Creating a lovely place to be and reclaiming peace at home is one of the most powerful tools we have in the face of 2020. Keeping a joyful spirit through the holidays will support your well-being, and keep your immunity as high as it can be too.
We might be celebrating the holidays a little differently this year, but honoring simple moments and joys, and finding gratitude in it all will put the peace and joy back into this season!
Celebrate All the Beautiful Moments this Season.
Be intentional in seeking out all the small, little joys in life. I’m feeling gratitude for all the things we have, and the things we can do. Drinking a warm cup of coffee in the morning as I read the day's first emails. Taking the time to sit by the Christmas tree and looking at the lights. {side note...sometimes a little teary eyed...remembering holidays past. It's okay to acknowledge how you are feeling!} I’ve rewired my brain to be grateful for everything this year, seeking out silver linings to everything.
Antique Clothing & Accessories >
Be Realistic About How You Feel.
Not something I usually write about, but I've come to realize that acknowledging how you feel is so important. Most days? I'm a "cup overflowing" kind of person. But somedays, I'm just over this staying-at-home, not-seeing-everyone and worrying-about-things year. I look at movies on tv and think "oh, wow, they are TOUCHING each other!" : ) The silver lining? I've come to realize even more than ever before WHAT MATTERS MOST. It's the people we love. period. {and yes, I completely MISS hosting those wonderful, loud and crazy busy holiday parties! }
Share Kindness with Neighbors and Community.
One thing Mr. FGH and I have truly been so grateful for is getting to know our neighbors on such a deeper level. Strangely, because of the stay-at-home orders we've had in our state, our neighborhood has become much much closer. Here at FrenchGardenHouse, it's meant sitting in our front garden every morning for a coffee break, and talking to neighbors as they walked their dogs, rode bikes with their kids, or just walked by. {picture ME, practically shouting "oh HI! How are you today?!" while Mr. FGH is frowning and saying "really? Why do you have to talk to everyone?!" and me saying "Hello!! There are real live people out there!" }
I'm encouraging all of us to open our hearts even more during this holiday time. The holidays are tender times for so many people, if we can send them some extra love or kindness, a small gift, a card, it means so much.
We’re so extremely blessed at FrenchGardenHouse to have such an engaging community of clients, friends, followers and supporters. Small businesses are struggling this year, they need any extra love they can get!
Make Your Home A Holiday Haven.
Create a welcoming, peaceful environment at home and bring the magic of the holidays indoors. As you know, I love adding seasonal flowers, plants and fruit to our home to celebrate the holidays. It doesn't take much! Whether this year makes you want to pull out all the stops, or just add a few touches, do what feels right to YOU.
You can get some inspiration HERE:
White French Country Christmas Arrangement >
Focus on spending time with your family - sending love via actual letters in the mail {remember those?} phone calls or zoom visits.
This year may be different, but we still have so many blessings to be thankful for. Let's all hold one another close and lift to rise.
PS. Our Monday Morning Blooms give-away winner is:
Debbie Joens!
Congratulations Debbie! I know you will love your Lynch Creek Farm Centerpiece as much as we do here at FrenchGardenHouse.
I hope this encourages you to Cherish the Little Things This Holiday Season.
If you want to see who else won our Monday Morning Blooms December Give Away please visit my Monday Morning Blooms friends:
A BIENTOT
Shop for the best in French Antiques, furniture with the patina of age, vintage accessories to delight you and your family & friends, and French Country utilitarian pieces. Treasures that make your home fresh, beautiful, inspirational and above all uniquely yours. Visit our shop FrenchGardenHouse.com
25 comments
Your words are very up lifting. I have watch some old old shows and they thought the world was in horrible shape. We survived the sixties and we will survive 2020. We need to relay to our grandchildren that their is a light at the end of the tunnel. We will survive. Enjoy your family and friends one day we will all be together again. Merry Christmas.
Bonjour Jean,
Thank you so much, dearest Jean. You are right, we must count our blessings! Merry Christmas, friend.
Thank you dear Maristella! Wishing you a blessed holiday season!
Bonjour, Lidy,
Everything so nice and welcoming and love the antique doll and toy’s, yes we all have to try and have a good outlook because this will end, so with that I want to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Happy, New Year~~~~~~~~~~~~~~sending a New Year’s Hug~~~~~~~~~~Jean~~~~~~
Wonderful home! Thank you for such encouragement!
Pam, thank you so much. I am intent on cherishing those little things even more than before going forward! xo
Jane, I think all of us are thinking we’ve missed opportunities when getting together was something we so took for granted! Love your thought:we learn from the hard times, and we appreciate life at the same time as we long for our freedom. YES! Wishing you a blessed holiday season too, dear friend!
I think you have spoken to so many of us. Personally, I think it gives us joy to decorate for the holidays if it was something you we’ve done in the past. It’s a reflection of how how we do things during this blessed time, and it brings joy as we unpack each and every treasure.
I do miss family and friends. I want to kick myself for all of the times I could have invited family over for a Sunday dinner, scheduled friends for a weekend at the lake, or spent the day in downtown Chicago shopping and dining. On another note, I do love my time alone to read, organize, write, cook, and take walks with my pups. No need for anyone else but my heart and mind. So we learn from the hard times, and we appreciate life at the same time as we long for our freedom.
Your home looks absolutely stunning dressed for the holidays, Lidy!
Sending love, hugs, and peace. Jane
Lidy, thank you for the encouraging message. I want to cherish the little things everyday…I have so much to be thankful for. Your home is always beautiful. Wishing you a Merry week!
Happy Third Sunday of Advent, dear friend. We are all blessed! xo