Five Things In December 2021

Happy new year, gorgeousness! I hope you don't mind this coming a bit later than expected because I just have so much on my plate at the moment. While the holiday season looked a bit different this year, I didn't expect it to be hustling and bustling like this. Anyway, it's the first week of January but it still feels like December to me. 

I think I have underestimated just about every year of my life. I have completed a full calendar year as a full-time freelancer and a small business owner. That feels refreshing, to say the least. I love being able to pour myself into this direction because as a creature of habit, change terrifies me. Okay, before I dive deeper into sharing what's on the air, here are five things that made me happy and grateful in December 2021.

Learning how to drive!

Hello, my name is Lenne, I am in my mid-20s and I just had my first driving lesson. I was. On. The. Road! It was a huge deal because I never wanted to learn how to drive but I felt like it was time. I am enjoying my experience so far and can't wait for the new experiences driving will bring me. 

During the first week, my instructor AKA my s/o taught me how to turn left and right, emerge from junctions, negotiate crossroads and even shift gears so that we don't come flying down steep hills. Driving was always nerve-wracking to me, as there were so many things to remember all at the same time. But the small things like checking the mirrors regularly, feeling when the car needs to change gears, become more like second nature now. Though, of course, I am still making mistakes, I feel confident about my progress so far and looking forward to continuing down the road.

Maybelline instant age rewind concealer

Don't you just love revisiting makeup products that you were once can't live without and realize after all these years they are still amazing? I recently bought the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind concealer because I read Danielle's blog post and I forgot how good that concealer is! I wore it throughout all my driving lessons and it still looks great after hours and hours in an air-conditioned space. 

December after-the-pen bullet journal flip through

The theme was inspired by the talented lil._.bujo on Instagram. I know I say this every month but I love this theme so much. It's perfect for the season and it's so dreamy and cosy! 

I had a lot of fun time recreating this spread. I am living for the aesthetics and all the cosy vibes. I love these adorable doodles but in 2022, I kind of want to take it down a notch. We will have to see! Or you can kind of see my January 2022 bullet journal spread on Instagram right this second.

Tealive mango passion fruit smoothie with pudding

I slept on this drink for as long as I can remember and I regret it. It's honestly underrated because it's so delish! Tealive smoothies are to die for, in my opinion. They have different concoctions available for their smoothies menu but I think this one takes the cake. I don't usually put a topping on my drinks but one day they accidentally put a topping, specifically, the pudding. Lo and behold — I fell in love — it actually tastes so much better with the pudding. Now, this has quickly become one of my staple orders.

Two days in the life of a substitute teacher

The second week of December I spend two days with a group of Standard 6 in an urban school, substitute teaching for three classes — Math, Design and Technology and Arabic. To say the experience was enervating or rewarding is an understatement. I don't know if you remember this but I said before I won't make the cut as a good teacher. I am not very good with kids just so you know. I don't even know why I said yes to this.

Anyway, it's almost impossible for me to believe this but more than a few students told me I was the best substitute teacher they have ever had. One student even came to me and said "Why don't you just keep teaching us? You're pretty cool as a teacher". I was stunned. During their lunch break, some of the students still recognize me at the school canteen and greeted me with "Jemput makan, miss", which means "let's eat" in a more polite way. And once the day ended, some of the students waved me goodbye and some even said "have a nice weekend, miss!" to me. Oh, my heart!

Those kids were so precious. I hope I get a chance to go back, though. I think I will be just fine being a teacher, right? 

I hope you had a wonderful 2021 and that 2022 will be wonderful-er for you! <3