The living in a flat diaries

I have been living in my flat for about a year and a half now (🎉!!), but however long it may seem, until recently I still didn’t felt quite settled in. Then I realised that it might have been because I didn’t really have a routine here.

To try and change that, I’ve since then started implementing little traditions in my weeks – other than the usual chores such as cleaning, doing laundry and meal prepping. Little weekly habits that keep me grounded in my own little space and help me enjoy my it and all the arrangements and decor I’ve implemented over this year and a half. Nice baby steps!

From TV Monday to Burger Friday, here are some of my weekly traditions.

La vie en appartement

Ça fait maintenant un peu plus d’un an que j’ai emménagé dans mon appartement (🎉!!), mais c’est seulement depuis peu que j’ai vraiment l’impression d’être dans mon chez-moi. La déco est en place depuis un moment, tout l’électroménager est là (avec la toute nouvelle addition d’une machine à laver arrivée le mois dernier !), mais c’est plus le fait d’avoir une routine et des petites habitudes dans la semaine qui ont participé à me faire me sentir vraiment dans mon propre espace.

Chaque jour a ses petites traditions, pour changer un peu du bus-boulot-dodo et me permettre de prendre le temps d’apprécier tout le travail d’aménagement et de décoration accompli ces derniers 12+ mois. Vendredi burger, Dimanche pancakes, c’est principalement centré autour de la nourriture, mais voici ce qui m’a permis de faire de mon appartement mon chez-moi !

MORNING BREAKFAST

No compromises on this one! Every morning, especially during the work week, I take the time to sit in my kitchen and have a nice hearty breakfast to start the day. I am an avid tea drinker and find that my day feels off if I don’t start it with a nice hot mug of mint infusion. Also, I take the time to write in my diary, as I’ve been doing for as long as I can remember (I think I started back when my sister offered me my first ever diary that she made herself, back when I was 9!).

MONDAY REALITY TV

It started with watching every Monday with my friend L’Amour est dans le Pré (a cute French TV show where farmers try to find love), to catching up on Love is Blind (last season was the wooorst!) and now it’s become a tradition: on Monday we watch reality TV! Currently we’re watching Mamma Mia! I have a dream on ITV (you have to watch it, it’s soo good!) and I hope to see the new Sophie and Sky live at West End soon! What we do is call each other around 9pm, press play at the same time to watch and comment live like two merry grannies!

BURGER FRIDAY

Friday I celebrate the end of the work week with a well-deserved burger, bought or homemade. There’s been an extension of the shopping centre in my city with new shops and places to eat and when I’m too tired to make my own burger, I go there to try the latest recipes. Gomu has been a favourite lately, I really like their vegetarian options and can never say no to a fresh mango bubble tea!

AFTERWORK TELLY

When I come home from work, after doing a bit of skincare time to take the day off, I usually light the twinkle lights and candles, lie down on the couch with a nice snack and a cup of tea and turn on the telly! I usually just watch one episode before setting up dinner.

Up until last month, it was The O.C which I rewatched with a friend (funny enough I had not seen every episode – ah the days where you had to watch the episodes live or else had one chance to catch it up with a late weekend replay and then could never see it again). Now it’s Charlie’s Angels! A bit random how I got there but it is so good and I can watch it for free on OQEE Ciné. On Wednesday night it’s Castle. I promise that at some point I (might) start watching more recent shows (Succession is on my list for instance – See!)

PANCAKE SUNDAY

Yes my little routines and traditions are mostly centred around food, but food is everything, so why not eh? Also, you’ll notice that they take place in different parts of my flat, which is a nice way to appreciate my surroundings haha. Pancake Sunday takes place in my balcony (or kitchen if it’s rainy outside) usually in the afternoon, because on weekends I obviously wake up late. I take my PC with me to watch some YouTube videos (usually Cari Cakes and Christy Anne Jones) and listen to the sounds of nature around. A nice reset before going back to work and it is so quiet on weekends in my neighbourhood.

And you, what are your weekly (or daily or monthly) traditions that help you feel more grounded in your home? Let me know in the comments!