WEEKEND IN REVIEW

Last weekend (and some of last week) from top left:

1. My beloved glitter heels. Worn for so many holiday parties throughout the past three years. Broke them out again last weekend and they never disappoint.

2. Shipping out the last of the holiday orders. Thank you for all your purchases! The shop will remain open but shipping is closed for Christmas. All orders will begin shipping again on January 2nd.

3. Pretty shop window at a pop-up event with my friend Erika.

4. West Elm sale finds. Love their throws, and am hoping to use that monogrammed ornament year-round on our gallery wall.

5. Just your average mail day in December. Thank you to every postal worker out there! Deliveries are insane in December. 

6. Throwback to our San Francisco trip last summer. The dreamiest dollhouses.

7. From the #petitejoys tag by @gabriellahoell. This little group of instagramers is growing like crazy. Join in and add your photos to the hashtag!

8. Hot Chocolate with whipped cream and sprinkles. Perfect December dessert.  

9. A butternut squash soup. Hoping to share the recipe here soon.

10. I shipped out all our Christmas cards! So much work, but so worth it. Will reveal more details on the blog next week.

11. Shorter days mean more hours of candlelight. Lighting them has become an evening ritual that I so look forward too.

12. Trimming the tree. Sweet December traditions. 

Hope your holiday season is going well! 

BUMPER STICKERS OF LIFE

I was driving the other day, and when I came to stoplight I noticed the car in front of me had a "New Driver" bumper sticker on the back. I made a mental note to change lanes as soon as possible. Before I was able to, I noticed that the car was driving much slower than expected, signaled to turn 145,367,345 feet in advance, and probably kept the exact spacing measurement between themselves and the car in front of it that they advise in Driver's Ed. What a good little ruler follower. Someone please explain to me what that is like.

Thankfully, having seen the bumper sticker, I knew and expected certain things in advance that, had I not known the background of the story, would have left me quick to become annoyed and frustrated. 

It made me think, what if we were all walking around with bumper stickers on our head? "Abused as a child" "Adopted" "One of 6 brothers and sisters on welfare" "Addicted" "Lonely" "Heartbroken" "Depressed"

We generally know these things about our best friends, but not our coworkers, acquaintances, or strangers we interact with in our day to day lives. What if we had the backstory on everyone's life? I think I would be much more quick to extend grace and compassion, and less quick to become irritated at small offenses or even simply ambivalent, quick to get my own needs met, my own errands done, accomplish my priorities, run my own day.

We all have good things and hard things. People have assumed that my life is perfect because my instagram makes it appear that way. I assure you, it is not. No one's life, marriage, family, career, is perfect, as much as it can seem that way on the outside. It's both good and hard for all of us. If only we had bumper stickers that publicly told the whole story.

My husband and I know some very special people with some very real and present physical and mental limitations. Being around them brings joy to my life, because I feel like they see things in a way that I don't. They're not tainted by the need to impress or make the outward appearance (body/home/instagram/etc) appear "perfect." It is refreshing for me to be around. We see their limitations, and we extend grace. Sometimes I wonder if our loss and limitations are just as present, just as real and just as needing of love and grace and acceptance, but are simply less visible. 

Seeing that bumper sticker reminded me that we almost never have the full story. I hope I can be the kind of person who is so much more quick to extend grace, knowing that everyone has their own bumper sticker of pain and loss and hard things, even if they just aren't as apparent as someone else's. 

DECEMBER GOALS

NOVEMBER RECAP:

1. Launch the holiday line in my shop. (CHECK) The holiday line has been well received! Thank you for all your orders. Working hard to get them shipped as soon as possible. 

2. Schedule photoshoots. (CHECK) I've collaborated with a few local photographers on recent shoots. More coming to the blog soon.

3. Go to a tree farm. (CHECK) In an unexpected twist, we were given a tree this year by Swansons Nursery (thank you, Swansons!) So, technically, we didn't visit a tree farm, but I really love the tree we got.

4. Design our Christmas cards. (CHECK, CHECK!) I designed and printed them myself this year, and I really love how they turned out. I'm almost finished with the addressing. They were a ton of work, but seeing them finished makes them so worth it. And I especially love that I created them entirely myself, from the calligraphy, to the design, to the printing, to the addressing. A labor of love, but they look amazing. Will reveal photos on the blog after Christmas!

DECEMBER GOALS:

(I like to think of this month's goal as more of a Christmas bucket list, to take the pressure off an over-the-top already busy month)

1. See the Christmas Lights on Candy Cane Lane. There is one darling neighborhood goes all out at Christmas each year, and it's so fun to stroll the streets and see all the lights. A magical Christmas moment. 

2. Go ice-skating. Embarrassingly, I have my own skates. My husband is athletic and great at any sport, and he's up for a skate night if I promise hot chocolate and maybe a double date with another fun couple.

3. Decorate our tree and house. A given! But I'm looking forward to it.

4. Fly to California to visit my family at Christmas. I can't wait. 

5. Attend 7 Christmas parties, including 2 weddings. That may sound crazy full, but I love a full calendar, and thankfully, so does my husband. Love this time of year for so many reasons, but I really love getting to see so many people we love at all the parties. 

What's on your Christmas bucket list? So many things to look forward to this month!