The First Quarter | 2022 so far

I’ve been severely lacking in Things I Love instalments this year, and even since last summer, really, so I figured I’d remedy that even though we’re three months into the year already. So, here is the first quarter, 2022 so far. (Who knows, maybe this will be a new thing for the future!)

January

January was sweet, like it was last year. That’s been a surprise, because I always have this weird, dichotomous relationship with the first month of the year: it is at once refreshing to have a new start, and it is also quite sad and slow after the previous month’s festivities and warmth. However, the past two years have offered to me an alternative, and I have gladly embraced that.

New Year’s dawned sleepy but bright, and we spent the day consuming far too much cheese and chocolate. The first few days of the year saw me setting my goals—which I was very intentional and mindful with. I only wrote a few, around fifteen or so, and that’s so little in comparison to my usual, self-centred, bucket list style of the past. I opted to write resolutions that I hope are less about me and more about Christ, or about ways that I can glorify Him through my betterment.

getting into the swing of 2022

January saw the return of basketball season, so it was off again to Josh and Ethan’s games, usually with Keely in tow, after spending the day together <3 I really took advantage of my last unemployed month :’)

Got back into football this month!!! Finally!!! The beginning of some “full-circle-i-am-fulfilling-cherished-dreams-of-yore” moments. Leicester City frustrate me sometimes, but I love them <333

My mama got another year older, I finally finished The Night Circus, and I FINALLY started watching the Marvel films!! (and we doin this in chronological order, let’s go) (i have so many to watch, o no) (and new shows and such all da time, will i ever catch up??)

onto the next

The month was nicely closed with a delightful “Brie” weekend with my Keely-Brie!! A lovely day spent thrifting for books, eating delicious food, watching Guardians 1, and a basketball game to finish the day. The sleepover was inaugurated with mac n cheese, cornbread, and PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. Because of course. ‘tis us, after all.

Reads: The Night Circus, Anne of Avonlea, A Christmas Carol, Chimes, and The Cricket on the Hearth, HP7, Snow Treasure, Salt to the Sea, Anne of the Island, & The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

Monthly playlist: bright winter and new years

February

The month flew by, but it was full of enchantments and nice changes.

The final bits of basketball season mingled with my very first week at work. And what a week it was. I was hired as a sub, but thankfully fell in love with the first school site I worked with, and since my lovely coworkers could take me at my hours, I was contracted by the end of the week! I’ve been there ever since, and it’s been such a wonderful way to start working in education. I’ve learned so much and have even been able to implement some of the concepts I’ve learned in grad school thus far.

happy dappy

I ~finally~ bought some capsule wardrobe items because I did not have any professional attire :’) The vibes are immaculate: light academia, 90s, all around a good time. (Unfortunately at this point in the year, spring and summer weather are very much mingled, and it’s going to be time for me to pick up some more fitting bits for that haha.)

Somehow, and wonderfully, I was able to very much stick to my routines—exercising in the mornings before work, getting enough rest (I even upped my 8 hours of sleep to 9, and omg, never going back now), and still reading each night before bed (because that was typically the only time I had to read with this adjustment lmao).

I’m really really proud of myself for that. It’s been rough and tumble, and my goodness, I have never been so exhausted as I was that first week of work, but it’s been so worth it and rewarding to keep on top of my health, fitness, and mental wellness through it all.

Reads: Anne of Windy Poplars, Anne’s House of Dreams, & The Love Hypothesis (reading has been tricky and a bit slow in 2022, i don’t like that, it makes me feel less full, but i’ve been trying to learn that that’s okay sometimes)

Monthly playlist: from across the room

March

March was truly a madness….get it? My schedule went up and down a bit, and my routines were kind of lost, and I definitely got less sleep than I did in February, but again, I stayed consistent where it mattered, and I’m glad for that. (I’ve gotten back to my routines as of late, so thankfully, that’s in the past haha.)

And though I nicely had spring break the second week of the month, I did not have break from work :’) We move though, and I made sure to do something nice and enjoyable for myself each and everyday, and so, it ended up being quite a refreshing week regardless.

all the cosy drinkies

Lots of delish espresso and oatmilk lattes at Julie’s in the mornings, finally starting my essay on Tolkien’s unbelievable ability to execute imagery like no one else (see: “The Stairs of Cirith Ungol”), and Monday’s after work—matcha from Collect and reading CWF, my first Rooney.

a breath of sea air

The final weekend of March was celebrating Melody’s birthday in Pismo, our most favouritest place <3

To smell the sea again, hear the gulls crying overhead, and feel the brine in my hair was such peace and repose. A very much needed weekend away, and one in which I happily finished my schoolwork by midday on Saturday at Café Andreini and was able to enjoy the rest of my time with a light heart and burden free mind.

Reads: Dubliners, The Last Battle (leftover from 2021, omg), Anne of Ingleside, & Conversations with Friends

Monthly playlist: wilting tulips & early starts

And now April’s warmer days & sunnier skies call…

There’s 2022 so far, the first quarter now done and dusted. Idk, I kinda like this format, but then again, I really like monthly wrap-ups. How has the first quarter of your 2022 been so far? I hope it’s been full of wellness, mindfulness, and little joys every which way xxx

first quarter 2022 first quarter 2022