Hello lovelies! 👋

After an emotional and difficult autumn, I’m entering the winter season with a lot of energy and optimism. My December has felt very full. In addition to connecting with family and friends, I’m also in the middle of my beloved annual challenge, 31 Days to 2026, and a fun daily vlogging project, vlogmas(ish).

Here’s what I’ve got on the go this season:

  • In 2013, I started answering this set of 50 questions every three years or so, and I’ve been wanting to create my own set of questions for a while now. I’ve got a draft going and I was hoping to share my list of questions in November but I’ve tabled that for the new year.

  • There’s been a wonderful rhythm to my moon planning check-ins. I’ve simplified things a lot — I’m only answering a few reflective questions now — so the process feels a lot lighter and fun. But some of the questions aren’t quite right so I’ll be making some tweaks in the coming days.

  • I’m very excited for what the new year will bring, and I’ll be updating my goals very soon.

For more about what’s on my mind right now, you can subscribe to my newsletter or check out my 101 in 1001 list. I’ve also got a few bits on my about page.

MEDIA

LISTENING

I’m in the middle of a podcast series called Sold a Story, which is simultaneously eye-opening, heart-breaking, and rage-inducing.

READING

I usually take a break from fiction in December, preferring to read nonfiction to keep my motivation high and distractions low. I’m dipping into a few nonfiction books when I have time and I’ll return to fiction in January.

WATCHING

After hearing about the show from my sister, hubby and I recently watched Adolescence, which was very unsettling. It’s a bit of a slow burn but the acting is fantastic. It covers a lot of disturbing themes but it’s also quite thought-provoking.

APP-ing

Here are the apps I use every day:

  • Organization: TickTick, Google Calendar

  • Games: Pokémon Go, NYT Crossword, GPGP, Animal Restaurant

  • Social media: Reddit, BeReal

DAILY ROUTINE

My routine is my source of power. Each day is like a little puzzle, and everything always comes together. Read about my fluid time blocking practice.

Morning

The morning is the most structured part of my day. My alarm is currently set for 6:15am and I usually stay in bed for a few minutes before getting up. I spend the first few hours of my day getting ready, oil pulling, making myself a hot herbal infusion, reading on the exercise bike, watering our houseplants, and writing morning pages. The rest of my morning depends on how busy I am with my paid and creative work. I’ll go for a walk at some point, which often includes a quick trip to the grocery store.

Afternoon

I have my first meal of the day at around noon. The rest of my afternoon varies depending on how much energy and motivation I have. I take a nap almost every day — usually a power nap, but longer if I had a shorter night of sleep. In the new year, I’m going to experiment with a short movement session after my nap — to get my energy and mood up. I then spend some time on paid work or personal projects, and cooking or doing chores. Some days, I have a sweet video call with a friend. I try to finish eating dinner by 6pm.

Evening

After dinner, I do a bit of this and that. Hubby and I usually start to wind down at around 7-8pm. We spend this time together — sometimes together-together, and sometimes together-while-also-doing-our-own-thing. Each night is different depending on how we feel. I’ve been trying to do some more offline activities to relieve eye strain. I try to be in bed by 10:30pm on most nights, but it’s been tricky in December with vlogmas(ish). I’ll return to my regular routine in January.

SKINCARE ROUTINE

The general formula for my skincare products is toner + serum + facial oil + moisturizer. I’ll usually use up what I have before moving on to something else, but I also try to finish some of hubby’s products when he leaves them lying around. If you’re interested in which products are my favourites, you can find them listed here.

MORNING

  • Rinse my face with lukewarm water and towel dry.

  • Apply my skincare products in this order:

    • Divine Essence Damask Rose Organic Floral Water

    • The Ordinary Argireline Solution 10%

    • The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

    • The Ordinary 100% Cold-Pressed Virgin Marula Oil

    • The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA

    • The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Lash and Brow Serum

  • I’ve been using The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Eye Serum when I remember. This is a very rich serum and can feel a bit sticky on the skin, so I try to apply it when I’m planning to spend a stretch of time at home.

  • I’ve been loving Atomy AC Spot Solution as a spot treatment when I have breakouts. I use this when I first notice a pimple and then whenever I remember to reapply, in the morning and/or evening.

EVENING

  • Wash my face with Atomy Deep Pure Cleansing Oil, rinse with lukewarm water, and towel dry.

  • Apply the same skincare products as my morning routine. I’ve been using The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA (instead of my morning solution/serum combo).

  • I’ve been using a peel-off or mud mask every week as part of my self-care regimen (and also to use up my old products!).

Makeup Basket

I amassed a huge collection of makeup during my shopaholic days. Years later and I’m still in the process of downsizing my collection. One thing that’s helped me focus on using what I have is to keep a seasonal “makeup basket.” I use the products in this basket every day until I get bored, then I switch them out. For hygienic reasons, I only use mascara and lip gloss for 6–9 months before discarding any remaining product.

Here’s what I have in my current basket. My makeup is very old, so some of the products may be discontinued.

Eyes

  • Urban Decay Naked3 Eyeshadow Palette

  • Adelica Soft Brow Pencil in Brown

  • Miniso Gold Eyelash Curler

  • Adelica Waterproof Mascara in Black

Face

  • Combination of Atomy BB Cream, Atomy Healthy Glow Base, and Atomy Oil Serum Mist

  • Illamasqua Powder Blusher in Tremble

  • FENTY BEAUTY by Rihanna Sun Stalk'r Instant Warmth Bronzer in Private Island

  • Dior Shimmer Powder in Rose Diamond

  • Canmake Marshmallow Finish Foundation in MB*

*I use this as a powder concealer.

Lips

  • Jack Black Lip Balm

  • Carmex Classic Lip Balm

  • Hurraw Lip Balm

  • Atomy Lip Glow

That’s it for now! Let me know if I missed anything. I’ll update this page at the start of every season.

Last updated: December 21, 2025