My Goals For 2022

Last year was not my best year for achievements. I didn't visit many places, I wasn't able to meet any new people, I didn't reach any milestones, and the less said about how little I blogged, the better. I can blame some of it on pain, illness, Covid and lockdown, but I admit I was also unmotivated and uninspired, and felt a bit 'meh' towards life in 2021. But then, who didn't?

I hope 2022 will be a much better year, and that I can find the motivation and pain tolerance to achieve more this year. As usual, there are loads of things I would like to make time for during the year ahead, from visiting new places and going to gigs again, to crafting more, and smashing my Goodreads reading goal, and much more. I'm going to talk about some of my goals for 2022 with you today, to make myself accountable, and hopefully motivate myself in to achieving at least some of them before the year is through. (Yes, I know it's a bit late to be talking New Year's resolutions, but hey, when do I ever do anything on time?!)

So, here are some of my goals for 2022:

Read 40 Books

After reading 42 books in 2021, I want to keep up my reading pace again this year, and make time to read (almost) every day. (I say 'almost', as there's always a few days when it's just not possible). I've set myself a new Goodreads reading challenge of 40 books for 2022, but I hope to read more, and beat last year's tally. I'm only on book five of the year so far, so I need to pick up the pace if I want to make it.

Take a Holiday to Cornwall

If I can get one thing out of 2022, it would be a holiday to Cornwall. We've just booked a week in Perranporth for early summer, and I can't wait for a week of sun, sea, sand, and sight-seeing. I'd love to fit in visits to St. Ives, Portreath, Mawgan Porth, and the seal sanctuary while we're there, and also take a tour bus along the coast again, either down to The Lizard or along to Land's End, as I've not seen much of those parts of Cornwall. I also want to paddle in the sea at Perranporth, walk on Porth Beach, take a boat trip to spot some sea life, and return to Gridl for breakfast. The reality is, I'll probably be spending most of the time in the caravan resting because it'll be painful and exhausting, but I want to be optimistic, and believe I can have some fun, too. 

Go to a Concert

Thanks to Covid, it's been over two years since my last concert, and it's been torture. Gigs are life. I'm having major withdrawals, so I hope I can satisfy my cravings with at least one gig in 2022. I need a live music fix.

Do More Cross Stitching

I love cross stitching, but I did very little of it in 2021, and only finished one piece all year. I just couldn't find the motivation. I'd like to find my groove with it again this year, cross stitch regularly, and make lots of pieces. I've already been working on some retro Christmas bauble designs I didn't have time to finish over Christmas, so I'm off to a good start.

Do More Painting

I want to make more time for water-colour painting. I didn't dig out the paints often in 2021, but it's something I enjoy and find relaxing, so I really should try to do more of it.

Make Something With a Loom

I bought a small circular loom a few years ago and still haven't made anything with it, so it's about time I did. I don't have a clue what to make with it, but I always thought weaving looked like fun. Maybe 2022 will be the year I find out if I'm right. Or maybe it won't.

Explore More Local Places

I've lived in The Cotswolds all my life, but there's so much of it I've never been to or explored properly, and I'd like to change that. I want to do more exploring close to home this year, and see what cool places we can find.

Visit the Bluebell Woods

I'd love to go for a walk in the woods when the bluebells flower this spring, especially as we never made it last year. There's a woods near Faringdon in Oxfordshire called Badbury Clump which gets carpeted with a sea of violet bluebells from late April or early May, and it's so beautiful. It's well worth a visit if you're in to nature.

Go See the Lavender, Confetti, and Sunflower Fields

I'd also like to do a few things I've never done before, and visit lavender, sunflower, and confetti fields in my area. Mostly to take photos, but also to enjoy the general prettiness of a sea of colourful flowers. The confetti fields are fields of flowers like delphiniums and cornflowers that are grown and harvested for wedding confetti, and it sounds so lovely. It's at Wyke Manor Estate in Wick, near Pershore in Worcestershire for anyone who's curious.

Visit the Zoo

I'm a big animal lover, so I love a good trip to the zoo, and hope to visit a few this year. I would love to pay another visit to Whipsnade Zoo this summer to do all the sections we didn't fit in last time, and I really want to visit Longleat Safari Park to see the koalas and wombats, as I've never seen either animal in real life. It's a bit of a drive from Oxfordshire, though, so I'm not sure it would be possible without an overnight stay nearby. I'm also planning to fit in at least one day out at my local zoo, The Cotswold Wildlife Park, although, I'm sure we'll squeeze in several. It's such a lovely, relaxing place to walk around, and get some exercise while enjoying the animals, and I think it's good to challenge myself to push through my chronic pain every now and then to make it to the end. 

Take a Trip to the Seaside

I'd really like to take at least one day-trip to the coast this summer, and spend some time at the beach, paddling in the sea, watching the waves, and eating salty fish and chips straight from the paper on the sea front. (My holiday to Cornwall doesn't count). I grew up with multiple day trips to the beach every summer- usually to Poole or Woolacombe- which I haven't done much of as an adult, and I miss it so much.

Have a Good Clear Out

I feel the need to have a good declutter, so I want to gradually go through my stuff- clothes, bags, books, craft supplies etc- and clear out anything I no longer want or use. It'll probably take me most of the year with my health, but if I can cull some stuff by the end of the year, I'll be happy.

Reorganise My Bookshelves 

Reorganising my bookshelves was on my list of autumn goals, but I never found the time or spoons to see to it. It's definitely on my list of priorities before spring because the shelves are over-run with books I've read piling up towards the ceiling, and it's all such an eye-sore that it's actually stressing me out to look at it. I need to clear everything off, put my DVDs in to folders and store the cases, get rid of any books I don't want, and reorganise everything. Hopefully then my bookshelves will look pretty again, and I might even have space for new books.

And those are some of my goals for the year ahead. 

I don't know if I'll be able to achieve them all and I'm probably being a little too optimistic, but I'm going to give it my best shot anyway. 

Wish me luck!

Have you set any goals or resolutions for 2022?

What I Got For Christmas 2021

Today, I thought I'd show you the lovely presents I was given for Christmas last year.

I know, I know; Christmas was ages ago now, but I'm lagging behind with my blog posts as I've been unwell a lot lately. I still want to document them to look back on, so I hope you'll indulge me as I chat about the cute things I was given. I promise it won't get too festive.

If you're still reading this, I guess you're curious to see what presents I got under the tree, so let's get cracking before you change your mind.

My parents got me this amazing mint green Robin Hood mini backpack from Loungefly, which had been on my wish list for ages. I was so excited when I unwrapped it on Christmas morning, as Robin Hood has always been one of my favourite Disney films, and I was pretty obsessed with it when I was growing up. It's the cutest little backpack, and the best part is that it has Sir Hiss with his head in a balloon on the back, with the same image used for the lining. I love it!

If anyone wants me to do a full review of the backpack, just let me know.

As you've probably noticed by now, I'm a little addicted to Animal Crossing, so one of my sister's got me an Animal Crossing jigsaw. The funny thing is, I bought her the exact same one! We're going to have to have jigsaw wars to see who can complete it first. I haven't done a jigsaw since I was about ten, so this could end badly.

My little sister also got me the cutest Animal Crossing Poppy bookmark from Mollie Crossing Studio on Etsy., which is perfect as I was down to my last bookmark. Where do they disappear to? Someone please tell me.

I also got some Animal Crossing presents from one of my lovely friends, including some adorable bath fizzers, a Flurry figurine, and a fun summer jigsaw. They're all so cute! My friend also sent me an awesome pair of Alice in Wonderland studs, but I haven't been able to get them to photograph well.

My younger sister, Sarah, got me a copy of Two Point Hospital to play on the Switch. I haven't played on it much yet as I've been too fatigued and brain fogged to figure it out, but I'm sure it won't be long until I'm addicted. I remember spending hours playing Theme Hospital on the PS1 in the early noughties, and it looks like the same sort of thing.

I love getting books as presents, and I was pleased to receive a few for Christmas from my parents, and my older sister. I got the Shadow in the Glass by JJA Harwood, which sounds like a new take on Cinderella; The Deep by Alma Katsu, a psychological thriller and gothic ghost story set on board the Titanic and Britannic; and a beautiful Barnes & Noble leather bound edition of six of H.G. Wells' most famous books. I've only ever read War of the Worlds, and have wanted to try some of his other stories for years, so I'm pleased to finally have this book in my collection. It's been on my wish list for years. The cover is gorgeous, with a flying saucer, solar system, and clock faces entwined on cobalt blue, and if the design isn't enough to tempt you, the pages are gilded in gold. 

I naturally had a few Erstwilder brooches on my Christmas list, and my parents bought me the King of the Coast brooch from last year's Jocelyn Proust collection. It's a beautiful red and green Australian king parrot, and it's made from some stunning red, green, and pearlescent white textured resins. It's a beauty, and I love it.

Speaking of jewellery, I also got the cutest pair of scalloped-edged, hot pink Fossil heart earrings from my parents. I always seem to get things from Fossil as my Mum's obsessed.

One of the coolest, most meaningful presents I got was a Pound Puppies basset hound teddy, from my sister and brother-in-law. It's just like one I had when I was little, except my childhood version also had a Velcro pouch in its belly with three puppies inside. I used to take them everywhere, and still have them packed away in the loft somewhere. As it was a childhood favourite, I was thrilled when I discovered that some of the old eighties and nineties Pound Puppies had been brought back, even if the Mums and pups weren't included. I added this almost identical one to my wishlist ages ago, thinking of buying it for myself at some point for the nostalgia, but never expected anyone to buy it for me. I was really excited to unwrap it on Christmas morning, and it now brings back lots of childhood memories. Pound Puppies were the best. Did anyone have one?

My parents and sister stocked me up on chocolate with a couple of selection boxes. I also got a Chocolate Orange, which is a tradition in our family at Christmas, but it didn't last long enough to make it in to photos. They're just too yummy.

My best friend sent me a thoughtful box of American chocolate from Planet Candy... luckily filled with some of the few American chocolates I actually like. Who knew the white Reese's were so good?!

And I was also gifted some hot chocolate goodies from another of my lovely friends, including the sweetest gingerbread man spoon with my name engraved on it. I'm looking forward to trying the hot chocolate bomb and stirrers soon. They'll be perfect for a chilly evening in front of the TV.

I also got a few other small bits and bobs I haven't photographed, and some Christmas money from a couple of my relatives, which I put towards some goodies from The Body Shop (mostly body butters, and shower gels), as well as a navy polka dot Lyra dress from Lady Vintage I got in the sale.

I love everything I was given this Christmas. My friends and family gave me some really cute and thoughtful gifts, and several that I'd been coveting for ages. I'm so grateful for their generosity, and still feel spoilt. Thanks to everyone who gave me a present; you guys are the best!

What was the best present you got for Christmas?

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