hello DECEMBER
WAHOO! I made it to the end of the year and with 12 monthly round up blog posts done too! I hope you’ve enjoyed reading along and re-capping each month with me?
Personally, I find it really useful, not only to stop, breathe and take a few moments to appreciate what I’ve achieved each month but it helps me feel incredibly grateful and never take this job and life I’m working hard at for granted.
I’m not here to get deep with you all though - I’ll leave that to the professional and more eloquent writers. I’m here to re-live a bit of the festive madness that was DECEMBER! I’m going to keep it light on words and heavy on photos because, let’s be honest… nobody needs me waffling on for ages.
So this month, I’m breaking it into 4 parts : WORK, PLAY, HOME and AWAY (oooh I did a poem!)
WORK
December always flashes by with work being rather full on. I had a lot of fun completing commission, packing all of your lovely orders and making some rather cheeky jumpers for my giveaway winners.
Working away on commissions I can’t share, so here’s a lovely photo by @hollyphotobooth
Ready for the final post run of the season! @sunshine_jo
Cheeky little Jumpers are off to some rather naughty giveaway winners! @sunshine_jo
Christmas Corgis
I also had the pleasure of working on some festive Clarence the Corgi illustrations of the lovely PR team at Royal Yacht Britannia. I created Clarence for them back in 2015 and he pops up on products in the gift shop, some promotional materials and has even appeared on some of the buses in Edinburgh. SO I was thrilled to be asked to work on some more versions for them.
Might have done a small excited wee when this Christmas card arrived!
Which one is your favourite? I can’t decide between Clarence tangled in fairy lights and him in the holly wreath…
party time, excellent
It was also time for the Hello Sunshine Christmas Party this month too. My favourite party of the year, mainly because it’s just me and The Beard and we go out to eat nice food, drink nice drinks and enjoy an afternoon/evening off. I brushed my hair, wore a dress and everything!
Brushed my hair and everything! @sunshine_jo
PLAY
As well as the Hello Sunshine Christmas Party, I also had the pleasure of attending another THREE! I took the opportunity to brush my hair and wear some nice outfits again too - I mean, it might not happen for another year.
ALL THE SPARKLES for Fitcamp Christmas Party no.1! @jo_wants_adventure
The only photos I took at the Cambridge Creatives Christmas Party were of the FOOD!
Another glittery top and a fab evening with the Fitcamp Mids Ladies! @jo_wants_adventure
The pineapple of my eye
My fab friend and MEGA TALENTED artist, Amy came to hang out with me in Cambridge for the day too. We enjoyed all the burgers, mac ’n’ cheese, pizza, wine and a GIANT pineapple as we visited the brilliant Feast and Famine exhibition at the Fitzwilliam museum.
Hanging with Amy and a giant PINEAPPLE! @jo_wants_adventure
It was my first visit to the Fitzwilliam (which I’m ashamed to admit) and I was blown away - it’s such a stunning, interesting and inspiring place and it’s completely FREE! I’ve got to make sure I visit more in 2020!
Duckypoos Date Night
My bestie and partner in crime also visited for a cheeky date night in December. We went out for festive cocktails and the most amazing vegan food at Doppleganger followed by watching my absolute fave Christmas film, Elf, at the Arts Picturehouse.
@dopplegangerburger date night with my Duckypoos 🍔 The perfect way to kick start Christmas 🎄 The festive menu and cocktails were incredible 👌🏻 @jo_wants_adventure
We wore the Christmas Jumpers we bought one another last year and had the best time eating, drinking, being merry and watching The Mighty Boosh well into the night.
BFFs, 4EVA. @jo_wants_adventure
STOP! Paddle time!
It may be Winter and cold as hell in the mornings but that didn’t stop us getting out on the water this month. We joined the lovely Heron & Hush gang for one of their Sunday SUPper clubs, it was SO WINDY and a lot of hard work coming back across the lake but I LOVED IT!
Nothing like a ‘cool breeze’ to kick you in the face in the morning! @jo_wants_adventure
We also joined H&H in Bedford again for their festive paddle in collaboration with lovely Anna from SUPer Whale. It was ace to see everyone in their festive outfits and we all had a lot of fun and giggles on the water.
#repost @heronandhush ☃️ This morning the Festive SUP crew took to the water at Priory Country Park to spread some Christmas cheer in our very first Heron and Hush Festive Paddle with an added @whale_super merger for extra #girlpower 📸 As you can see, we were also joined by the amazing @sprite.photos who captured all the festive frolicking beautifully 🙏🏼
Have yoursELF a SUPer little Christmas 🎄
Happy Birthday Mummy Sunshine
It was Mummy Sunshine’s birthday this month and I took a day trip up to Nottingham to take her out for a surprise afternoon tea. We went to The Pudding Pantry and stuffed ourselves with the most incredible sandwiches, scones and cakes!
Treats for the Birthday Girl! @jo_wants_adventure
The whole family went out in the evening to celebrate too and it was so nice to spend time with everyone… especially this not-so-little tinker, who also turned 9 this month! NINE!?! Where did those years go???
My not so teeny tiny bestie 💛
HOME
As well as all that work and play, December was actually a month full of quite grown up (dull) tasks around the house. Might seem boring to document here but to me it’s important because these three things have been on my ’SORT IT’ list since I moved here in 2015!
Drilling holes, cutting bigger holes and fitting our new fridge! EXCITING!
Removing most of the garden from our shed and asking the spiders to politely move out!
Painting the kitchen walls and ceiling… most of it went on me tbh.
AWAY
I thought I’d end this post with a little peek at our Christmas Campervan Adventure. I’ll write a proper post about the whole trip at some point in the New Year but for now, here are a few festive photos and a hint at what we got up to…
Camp fires and Baileys Hot Chocolates 🔥
Brews in and on Buddy ☕️
Christmas Day Dip! 💦
Christmas Dinner cooked in Buddy - SUCCESS! 🙌🏻
Surf’s up - I’m still sh*t but I love it 🏄🏼
Happy Holidays from the #Anoraktwatsontour!
So… there you have it. The final monthly round up post of the year (and there’s still a day to go!) Normally we would be running off in a tent for NYE but after our week away, I think a night in is in order. Plus the cats would never forgive us if we left them again so soon!
I think we’re off to Thetford Forest for a wander tomorrow and then we’ll be snuggling up in front of the fire with the cats, all the snacks and some films. Perfect, cosy night in and a relaxing way to say ‘Toodlepip’ to 2019.
Whatever you may be up to on NYE, I hope you have a fabulous one with your favourite people and the very best snacks! Thank you again for reading my little updates this year and here’s wishing you all a very…