Trying to be festive when you feel like hiding under the covers
Do you have that not so jolly feeling?
Decorating for the holidays right after divorce is about as much fun as eating a candy apple right after a root canal. Feeling not so jolly and all ho-ho-ho after all you’ve been through is totally normal and ok. All the first ‘everythings’ can feel like a gut punch at times but then suddenly feel like a breath of fresh air! It’s weird, conflicting and confusing all at once.
You might be saying to yourself “Ugh, can we just skip to January 2nd because I have zero desire to be festive much less decorate.”… continue reading
Do you hate walking into a dark room? I know I do, especially during these long, dark and cold winter months. If you are sensitive to the seasonal shifts try to increase your light exposure as much as possible during the this cycle. If you can get outside on bright, cold days, do it! Here in the Pacific Northwest, it tends to be very London-esque with dreary, drizzly days. It can make your mood feel like you’re dragging your legs through sludge.
This is why light is so important in your life for so many reasons.… continue reading
January can be is a mixed bag. As you are putting away your holiday decorations, you may find yourself thinking about the last year and all good and bad that went with it. You might be looking forward to what lies ahead this year with both hope and trepidation.
Some of you really enjoy the holidays and all the things that go with it. The decorating, the baking, the parties, the music and spending time with loved ones. Others of you get overwhelmed or depressed by the pressure to have it all pulled together and would like to zoom right past to the new year.… continue reading
When I was a kid, I remember when we put all the decorations away, the house seemed so dark, cold and colorless. Given that I grew up in the Midwest, the snow and cold didn’t help matters much. My mom felt it too and decided how she could ease that transition from the holiday back to the regular routine. After she took down all the standard Christmas decor, she replaced it with her growing collection of snowmen. The red, green and gold of Christmas gave way to many shades of blue, white and silver.It made so much sense and such a difference. Now the dreary drag of post-holiday let-down was lessened by a wintery scene that still felt joyful and warm.
Confession time. I finally got around to taking down my holiday decor this past weekend. We had taken some of it down but there were still bits strewn about the house patiently waiting to be tucked neatly away until next year.
So why is it almost the end of January and I am still dragging my feet? The weather. Don’t get me wrong…I love Oregon and the rainy season. But it’s the days when it’s so dark that takes a toll on me. It makes me want to just stay in my jimmies, tuck in with a hot cup of tea and a good book.… continue reading
Thanksgiving was a special time for my family growing up. One of my fondest memories was watching “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” on TV. After watching Snoopy and Woodstock prepare their Thanksgiving meal of buttered toast, pretzel sticks, popcorn, and jelly beans, I was very grateful for what we had for our dinner!
Fun Thanksgiving decor on my mantle at home
On Thanksgiving morning, my brother, sister and I would wake up to the early, faint smells of the turkey roasting and hurry downstairs to watch the “Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade”. Mom was already knee deep preparing the endless dishes for our feast later in the day.… continue reading
You may be clinging to those last glimmers of light. “WAIT!!!” You think…”It’s so dark already! I’m not ready for this!!” I understand your plight.
Some time around the end of August or beginning of September, I sense it. I notice the angle of the sun has shifted and shines differently than it did during the summer months. A smile comes across my face because I know the autumnal sun has arrived, my favorite time of year.
Now that October is in full force, you really start to notice that the daylight is dwindling faster and faster with each passing day and the bright, warm fall days are accompanied by much cooler nights.… continue reading