Blogs by Ella Fisher

I actually have quite a lot to share since I’ve taken “a little break” from work, at least that’s how I see it. If you’ve read my previous blog, you already know that I lost my job. But I don’t see that as something negative.

Because this happened, I was given time. Time that will never come back. Time with your children, your family, yourself. That’s priceless. I decided immediately that I wanted to use this time well, and I have to say, I’m already doing a pretty good job of it.

Finally Tackling the Things I Always Postponed

We all have those little jobs around the house that we keep putting off. For me, one of them was sorting through my clothes. And now, I finally had the time to do it properly.

I really took a selective approach, inspired by Marie Kondo. I asked myself: Does this item make me feel good? Is the fabric still intact? Does it fit comfortably?

It’s a bit embarrassing to admit, but I used to be an impulsive buyer. At least, I was. I’ll come back to that in a moment.

The result of my big closet clean-up? I think no less than eight bags are going to the thrift store.

And what does that do to me? Honestly, it makes me realize how wasteful I’ve been. Wasteful with my money, my space, and my time.

From Impulse Buying to Intentional Shopping

Before I started decluttering, I had already changed the way I shop online.

Now, I add items to my shopping cart and leave them there. If at the end of the month I’m still excited about them and truly need them, then I allow myself to buy them.

I can tell you, this simple habit saves a lot of money.

Daily Affirmations and Capturing Small Moments

Another thing I’ve been doing is writing positive affirmations in a little notebook every day. I even bought a mini printer that connects to my phone. I use sticker paper to print small photos or quotes, so I can capture fun moments with a personal note in that same notebook.

I got this idea while reading a book by Lou Niestadt. So Lou, if you ever read this: thank you for the inspiration.

I also pull a card every day from Willemijn Welten and another author. Those cards help me understand what I might need that day or what I should focus on. Sometimes I pull the same card several days in a row. When that happens, I see it as a sign that the Universe is trying to tell me something and that I need to pay extra attention to that message.

It might sound a bit “floaty” to some people, but for me, it’s a positive anchor.

Series, Lists, and a Little Escape

Now that I’m home, I finally have time to dive back into the world of Netflix and watch some good series.

At the moment, I’m watching KLEM, which I highly recommend. Korean dramas are on pause for now, but I’ll be getting back to them soon. I already have a list of films and series that I still want to watch.

Falling in Love With Cooking Again

One thing I’ve completely thrown myself into is cooking.

I enjoy cooking, but that’s something that really developed after I had children. When it comes to cuisine, I’m open to almost anything, but Asian food is definitely my favorite.

My interest in the kitchen started early, mostly with baking. Cakes and pies almost never fail when I make them. But my real interest in preparing full meals probably began in my twenties.

I’ve influenced myself the most in the kitchen. That sounds strange, but it’s true. Just like I want to do everything well when I’m working, I notice I have that same drive when I’m cooking, even though cooking isn’t work.

If we’re talking about well-known chefs, I’d say Jamie Oliver and some Instagram influencers inspire me.

For me, good cooking means cooking with flavor and preferably a bit of heat. It’s about listening to your instincts and tasting, tasting, and tasting again.

Now that I’m home, I cook about four to five days a week. I’m becoming more creative and constantly looking for fun, new, and refreshing recipes. I love experimenting with new ideas or combinations that might seem strange at first.

My daughters often tell me that my food is always delicious and that I’m a great cook. That really gives me a positive boost to keep going.

My ideal cooking moment looks like this: alone in the kitchen, music on, fully focused. Garlic and chili flakes are absolute must-haves. Onion powder and garlic powder are two things I also use a lot. I use little to no salt, because many ingredients already contain enough salt. If needed, you can always add some afterward.

My biggest cooking fail? Chicken soup that curdled at work during a Christmas dinner we had. Very embarrassing. But thankfully, it didn’t traumatize me or stop me from continuing to cook.

Sometimes I follow recipes, and sometimes I cook by feeling. I like variety, so it’s not like we eat potatoes five days a week. Sometimes rice, sometimes pasta, sometimes low-carb, sometimes homemade soup with bread.

If a dish fails, depending on how bad it is, we try to fix it. Maybe by adding cheese, mayonnaise, or something else. I’m against food waste, so I rarely throw things away. We also have leftover days now and then.

A Final Thought

If this period has taught me anything, it’s that a pause doesn’t have to mean loss. It can mean space.

Space to reset, to grow, to reflect, and to enjoy the small things.

And for now, that’s exactly what I’m doing.