I’ve spent the past few weeks doing something I didn’t expect to take up so much of my energy.

I’ve been rebuilding my blog. This blog.

Not redesigning it. Not changing the colours. Just rebuilding what it’s about.

For a long time, I felt like my blog had to be useful all the time. Every post needed a lesson, a takeaway, or a big point.

And somewhere along the way, I drifted away from the kind of blogging I actually enjoy.

The funny thing is, I didn’t really notice how much that had affected me until I started changing it back.

Instead of asking, “What should I teach?” I started asking,

“What have I been doing lately?”

“What have I been enjoying?”

“What have I been noticing?”

Those questions felt a lot more natural.

They sounded like me.

So I stopped trying to make my blog fit into some idea I had of what it should be, and just let it be a place where I can share my everyday life properly.

I didn’t think that would change anything outside of my laptop.

But it did.

This morning I woke up feeling lighter.

Not because everything in my life is suddenly different.

It isn’t.

I still have responsibilities. I still have goals. I still have things I’m figuring out.

But I just felt a bit more like myself.

For the first time in a long time, I wanted to make myself a cup of tea.

And if you know me, you know I love tea.

Ironically, I hadn’t made myself one in what feels like forever.

The heater I use for boiling water for tea had been packed away in the cupboard for months. Maybe longer.

This morning I took it out.

I washed it well, filled it with water, heated the water, put it in my cup, added my tea, stirred in the last bit of honey, stood there and sipped.

It wasn’t some big, dramatic morning.

But it felt nice.

I even picked up my camera and filmed the whole thing for my YouTube vlog.

Not because I thought it was going to be some deep moment.

Not because I thought anyone needed a lesson from it.

But because I now have more clarity on the direction of my content for YouTube that the story felt worthy of a vlog.

After that, I went outside with my tea and looked at my plants.

I looked at them differently. I felt peace. That made me smile.

Then I made breakfast, filmed a few more clips for my vlog, and carried on with my day.

Simple as all of that sounds, it made me feel like I’d found a small part of myself again.

I’ve also been thinking differently about my home.

Not in a “I need to go out and buy a bunch of new things” kind of way.

More like I’ve started imagining what I could slowly do with it over time.

Maybe making floor cushions myself.

Repotting my plants and placing them inside the living room to decorate.

Finding little ways to make the space feel more inviting.

Not because my house needs to be perfect.

Just because I want it to feel more lived in. Comfortable. Like us.

I think that’s what this has really been about.

Not building a perfect life.

Not trying to make everyday life look a certain way.

Just paying attention to the life I already have.

Enjoying it a bit more.

Noticing it more.

Sharing it.

It’s funny how something as simple as letting myself blog the way I naturally want to has changed how I move through my day.

Maybe that’s what happens when you stop forcing yourself into something that doesn’t quite fit.

I’m looking forward to seeing where this goes.

And this time, I think I’ll actually enjoy documenting it along the way.

This is the yeast I used

Cover the mixture and put it in a warm place. You can wrap it in a cloth to help it rise faster.

30 to 45 minutes later

Mix to get the air out

Put pieces of sardine on the puffpuff mixture

Cover one piece of sardine with the mixture properly

Scoop it out using the spoon. Let the sardine be inside the mixture.

Drop it in the hot oil to fry till brown

I was so happy when this version finally worked because I had almost given up after my earlier attempts. Sometimes all it takes is changing the method a little and being patient enough to try again.

If you're looking for a fun twist on regular puff-puff, this sardine version is definitely worth trying. It makes a lovely snack and is something a little different from the usual recipe.

If you try it, I'd love to know how it turns out for you.

My best moment was opening it and seeing the sardines

Yummy

😋