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
Thank you Janet! We’ve all had our share of disappointments, frustrations and more this year, and you are so right, focusing on what really is important will get us through! xo
Thank you for your sweet visit, Sandra. We do have so much to be thankful for! Wishing you and the people you love beautiful and blessed December days too!
Thank you so much for your visit, Theresa! I wish you the most blessed holidays, too! xo
You are a #1 silver lining looker! Hope you have a very Merry week too! xo
Sharon, thank you for always visiting, I cherish your friendship and your comments.
Happy Sunday dearest Mary! It is a time to slow down, and cherish a slower pace. I for one have needed to re-connect with that! xo
Sara, thank you so much for your sweet comment. I think we’ve all been keeping each other inspired during this time. There is so much to be grateful for, I agree. xo
Lidy, Such a wonderful post and message. We all need to cherish the little things these days. For me this December it’s been having a little more time and a slower pace to sit with a dog(s) in my lap and enjoy the twinkling lights of the tree. I had to chuckle at Mr. FGH’s response at you greeting everyone. :) Beautiful photos of your home too! Congrats to Debbie and Happy Sunday. <3
Such a lovely blog posting as always, Lidy! Your pictures and words are always so inspiring! Thank you!
And congratulations to Debbie for winning the beautiful Lynch Creek Farms centerpiece!
Lovely, lovely post Lidy!! Your home is so stunning during the Holiday…it’s stunning all through the year for that matter….I always try to look for that silver lining!
Have a very Merry week and congrats to the winner!