Friday, February 1, 2019

NO SPEND CHALLENGE: FEBRUARY 2019


I blinked and January was over. I feel like I can barely remember any of it already. There was work, and being tired, and trying every day to do a little more and make more of my time, then there was being sick and doing nothing and then it was gone. I was not in the moment. I was not aware of the little things. I was consuming for the sake of it. I want February to be different. Slow. In the moment. Mindful. I want to look around and see that I already have everything I need, and maybe even more than I thought. Find something old and make it new again. Do with what I have. Finish stuff rather than start others. 

To help me focus on all of that, I decided to make February my No Spend Month. (quick note that No spend months are part of my 2019 Bucket list. I want to do two of them.) 
It's the shortest month of the year which makes it sort of easier. It follows two crazy spending months (December was the Holidays and January in France is full of sales). And it comes before March which is EYF month! It will be my first time going to a big knitting festival, first time going to Scotland and I want to enjoy it all as much as possible. Which makes February the perfect opportunity to slow down, look around, take stock of all the things I already have then make the most of them rather than add new things I think I need but probably don't. 
That can easily apply to almost all areas of my life:
- knit on my already on the needles projects
- go through my stash and assign yarn I already own to projects already on my queue
- read the giant pile of books next to my bed
- go through the freezer and drawers fool of food and meal plan with those
- enjoy more all the free things we luckily have access to rather than seek the next cool new thing eg free yoga videos online (I'm a huge Yoga with Adrienne fan!)
...


In simpler words, I won't spend money unless I absolutely need something I don't already have or can borrow. I will also try to make money by getting rid of the things that no longer serve a purpose. I will reorganize and make space so that I truly know what I already have and what I actually need. 

I like a good challenge and I know I can make this one fun rather than restrictive. Wanna join?
Friday, January 4, 2019

My 2019 Bucket List

Happy 2019 everyone, wishing you all a loving and gentle year! I am using the first few days of this new year to reflect on 2018 and make plans for 2019. First up is my bucket list. I'm not big on resolutions because I find them not as "action based" as I'd like but bucket list are exactly that for me. A random mix of serious stuff that I dream of and small fun things I'd like to enjoy. And because writing things down makes them so much more real and well, makes me a lot more accountable, I thought i'd share them here :). In no particular order:


1. go to EYF
2. read 24 books
3. find a home
4. get a massage
5. watch fireworks
6. increase my income
7. go to the sea
8. grow Wild Handmade
9. cook from cookbooks
10. get my driver's licence
11. do a 100 days project
12. use the stash
13. swim
14. sew a pinafore dress
15. get a switch
16. make out
17. get better at yoga
18. try more plant dyeing
19. do 2 no spend challenge
20. plan a summer trip