Work Out Treats!

Today I was back to working... I want to say working out but actually it was just work plain and simple... I mean it WAS a nightmare to get to work, and involved a lot of me being overly cautious about getting to work which in itself was a workout, yet working out in truth it was not... AND when I did get to work, I allowed myself to have a happy, little treat... 

I have never been one for working out, I have always been good at doing things to keep myself busy but as for doing exercises I'm useless at it... The only time I'd do any stretches would be to reach out for something delicious to eat. 
Rudh has the right idea, going for a work out in her Home Gym - which happens to be a backdrop from Synnergy.Tavis - and while she's doing her exercises, she has to practice her balance as she reaches into her Donut Bag - from Junk Food - and grad herself more than one of the sweet, iced treats... 

What is she wearing;
Hair: [monso] - Aina Hair in Black & Red
Skin: amara beauty - Freya in Ivory|
Top: miss chelsea - Ciri Set in Cardi
Pants: miss chelsea - Ciri Set in Pants
Shoes: miss chelsea - Emme Set in Sneakers
Pose & Weight: FOXCITY - Balance V2, Pose 1
Doughnuts & Bag: Junk Food - Donut Bag & Coffee in PINK BAG
Balls: dust bunny - Cedar Retreat in Exercise Ball in Yellow & lmndrp - Exercise Ball in Blue
Half Ball: Promagic - Workout-Bosu Ball in Blue
Wall Weights: ionic - Time to exercise!
Yoga Mats: CHEZ MOI - Mandala Mat Holder
Backdrop: SYNNERGY.TAVIS - Home Gym {360} Light Backdrop

Decorations Don't Go Quietly!

It's that most yucky of days after the Christmas festivities in my house today... I'm not sure if it's today or tomorrow that it's traditional to take down Christmas decorations but in our house, we took the decor down today. I was not looking forward to it, but it has been done, everything is ready to be stashed away again and things look dark and empty... 

It makes me laugh how we use the same things over and over and over again, I'm not one of those people that wants a pristine or chic looking Christmas tree, I LOVE it when things are colourful and mismatched and traditions that remain the same every year... I know, especially in times like this, I want things to be cozy and comforting... I dislike this darkness that has decended in my living room today... It's only going to get emptier as we prepare the house for our moving date... 
While stuffing things in to the old chests in the Attic, I made a little discovery... One of the Gingerbread men that had appeared in many of my posts over the festive period was REALLY not ready to return to his Spring/Summer/Autumn sleep, he got angry and tried to Choke Me Out - he's a festive release from Tardfish that I HOPE will still be available in the mainstore but let me know if I'm wrong please! - and well since he wanted to stay awake I'll just have to take his place for a long nap in a cosy old trunk... 

What is she wearing;
Hat: Mug - Santa Baby Gacha Item in #4 Santa Hat Red
Hair: Wasabi - Zyra Hair in Offbeat
Skin: amara beauty - Freya in Ivory
Boa: Mug - Santa Baby Gacha Item in #2 Christmas Boa RARE
Friend: Tardfish - Choke Me Out Ginge
Top: everfaery - Gia Set in Top
Socks: everfaery - Gia Set in Stockings
Pose & Chest Prop: [piXit] - Forgotten Joy, Pose F1
Christmas Decorations: 
    Boxes: DRD - The Last Christmas Shop in Old Ornaments
    Tinsel: DRD - The Last Christmas Shop in Garland Pile
    Bauble Crates: [Canape] - Christmas Tote w/Ornaments in Green 
    Boxed Christmas Tree: DRD - The Last Christmas Shop in Tree In A Box 
    Broken Ornaments: Violetility - Broken Ornaments
    Light Tangle: DRD - Christmas Lights in FUCK IT
    Ornament Organiser: [Canape] - Ornaments Storage Case in Red
    Wrapping Paper: DRD - The Last Christmas Shop in Wrapping Paper
Backdrop: blaink - Last Day of ...

A Moment To Pause...

Home after a very short trip to see my parents in the UK over New Years... Every time I come back it always feels like it was never long enough and I feel totally and utterly empty at the moment. I miss my family and the homesickness never seems to get any easier, but I guess on that note I should warn you... This is my first pensive post of the year, it won't be all fun and games as I have a lot of rambling thoughts to share. If you're not wanting to read all that, I understand, but enjoy the picture and the credits at the bottom of my ramble... Otherwise read on... 

I'm home again, back in my little house on Gingerbread Lane - in this case a backdrop from Synnergy.Tavis - and while Hell is unloading the car, I'm going to take a moment to sit and talk with you over a nice cup of coffee from my cozy Thermos Flask - from andika, available until January 27th at Anthem - and I don't know why but being the snow feels peaceful right now... 
As I've been hinting lately, there will be a LOT of things happening this year and my mind is totally distracted and crazed and not in a very happy place right now... If you asked me about any resolutions for this year, I'd tell you that I simply want to get through the year with everything going smoothly, everyone around me being happy, and all the troubles passing by in the blink of a eye... 
HellBone and I have a MASSIVE undertaking starting in February. Per Dutch Law, our house is in need of some major rennovations. We have to move out for 6 months, and although we're lucky in that the cheese company I work for is able to provide me temporary accomodations for that time, I'm MOVING and we have to clear out the ENTIRE GROUND FLOOR of our house... There is SO MUCH to do and I'm stressing about that... Packing, organising, tidying, cleaning, travelling back and forward to our new location to get things sorted, I need a break already and we haven't even started... 
On another note, there is illness in my family and it makes me worry even more... My grandmother is 93 and suffering with demensia, she also cannot get herself out of bed anymore without the help of a nurse. My grandfather is trying but it's a stress on him, yet he's too stubborn to let anyone else help, and it's causing fights with others in the family. Then there is my Mum... In October, my mum was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. It's not going to be viable to surgically remove the cancer, so she is going to be undergoing intensive chemo for the next few months. At the moment it's all a case of wait and see what is happening and how things will go, I'm remaining strong for her but behind closed doors I'm broken and crying and STILL trying to focus on the move just to stop myself jumping back on a plane to see my mummy again... 
I'm not in a good place, this year has just started and I'm going to need all the luck I can get. Please bear with me if I start getting upset or my blogging is erratic... If you need support or love or someone to listen, I'll always be here, just remember I care even if I'm not doing well. Keep everything crossed for my mum, for my grandma and for my sanity... I already can't wait for 2026 to be done... OH AND on top of all that, this year I TURN 40!!! Bring it on 2026... 

What is she wearing;
Hat & Hair: Wasabi - Butterscotch Winter Ed. Hair in Absolute Pack
Skin: amara beauty - Freya in Ivory
Shirt: miss chelsea - Fira Set in Shirt (Available until January 27th at Anthem)
Top: miss chelsea - Fira Set in Tank (Available until January 27th at Anthem)
Shorts & Tights: miss chelsea - Fira Set in Shorts (Available until January 27th at Anthem)
Thermos & Cup: andika - {Quiet Calls} Dispenser Set (Available until January 27th at Anthem)
Pose: -Extra- - Brewed Bliss, Pose 2
Truck: Pitaya & Tropix - Harvest truck in GREEN
Wreath: vespertine - Classic Felt Christmas Wreath
Backdrop: Synnergy.Tavis - Gingerbread Lane{360} Backdrop

It's 2026! Happy New Year!!

Well it's 2026... The old year has passed and the new year has officially started... In the UK it seemed like a pretty sober affair, apparently it was quieter than it has been in previous years around where my parents live but then when we spoke to people in the NL it was like being in a war zone... There have been reports of fires and issues with fireworks, but that's normal for us in the NL... 
ANYWAY, I'm rambling. When I am home again at the weekend, I will be a little more thoughtful, honest and rambling with things that are comin for the new year but for now... Let's enjoy the festive feeling a little longer?!

SO HAPPY NEW YEAR... 
I hope that your passing from 2025 to the new year of 2026 was a happy and uneventful... I hope that you were in a place that made you feel happy and hopeful and that it sparkled. I mean if that's the change you were going for anyway, I LOVED that it was peaceful, I'd have been happy to spend the new year change with my eyes closed. 
There are so many things coming in the next few months that I NEED the downtime to allow myself to get stronger for what will come... ANYWAY, I will see you again properly on Sunday, for NOW enjoy the last few days of a peaceful weekend and don't miss my ramblings too much... I'm not sure anyone besides me will, but if you are out there... HAPPY NEW YEAR MY LOVELIES!!! 

What is she wearing;
Hair Accessory: Kiu - Happy New Year Headband in Stars
Hair: Sintiklia - Hair Stella in FLF Special
Skin: amara beauty - Freya in Ivory
Glasses: (Yummy) - NYE 2026 Glasses
Necklace: (Yummy) - Oversized Pearl Gemstone Necklace
Top: miss chelsea - Megu Tank
Confetti: hive - Confetti Poppers
Pose: -Extra- - All the Love
Fireworks: CELESTE - Firework Light
Backdrop: Synnergy - Starbright Backdrop 

New Year's Glam

Today is New Year's Eve and I'm happy to report that I am going to be celebrating with my parents in the UK... SO yes, technically I am away and not really able to function much on SL, but you should know me better than this, you should know that I am addicted and cannot pass a special event like the changing of the year without actually acknowledging things... 
Let's make things a little more festively sparkly for the changing of the year shall we... 

I wasn't sure what I wanted my last picture for 2025 to be, it took a little while but I KNEW I wanted to do somethin reasonably New Year's Glam ish... I'm not doing anything glam in my RL, just a quiet night with my parents probably watching the Christmas episode of Strictly Come Dancing LOL... AND I am very very very happy with that plan... I avoided the Dutch Firework Chaos after all... 
SO let's just imagine we're going to a glamourous New Year Party shall we... One with lots of delicious hors d'oeuvres and champagne... HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!! Be careful out there but have a wonderful celebration tonight... 

What is in the picture;
Caviar: (Lucas Lameth) - Caviar & Salmon Lox
Shrimp Hors D'Oeuvres: (Lucas Lameth) - Shrimp, Avocado, Cucumber Canape
Drink Tray with Lemons & Glasses: BROKEN ARROWS - Festive Fizz in Drink Tray
Tower Server: (Lucas Lameth) - Seafood Tower
Champagne Bucket: BROKEN ARROWS - Festive Fizz in Golden Ice Bucket
Bust: tres blah - Salad Days Gacha Item in Graceful Bust RARE
Tooters: Junk Food - Party Horns
Hats: hive - New Years Eve Party Hat in Black
Balloons: hive - Star Balloons Pack
Table & Chairs: random.Matter - The Queen's Dining in Neutrals
Plant: Apple Fall - Aspidistra in Wicker Planter
Backdrop: Amitie - Mirror Mirror Backdrop 

2025's Dumpster Fire

Well hello hello, welcome back after the Christmas festivities, and I hope that you had the most wonderful of Christmasses... I've been thoroughly spoilt and had enough books for at least a half year of reading... My reading total this year was 70ish and I had more than half of that for Christmas... Yet the year isn't over, we still have a few more days left of 2025 before the celebrationof New Year and that's where I will be getting off for a bit... I'm going to go home to see my parents...

2026 will be a massive year in my house... I am going to be celebrating my 40th birthday on March 19th, Hell and I will be moving to temporary accomodations from February15th as we have some MAJOR rennovations taking place in our home and there are so many things worrying me about that ranging from issues with builders and work being done to my poor little cat being stressed as we're moving from place to place, and my mother will begin her chemotherapy, but there will be more about that when I'm feeling strong enough to share the details.. Things will be insanely busy next year and I am thoroughly in need of a rest... I'm going to set fire to this dumpster full of 2025 garbage... A 2025 Dumpster Fire if you will - which in this case is actually a toy created by Junk Food for the current round of The Fifty and comes in a package as well as loose that can be rezzed... 
I'll send my love, hugs and well wishes for the end of 2025 and see you in 2026... 

What is she wearing;
Hat & Hair: TRUTH & Wasabi - Apres Ski in Redhead
Skin: amara beauty - Freya in Ivory
Jacket: Gabriel - Vivid Off-shoulder Fur in Pink
Top: The Kiwi Co - Cozy Essentials Top in Winter Edition
Pants: The Kiwi Co - Cozy Essentials Leggings in Holiday Patterns
Passport: Movement - Passaport and luggage tag in BLACK
Pose: [piXit] - Shoe Me, Pose F3
Fire: Junk Food - Dumpster Fire Toy (Available until January 20th at The Fifty)
Case: FOXCITY. Prop - Luggage in Pink
Backdrop: PALETO.Backdrop - 14B

A Feast for the Festive Days

Well Ladies and Gents, that's it... We've made it to the most festive few days of the year... Christmas is upon us and people will be celebrating either tomorrow or Thursday, depending on where you are and what your traditions have always been... I'm going to be working tomorrow, and I get to work my butt off on Thursday to make a Christmas dinner for my hubby and monster-in-law, but it won't be long and before we know it, it will have passed us by once more... Enjoy it while we can... 

I spent a long time trying to work out what I wanted to do as my last post for the festive season and I'll be honest, there was a lot of things I really found it hard to do. I wasn't going to do something uber festive, I don't feel special enough at the moment but there is always one thing that will make me happy... FOOD... I'm a collector of the stuff when it comes to Second Life, and I love sitting around sharing foods with friends and family while we chat and spend time together... 
So I'm setting out a picky snacky feast, full of cheese, and other Christmassy nibbles... I've thrown together a few little decorations and there will be champagne to enjoy... 
Before I start to enjoy this delicious looking Christmas feast, I wanted to spend a moment to wish everyone a very festive holiday, and a very merry whatever you're having... Happy Christmas, Feliz Navidad, Joyeux Noel and Fijne Feestdagen... 

What is she wearing;
Teddy Bears: YOKAI - Teddy Christmas in Christmas Tree Teddy in Brown
Macrons: BROKEN ARROWS - Sweet Tower in Tree
Olive Tree: {vespertine} - Festive Cheeseball in Tree(Available until January 17th at Anthology)
Chips & Dip: Junk Food - Christmas Potato Chips (Available until January 17th at Anthology)
Charcuterie Tree: Junk Food - Christmas Charcuterie Tree
Snowman: {vespertine} - Festive Cheeseball in Snowman (Available until January 17th at Anthology)
Wings: (Lucas Lameth) - Chicken Wings Party Dipper
Pigs in Blankets: (Lucas Lameth) - Pigs in Blankets, Ketchup
Candy Cane: Dahlia - Seasonal Candy in Candy Cane Jar Red
Present Boxes: KraftWork - 2024 Advent Calendar Item in Panetone Box
Garlands: {vespertine} - Felt Holiday Mantel Garlands
Doily: Deco Soup - Vintage Doily
Table: Apple Fall - Holyoke Dining Table in Aged Oak