Markey Matson

― Nicole Krauss, The History of Love

an apple can be used for a simple house blessing; cut an apple in half, and eat one half in your home. place the other outside, in the backyard or front porch, as an offering to good spirits for protection and warm energy.

bay leaves can be placed in the corners of a room to banish evil from it and protect those within it.

a cactus can be grown near a house to offer strong protection; even stronger protection is gained by planting cacti at all for corners of the home.

planting catnip in the garden, or hanging it above your door, will attract good spirits and good luck.

chamomile can be sprinkled about in the home to break curses and unwanted spells cast on or in the home.

cilantro brings peace and harmony to a home.

clover can be sprinkled around a home to banish unwanted spirits.

garlic can be hung in a home to bring its inhabitants closer together.

ivy plants can be hung to deter unwanted guests.

lavender can be burned and its ashes sprinkled about to cultivate rest and tranquility within the home.

orange peel can be placed in windowsills to bless the house with angel and sun energy.

peppermint can be burned as a smoke cleanser to remove illness and negative energy from a new home.

a sprig of pine can be hung in the home to bless it and its inhabitants.

sachets of saffron can bring happiness to the home.

here is my brand new challenge! i’ve known that i was going to do this challenge since i started my summer challenge in july so i am so psyched to be able to finally share it with you guys! i hope that you will enjoy it <3

DISCLAIMER: lots of the prompts in December are to do with Christmas because that is what i celebrate at this time of year. i was very aware of that when i was writing the prompts but i did not think that knew enough about other festivals and holidays at this time to write prompts about them. i did not want any prompts i made to be disrespectful. if you don’t celebrate Christmas, please know that this challenge is still for you! you can either just use the prompts anyway (if they are applicable) or adapt them to fit the festival or holiday that you celebrate. if it is impossible to adapt, then simply tell me about what you celebrate because i am excited to learn about them! [this was edited later because i realised i forgot to add it - thank you to the anon who queried this issue for reminding me <3]

✨ Info ✨

If you do the challenge, use the tag #winter studying challenge so i (and others) can see your posts. I try to reblog as many as possible. 

This challenge will run for two months - from the 1st December to the 31st January

There are daily prompts for every day of December and January 

But as always I don’t expect everyone to be able to post every day so you can always do catchup posts!

If you have any questions, feel free to send me an ask!

✨ Rules ✨

If you want to do the challenge, please reblog this post

If you do it on any other social media platform (ie. Instagram), please give credit. You can find my instagram here - my username is the same as on here @myhoneststudyblr

The challenge will officially start on the 1st December, but if you come across this later, you can definitely start anytime during these two months!

✨ Prompts ✨

1st December - Do you like winter?

2nd December - What is your favourite thing about winter?

3rd December - What is your least favourite thing about winter?

4th December - What is an unpopular opinion that you have about winter? 

5th December - Are you usually busy during winter?

6th December - Do you get a break from school/uni/work during winter?

7th December - How do you stay motivated during winter?

8th December - When should people start preparing for, decorating and celebrating Christmas? 

9th December - What do you usually do during the holidays?

10th December - What is a cherished family tradition from your childhood?

11th December - What is a favourite family Christmas/holiday memory that has stuck with you through the years? Why?

12th December - Does your family have any odd traditions during the holidays?

13th December - When do you buy your Christmas presents?

14th December - Share a memorable gift-opening moment from your childhood.

15th December - What is the coolest gift you ever gave someone?

16th December - What is your favourite Christmas movie?

17th December - What is your favourite Christmas song/carol? 

18th December - What is a Christmas song that makes you cringe?

19th December - What is your favourite holiday food?

20th December - What is your least favourite holiday food?

21st December - What was the most memorable holiday celebration you had at school?

22nd December - Finish this thought, “It wouldn’t be Christmas without _____.”

23rd December - If you could design your own ugly Christmas sweater, what would it look like?

24th December - What is your Christmas wish?

25th December - Merry Christmas! Tell us about your day!

26th December - What do you do the day after Christmas?

27th December - What was the best moment 

28th December - What are you grateful for?

29th December - Christmas or New Years

30th December - What is your best memory from 2020?

31st December - Would you rather stay home or go out on New Year’s Eve?

1st January - Happy New Year! What did you learn in the past year? 

2nd January - Have you made any New Years’ Resolutions?

3rd January - What is your aim for 2021?

4th January - What is the most important thing that is going to happen to you this year?

5th January - Would you rather live in a world where it is always winter or always summer?

6th January - What is the weather like during winter in your country?

7th January - Do you like the cold?

8th January - Where is the coldest place you’ve ever been to?

9th January - Name one place you could never live because of the winter weather.

10th January - Have you ever seen snow? When was the last time you saw it?

11th January - Would you rather play in the rain or play in a snowstorm?

12th January - Would you rather have a snowball fight or build a big snowman?

13th January - Would you rather have an entire snow week off from school or an extra week of summer vacation?

14th January - What is your favourite winter outfit?

15th January - Would you rather wear a winter jacket in the summer or a bathing suit in the winter?

16th January -  Scarves or sweaters? 

17th January - Gloves or mittens?

18th January - Wear mittens forever or a winter hat every single day?

19th January - What outdoor winter activity do you love?

20th January - Do you do any winter sports?

21st January - Stay warm inside or go outside in the cold?

22nd January - Ice skate or rollerblade?

23rd January - Polar bear or penguin?

24th January - Arctic fox or snowy owl?

25th January - What is your favourite winter drink?

26th January - Live in a world without hot chocolate or only be able to drink hot apple cider?

27th January - Have icy blue skin or have a runny nose all the time?

28th January - Play in the snow or play in the sand?

29th January - Go skiing or snowboarding?

30th January - Have a birthday in winter or in summer?

31st January - What was your favourite thing about winter this year?

✨ and that is the challenge! i really hope you will enjoy my challenge and if you have any questions, remember you can always send me an ask! ✨