Cozy Adventure Advent Calender

DAY EIGHT

Soooooooo because of initial errors in the creation of the custom advent calendar, we've run into a snag today and there's actually no item!

Considering I've had two and even three or more items some days this perhaps isn't quite so dramatic as to launch me into my Grinch era.

And also, don't worry...I'm kinda bending the rules again; am wearing new pants (From the thrift.) and a steam brewed fuzzy peach sour beer.

Both those items are on my calendar which leaves room for some immaterial things to take their place such as a trip to my favourite place...

What place is that you ask? It's a secret! You'll have to stay tuned and watch. Trust me. The view will be worth the waiting. Subscribe to be reminded!

Here's me showing my new advent pants and beer whilst failing remarkably to look like a 90's supermodel photographed by Annie Leibowitz. 

Things have become good and messy.

The page in my bullet journal mapping my Advent Calendar is now full of cross outs, redirections and mind changes.

I can't seem to figure out what to make today's item!

Do I make it an item at all? It's very rainy and I don't have much in the way of rain gear so any outdoor adventures are maybe not it...

Maybe I could do a DIY face mask, watch the rest of the movie I rented off YouTube (Wonder - a drama with Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson about their family and their son who has deformities which required many surgeries going to public school for the first time in grade five.)

I could also keep working on the necklace I'm designing and weaving for the fossilized coral pendant I got on day...what was it?

*Checking*

Day seven. I knew that.

What do you think?

So the fates have decided it another chocolate advent calendar day! 

I rode through an absolute HORROR of wind and rain for it.

Out of toilet paper and low on groceries I suited and booted up tight.

And after flailing around the store I finally found the right combination of things!

Off to eat some food, watch the rest of Wonder and maybe work on weaving the necklace.

@communicativePond1728

Thank you for sharing your advent calendar journey! It's a really good idea :)

Since my interwebs went down around mid-December and didn't come back on until yesterday, I've been trying to document the rest of my advent adventure and cultivate the next one, along with a break in between.

I made a special photo of some items I opened for the advent...the bag of coffee I bought with one of the advent calendar day items - a gift card to a coffee shop, and a 'butterfly' hair clip and trivet.

A freshly ground, hot, air pressed cup of this coffee kept me going through the loneliness, hunger, anger and tiredness that only a Christmas holiday can bring...and it helped me understand more why my mom felt she had to turn to this substance to help her cope with life, when something as simple as an apple gives more energy.

I don't think I really knew what a 'trivet' was...growing up my sister was the one who seemed to be more adept there. 

And I never wore butterfly clips before because they my mom's thing - I thought they weren't it and should have died in the 1990s alongside grunge and jeans lol, but I also used to think avocados were completely weird, atrocious and offensive and now I love a good guac...interesting how tastes evolve and change with time and patience.

A box of chocolates was another item that made it's way into my advent adventure. 😋

It was a donation from food pantry near me.

I was so happy and thankful to see it sitting there, like a gift from the gods themselves, if such a thing exists. It just made my whole day.

And I'll just take a quick moment here now to say thanks; I'm so grateful for the support and generosity of others. It's saving me, helping me to heal and become self-sufficient again.

I think that's about all I was able to document for the remainder of the advent...oh! Perhaps there were some other things, like a couple pairs of pants from the thrift store, one of which shows up in one of the photos.

And on Christmas, I unwrapped a lovely pair of gloves, some candles and a serum. The candles are long since burned, and the serum and gloves half used up, but I'll see if I can't post a photo anyway - I loaded up on a couple more candles since then as February 2nd was Candlemas, and apparently having a good stock of beeswax candles is a thing. 

The gloves are from the brand Atelier Delphine, and are 43% baby alpaca, 43% merino wool and 14% beetlejuice. Just kidding. Polyamide. 

The serum is from Skwalwen Botanicals, an antioxidant formula, featuring cranberry and rose.

The candles were pure beeswax dyed oxblood/purple naturally with plants and I forget the brand! 😔💔 Can update that as I do pop into that store here and there and I saw they still have them in.

How was your Christmas? ❤️🎄

I just realized there is a photo of the oxblood candle! It's in the one I took of the box of chocolates. Very similar to the purple ones I have now eh? I always though oxblood was more of a burgundy... 🤔

Here's the inspiration board I made a few days ago to help me with the next adventure.

The picture on the top, right hand side says 'all emotions are valid (even the messy ones) (really)'

I wanted to mention also that the rock salt candle holders in the inspo board picture have some of the beeswax tea lights I purchased as part of my 'stock up'.

I'd like to find a candle I really like the shape and smell of though for Candlemas...so far I've tried ten different stores with no luck. Am feeling pretty discouraged about it.

Some things I've been pondering is: what good comes out of not getting what I want just handed to me? And also: what are the distractions dimming my inner light?