I am quite excited about this new year! I can’t say there’s anything big on the horizon, but I’m keen to use this tranditional transition time to review the last year, iterate, improve, and start some new habits.

Bullet Journal

Late last year I listened to The Bullet Journal Method by Ryder Carroll, and loved it. The best part is the philosophy of intentional living, and how the Bullet Journal (Bujo) can support that. In the past I didn’t understand the purpose of all the modules (aka collections) of the Bujo method, so although my journal was sometimes useful to me, it wasn’t optimal. I also got sucked in, and overwhelmed by, the Instagram accounts that show meticulous and gorgeous journal spreads. This resulted in my journal use being sporadic, and often I felt very reactive to life, instead of reflective and responsive.

Now, having listened to the book, I really understand how the collections work together to create a tool that helps you take time for the things that matter to you. Even though I still love a pretty journal spread, and have prepared some already, I am quite content to switch between artistic and utilitarian as time and desire dictates.

24 for 2024 Trifecta

Gretchen Rubin, author, and host of the Happier podcast has three tools she is calling the 24 for 2024 Trifecta. These are a list of 24 things you want to do within the year, a daily challenge, and a word that is your focus for the year.

24 for 2024

Or 24 in 2024 as I’ve put it in my journal. This list can be anything you want to get done or achieve in the year. They’re a bit like resolutions, but better! One reason they’re better is that you don’t have to put any daily tasks on there if you don’t want to (although I have five on my list). I feel that one of the big reasons that resolutions fail is that people commit to doing something daily, and as soon as they don’t do it for a day or two, they feel they have failed and give up completely. I think by keeping this list for the whole year, even if you do drop your daily tasks, the list is incentive to get back on the horse. Another thing that’s great about this list is that the tasks can be small, or big, or a combination, and you can spread the tasks out over the year, tackling them in whichever order you want. That way you can get repeated warm fuzzies of accomplishment (I think Gretchen calls these tadas), and when you feel stuck, or adrift, you can come back to the list to find a little direction.

Write 24 in 2024

Last year the challenge was to go outside 23 minutes a day (23 in 2023); I have actually added 24 minutes a day to my 24 for 2024 list. This year the challenge is write for 2-4 or 24 minutes per day. There are so many ways to do this, including writing a todo list, to writing a novel. I am already committed to writing in my bullet journal daily (preferrably multiple times a day), and I don’t have designs on writing a book right now, so I decided to write out quotes, song lyrics, poems, and possibly write my own poetry and songs. I want to spend a little time each day embracing beauty, wisdom, and understanding .

One-Word Theme

I’ve done this for the last couple of years, I feel like my 2022 word was a bit more effective than 2023, but it’s a hard thing to measure. My word for 2024 is light. It represents a lot of things I want for 2024, and the rest of my life. The most important recognising that Jesus is the light of the world, and allowing God’s word to light my path. Other facets of this idea are to be physically lighter, to have a light heart, an agile mind, to surrender my burdens to Jesus, and to embrace what is bright and colourful about myself.

Whatever your hopes, dreams, and goals for 2024 are, I wish you the best. And know that perfection is the enemy of progress. If you fail one day, get up and keep on trying tomorrow!

tl;dr vote yes

I have been umming and ahhing over the referendum since before the date was set.

When I first started looking into it there was very little information about it (that was easy to find). All I could find initially was the text of the constitution change, i.e.,

Chapter IX-Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

129 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice

In recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia:

i there shall be a body, to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice;

ii the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice may make representations to the Parliament and the Executive Government of the Commonwealth on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples;

iii the Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws with respect to matters relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, including its composition, functions, powers and procedures.

My response was both, “sure, okay, sounds good to me”, and also “who is going to be in the body? how would they get there?” etc.

I started to hear more negative information on social media and some of it sounded extreme. One of the popular items being that they’re going to take your land.

I didn’t believe that, but once it gets woven with other “what ifs” and information that sounds plausible; it makes the situation sound so complicated.

The issue of bettering the lives of First Nations peoples, and figuring out how to respect and uphold their history in this changed country, is complicated, but the referendum is not. It’s simple: are we going to recognise First Nations people in the constitution, and allow them to make recommendations to parliament?

The design of the body of The Voice and how it will work is yet to be decided, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. The constitution can only be changed by referendum. By deciding the design of The Voice later it can be iterated on by parliament to create a system that works for all Australians and finally benefits the people it speaks for. That sort of detail shouldn’t be written into the constitution, and since these details can be changed through legislation, outlining it now muddies the question. Which would be similar to what happened in the referendum on making Australia a republic: the vote ended up being (at least in the minds of voters, if not in actual text) a yes or no to the type of republic that Australia would be, rather than whether it should be one or not.

I appreciated this quote I heard on the ABC,

The existence of a voice for Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander peoples does not negate anyone else’s ability to be heard as well.

Professor Anne Twomey (Constitutional Lawyer)

The Voice website, particularly the FAQ is helpful for cutting through some of the extraneous stuff and getting to the heart of the referendum.

Understanding The Voice from a human rights perspective is much more detailed, and something that I haven’t read over completely yet, but looks really helpful. Among other things, it gives a broader perspective on what the UN has already advised for First Nation peoples and how various countries have approached that.

A wonderful woman said to me, “The Voice doesn’t promise to be the solution. It’s the first step in a long process… No says we’re not prepared to try.”

I know people have voted No and would say they are willing to try, but if not now, when? If not this way, how?

I actually think this is a really good proposal. It commits the nation to listen. I pray that we will.

Not sponsored, this is my personal opinion and experience.

Yep! I succumbed to the ads on Facebook and bought some Sistaco mineral bond nail powders.

The videos on their page and in the ads make this stuff look magic, and I really wanted to know how accurate it was (and have fun nails).

I used to paint my nails regularly, but got tired of how easily they chip or get messed up while drying, and of my husband complaining of the smell. I haven’t done my nails regularly for about 10 years.

I’ve been using Sistaco for 6 weeks now and I love it! I love having colour on my nails. The colours are spectacular and the system is nice.

If you’re interested in the application process, take a look at the directions on the Sistaco site.

First impressions

Packaging

The products arrived nicely packaged.

In the pictures the packaging all looks quite fancy, like glass and metal, but the containers are all plastic. I’m okay with that, but it did feel a lot cheaper in the hand than I was expecting. I wouldn’t hate a simpler design for the powder jars in order to store them more efficiently.

Application

There are three different powder types: Classic, Metallic, and Holographic; and two application processes: Classic and Metallic/Holographic. There are clear liquid base and top coats, which are set under a UV lamp, and the mineral powders for colour.

Classic application involves setting the base coat, which remains tacky, and brushing the powder onto it. Metallic/holo application involves setting the top coat, which is no longer wet at all, and rubbing the powder onto it.

Both methods are finished by setting the top coat under the lamp.

In general I find the metallic/holo method easier and more forgiving, so I tend to choose those colours more often (and I just love the metallic shine!).

Keeping it tidy

The directions say not to get the base and top coats on your skin (or making sure it’s fully cleaned off before setting under the light). This is pretty important, it’s not easy to clean up once set with the lamp. As with traditional nail polish, it can take a bit of practice to get the application tidy. I was glad of my former obsession and practice with painting my nails!

The directions for the final step say,

Press the button on the LED lamp once and set your nails until it automatically turns off. Wipe away any excess powder.

However, I found with my first classic application that I had managed to wipe powder with base coat from the nail onto my fingers while trying to get the powder near the cuticle. If that happens, it’s much easier to clean it off before you apply and set the top coat. A cotton bud (q-tip with acetone works well).

Dry time

By setting under the lamp the drying time is definitely better than traditional nail polish, making the whole process of doing your nails faster. The ads say 10 minutes, but if you’re going for longevity, you will likely want to do the whole application process twice, and take care to cap your nails (see tips below). It usually takes me much more than 10 minutes, but still faster than traditional polish.

For my first two applications I used too much top coat. The directions say,

Gently apply a thin layer of top coat, making sure there is enough top coat on the applicator that you do not pull powder from the nail.

I was more worried about the latter part of that statement and ended up with too thick a layer. The result was that the top coat probably wasn’t setting enough with one cycle of the light, and I messed up the top coat a bit while waking and drying my hands. Also, while it was setting some of the top coat pooled around my cuticles, which caused a bit of a lip to form on the coating, which made it easy to peel the coating from my nails. So the application didn’t last as long as it otherwise might have. On my third attempt I used much less top coat, with more satisfying results.

Thin coats are key!

Longevity

The ads say “up to two weeks”. I think that might be possible with a really good application. I’ve managed to get 2 weeks on my toenails before one chipped/peeled. On my fingernails 7-10 days is more usual so far. The worst was just a few days when most of a nail just peeled off; I think that is more likely to happen when the top coat is too thick.

I find that these mineral colours are much less prone to chipping than traditional nail polish, but they are subject to wear, particularly at the tips. Lighter colours are a bit more forgiving to signs of wear.

Removal

I haven’t found removal very easy. Often I end up catching an edge and peeling some off, and sometimes I then peel/scratch it all off with my nails. I don’t recommend doing that! I’m sure it’s taken off layers of my nails and they’re feeling a bit soft.

There is an Express Remover product that paints onto your nails, which is okay. There is also a removal hub that uses acetone vapour; I haven’t tried it yet. You can also use acetone as you would with gel nails, but that is a stinker option.

Recommended?

Yes! For most people keen on doing their own nails I would recommend Sistaco mineral powders. Despite my initial impressions of the packaging and the trouble I had with getting the right amount of top coat, I think it still has benefits over traditional nail polish.

• No smell
• Same base and top coat for a variety of powders (so you don’t get bottles of polish separating, or drying out)
• Faster drying/curing time
• Powders make it easy to do fun styles, such as ombre; you can also mix powder with a little top coat if you need a liquid colour for your design.
• You can mix colours together to make different shades
• The whole system is flexible and can be used to achieve a variety of effects — even though the powders are designated classic, metallic, and holographic, you can apply them with the other method for different effects

Tips

My experience is still limited, but so far these are my tips.

• You need thin base and top coats, there are a few things you can try to achieve this:
  • Before applying top coat, wipe both sides of the brush on the rim of the bottle, wipe again when more liquid runs down the stem
  • Alternatively, you can apply a reasonable coat to the nail, then wipe the brush on the bottle, brush nail again to get excess coat off
  • Many people warm the top coat by putting the bottle in their pocket, bra, or a dish of warm water (I tried resting them on a heat pack a couple of times, but to be honest those applications were not as good, I wonder if the heat wasn’t even enough)
• Cap the tips! That is, if your nails are long enough, run the base and top coats across the top edge of your nail. This is key for reducing signs of wear at the ends of your nails!
• Use a very light touch applying classic powder to avoid clumping; you can keep lightly brushing colour on until no more powder sticks as long as you do it super gently
• I find classic colours easier to apply with a brush rather than the mineral applicator (only the applicator is included with the kits, you can get a dual applicator with brush separately, or use an eyeshadow brush), the mineral applicator is awesome for metallic/holo though
• It doesn’t hurt to do an extra cycle under the lamp to set the final coat, and change angle to make sure the tips get a good set too
• When using the Express Remover don’t scrape too hard. If the colour doesn’t come off with the first pass, keep applying the remover, wait a couple of minutes, scrape lightly, and repeat until it’s off.
• Embellishments are super cute, try them!
• Read the FAQ

Let me know in the comments what your favourite colours of Sistaco mineral powders are, or what questions about the system you have!

I have been reflecting on 2019 and how it set me up for this year.

2019 was wonderful, and at times really difficult. Before 2019 I was not a goal-setter; I had this sense that setting goals was an exercise in futility because there is so much we can’t control that can derail those goals. I thought it was better to just roll with the punches, go with the flow, fly by the seat of your pants…

Then something happened that made me question so many things, including how I thought about myself and what I wanted from life. I realised that rolling with the punches had not made me as adaptable and resilient as I thought, and taking life as it comes had not made me as happy as I have the potential to be.

I did a lot of work and soul searching to get to know myself better, and figure out what I want, and I started to set myself goals. A funny thing happened: I was able to establish more positive thought patterns, I became more motivated to do life, I am happier, and I feel stronger. Naturally, there is still a whole lot of stuff that I can’t control, and I need to remain open to changing my plans and goals when they are disrupted, but that is not a reason not to have goals and plans.

Then this happened

2020 came along and it was the first year I ever recall having my whole year mapped out. I said as much in January, thinking it was quite remarkable.

These were the highlights of my year to be:

• April: travel to Kyoto for team meetup
• May: travel to Vienna for department meetup
• June-August: 3 months leave from work, not planned in detail, but starting in Europe, doing some stuff at home, then ending in Japan
• August: travel to Okinawa, Tokyo, and Kyoto with husband for karate and sightseeing
• September: travel to Orlando, Florida for company meetup

Throughout the year I also wanted to grade twice in karate, and work on building my coding/developer skills.

As coronavirus spread those travel plans got knocked off the list. I still have leave from work, but there won’t be any travel, or the group activities I was hoping to do.

Don’t get me wrong. This is not a post of woe. I feel very lucky that I managed to squeeze in one of those two karate gradings before classes were cancelled. I’m also lucky to have attended one of the last conferences that happened in Sydney this year (ReactConf AU). Plus, of all the places to have to stay put, my house, with my husband, my rabbits, and all my craft supplies is a fantastic place to be!

I just wanted to acknowledge what I had hoped for this year; things that are now delayed or abandoned. I also don’t know what to strive for now…

Working toward black belt is still a goal, but the time frame is very uncertain now. For now, I will not give up training in whatever capacity I can at home.

I have been planning to do a bunch of work in the garden for about two years, never finding time to do it. Now I have the time and the inclination, and getting out in the garden has been good!

I can keeping developing my coding skills (yay internet!).

I have been doing something creative every day, and I think I will continue to do that, even after the #creative14 two-week challenge is complete.

Is that enough? In some ways it feels like we are all waiting for life to resume, but this could be life for a while. I want to live my life, not wait for it, I’m just not quite sure what that means right now.

Part of my favourite things () series.

A wonderful quote came across my Facebook feed this week,

Consistency is what creates a great martial artist, not brute strength. Karate is not for rank, glory, or revenge. It is way of life, a way to protect yourself, a way to build health, and a way to bring people together.

When we train, we train as a community, so that we can push each other to become better than yesterday. I think of a dojo like a melting pot; it can bring many different people to do the same thing, at the same time, in the same place. It makes people homogeneous. This type of environment creates peace. Karate is about creating peace.

Higa Minoru 比嘉稔, 10 dan Hanshi

I am a karate-ka (student or practitioner) of Go-Kan-Ryu Karate-Do [ref]Karatedo is a term from the origins of karate in Japan meaning the way of the empty hand[/ref].

Karate is one of my absolute favourite things of the last couple of years.

Why I love it

Focus

In many circumstances I’m rubbish at practicing mindfulness, karate is a brilliant mindfulness practice: turn your attention away from wherever it was before and focus on karate.

As you enter (and leave) the dojo you bow at the door. It is a mark of respect and humility. I also use it an as opportunity to drop my mental baggage at the door, not to be picked up again until I leave, and maybe not even then. At the start of class there is a bow-in in which we close our eyes for a few moments; this is another opportunity to clear the mind and focus.

The minimum focus you need is to hear the instructions your Sensei gives, but there are many more ways to hone your focus, including performing a kata regardless of the distractions around you. And I always enjoy a game of Sensei Says with the kids!

Awareness

Awareness is the first principle of self-defence: be aware of your surroundings. It is a valuable habit to form, no doubt, but the awareness that karate develops goes so much deeper.

As we practice kata [ref]a series of movements that trains us to combine basic techniques together to defend against an attack[/ref] and kumite (sparring) we practice spacial awareness of who and what is around us. In these as well as kihon (basics, or principle techniques), we also gain awareness of our own body: where our limbs are, how we transition from one position to another, when to create and release tension, how to generate power and speed.

You may also gain awareness of yourself, not just your body and how it works, but how your mind works. Can you be humble when faced with correction, or defeat? How do you respond when someone attacks you? Will you persevere when you are exhausted? The way in which I have gotten to know myself is one of the things I value most. I think I have grown in patience, perseverance, and positivity: these days I will vary rarely say there is something I can’t do… Only something I can’t do yet.

Fun

It is lots of fun! There is a serious element to it; there is etiquette, technique, and discipline, but also so much fun.

My journey

I started this journey in 2005 after I got married. My husband was a sempai [ref]literally senior, essentially an assistant to the sensei[/ref] and dragged encouraged me along to get some exercise. We trained together until mid-2012 when life got in the way and we got out of the habit of training. I was a 4th kyu (red belt) at that time and he was a 1st kyu (last grade before black belt).

After realising that I need to move more, and karate was the only movement I had really enjoyed in my adult life, I started training again in early 2018. Dave followed me back a few months later. In June 2019 I graded to 3rd kyu (brown belt) and in November 2019 Dave graded to Shodan-ho (provisional black belt).

We train 2-4 times a week and it is definitely one of my favourite things.

Part of my favourite things () series.

I have posted about apple and bacon pizza before, but I’m going to do it again, because I have recently rediscovered this recipe!

Maybe someday soon I’ll get a better photo!

Apple & Bacon Pizza

• Servings: 2
• Time: 30 minutes
• Difficulty: easy
• Print

Ingredients

• 2 pizza bases
• 1 small onion, thinly sliced
• 1 apple, diced
• 4 slices bacon, chopped
• 2 handfuls pizza cheese
• olive oil
• 3/4 cup white wine (optional)
• 6 sage leaves, chiffonade
• 2 tbs rosemary, chopped
• salt & pepper

I use pre-made wholemeal pizza bases from the supermarket, but you can use whatever you want. If you make your own that will obviously increase preparation time.

Sage and rosemary are in the original recipe, but I often use whatever I have on-hand, or whatever I feel like; thyme, oregano, and basil all work well. The sage gets braised, but other herbs can be added in step 2.

If you don’t use wine and do use sage, add the sage at step 4 with a dash of water and take off the heat when wilted.

Directions

1. Pre-heat oven to 180ºC
2. Lightly brush, or spray, the pizza bases with olive oil and season with salt, pepper, and rosemary
3. Caramelize onion and spread on bases
   • If your pizza base needs more than 10 min to cook, put it in the oven now for the time extra time it needs
4. Sauté bacon until crisp
5. Add wine and sage to pan, braise with bacon for 15 minutes
   • drain on paper towel 
6. Sauté apple with olive oil until soft
7. Top bases with apple, bacon, and cheese
8. Bake for 10 minutes (or to your liking)

Hope you love it as much as I do!

I’m starting a short blog series on some of my favourite things () and I want to start with a friend’s podcast song.land.

Jesse is a very talented musician and I could listen to him sing all day (thanks to this podcast I have!). He describes the podcast as ridiculous and the weirdest podcast on the internet. I’m not sure if either of those are true, but it sure is unique.

Every podcast is a series of songs that are improvised: words and music off the top of Jesse’s head. It is some of the most amazing and genuine self-expression I have ever seen/heard/experienced.

At the risk of listing every episode, some of my favourite parts of the whole podcast so far include:

• Sweet Surprise, and Jettison in the episode jettison
• Love’s Like a Fire in dream
• the Bear Story in geppetto
• Grandmother’s Grave in warren bennis (starts around minute 29)
• mary oliver the whole episode! Genius idea to play poetry and sing in response.
• life finds a way also the whole episode
• Sound of Settling (cover of Death Cab for Cutie) in settling

Song names mostly made up by me, I don’t know if Jesse names the different sections.

If you like music check it out, and I hope you enjoy it

I have spoken about depression and anxiety before. I have made some significant strides lately in thinking more positively, and dealing with many of the symptoms I experience, but occasionally things are overwhelming and I just have no idea what to do about it.

I know others can feel the same way; it’s why “mindfulness” and “self care” are such common phrases now.

Earlier in the year I saw this post on tumblr, Everything Is Awful and I’m Not Okay: questions to ask before giving up. It is very good, and although the author has provided a printable PDF, for some reason (possibly an obsession with icons and emojis ) I created my own.

Of course, when I was struggling to process some bad news this week, I completely forgot about that particular gem. I had no idea what to do, and I reached out to a few people for help. All of them were helpful in different ways, and they reminded me to do things that I should have remembered on my own.

• Breathe
• Listen to music
• Play some music
• Write
• Go for a walk
• Do something else enjoyable (for me that is something crafty)

In the hopes of remembering those things next time, I have made a graphic for myself.

If you find the same things helpful you can download this image. If not, I created it with Canva using an infographic template; you could make your own.

Last July my team went to Japan. On our main activity day we went for a hike on a portion of the Kumano Kodo trail.

It was quite the challenge for me: completely useless at walking long distances, especially up hills. Despite that it was scenic, interesting, and satisfying.

Beauty

Wildlife

Oddities

Signs and writing

The temple at the top

In setting up my journal for the year I decided to include two bible trackers. One is all the chapters of the bible, so I can mark what I’ve read in any context (church, bible study, solo study). The other is the Bible Reading for Shirkers and Slackers plan, which is great for those that get overwhelmed with a daily reading plan and get bogged down in pressure and guilt when you miss a few days.

There are already some pre-prepared printouts for both of these approaches, and some are very attractive. My issue with most existing printouts is that they have a bunch of background or text colours that will make them look pretty gross out of my black and white laser printer.

So I have recreated them as simply as I can. Then I can make them pretty with highlighters in my journal, while keeping track of my reading.

Download them if you’d like to use them too