Open-hearted joys 開開心心 63

Hello my loves! Freshly home from another trip (I think our last of the year!), I’m feeling so refreshed and restored. Even though I have a diary jam-packed with Christmas events, I feel like my cup’s been filled and I’m ready to go! Are you feeling festive yet? Between our travels and prepping plenty of new content(!!) for the blog and social media, everything is definitely feeling very exciting and Christmassy.

There’s a lot to be said for appreciating the smaller, not necessarily finer, details of the everyday mundane. Here’s to another list of petite, open-hearted joys, the moments that’ve brought and woven poetry to my days, this fortnight:

一. Milky orange sunrises that cast a golden glaze on marmalade-orange trees.

二. Lunch and a long afternoon catch-up with the girls. Life is so busy in our thirties’ that it feels all the more special to spend time with them. From upcoming trips to how we’re all trying to Get Dressed for Our Mental Health, we really talked about everything under the sun.

三. A Monday morning matcha. The best way to start a new working week.

四. Celebrating two years with my love in Marrakech – another new-to-us destination.

五. And, a pre-anniversary spa day at our beloved AIRE Ancient Baths in London! I haven’t spoken about this destination before because I wanted to keep it our little secret, but it is just such a decadent treat. We spent our day in the city and it was so nice to check out this year’s Christmas lights, lounge in AIRE, enjoy massages, and round it all off with dinner at BAO. (Minimal vegan options at their James Street, Marylebone branch, btw!)

六. How good it feels to be stuck into a writing project. Long may it continue! I’ve been studying a new fiction-writing course, and it’s been great for shifting the creative blocks I’d been struggling with for a good few years now. Now to keep up the habit…

七. The roasted veg and hummus with couscous salad I’ve been eating for lunch.

八. The deep autumn/early winter wardrobe switch. Yes, it’s ATW scarf season at last!

九. Blue skies and crisp, British November air. It never gets old.

十. Starting to plan my 2024 TBR. I think I want to be really considered with my reading next year and I’m looking forward to sharing my bookish plans with you all soon. Apparently, we’re going full book content these days!


What are some small joys from your world lately?

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