19th Jan, 2026 - January Checkpoint

Just over halfway into Jan and how are my goals looking? I gotta give myself some credit, I think it's going well. I have finished a sewing project (technically two but the first was a warm up). I've written two thirds of the script for a "Let's Get Into It". I'm three sketches down on Starlight Senshi progress out of seven. I'd say I'm about half and half on the meal prep plan, eheh, could be better but work has been absolutely hectic. There's been a huge amount of swapping days and futzing schedules. That said, I want to try and take more stock of how I'm doing with these sorts of things. I get so heavily focused on a production mindset - a byproduct of capitalism and low self esteem to justify my existence. Which, I will say, is nonsense. I'm allowed to exist outside of that conditioning. It takes time and effort and conscious practice to untangle that conditioning though. So, good job me, you didn't mix-max your tasks but that's because it's being taken a day at a time to make some work.

The progress on sewing is really good, now I just gotta... get the materials to do a "real" project. You'll see when I post about it, but the practice ones really aren't practical. I'm not going to be able to use them but they were really important for me to get a sense of drafting and frabric in a 3D way. Needing to turn things inside out and imagine structure really does a number on the noggin. I want to amend some clothes I own but the idea of taking apart a garment is really scary - eek, I say! Perhaps I'll work on another pattern piece from scratch, but instead I'll actually find a pattern to follow rather than inventing the project wholecloth. I'm going to let my March goals guide that because February is going to be so intensely busy I'm not packing a new hobby in there.

The script is coming along and I really just need to set aside another afternoon to bash out the draft and source the reference materials. I already had the idea swimming around my brain so it's nice to finally start seeing it on the page. There's this line that June, from GinjaNinjaOwO, once said about not keeping ideas stored in your brain and risk them dying with you. It feels really important to me to get this particular project going. I just want to gush about stuff. It's such a fun passtime. It's also just nice to get working on a non-fiction piece of writing. Perhaps it'll inspire some more fiction writing again further down the line.

I really like the art I've made thus far, I'm taking the time to be away from it so I can come back with a clearer vision. Revisions truly feel a lot easier when I give my brain time to percolate on the concept. A very "shocked pikachu face" concept - I know. Despite knowing that, fundamentally, it's a good thing to allow time away from art to give your brain a chance to refresh, it'll still surprise me everytime how much it truly improves a piece. I'm also trying to go bolder and more dynamic with the posing. It's a struggle - but so is anything outside the immediate comfort zone. It'll hopefully be the way I expand that comfort zone again! A sleeper hit of this process is just taking the time to look at more art. I need to start adding speedpaints to my YouTube watch list again. Really looking at art, taking multiple minutes to appreciate the choices made in it. It truly goes a long way in informing my process for Starlight Senshi.

I think I'll leave it there, this was a spur of the moment thought to do a check-in - I'm glad I did it though.

1st Jan, 2026 - Journal

This is acting as a bit of a companion piece to my video.

The text version boils down to the following...

2026 Goals

• No-Buy-Year*
• Personal Savings Goal
• Monthly Journal Check-Ins

*My intent is to be more considerate of not just buying "stuff". Things in purpose to a furniture goal, or a sewing project, etc - those things are to be budgetted for formally. The stuff, however, here's hoping I can get through the No-Buy-Year successfully!

January Goals

1. Starlight Senshi Progress
2. Finish 1 Sewing Project
3. Keep Meal Prep Schedule Going
4. Finish 1 "Let's Get Into It"
5. Video Check-In for Feb

I also wanted to do a little Then And Now to compare the months of the year. I hope I can reflect on them at the end of the year and fondly recall all the changes throughout the months :)

28th Dec, 2025 - Experimenting

After poking around neocities for a little I came across a blog that referenced Tessisamess' materials and instantly knew I wanted to port over my blogging to this style of page. Something about it feels like old school fictions I used to read on random folks sites - especially old style tumblr with folks doing custom html for their books. It feels super comfortable; and mercifully the code is incredibly straightforward which'll make writing here supes easy.

With the method sorted I quite like the idea of this being a stream of consciousness because... well... it's my little slice of the internet. I've been so inspired by some folks on neocities and how they cultivate these beautiful pockets of self expression and interests. Having all my thoughts sequestered into here and keeping all the micro-blogging/updates/art to their spaces will help me organize my thoughts... that's at least the thinking to it and there's no knowing until I try it for a bit!

Here's to the new year!

18th Dec, 2025 - FOMO Who?

Damn I dunno if it's just aging or having a series of separate emotional catharsis moments this year but it's become infinitely easier to not give a shit about FOMO this and consumption that. I think this is the first year where I've really had a distaste for buying shit even at the encouragment of others because... stuff and things just isn't worth it anymore. When abundance is abound and it's all the thinnest, most threadbare, most cheaply made and designed and output why should I put value in this type of abundance.

I'm definitely in my feelings at the moment but, just... idk y'all. If I want a shirt I want to sew it and have it fit me with a material that'll last longer than a year. If I want to play a game without genAI bullshit in it there's an entire backlog through decades of gaming that I could crack open. It's all contingent on IF as well. I'm just actually so content with life, making my doodles, chatting with friends, and hopefully now that I'm settled after the move engaging in real local community again.

It becomes infinitely easier to step back from hype and nonsense when you already have joys available to you and when you aren't terrified of sitting in the quiet.