Happy New Year everyone!
🌟
The most festive month of the year always passes by so fast, and this one was no exception at all. With very busy work days, a weekend getaway and the long-awaited end-of-year holidays from work, I feel like I was writing my November review yesterday!
My favourite things this month:
- The festive atmosphere and Christmas markets: one of the only thing that manages to lift my spirits despite the very short days and the cold and miserable weather of December is the overall cosy and festive atmosphere everywhere. Christmas markets play a huge role in this, as I just love the festive cheer, the smell of melted cheese, chocolate and mulled wine, the pretty decorations and fairy lights, and the pretty things that are on display!
- Baby turtles:I’ve talked about them in previous years, and I will keep doing it! This year too, I have “adopted” a pawikan nest with the Pag-asa Pawikan Protection and Conservation Center, thanks to the fantastic work of my blogger friends, Markus and Micah. Please check out their article about it and consider donating a bit of money for this great cause!
- Candles:I bought a bunch of candles with wintery/Christmassy scents at the beginning of the month, and loved to have one burning in my house from time to time. Not only they make my house smell amazing, but they also create such a nice and cosy vibe, especially in the evening!
- Pandoro: quite a random point, but if you’ve already tried Pandoro, then you’ll probably get it. It is a traditional Christmas cake/brioche from the region of Verona (where Romeo & Juliet is set!) in Italy. It is quite plain, with a light vanilla flavour, topped with icing sugar and star-shaped. It is probably one of my favourite things to eat around Christmas, and it is absolutely perfect for breakfast! Here’s a picture for you!
- My advent calendars: I absolutely love advent calendars, and this year I got two amazing ones from my boyfriend. One is more traditional with delicious chocolates – perfect for when I want something sweet after lunch – and the other one is from a brand of tea, with a selection of flavours to try – which is perfect for my morning or afternoon tea!
My latest trips and adventures
- A long weekend in Vienna: at the beginning of the month, I took the overnight train with some friends to go to the beautiful city of Vienna and enjoy the festive atmosphere there. While the weather was really cold, it was amazing to just walk around in a city I already knew and go back to places we loved.
- The Brussels Christmas market: it was not as beautiful as the Viennese ones, and things sold there were just okay, but the atmosphere was still nice, and the decorations they put up in the centre of Brussels are beautiful!
- Going to see my family for the holidays: as none of my family members live in Belgium, it means I usually have to travel if I want to see them for Christmas. It is always a bit complicated but I’m glad I’m able to go see them a bit, so I went to see one part of my family in Italy, and another one in France!
Hobbies and distractions:
- Reading: I feel like I’ve been reading quite a lot lately, partly because with the shorter days I usually feel more like staying in and cosying up with a book, partly because of long train journeys and, obviously, the holidays. I finally finished The Name of the Wind series, which I absolutely loved, and I am now reading shorter books that I hope to finish during my holidays!
- Christmas movie: This year, I watched one of Netflix’s cheesy Christmas movies called I Believe in Santa. It was not great cinema, but it was still fun and festive, which is all I’m asking to be honest ahah! Have you watched any Christmas movie this year?
- Blogging: I have been pretty active on this blog lately, and I’m quite happy about it. Things might be a bit slower during the holidays, but I’ll resume in January. I’m also glad I finally put up a few articles about my trip to Iceland, and there are still a few to go, so I hope you’re not tired of it yet!
General thoughts:
I feel like December is always a bit stressful in a way, with lots of things to do, both at work and in my personal life, and this year was really no exception. The last week before the holidays was as hectic as it could be, though I am now glad it is finally over and I’m happy to rest a bit and enjoy the guilt-free downtime.
Looking forward to:
- The New Year: I have to say that I am quite excited for the New Year to start. I’ve been longing for a fresh start for some months now, and that’s exactly what I expect for 2023. I’m in the process of setting my goals and intention for the New Year and I’ll also post a Yearly Review soon!
- Lots of exciting projects: the first few months of the year will probably be very busy, and while I dread it a bit because I know it could really impact my routine, I’m also quite excited that many nice things are coming!
- Checking things off my Winter bucketlist: I have already done a few Christmassy bit from my Winter bucketlist, but there are still a few months to go before we move on to spring, so I can’t wait to do more wintery activities!
How was December for you? What are you looking forward to?
In case you missed it:
7 stunning waterfalls to see in Iceland in winter
– My Winter bucketlist
– Magical things to do in Vienna around Christmas
– [I wrote a guest post!] 8 Things to do in Seville
– Winter in Iceland – Things I wish I knew
Sunny Days with Juliette 
Lovely – December is such a festive time isn’t it. I hope you have that new start feeling from tomorrow – Happy New Year 🙂
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Happy New Year to you too and thank you for your support on this blog!
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Hey Juliette, it sounds like you had a very Christmassey month. I’ve always been a sucker for a good Christmas market, but must admit it’s been quite a few years since I’ve visited a really cool/authentic one. I actually know the Brussels one, as I lived in the Belgian capital for two years many moons ago. We are both fans of candles and advent calendars too. Hope you have a good New Year’s evening.
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Oh, well if you haven’t alreay you should go to Vienna to see the Christmas markets next year! It’s so cool that you lived in Brussels too!
Thank you for reading and commenting, and I wish you both a happy New Year!
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Such an exciting December! I literally follow a few YouTubers just to watch them unbox advent calendars since they aren’t huge in India. Which ones did you get?
I’m going to check out ‘I believe in Santa’. I personally watched Klaus this Christmas. It was so cute.
Wishing you an amazing 2023. Happy New Year.
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Ooh I didn’t know advent calendars weren’t popular in India! I always got a pretty simple one with chocolates when I was a kid and this year my boyfriend spoiled me with a fancy chocolate one and one with nice teas 😋
Met me know what you think of ”I believe in Santa” ahah! Happy New Year to you too!
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Sounds like you have had a lovely December, filled with lots of Christmas cheer. The Christmas markets here in Europe are the best. Even though we couldn’t be with our loved ones in the USA, we made the best of it, and enjoyed our first Christmas in France. I hope you have a Happy New Year!
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I’ m glad you enjoyed this time of the year in Frabce, despite the distance from your families! I wish you a happy new year and lots of happiness!
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Wishing you a very happy new year, Juliette! i didn’t watch a single Christmas movie this year, so i am definitely going to give ‘I believe in Santa’ a go!
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Thank you so much and happy New Year to you too! Let me know what you think of it if you get around to seeing it!
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Travel in December usually comes with the constraints of visiting relatives, not to mention the complications of weather, crowds and strikes (for France). So it’s not the same trips as usual but you’ve managed to make the most of it. I wish you a wonderful Happy New Year, full of interesting travels.
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Absolutely, and add to this the crowds you’ll encounter everywhere you go! Anyway, this month of December was very festive! I wish you too a wonderful New Year!
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happy 2023 Juliette! I watched that Santa movie and a few more:)
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Thank you! Happy New Year to you too! What did you think of the movie?
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It was ok, regular xmas movie,nothing too special
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Happy New Year!! What a great month!
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It really was! Happy New Year to you too and thanks for following along!
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happy new year Juliette!
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Thank you! Happy New Year to you too!!
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I looooove Christmas (preferably a winter christmas with Christmas markets!). There were little decorations here except in the big department stores so it didn’t really feel THAT festive. I tried to attend all the Christmas events in Seoul though hahaha! Wishing you a Happy New Year and I hope you get to rest now after Dec!
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Winter definitely makes Christmas more Christmassy somehow ahah! It’s great that you could still enjoy this time of the year despite the lack of decorations! Have a wonderful new year!
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Happy New Year!! Regarding Christmas markets, I also think the ones in Vienna are more authentic 🎄
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Thank you! Happy New Year to you too! Nothing beats the Viennese festive spirit, that’s for sure!
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Aw so cute to hear about the baby turtles you adopted! You accomplished such nice things. Good luck in the New Year!
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The baby turtles were definitely a highlight of the year! Have a wonderful 2023!
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What a festive month you had! I’m glad you got to spend time with your families– and in two different countries, no less! The Christmas spirit was in full swing, and I hope for 2023 to have that fresh start you need. Happy New Year!
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It was absolutely one of the most festive decembers I’ve had ahah! Happy New Year for you too and thanks for dropping by!
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Looks like you had a great month in December with quite a few memories made and I wish. Have an amazing 2023!
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Always excited to read about goals and plans for the year, and I look forward to being part of your journey, with all your exciting projects planned. Also, yay for more reading and blogging. Happy New Year, Juliette!
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Thank you so much for your kind words, and happy New Year to you too!
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Sounds like another lovely and festive month for you, Juliette! It even seems like you were able to squeeze in some time for yourself and I think that’s what’s most important right now! 😀 I hope January will turn out to be just as good if not better! 😀
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Thank you, Lashaan! December was really festive and I’d say January can only get better from now on ahah! 😅 thanks for stopping by!
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