You’re not imagining things, this is definitely a new blog post & I can only apologise that it’s taken me this long! 

If you’re reading this, Happy New Year to you! I hope January is being kind to you so far, and if not, there’s a big old year ahead. Plenty of time for hopes and dreams, plenty of time for things to change, and plenty of time to get back to yourself again…

For me personally, last year felt very full. I moved into my first house and starting planning a wedding (my own wedding to clarify, eek), and generally just found myself leaning more into real life and away from the online world whenever possible. I think perhaps it’s because I hadn’t done so in many many years – I was all consumed by social media and creating for my little online space, I’d sort of forgotten what I enjoyed and who I was away from the glaring light of my laptop and phone screens.

I’ve really enjoyed making our house a home – it’s something we have both dreamed of for many years and I feel like moving out of the city centre has bought me a huge sense of peace and relief. Just having something that’s ours has felt like a long time coming, and I’m proud that we stumbled upon somewhere we both feel safe and cosy. I think somehow seeing our home come to life over the last twelve months has given me a confidence boost and made me feel as though I’m getting my voice back a little bit…

I’ve found myself writing blog posts in my head and imagining things I want to say and share with you all. I also kept feeling torn as to whether these imaginary posts were better placed on here – a blog space I’ve spent many years crafting and pouring love into… or Substack, another fairly new platform that feels intimidating. Everytime there’s a new platform it feels a bit like the opportunity to jump ship – sometimes you land on your feet and it’s worthwhile, other times it feels like another pipe dream sinking into the abyss.

After some pep talks with myself (the joys of being a lonely freelancer), I’ve decided that my blog is my first true love, and you know what they say, the first cut is the deepest… I will forever be in favour of blogs being beloved again… 

I’m getting married this summer (which feels crazy to say out loud let alone type), so I feel it’s a year I want to document and reconnect with this space. I’m happy to share my thoughts around weddings/marriage in general if that’s of interest to anyone and I’d also be happy to share details of the planning process too. I think it will be nice to look back on one day and I feel like I’ve found is particularly challenging to source things that align with my style/the kind of day I want so maybe it might be helpful to some of you with a similar style or outlook. I could say so much on this subject but I will leave it for another post! I also feel like being in my thirties is bringing up a lot of big feelings and emotions in general that might be cathartic to write about.

I guess what I’m really trying to say is that you can expect more posts around these parts in 2025 and I’m posting this the first week of Jan to hold myself accountable and start as I mean to go along! I have some travel posts from last year that I still need to finish, as well as interior/homeware posts & a ‘current favourites’ coming your way (try not to get too excited).

I have no grand resolutions for the year ahead, I just want to priortise healthy habits and make more time for things that fill my cup: travel, being outdoors, reading, creating when it doesn’t feel frantic and forced…

I’d also like to be plagued less by perfectionism and just try to lean into ‘enjoying the process’ a little more. The amount of things I create and don’t share is silly and I think it’s because the online creator world is such a busy space these-days. I think that’s a great thing but sometimes it makes you less brave because you feel like everything is being done at a much higher level than you have the capacity for. Which is counter productive because I feel what people ultimately connect with is just plain old honest content that feels authentic and therefore inspiring in some way. It’s really as simple as that so take this is your sign to stop getting in your own way! Who you are is what you have to offer the world, build on that and the rest usually follows…

And please don’t beat yourself up if you’re feel pressured by this time of year – it’s very natural and very normal to feel down in the dumps. I feel it myself and it’s almost like I’m anticipating the sadness in late December sometimes, I think it’s maybe some muscle memory at play that a-lot of us deal with. I remember being home from university for Christmas and then feeling absolute despair when I had to get the train back and live my own life again outside of the family nest. What do you mean I have to be an adult and be independent in the world?

There’s a little bit of that nipping at me every January once the festive bubble bursts. I know it’s easy to feel defeated and sad after the chaos of Christmas is over and done with but do whatever you need to do to make January feel like a safe place – an old friend. It gets a bad rep but it’s essentially still just winter. Take it slow, get cosy, connect with friends, read that dusty book by your bedside, exercise if you you feel like it, stay under the duvet if you feel like it…

Look towards spring and plan out little things for your future self to enjoy. January is for resting and hibernating (or whatever the hell you want really).

Speak again soon! 

Alice x

Photographs taken on a Fujifilm x-S10 

Coat: Soeur Paris, Scarf: Tartan Blanket Co, Knited vest: Sézane, Shirt: Deiji Studios (similar here), Mittens: Fub, Boots: Grenson (similar here), Bag: Flattered