Tag: Autumn

November Goals | Autumn 2023

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Hello everyone. I wanted to let you know that I am alive. Although I’m not feeling well. I’m currently dealing with a nasty head cold, but thankfully it is not COVID. I took a rapid test at home to confirm. I have been sick for the past 4 days, but I am starting to feel a bit better now. Despite feeling more human, I am still significantly behind on everything, which is causing me additional stress. Not to mention, I am feeling quite grumpy today as nothing seems to be going my way.

Am I creating extra stress for myself? Probably, even though I’m not even taking on extra tasks right now. In fact, I’ve started saying no to a lot of things, not because I don’t want to, but because I simply don’t have the energy or time. I am exhausted 80% of the time and not functioning at my optimal best. In the new year, I hope to be in better health. It seriously sucks not having the physical and mental energy to do the things that I want to do.

𝒴𝑜𝓊 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝒩𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝒯𝑜𝑜 𝒪𝓁𝒹 𝓉𝑜 𝒫𝓁𝒶𝓎 𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝐿𝑒𝒶𝓋𝑒𝓈 🍂

Image source: https://pngtree.com/freepng/hello-november

Everything is Not Awesome

I have never liked the month of November, and perhaps there’s a reason for that. The days are getting colder, although it has been quite pleasant this past week. This could be attributed to a chinook, as it is not typically this nice. November is often considered an unpleasant month – it’s cold, there’s not much to look forward to since Canada celebrated Thanksgiving last month, and the days are getting shorter. To be honest, I feel incredibly fortunate that my daughter arrived a week before her due date in November. Back when I was pregnant with her, I had been praying for an October baby instead, as I have a personal dislike for the month of November. Even the birthstone associated with this month is not particularly appealing to me. However, I want to clarify that my feelings towards this month do not in any way diminish the significance or joy of those who celebrate their birthdays in November. 😅🍂

Moving forward, it is important that I share my goals for the month of November to hold myself accountable. Without these monthly goal blog posts, I doubt I would be able to accomplish as much. Stick to what works, right?

NOVEMBER GOALS 2023

Career Goals:

  • Go back to work with a fresh outlook on things
  • Reply to manager’s email regarding COVID swab result
  • Catch up on work emails
  • Complete BLS renewal
  • Complete 80 total designs for #Redbubble

Personal Goals:

  • Publish 1-2 blog posts + monthly recap
  • Send email to SW regarding International Gov form
  • Attend Domestic seminar this month → fee has been paid
  • Complete Application B Questions (bonus)
  • Complete and submit International Seminar Questions
  • Keep tabs on doctor’s appointments/pending appointments
  • Daily Duolingo practice 🇩🇪 → keep the streak going

Health Goals:

  • YMCA 2x per week minimum
  • Buy a new bathing suit for the pool
  • Finish Kool-Aid and Nuun drink mixes
  • Leave the house once a day and get some sunshine☀️
Does anyone actually like this stuff? Image source: https://www.runnersworld.com

(っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ FINAL THOUGHTS ♥

After indulging in all the tempting Halloween candy last month, I realized it was time to break free from the calorie restriction mindset. But don’t worry, I’ve found a balanced solution. In order to counteract any extra calories, I’ve taken up a healthy habit of going to the YMCA twice a week. Not only does this help me stay on track with my fitness goals, but it also has positive effects on my overall physical and mental well-being. Rest assured, I am committed to continuing this routine because of the tremendous benefits it brings.

As I reflect on last month, I still have the desire to try a social media detox. However, I don’t believe that going cold turkey is the solution. Instead, I believe that if I focus on creating more content rather than consuming, social media can be a beneficial tool for me. For instance, blogging is okay as long as I am writing content and engaging with people, rather than just engaging or replying to comments. Redbubble is great because I get to focus on what I love, which is creating vector designs, particularly stickers. Despite recent slow sales, I remain determined and refuse to be discouraged. Here are some designs are currently available in my shop.

(っ◔◡◔)っ FYI: If you’re not already following me on Twitter (@serene_hilz), you can get real-time updates about my day-to-day life there.

Thanks for stopping by! ♥

October Goals | Autumn 2023

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Hello, everyone! The leaves are falling and the days are getting colder to the point where I find it difficult getting out of bed in the morning. I apologize for the delay in this blog post. As you can imagine, my main priorities have revolved around family and work obligations. Lately, I’ve been swamped with responsibilities and haven’t had the chance to dedicate much time to my blog. In fact, I am contemplating downgrading my WordPress plan when it’s time for renewal next month.

Moving forward, I am not sure if I will have enough time to upload more designs to my #Redbubble shop. Sales have experienced a slump, and I am not receiving the level of engagement I used to. In an effort to improve this situation, I recently subscribed to Twitter/X, hoping it would enhance engagement and increase overall exposure. While I am enjoying the perks, I have yet to witness significant changes in this department. I am not giving up or anything, I am just confused as to where I should put my focus. Should I prioritize writing informative articles for Medium, focusing on digital art designs for Redbubble, or finishing up the 50+ drafts I have on WordPress?

♡ Quick Link: Sereneluna.redbubble.com

♡ Quick Note: Apologies for the oversight, everyone. I didn’t realize that the video I posted had sound, which is quite embarrassing on my part. Rest assured, I will upload a new version of the video at a later time. In the meantime, please refer to the link provided for your convenience. Thank you for your understanding and patience. 😂😭

𝒜 𝒞𝑜𝓏𝓎 𝒯𝑜-𝒟𝑜 𝐿𝒾𝓈𝓉 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝒪𝒸𝓉𝑜𝒷𝑒𝓇 🎃🍂

I’ve Just Been So Busy

I often feel stressed and anxious these days, as there is oh so much to do! Like the lyrics from Peppa Pig go, “Miss Rabbit is busy. Busy, busy, busy. Miss Rabbit is busy, she’s got so many jobs to do!” I often feel like I have multiple responsibilities, which can become overwhelming at times. Lately, I have been decluttering my house and letting go of items that no longer serve me. This has helped with my anxiety to an extent, but now my anxiety is in overdrive. I have a significant amount of work to do this month, including unanswered emails, cleaning and organizing my house, and helping my daughter with her homework. Additionally, I have forms to complete, invitations to write, and appointments to schedule. It can feel overwhelming to have so many tasks to juggle at once. How does Miss Rabbit manage to do it all?

OCTOBER GOALS 2023

Career Goals:

  • Figure out the orientation dates for work
  • Print and review orientation notes + reply to manager’s email
  • Catch up on work emails + attend workshop on Oct 12
  • Work on side hustle if there’s time

Personal Goals:

  • Publish 1-2 blog posts + monthly recap
  • Publish 1 article on Medium
  • Complete and mail a paper copy of international form to Gov.
  • Update planner with due dates, appointments, etc.
  • Keep tabs on doctor’s appointments/pending appointments
  • Complete and submit Application B
  • Daily Duolingo practice 🇩🇪 → keep the streak going

Health Goals:

  • Exercise every day (hula hooping, treadmill, chores, etc.)
  • Finish Kool-Aid and Nuun drink mixes
  • Leave the house once a day and get some sunshine☀️
Does anyone actually like this stuff? Image source: https://www.runnersworld.com

(っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ FINAL THOUGHTS ♥

I started falling back into the pattern of calorie restriction, and it’s something I know is not beneficial for my well-being. This behavior usually stems from the overwhelming stress and feeling powerless in this turbulent world we live in. As a potential solution, I am contemplating a social media detox, even though it may seem like just another item on an already overwhelming list. However, acknowledging the importance of prioritizing my mental health is paramount in overcoming these challenges.

Next week, my daughter has picture day and I must admit, it’s adding to my stress levels. On top of that, her birthday is this month and I want to throw her a party. As if that isn’t enough, Halloween is also just around the corner, and I genuinely want to ensure that the kids have an enjoyable experience. It’s quite a busy month you guys. October is filled with numerous commitments. I am curious to know how you handle an overwhelming to-do list. Feel free to join the conversation by leaving a comment below ↓ Your suggestions are most welcome.

Halloween 2022 with the kiddos!

(っ◔◡◔)っ FYI: If you’re not already following me on Twitter (@serene_hilz), you can get real-time updates about my day-to-day life there.

Thanks for stopping by! ♥

September Goals | Autumn 2023

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Hello, everyone! As we find ourselves well into the beautiful month of September, I am thrilled to finally take a moment and share my goals with all of you. It has been quite the productive month for me so far, although my focus has primarily been on the responsible aspects of life – those adulting tasks that we all must conquer. Yes, I have fully embraced the art of adulting!

Lately, I haven’t been feeling very energized when it comes to writing, even though I have been more active on my blog. In a perfect world, I would have all the time in the world to work on designs for Redbubble, but adult life doesn’t work like that, especially one with responsibilities. To date, I have 54 designs available in the shop, and I plan on adding a few more before the end of the month. Initially, I had hoped to have 100 designs by the end of September but I would be lucky to have 60 designs in the shop by the end of the month. Due to my busy schedule, I won’t have much time for hobbies, and it may be challenging to meet that goal.

♡ Quick Link: Sereneluna.redbubble.com

♪·♫ 𝒜 𝒮𝑒𝓅𝓉𝑒𝓂𝒷𝑒𝓇 𝓉𝑜 𝑅𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓂𝒷𝑒𝓇 ♫·♪

Image: https://www.thisisourbliss.com

Summer Drink Days Are Over

As the summer days at MCDs came to an end, many other things bid farewell with the start of a new school year. Gone are the days of sleeping in until 1:00PM, staying up late unless it’s a work night, and being scatter-brained 24/7. Okay, the last one is still mostly true but I have been improving. September is the month to embrace structure, discipline, and a renewed focus on responsibilities. September brings an opportunity for growth and success – so let’s make the most of it!

Summer treats at MCDs

SEPTEMBER GOALS 2023

Career Goals:

  • Bid on shifts as they become available
  • Catch up on work emails + finish CCP requirements → due this month
  • Work on side hustle → goal is 60 designs

Personal Goals:

  • Publish 1-2 blog posts + monthly recap
  • Scan paper documents → turn into digital copies
  • Start habit tracking using Posh Planner
  • Keep tabs on doctor’s appointments/pending appointments
  • Complete and submit Application A
  • Daily Duolingo practice 🇩🇪

Health Goals:

  • Exercise every day (hula hooping, treadmill, chores, etc.)
  • Finish low-cal lemonade and Kool-Aid drink mixes
  • Leave the house once a day and get some sunshine☀️
Becca enjoying the sunshine and her cats.

(っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ FINAL THOUGHTS ♥

I have decided to adopt a more mindful approach to eating, going back to the days when I trusted my body’s natural intuition. It’s time to break free from the unhealthy habit of turning to food for comfort or out of boredom.

As you can see, my health goals for this month are quite modest, mainly because I am extremely busy with various life responsibilities. Last week, my daughter started school, and this week she will begin tutoring three days a week, in addition to her weekly piano lessons. Hopefully, my son will be starting daycare later this week.

Baby Aaron says hi! 🙂

(っ◔◡◔)っ FYI: If you’re not already following me on Twitter (@serene_hilz), you can get real-time updates about my day-to-day life there.

Thanks for stopping by! ♥

20 Fall Questions Tag

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The other day, I was scrolling through WP when I stumbled upon Deandra’s 20 Fall Questions Tag on her blog called The Black Princess Diaries (TBPD). Even though I wasn’t asked to do this tag, I wanted to participate because it seemed like something I would enjoy doing! If you have a moment, I recommend checking out Deandra’s blog.

Today, I am excited to share my 20 Fall Questions Answers with you now that we are well into autumn. Let’s get started, shall we?

1. What is your favorite fall drink? My favourite fall drink is hot apple cider with a cinnamon stick!

2. What’s one thing you love about fall? I like that it is not winter season yet. I am not a fan of cold temperatures and snow. I like that I can still spend time outdoors with my daughter and go for my daily walks.

3. What’s one thing you don’t like about fall? I am not a fan of any month ending in -ber aka. The “burr” months: September, October, November, December. These months mean that the end of the year is approaching, the days are getting shorter, and temperatures are dropping.

4. Are you a pumpkin spice fan? Yes, I even have pumpkin spice in my pantry! A few days ago, I tried the pumpkin spice Timbits (donut holes) from Tim Hortons, which were nothing special to be honest. Timbits look like this:

5. What’s your favorite fall scented candle? This is tricky because I stopped buying candles. My favorite candle is Eucalyptus Spearmint from Bath & Body Works but that’s more of a winter scent. If I had to choose a candle scent for fall, it would probably be a basic vanilla scented candle. I am not a big fan of artificially scented candles unless they smell really nice!

6. Where do you buy your fall candles? I used to purchase candles from Bath & Body Works. Now, I am hesitant to burn candles because they aren’t safe around little kids.

7. What’s your go-to fall beauty product? Since I don’t typically wear makeup, my favorite fall beauty product is an Apple Pie bubble bath/skin cleanser by Korres. This is my favorite skin-care brand! ♥

8. Your favorite fall accessory? Mittens, perhaps? We’re gonna need them soon. I live in Canada so when it gets cold, it gets really cold.

9. What’s your typical fall outfit look like? I am not the right person to ask for fashion advice. I lack fashion sense and I am tactile sensitive, which limits my options. My feet are really small so most shoes don’t fit me. Also, did I forget to mention that I have a minimalist closet? My husband owns more clothes than I do 🤷‍♀️ I live in hoodies, long-sleeve shirts, jeans, sweat pants, or leggings, and sneakers.

10. Apple pie or pumpkin pie? Pumpkin pie for me. Apple pie for my husband. We can never agree on pie! Costco apple pie is actually pretty good so we usually compromise with Costco Apple Pie.

11. What’s your favorite Halloween/scary movie? I don’t really watch movies so I don’t know ⁉

12. Do you have a fall tradition? Apple picking when I was a kid. Sadly, there are no apple orchards around here. Pumpkin patches are the next best thing.

13. What’s your favorite fall food? Does Halloween candy count? I love the variety of miniature chocolate bars and candy that stores sell this time of year.

14. What are your plans for Halloween? I don’t want the pandemic to ruin trick-or-treating this year. I plan to take my daughter trick-or-treating around the neighborhood. Last year, it wasn’t cancelled (surprisingly) so we took her trick-or-treating last minute, and she loved it! 🎃

15. Do you plan on dressing up for Halloween? Nope!

16. What’s one thing you’re grateful for? I am grateful for my husband. Without him, I wouldn’t have my 2nd undergraduate degree, my cat, our kids, and our townhouse. Without him, I wouldn’t be living in this province. My life is better because of him ♥️

17. Halloween or Thanksgiving? I only care about Halloween because #candy and my daughter likes it. My adult self prefers Thanksgiving because #pumpkin-pie.

18. Favorite Thanksgiving food(s)? My mom’s turkey stuffing is amazing and I have her recipe. Sometimes, I make stuffing even when it’s not Thanksgiving. One thing you should know about this stuffing is that we don’t use it to stuff a turkey. My mom and I do not like stuffed birds and soggy stuffing, so we serve our stuffing as a side dish instead. Another favourite of mine is homemade orange-cranberry sauce! 😋

19. Have you ever participated in Friendsgiving? Um, what did you call it? The title “Friendsgiving” sounds so cringe to me. Let’s call it what it is: it is a get-together dinner for adult friends. And no, I haven’t participated in “Friendsgiving” because quite frankly, I don’t have a circle of friends to celebrate it with. The majority of my friends are online.

20. Have you already taken fall photos? I used to, but I stopped taking photos a while ago. I am not sure why I stopped. Instead, I will entertain you with some photos of my in-laws’ dog playing in a pile of leaves.

MY NOMINEES:

You are all welcome to participate in this tag if you would like! If you do decide to participate, I ask that you credit the person who gave you the idea in the first place, whether it is Deandre or myself, or another blogger. Do you agree with my answers? Did any of my answers surprise you? I look forward to reading your replies in the comments section below ↓

Thank you for stopping by!

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