BLOGMAS Day 1 of 12 : Taking stock

Welcome to BLOGMAS day 1! I am kicking off this series with the classic ‘Taking Stock’ post. It’s a fun way of checking in with yourself using prompts to guide you.

Also, consider this my excuse to share some bits from my gallery.

Wanting: to do a birthday shoot this year for the 5th time in a row. Will I actually follow through? At least I’m sure of the cake flavour I want.

Cooking: and I are in a love-hate relationship. I think as an eldest daughter, there is just something there. I mostly do it myself if I am chasing a specific flavour profile that only I can achieve for myself, but let’s see how this evolves next year. But if anyone asks, my answer remains, I don’t know how to cook.

Sipping: on a Fanta lemon as I write this.

Reading: comments on TikTok will reveal what your true laugh sounds like. Go ahead, do it and find out. Also, don’t sleep on Substack. There are such good pieces on there!

Waiting: is one of those things that’s a dance. Sometimes waiting can bring clarity on what to do next and set you up for amazing things, but at the same time, it can also be cripplin,g especially if you’re waiting for things to be perfectly aligned before taking any action. I think it takes a lot of wisdom to know when to stop waiting and start acting. Trust yourself to know when to stop waiting and when to wait it out.

Looking: through some of my favourite moments this year, and it’s getting kind of blurry. I never thought some things would be in the cards for me this year, but God did!

Listening: to Asake’s songs on repeat because I got concert tickets and I want to sing along to more than one song, please.

Learning: never stops. Truly. Even in the most unexpected places. While it sounds cliché, I really take that description ‘lifelong learner’ very seriously. I always want to learn everything. So much so that I’ve even considered going to med school just for the knowledge. I want to know everything. It’s no wonder that I’m always doing a short course or something every couple of months. The TikTok video below captures it so well.

Enjoying: one of my recent perfume buys a little too much. It’s called Divine by JPG. I think it’s ideal for special occasions, like attending a wedding or an evening-to-night event/date. It’s one of those scents that will catch people’s attention. If you like Scandal by JPG, you’ll like this too.

Appreciating: the day-to-day privileges I get to experience. You know, like that moment when you’re at the supermarket, and you’re not worried if you have enough money for the things you’ve bought. Being able to have a slow day at work for one reason or another. Complaining about how cold it is in another country… etc

Eating: a lot of grapes and watermelon lately. I think they are my current favourite fruits, especially when chilled and accompanied with cold water 🤭

Looking: forward to putting together my vision board for 2026. I usually just do it on Canva and then use the final image as my lock screen across my devices so that I can see it regularly. One of my intentions this time is to be more specific when I put it together.

Loving: this lip gloss. It’s the Kiko 3D hydragloss in number 16, and shade Iridescent Ruby. I typically like going for more maroon hues, but I’m realizing lighter colours look better on my lips when it comes to glosses, and darker for lipsticks.

Justifying: every purchase I am making this month with ‘it’s my birthday month’. Is it irresponsible? Maybe. But it makes me happy, so let’s just focus on that.

Wondering: how people see me. Especially when meeting me for the first time. Like when someone looks at my face, what features of mine stand out to them, for example. I think it’d be so interesting to know. I saw a video where someone was blind painting a portrait. Firstly, based on a person’s own description of themselves and then based on how a stranger described that person. What do you think was the outcome?

Thinking: of starting a new hobby in 2026. I think I just need to get over that feeling of I don’t want to suck at something. Allow myself to not take everything so seriously and just enjoy moments of childlike joy and curiosity.

Watching: a football game is just a recipe for lifelong anxiety. You can’t tell me otherwise. I actually can’t do it. Like, how do you move on from the team you were supporting losing? I’m still reliving CHAN moments and can’t believe Harambee Stars didn’t get to the final. Now imagine if I supported ManU 🤭 ( had to).

Praying: that all the girlies reading this get everything that they have ever wanted.

Wearing: your favourite colour is excellent for mental health. It’s so underrated how quickly it can lift your spirits.

Noticing: that I don’t like the travel bit of going on holiday. I would prefer to teleport, actually. I just want to be at the destination already, because what do you mean it’s a 13-hour flight?

Bookmarking: has become a lost art for me. What a shocker! Same with taking screenshots. I just came to terms with the fact that 90% of the time, I rarely go back to them.

Coveting: a certain Volvo 😮‍💨 I literally can’t wait for the day I’ll own it. It seems unattainable to me at times, but I also know better than to underestimate how fast things could turn around in my favour. Constantly reminding myself that everything I want is within my reach.

Feeling: really grateful for the year I have had. It’s not been all rosy, but if I compare it to 2024? I might have almost struck gold this year. Cheers to that!

Hoping: that you will keep up with all the upcoming BLOGMAS posts. See you tomorrow for day 2!