haven called "Pure & Simple," where a menu delight bore her name—a serendipitous moment that we had to share with you. The nostalgia runs deep as I consider a return to vlogging, capturing these fleeting moments that, like the winter solstice, promise a new beginning. We're embracing the quieter side of December, prioritizing intimacy over grandeur, and cherishing the low-key moments with loved ones. Join us as we muse on the past, savor the present, and look ahead with optimism to the fresh starts that January offers. We invite you to settle in, pour a cup of your favorite holiday cheer, and enjoy an episode that wraps you in the heartfelt spirit of the season.

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Thank you for listening 💖
- Grace


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Email: fytpod@gmail.com

FYT 2023 Spotify Playlist

Show Notes Transcript Chapter Markers

As the festive season envelops us in its warm embrace, my podcast, Five Years Time, becomes a place where we hold dear our traditions and the new memories we create. This  episode finds me, Grace, and my little Ro basking in the quietude of slow mornings and the vibrant energy of holiday preparations. We're making the kitchen the heart of our celebrations, welcoming my mom's cherished roast  recipesstraight to your ears. But it's not just about the food; it's the shared anticipation, the laughter, and the soft glow of reflection that lights up our conversations. I recount the restless nights and the search for the best children's Christmas movies, all while finding solace in the comfort of familiar festive rituals.

Ro and I stumbled upon a little breakfast haven called "Pure & Simple," where a menu delight bore her name—a serendipitous moment that we had to share with you. The nostalgia runs deep as I consider a return to vlogging, capturing these fleeting moments that, like the winter solstice, promise a new beginning. We're embracing the quieter side of December, prioritizing intimacy over grandeur, and cherishing the low-key moments with loved ones. Join us as we muse on the past, savor the present, and look ahead with optimism to the fresh starts that January offers. We invite you to settle in, pour a cup of your favorite holiday cheer, and enjoy an episode that wraps you in the heartfelt spirit of the season.

FYT 2024 Spotify Playlist
Subscribe onYoutube

Thank you for listening 💖
- Grace


Let’s Get Social 👯
TikTok
Instagram
Youtube
Facebook
Podcast Website

Email: fytpod@gmail.com

FYT 2023 Spotify Playlist

Speaker 1:

My mic just turned. Hey, cuties, welcome back to Five Years Time podcast with your host Grace. I literally just got so distracted. First of all, today is the second last episode. I can't believe that. How has it been almost 12 days? That is just wild. Second of all, I need to take a sip of water, so cheers. Third of all, wow, there's a lot of agenda items here. Third of all, I just put Ro down for nap time. As you know, she's on Christmas vacation. I can't believe that. I've been so thrown off with her because her vacation started halfway through the week and now it's finally the weekend and it's like, oh, okay, christmas is actually here. I just keep thinking like every day is Christmas. I'm like, oh, tomorrow's Christmas, tomorrow's Christmas Also because Christmas is on a Monday, throwing me off. Anyways, it is finally the Christmas weekend, but I just put Ro down for a nap.

Speaker 1:

We had actually a really great, chill, super chill morning, which I think we were both looking for. I need to update you on what was happening at 9 am, because yesterday I got that text, that mysterious text, from a number I didn't know, saying like hey, I have a meeting at nine or we're meeting at nine, and I was like is this Trevor texting me or is it someone else? Do I have a commitment? It's like 8 30. Do I have to leave the house? But anyways, I will update you on that in a second. But this morning we had a super chill morning, which I think Ro was really, really excited for, and we really just hung out until like 10 am and then I needed to get up and start doing some of my cooking videos, because I got to get them up and got to get them going, and today the one I was making was for our focaccia, which would have been posted yesterday so you would have seen it already. But that one has it's a process, right, because it's bread, it has a few rises, a rest period. So I was like, okay, I got to get this going because then we're going to my mom's later today for our first dinner of the holiday season, in the sense that it is her or my brother is in town now. So we're kicking off.

Speaker 1:

We're kicking off the Christmas season with a family dinner and I'm filming with her because we're going to cook our roast, which I'm already telling you the recipe of the day is a classic Christmas roast. It doesn't have to be a Christmas roast, but we're having it as that, but a classic roast. And she's even going to do Yorkshire puddings for me because I love them and they're so easy, honestly. But I'm going to I was going to do it myself a roast. And then my mom was like, oh, I'm going to make a roast for our dinner when Richard's here and I was like, oh, amazing, I was going to make a roast, but if I can get you to teach us, that's even better. So we're going to have my mom be a special guest, which will be so fun. So that is our recipe of the day and this is just like the best thing you can know for the winter. Like we had our winter solstice recently, and I think that this is one of those meals that like, honestly, it's super simple once you get into the groove of it. It's just chopping stuff and throwing it in a dutch oven and into the oven, and it's so homey and delicious you can even do it in the slow cooker. Oh, I just love a good roast and I think it's such a classic winter meal for a cold winter's day, so lots of good tidbits will be in there.

Speaker 1:

But what I was going to say was that I just put row down for an app and so I have limited time to record this. I was like all day all yesterday I was like, oh, I really need to record this episode. When am I going to get a chance? Because I knew today would be busy. And then I did not sleep well. I was like maybe I'll do another morning chat, but I did not sleep well at all.

Speaker 1:

Last night I fell asleep way too early, accidentally, around like 8, 8 30. Trev put a row to bed and then I fell asleep. He was putting her to bed trying to watch the crown second part, and I felt myself falling asleep and I was like I should just turn off the TV, I should go to my bed, and I didn't. I was watching in the gas bed and so I fell asleep there really uncomfortably, like propped up with pillows and with a blanket with like a knit it blanket with like holes in it. So I was like so cold. I was wearing t-shirt and short pajamas. I was like so cold and then I woke up at like 11 and could not fall back asleep and then I ended up going on my phone, which I know I told you I'm. Next week is the week that I'm starting to implement my new routine to help help figure out my sleep and what all that stuff that I talked about in a couple episodes ago about not having my phone with me and all that stuff. Anyways, I went on my phone for like literally ever and then I fell back asleep, I put on a podcast and I finally fell back asleep at like four and then row woke up at six and I was up at six. So, yeah, then we just chilled for the whole morning until 10, which is like a really good chill. We chilled.

Speaker 1:

I tried to get her to watch the Grinch. She like came into the guest room because that's where our TV is and that's where I had fallen asleep, and I was like, oh, let's watch a Christmas movie. It'll be so cozy and then maybe I can like you know, just like drift off, and I could not. What are good Christmas movies? Can someone tell me what is a good Christmas movie for like a three, four-year-old? Because I have no idea, like I don't. I was, I went through Disney and I went through Netflix and I couldn't find anything that I thought was like good. What's a good animated movie? Because I feel like she likes to animate at things, someone tell me. And the Grinch was a little too scary, I think. So part way through she was kind of over it. She also really doesn't like watching things that aren't animated yet. But yeah, I feel like I have not watched a single Christmas movie this season because I just haven't and she hasn't been interested in any. So someone tell me what a good Christmas movie is for like that age group.

Speaker 1:

And then we moved downstairs and just cuddled. Trevor made us a fire. I was still so cold because all night I was like sleeping under this blanket, just like freezing. I know I could have put another mulling on me, I could have done a lot of stuff, I could have moved to my bed, I could have done so much stuff, but when you're like out of it in the middle of the night you don't think about it, right? So, anyways, I, we both moved down to our beanbag chair in front of the fire. Well, trevor made a fire for us and coffee will coffee for me and breakfast for row, and we just chilled and it was so lovely.

Speaker 1:

And then I eventually was like okay, I got to get up and start on the spread. So I just took a quick shower and start it on the focaccia and then it's now resting. So it's resting. It had about 45 minutes, well before I came to sit down here, before I can put it in the oven, and Rose asleep. So I was like I need to crack out this podcast as quick as possible so that I can go finish the fucacha, because I have to bake it before we go to mom's, because I'm bringing it to mom's as an appetizer tonight. So I was like, and we're gonna go to mom's right after nap time because we need to film the video and whatever, and then we can get Trevor after work. But oh my gosh, I just felt like today was like, okay, I gotta fit this in, I gotta fit this in.

Speaker 1:

And then, as I was reading with Ro, we've been reading actually the Dr Seuss Fox and Sox, which has been amazing to put her to sleep. I love Dr Seuss books that are like the tongue twisters. There's also, I think, redfish, bluefish, onefish, twofish is super tongue twistery as well. And there's also one that's called like this book will put you to sleep or something I can't think of what it's called. It was a library book we had, so I can't remember, but it's another Dr Seuss one. Those ones are so amazing for putting your kids to sleep, like I find that as I'm reading it she eventually is just drifting off. So that was great.

Speaker 1:

I was like I really need her to fall asleep for this nap because yesterday she did not take a nap. So I was like I need this girl to fall asleep so I can finish all the things I have to finish, because I just know I won't come back tonight and record this podcast and I don't wanna have to do it tomorrow first thing in the morning because I still need to record our final podcast and I wanna give that one our really good chunk of time because it's gonna be our year in review and I need to reflect and everything. So anyways, here we are, I'm feeling good and I'm really excited to be sitting down with you. I actually was feeling I couldn't tell. So I try not to drink too much caffeine. If I'm not gonna exert the energy, I always try to just like BD calf cutie or like stick, to like a lighter tea of some sort. But I did have a coffee this morning because I was literally like a real coffee, like caffeinated coffee, and so I couldn't tell what I was feeling Like when I was starting to put road to bed. I had told her, like go upstairs and watch an episode of Bluey, and then I'll be up in a couple minutes because I just needed to do the last step of the focaccia. And so as I was doing that, I was like am I exhausted or do I have too much caffeine in me? I feel like you know, when you have too much screen time and like your eyes feel all like. I kind of felt like that. But I was like I haven't had that much screen time because I was just like I guess I was looking at my phone in the sense that I was recording myself, but that's different than like scrolling. I guess I had a lot last night actually, when I was on my phone all night, but anyways, I was like I can't tell what's going on and I was like do I just need like a power nap or what is happening? And then I was like maybe I'm just so tired and I was like am I gonna be able to record the podcast? I was like let's just sit down and get it going. So I actually feel so much better now for doing it. So I think it's caffeine, because normally it's exerting my energy that needs to be done.

Speaker 1:

We did go on a nice walk just before lunchtime outside it's actually quite pleasant outside. So we went for a nice walk and we did bring some peanuts but didn't see any squirrels literally not one squirrel. We were so excited to feed some squirrels and we couldn't find one. We did go on a nice walk and get some fresh air, so I'm sure that helped as well. But then when I was thinking about what drink I was gonna make for this I don't know I just had this feeling like, oh, I really want a warm drink, a warm, I really want a warm drink. Or I want a sweet drink. But I was like I don't want a coffee, I don't want a hot chocolate. I was like I don't want like pop and I was like I don't know what I want. So I just got water. I was like what am I thinking I want?

Speaker 1:

But then I came and sat down here and I went on YouTube just to make sure. I forgot to check if, like today, yesterday's vlog or vlog podcast went up. So I quickly went on YouTube studio just to make sure that it was like all up and groovy and it was, but then someone had commented on a vlog from like time ago. I haven't vlogged since, I feel, like September, like I haven't vlogged for a long time, so it was a vlog from before. But I feel like a lot of people are who are coming to YouTube to watch my pod miss are now seeing that I had vlogs and I don't know if I ever I feeling maybe I addressed it here. I definitely people have DM'd me and been like, oh, we missed your vlogs or whatever, and I miss them too. Like I loved doing the vlogs.

Speaker 1:

Sometimes it felt a little too much and then eventually it was just like it is too much, like I can't do this right now and do all the other things I'm trying to do. So I had to like cut back on one thing and that was it, and I felt good for that decision. But then I clicked on the video that someone had commented on and I started watching it and I was getting so nostalgic, like I was gonna sit here and watch the whole thing. I was like, grace, you only have 45 minutes before you have to do the rest of the bread and I probably watched like five minutes of it and I could have kept watching it like I was like, oh my gosh, it was from June and it was like a week that my brother had come to visit. So I was like feeling so nostalgic. I was like, oh my gosh, I missed this. So, yeah, that was an interesting feeling and made me think some things, maybe maybe bringing vlogs back, I don't know, but anyways, I was.

Speaker 1:

I'm just in a very distractible mood in that sense, like especially with the digital world. So I need to. I need to chill, which is why I'm excited for next week when I can really just step back for a bit and chill and not have my phone with me as much or be on the computer checking YouTube and seeing if things have uploaded and all of that stuff. But anyways, we're just having a quick catch up episode today because I have all the reasons I just said. But yesterday we had our coffee chats, which was so fun. I actually loved that episode. I loved just sitting down and talking with you, which is why I was like today let's just have a sit down and chitty chat.

Speaker 1:

But there was that message. So basically, I logged off the podcast and got it exporting and everything, and then I quickly clicked onto my messages and I was like oh, it's my mom. And I was like why is my mom missing? So I messaged her back. I was like, who's meeting where, when? And then all of a sudden it clicked and I was like oh wait, you said you were having breakfast with my aunt and uncle and that me and Ro, if we wanted to join, like come. And I was like okay, like we'll be there. And so I was like okay.

Speaker 1:

So literally it was like 8 30 when I logged off and we needed to be there for nine. So I like got up and I was like okay, ro, let's go get dressed. So we like literally got dressed as quickly as possible and ran out the house and got to breakfast and we went to this new place I think it's a chain, but it's new to us and it's called peer and simple and as we walked in I was like oh, ro, what do you want for breakfast? Like before we sat down or anything, and she's like oh, I want a crepe with straw. Uh, yeah, with strawberries. She loves crepes with strawberries, like me, I do too and I was like awesome, I'm sure they have that. If not, like they probably have waffles or french toast or whatever.

Speaker 1:

So we sit down and there's like a big picture of like a crepe of strawberries, bananas, and it's like on, I didn't even know they had a kids menu um, it was like on the normal menu and I was like, oh, perfect. And she's like I want that, I want that, I want that. So then we were there first and then my mom and aunt came and my mom was looking at the menu and she's like, oh, there's a kids menu on the back. And I was like, oh. And she was like, oh, my gosh, grace, look at, they have a crepe for Ro with strawberries and um Nutella. And I was like, oh, perfect, like it'll be a kid's size, whatever she's like. But look at the name of it. The name of it was Ro, ro, like R-O-R-O. 1, 2, 3. Ro, ro, 1, 2, 3. I was like Ro, this is literally named after you and it's the exact thing that you wanted. I thought that was so funny.

Speaker 1:

But anyways, this was a new breakfast place. It had great potatoes, so peer and simple. If you have one around you, like their breakfast potatoes were so crispy and delicious and had like nice seasoning on them and a few onions, fried onions, really good. Um, the crepe was really good. I got the I'm gonna pronounce it wrong, but you know that, so you know the one with the eggs and the tortilla. It's like a Mexican style breakfast Huevos, huevos rancheros. It starts with an H, but I think it's called huevos rancheros, I don't know, but anyways, but it was. I'm gonna say it was like the healthier version of that because it was like on, just like normal tortillas. It was good. It was good. I'm not against it, but I could make that more delicious at home. But I also had the most delicious one in Hawaii After me and Trevor did.

Speaker 1:

When we went to Hawaii, we did this bike tour where you like go up and do a sunrise on top of the volcano and then you bike down, and when we got to the base we went for breakfast and we had the most amazing. I think that was also the first time I ever had huevos rancheros I'm probably saying it wrong. That was the first time we'd ever had it and it was so good. It was on this big crispy, fresh tortilla, fresh fried tortilla, and it had all the deliciousness on it. It was so good.

Speaker 1:

Anyways, that kind of unlocked Farm Boy does sell, like those tortilla chips that are like just the round deep fried ones, and I was like, ooh, I'm gonna buy those in the new year and make that for breakfast because it is delicious and I do love savory breakfast. I go back and forth, but anywho, we had a wonderful breakfast and then the restaurant's kind of close to the mall and I had remembered that the mall has like a train for the kids to ride on. That row's never done. So I was like, oh, we should go over there. So we headed over to the mall, me and her, and the train was gonna open in like 20 minutes and she was like I wanna wait. I was like we can go look at the shop. She was like, nope, I'm sitting and waiting. So we sat and we waited until the train opened. And it's free. How amazing is that? So we went on the train and it was next to like where Santa's village was, where, like they were taking pictures with Santa and row.

Speaker 1:

Last year we went to something that had like a Santa and row was like not into it at all. So I like, which is totally fine. So I was like, 100%, she's not gonna wanna do it. I won't even like point it out or whatever. And so we're like going on the train and she sees Santa, cause it's like going past, and she's like, oh my gosh, I have to tell Santa what I want for Christmas. And I was like, oh, okay, let's go see, like what the situation is. I didn't know if it was appointment only or whatever, but they did have a line where you could just like do drop-ins to do photos with Santa. So I was like you really wanna do this? And she was like, yep, yep, I really wanna do it. I was like, are you sure? She's like 100%. I was like, okay, queen, like let's do it.

Speaker 1:

So we waited in line for photos with Santa and as soon as we got up to like walking to Santa, she was like terrified, like held onto me would not look like the photo is actually hilarious, because she's just like smiling as far away from Santa as possible, which is totally fine, like she was sitting on my lap. And then they were like oh, do you want a photo with just yourself? Like not your mom. And she was like, no way. But then after that she I was like, did you want to tell Santa what you wanted for Christmas? And then she was like totally, like, yes, I would like a robot dog, santa. Like she was so confident. So it was just a funny, funny combination and I'm glad that she's really sticking with that robot dog. So I just like literally cannot wait for Christmas morning because she just keeps saying this to everyone and it's like been a month now that she's been saying that, and ever since I got that epic one, I'm like I can't wait. She's going to freak out. So, yes, that was lovely.

Speaker 1:

And yesterday was also the winter solstice, so we did that, and then it was nap time. We came home but Roe did not nap, and then we spent the afternoon making my mom's fish pie for our TikTok slash reel, and I ate some for lunch just now. Oh, I love it so much, it's so good. And actually Trevor made dinner last night too. He had a chili going in the slow cooker all day, so I had some of the fish pie just before dinner. And then we actually went for a walk. The sun sat at like 445 and we got the neighbors out and we went for a walk around the neighborhood a few times to see all the lights and lasers and everything and the sun and the moon, and so that was a wonderful way to celebrate the solstice.

Speaker 1:

And then we had some chili and it was so good. He made it with, like a roast instead of beef ground beef, because we had a roast in our freezer. So he actually spent one day cooking the roast in the slow cooker and then left it in the fridge overnight with its juices, and then the next day he put in all the beans and tomatoes and spices and onions and all that stuff and I think he caramelized the onions first and then he like chopped up the roast and it was so tender and delicious, something unique, like not a chili I've had before, but it was so, so yummy. Anyways, we had that for dinner and then you already know how my night went, but it was a wonderful day of vacation, of a winter vacation for Ro. Like I had no plans and I just got up and was like, okay, let's record the podcast. And then all of a sudden the day started and we ran out the door and had a wonderful festive day. So that was perfect.

Speaker 1:

And now it's like, oh my gosh, it's Saturday and I need to wrap and things, but I don't know what I'm gonna get the chance to do that I think Trevor actually has an appointment tonight, so that's perfect, and I hope it's after Ro goes to bed. I think it is after Ro goes to bed, I think it's in the evening. Okay, so if Trevor has an evening appointment, then I can sneakily wrap some gifts. I hope I wrapping paper. We have lots of stuff like hidden away in a cupboard. I don't know if it's necessarily Christmas themed, but I don't care. Use what you have. I'm just gonna wrap what needs to be wrapped, which, honestly, is mostly other people's gifts, not our families, cause we really just did stockings and then I got something for Trevor and something for Ro, but I don't really have to wrap those cause I'm gonna put the dog under with the bow.

Speaker 1:

Anyways, I'm super excited for Ro, for Koccha tonight and see my brother, see what's up with him, and I'm just like can't believe that we're wrapping up the year already and that Christmas is here. And I'm just like feeling I keep I think I talked about this how like I feel so much I'm having a hard time being present with my time and then I feel like the pressure of like I have to do this, I have to do this, I have to do this, but like I don't have to do it all right now. I can't physically do it all right now and it's like something that's gonna be done tomorrow or the next day or whatever, but because I have like one thing right in front of me that I need to do, it just like, for some reason feels so hard to like time myself, I don't even know how to explain it, but anyways, I was just feeling like that today. So it just feels good to like sit down and record this and check it off the list. But I'm super excited for tomorrow's episode, our final episode, our Christmas Eve episode. We're gonna do a year review.

Speaker 1:

I need to sit down and reflect on this whole year and I'm excited to share it. And I feel like I feel like I literally haven't reflected on this year yet. Usually I like spend a little bit time here or there, but I feel like I actually haven't just like sat down and like wrote out anything to do with this year. Like I can think in my mind of like the past three months, but I honestly can't think of past. That Like that's.

Speaker 1:

When I pulled up the vlog today that someone had commented on from June, I was like oh yeah, like June, this was what June was like. Like it's like, oh, I can't even remember. I'm glad I have the vlogs for the I have actually vlogged from prior to. What I can't remember is from September before. So it's like, okay, I can go back and click through the vlogs and kind of remember everything, but everything feels good and I am feeling like organized and good and like I almost was feeling sad. Actually, oh, I forgot to tell you this. Cute, let me talk about this.

Speaker 1:

I actually was feeling not yesterday maybe, like a couple days ago, before Bro got out of school I was feeling like I haven't done anything like holiday-y, like I haven't gone to any holiday parties or seen any friends or done anything like that, and I don't have anything planned necessarily, except for our family Christmases and things. So I was like, oh my gosh, like I wasn't feeling so more left out because it's not like there were things that were planned that was going on, but I was just thinking my mind, like I normally always, I don't know, carve out a bit of time, but like I really want it to slow down this December, especially because we were feeling so unwell in November, and so I was like I don't want to like amp myself up and burn out or anything, I just want to take it nice and slow and go into the new year with like a clear head. And I kept saying like to Trevor and I think I mentioned it on here like oh, okay, I'm going to plan small things with friends, like just have in more intimate get togethers. So we have lots of different couple friends that live all over and so it's like do something with one couple and then another couple and whatever. That's like very nonchalant, just chillax. And I just never got around to it.

Speaker 1:

I did message my one friend being like okay, we need to do something, but it probably will happen in January or well, yeah, january, it's pretty much the end of December. So I put out one vibe, but it's like I was feeling sad about that, for I just a glimpse, just a glimpse, just a, just a blip. It was just a blip. I was feeling like, oh, like we're not really doing too much festive stuff, like celebrating the holiday. But then I was like I think I just got over it, like I don't know what I did. I think I just like I felt that I allowed myself to feel it and then all of a sudden I was like, do I want to do that? Do I want to be getting up and not getting up, but like, do I want to be like getting dressed and going out and celebrating this or that, or is that something I want to be doing? No, like if I wanted to be doing it, I would have planned it and I don't want it. Like, I really want to just be chill right now. And I'm so glad that we did that, because I already feel like time is obviously just like going so quickly. So I'm happy to have this chill time.

Speaker 1:

And now that rose out of school, it's like, oh, it feels nice. We're even more so slowing down because we don't have the rush and hustle and bustle of going from here to there. And then now we're going to go for dinner with my mom or like go over to my mom's for dinner and that's like a lovely, like such a chill evening. Like we are going to record, but recording is easy. Like with your, with other people, but like it's going to be so chill and just like a relaxing evening in at my mom's. And then we have a relaxing Saturday and then Sunday is going to be also relaxing because we're just having my mom and brother over for our classic Christmas Eve appetizers, movies and gifts, and then Monday, like actual Christmas, is going to be busy, but still chill, like we're just, but then it's going to be like nice. It's like it's like these are just the perfect amount of little little bits of joy here and there and the traditions that we've always had every year.

Speaker 1:

And I'm not worried about like missing out on time with family or family with friends, because we are doing something for New Year's, I'm pretty sure, but with Trevor's friends, which are fine, not that I don't like Trevor's friends. I actually hope my bestie um Dustin's going to be there, but I don't actually know what that is going to consist of, because it's not me that has to plan. So I'm just like not even thinking about it. But I did think I was like, oh, I have to plan an outfit, but I actually don't know. Are we going to be going outside? Cause I'm pretty sure it's in Toronto, so like, are we just staying inside? Are we going outside? So I have to think about like that type of stuff, like what am I going to wear? But other than that, it's like I I feel very, very content in my decision to just like be hands off, chillaxed, slowed down.

Speaker 1:

It feels good, like it feels good. It feels like this is what they should be like, because I know that after Christmas and New Year's that the winter can seem so dark and all of that. But now though, days are getting lighter, the winter solstice has happened, but I always do feel like rebirth, like January, february. As soon as it's March, I'm like it's spring. I know it's not, I know it's still snow here, I know it's still winter you can go skiing, all of that stuff but in my mind I'm like it's spring. There's days where the birds are chirping, spring Patrick's Day, spring break, like all of these things I'm like. So it's like January and February are going to be. I feel like December, january and February are my slowdown months, but then I also feel like I want it to like really rest into it. So December, rest into it, and then January and February that's when I can take those slow moments to have those intimate connections with my friends where we can hang out and spend time together and it not be a hustle and bustle type of thing. It's really like make fires, eat delicious food, watch movies, have slumber parties like just chillax, like all that stuff. And then spring comes and it's like, oh, the days are longer, the sun is shining, the birds are chirping and it feels so good and there's new rejuvenation, all of that beauty.

Speaker 1:

Like I love spring, I love all the seasons. I always say I love every season for a time. I love the beginning of every season and the end because it switches into another one. But like, I feel like every season kind of like goes a little long. Sometimes it's like, okay, it's hot. Like it's like, oh, I love summer, and then it's like it's too hot and it's like, oh, I love fall. And then it's like, oh, it's so gloomy. And it's like I love winter. And then it's like, oh, it's slushy. It's like I love spring. Actually, I feel like spring is the only one. Maybe it's like I love spring, but then it keeps like pretending it's going to get warmer and then it doesn't.

Speaker 1:

I'm trying to think of the negative of spring. I actually think spring might be my favorite because it really is about new beginnings, new growth. You get. You really see, like the second. You see the buds starting to form on the trees, like it's so beautiful and all the colors. Oh, I love when it's purple. Like I only noticed that when I moved into this neighborhood, because people really have beautiful gardens here not me but I noticed like there's different color times of spring, but purple is a really big part of spring. And we do have our not Hosta, what is it called Wisteria that we're trying to regrow or like figure out what we're doing with it over our pergola. But we do get one little bloom from our Wisteria, one one purple bloom. But I love when everything is purple and then it all starts to turn green. Oh, I just love it. I love when the tulips come up Every fall. I'm like I'm going to plant my bulbs I didn't do it this fall, maybe next fall, but I really want all of. We do get some things that obviously were planted by past owners some daffodils and some tulips but I really want to just go full out.

Speaker 1:

Anyways, all this to say is that I'm happy with my decision and, that being said, you can be happy with a decision. You can make a decision and be happy with it, but there can still be discomfort in the middle, like you can still feel like, oh, maybe I'm missing out on something, or oh, is this really what I wanted. Oh my gosh, everything just went by so quickly and I didn't take a time to enjoy. But it's like no.

Speaker 1:

I'm now reflecting back on my decision to have a slow December and not an isolated December, but like a very much family oriented December and like I'm so happy with it and I feel like I had way less pressure on me and I'm so glad that I did that and now I feel like I'm ready to take on my winter with a warm heart and rosy cheeks from winter wonderful walks and implement Next week. I can't wait to start doing that because I just haven't had a chance this week to start implementing my morning and my morning routine of like 15 minutes a piece for me. I can't wait, and I really can't wait, to set up a proper charging station in general, just in general, a proper charging station, because we haven't had that sorted for a while but have it in the kitchen and the only thing that will be on my bedside table is my e-reader. So, yes, please message me books that I should be downloading Good winter romance or war novels, anything like that, okay, or even biopics that you liked. I've probably read a lot of them already, because me and Trevor used to do the my e-books on our long drives and then I've read all the ones that have come out recently. I think that I was interested in, but let me know I always I always love a celebrity, but that's where we're at. We're at about the 30 minute mark and I started late because I was getting distracted on my own YouTube channel.

Speaker 1:

That being said, if you haven't watched any of my vlogs, feel free to check those out. They're great for getting ready or putting them on in the background while you're cleaning or slow Sunday mornings. They're just something nice and warm and cozy and I just like they're very realistic to my life. I feel like I just turn on the camera and try to. I always try to be as unfiltered as possible. I never I never put filters on things or edit to change anything or like do things just for the camera. I try to just like turn it on and be as much as I can for myself or be as true to who I am and in that moment. So, yeah, if that's something you're looking for, easy breezy, go check those out. Maybe more will come, maybe. Love you. See you tomorrow for our last podcast and our year in review. I love you all so much. I'm sending you so many kisses. You're all the best. And go check out our roast video over on TikTok and five years time on it and Instagram Five years time podcast, whatever you like.

Busy Christmas Weekend
Breakfast and Santa With Ro
Reflection, Festivities, and Seasons