Happy December, Sunshine!

Wherever you are, I hope you find a little magic this month.

Remember: You are magic today, tomorrow and every day.

This month it’s my husband’s birthday (yuhuu!) so I’m sharing a family tradition we’ve been creating, one that’s now become a yearly favourite in our home.

PS. Last month I was a guest on a podcast for the first time (yay me!) Have a listen and let me know what you think. I’d love to do more, so any thoughts or feedback are super welcome!

A couple of years ago, on my now-husband’s birthday, I told him I had some birthday questions for him. At first, he looked a little scared. What was I going to ask? Did he need to prepare?

I promised there was no need to prep, just a few questions to answer honestly.

Here’s what I asked:

• What are you most proud of in the last year?

• What comes to mind if you think of success in the past year?

• What do you wish you had dealt with differently in the past year?

• What was your greatest improvement last year?

• What are you most looking forward to for the year to come?

• What will make you feel happy in the upcoming year?

• What’s one thing you want to get better at next year?

• If money wasn’t an issue, what would you do next year?

• Would you change anything from the past year?

• Are you happy?

• Do you have any questions for me?

Okay, so maybe they weren’t all easy questions, but that’s the point.

We don’t need to overthink them or write down perfect answers. It’s not a performance. It’s a moment to pause, reflect, and be honest with ourselves and each other.

He really enjoyed having a moment. It was a moment created where we could reflect on the year we’d lived and look forward to the one ahead. We tend to rush through life and skip over the small wins. And when we do think about the future, we often leap to 5- or 10-year plans that can end up feeling too big and distant to hold onto.

I purposefully made the questions time-bound to focus on recent achievements and allow for achievable goals for the upcoming year. What feels good, right now?

This has become a tradition for us. A way to check in, connect, and realign on what matters. And this year we became parents for the first time, so the questions may look a little different, but the purpose remains the same.

A moment of presence.
A simple, grounding tradition.
And one I can’t wait to share with our son when he’s older.

Shine bright.

Monthly book recommendations:

Each month, I share three books that have sparked something for me. Whether that’s a new perspective, a quiet nudge, or a proper belly laugh. Here's this month's mix:

• Attached by Amir Levine & Rachel Heller. An intro to attachment theory that’s easy to digest and surprisingly insightful.

• How We Love by Milan Yerkovich & Kay Yerkovich. A deeper look into how our past shapes our relationships today.

• Parenting for Humans by Dr. Emma Svanberg. For any grown-up navigating parenting with intention and care (not just for parents!).

This month’s quote:

Other resources that have supported my journey:

• Calm - A favourite for mindfulness, sleep and relaxation. You can set gentle daily reminders to disconnect. Click here for a 30-day free trial.

• Primeadine® Original - A premium, plant-based spermidine supplement. I’ve loved it for better sleep, sharper focus, and stronger hair. Use code NADIA15 for 15% off.

• 60-second meditation tool - A beautiful way to pause and reset. Just one minute a day can do wonders.

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