My steps were unhurried, the air fresh and the smells of sweet late-springtime grass crossed my nose.

The birds were singing their tunes. Providing the melody for the symphony of nature. The ribbets from the frogs would jump in occasionally to be the bass notes while little chirps from the insects on tree branches would pop in to add that sharp staccato accent.

As I was making this walk at my favorite most place, I realized…

This is what June is.

Here’s this month’s Ever Diaries.

P.S. If you’re new here, every month I post an Ever Diaries where I joyfully celebrate the month ahead. I always love to include a place I’m dreaming of in the newsletter, so take a peek at the pictures and see if you can guess where it is this month. I’ll let you know in the sign-off!

Once Upon a June.

June’s name comes from the Roman goddess of Juno. She was in charge of marriages and the wellness of women, in particular the married life of women. Tis no wonder this month is so rampant with weddings!

As history goes, Juno eventually became the figure sought by many for comfort, like a guardian angel for women, a picture of “the female principle of life,” (Britannica).

Back in the days of the Roman calendar, the year moved around the lunar cycles. Wintertime didn’t a have monthly names, and a good portion of the months of the year were simply named based on their order in the year. Sextilis, for example, was the name of the sixth month.

Ironically, this was not June.

With the “new year” falling more-so towards spring’s start in March, June would have only been the fourth month of the year.

Enter the complicated shifting of calendars through more “modern” history, and we now find ourselves with a Gregorian calendar marking June as the sixth month of our year.

Who knew June had such a history!

Sources: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Juno-Roman-goddess, https://www.almanac.com/how-did-months-get-their-names

Worth a Revisit This Month

Here’s some posts from the archive to check out this month:

June, In Six Words

Describing this sixth month, in six words.

1. Spectacular: it’s that spectactular late springtime/early summertime of the year.

2. Rosie: The first of the roses are blooming, and aren’t they just the sweetest?

3. Serenade: Step outside the chorus of birdsongs when you get a chance this time of year.

4. Endless: the days seem to last and linger this month. Our height of daylight.

5. Barefoot: Skipping the sandals—whenever you get the chance—in favor of barefeet.

6. Fragrant: the smells this time of the year are incredible from mown grass, to flowers in bloom, to the salty air of a trip to the seaside.

June, Written in the Stars

What’s on deck in astrology and astronomy this month?

Save the Date:

June 15th: Super New Moon in the sign of Gemini

June 15th: Look out for Mercury in the night sky!

June 21st: Summer Solstice

June 29th: Micro Full Moon —called the Strawberry Moon this month!

Notes of June:

Flowers on the counter: Roses (of course)

Tunes on repeat: Classical

Currently watching: Something’s Gotta Give

Book dog-eared: Eat, Pray, Love

Farmer’s market finds: Raspberries & mint

Thanks for reading this month’s Ever Diaries!

This June, I’m picturing a summertime in Greece! Ocean waves, sunshine and walks through Santorini.

Avtío, Claire

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING I GET A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH MY LINKS. These posts/resources are also not a substitute for medical/professional advice. Please seek professional help if you feel you or someone you know needs it.

Perhaps it was (likely) because I spent the first part of the month traveling, or perhaps it was how Memorial Day fell super-duper early this year, or perchance it was just one of those months that felt like it moved very quickly.

No matter the answer, this May brought with it a new found love for lots of new and old things.

Here’s this month’s joy and tell.

1. The Marlow Murder Club

I’m no stranger to cozy mysteries. I adore them no matter the time of the year. This love equally transfers to the silver screen with cozy mystery series and movies. There is just nothing quite like curling up to watch one!

This month’s cozy mystery I loved was The Marlow Murder Club on PBS/ Masterpiece. Set in the quaint town of Marlow in the UK, this series follows three women at different points in their lives while they work together—and find meaning—in helping to solve a murder in their little town.

The story is intriguing, the setting is spectacular, and I am now I’m excited to read the book series!

2. The Artist’s Way

Per a suggestion from my therapist, I started The Artist’s Way this month, which is a 12 week program to help you excavate your creative artist within. I’m only into the first week, but I cannot even begin to say how much I am enjoying this book/program thus far.

3. Lucy Worsley

May I please have a smidge of the coolness that is Lucy Worsley?

A Brit by birth and a historian by passion, Lucy delves deep into British history over on PBS/BBC. Her shows cover people and places and events from the likes of Jane Austen to the British perspective of the American Revolution—which I highly suggest giving a watch for this year’s 250th birthday of the USA!

She’s also an author. I got her book, Jane Austen at Home, for Christmas last year, which I am excited to dive into this summertime as well.

4. Father Richard Rohr

I had a bad day this month. One where you just need to go to sleep and cross your fingers that some rest and a brand new day will bring forth some new goodness. I’m thankful to say it did. In the form of sunshine, a long walk with the birds singing, and listening to this podcast episode with Richard Rohr.

A Franciscan priest, Father Rohr joins Oprah’s Super Soul podcast to discuss all things living your truest self. Even though this episode is from 2015, it still rings true today… and isn’t that the greatest?

My favorite quote from the whole episode?

“God is a verb.”

5. For the Traveling Folks

If you know me, you’ll know my favorite thing to do is travel. To be able to go somewhere new, experience the sights, sounds and culture… there's truly nothing like it!

In preparing for an international trip this month, I realized there is something I greatly value when it comes to packing for trips…

Being as light as I can.

Wherever I can cut weight/ bulk, it is a gift when it comes to packing (and lugging your suitcase around.)

The trip I took this month was one occasion where I felt like I packed pretty darn well.

Here were some of the favorite things I did:

1. I bought washing machine detergent sheets. Like dryer sheets, but for the washing machine; they contain all the detergent you need. They are flat, weigh very little, and they allow me to not have to worry about carrying laundry detergent around (or buy some big bottle wherever I am) if I need to do a quick clothes wash.

2. I brought my Kindle. One of my favorite parts of my day is getting to settle down with a book. And knowing how bulky books can be and how much space and weight they carry with them, I made myself pack solely my Kindle for my entertainment reads this vacation, and it was so worth it.

3. I used a backpack purse for my personal item. I’ve been trying to figure out the solution for my carry-on and personal item for a few trips now. While I still am trying to nail down my ideal carry-on situation, I feel like I have figured out my personal item dilemma. I used to do a purse/tote. What I would find is it often made me have another thing on my shoulders to have to carry around and left my hands still somewhat limited in movement. When I am on a plane, I tend to use only a few things (especially on shorter flights): headphones, Kindle, and my phone. I also like to keep my camera in my personal item bag along with identification. Throw in some hand wipes, a couple of stain remover wipes and that is pretty much all I want or need in my personal item bag. Making the commitment to switch to a smaller backpack purse was just what I needed and has lightened up my personal item in many ways, physically and mentally.

4. I brought a travel journal. This might not sound so revolutionary, but as a new-to-journaling girl, I was debating on how to handle my journaling practice while abroad. Do I just pack my regular journal—it’s flat, isn’t it? Or do I just supplement with my Notes app on my phone — I could make that work, couldn’t I? While cleaning out my travel stuff before leaving, I found some old travel journals which I knew would just be what I needed. I still got to experience the good old-fashioned pen to paper method, but they were small and thin enough to not add extra weight and squeezed into my personal item backpack mentioned above so I could journal on the trip over the ocean.

Now, this isn’t’ to say I have it all figured out. I still tend to bring one too many shoes, and I can certainly cut back on everything I feel like I need to have in my carry-on bag. But, it does feel like I’m reaching the point where I am starting to learn what works and what doesn’t for me while I jet to my next adventure. I hope it might help you, too, figure out what is best for you.

That wraps up Joy & Tell for May! See you soon, June!

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING I GET A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH MY LINKS. These posts/resources are also not a substitute for medical/professional advice. Please seek professional help if you feel you or someone you know needs it.

There’s just something about the month of May which casts a spell over me.

Like I was handed this love potion by the heavens and told to drink it.

And I fall head over heels in love with this month.

Its weather, its flowers, and its whole gist.

I simply adore it.

Here’s your Ever Diaries for May.

P.S. If you’re new here, every month I post an Ever Diaries where I joyfully celebrate the month ahead. I always love to include a place I’m dreaming of in the newsletter, so take a peek at the pictures and see if you can guess where it is this month. I’ll let you know in the sign-off!

Once Upon a May

May, unlike its predecessor April, has a much more straightforward name origin.

Back in the ancient Roman times, offerings were made to the goddess of fertility and growth, Maia, with hopes of her blessings upon the upcoming agricultural season. May was named after her.

During this time of year when we tend to plant seeds for our summer gardens and where the world quite literally feels like it is reborn outside our very windows, it's not hard to see why this month is named for Maia.

Source: https://www.history.com/articles/history-may-month

Worth a revisit this month:

May, in five words

A little snippet of words to describe this fifth month of the year.

1. Elegant: there’s this subtleness in May that knows it’s an elegant month.

2. Gentle: the breezes, the birdsongs, the moods

3. Feminine: dresses & sandals, sunsets & flowers

4. Tender: a wish for spring to linger on a little longer

5. Hopeful: for summer plans & longer days ahead.

Thanks for reading this month’s Ever Diaries!

This month, I can’t stop dreaming of the chateaux in the Loire Valley, Dordogne and the Nouvelle-Aquitaine regions in France!

À bientôt,
Claire

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING I GET A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH MY LINKS. These posts/resources are also not a substitute for medical/professional advice. Please seek professional help if you feel you or someone you know needs it.

The whole world is the most delightful of greens.

Emeralds and olivine (if you don’t know this one… it really sums up this budding spring green perfectly) are abundant in what seems like every corner of this little part of the world I’m in.

It really reminds you of how all that snow, all that cold, and all that winter… led us to this moment.

When you walk outside to the chorus of birds serenading, the leaves making their grandest of appearances, and that daylight which just simply stretches more with each passing day.

This time of the year—it’s a joy in the truest of definitions.

Here’s what I loved this month.

1. A Stanley Tucci Love

There’s simply something about this man that I adore. I don’t know if it’s swagger, his effortless chic style or the fact that he travels across Italy to eat food —yes, pretty please!— but anything this man does immediately catches my attention.

With Devil Wears Prada 2 coming out next month and his newest season of Tucci in Italy, I am in full awe that the month of May will bless us twice with this amazing gentleman.

2. These Shoes Were Made for Traveling

After being introduced to Rothy’s a few years ago by a cousin, I have been sold.

They really are a shoe that can last for the ages!

With a trip booked next month for some warmer weather, I recently got this pair of Rothys in jasmine and wren.

And they might have just become my new favorites!

3. An Ode to Analog

The youths (as my dad used to call them!) have been talking more and more about this idea of living a more analog life in 2026.

And I can say wholeheartedly, I’m not surprised Gen Z and Gen Alpha are feeling like technology is overrunning their lives.

I feel incredibly blessed to be a later millennial where my childhood and early teen years were not so social media and technology based. Even when I got my first phone at 13, it didn’t have access to the internet. Social media consisted of Facebook (and then later on Instagram and Snapchat). Twitter was vaguely there in the background.

I feel sadness for the lost childhood memories of many young people, the time spent looking at a screen instead of being out in the world, exploring and discovering. For the teens who are glued to their phones and feel that insurmountable pressure to be “perfect” for social media.

It's a lot to deal with for any person, let alone the younger generations for whom this is all they know.

I’ll get off my pedestal now, but I’ll leave with this… Pinterests newest ad is wonderful at showing this idea of how we can have technology and live a more screen-free life at the same time. Plus, it makes you feel appreciative if you got to experience the magic of a non-social media world.

4. Aging Vibrantly

Stumbled upon this advert by Patagonia about being “too old not to.”

Really going to adopt this as my new affirmation, I’m too old not to do it!

5. She’s Got That Style

Ask my mother, and she will tell you, I spent the vast majority of my high school days in sweatshirts. Leggings were not a huge thing yet or I know they would have been part of my daily wardrobe choice, too.

With school starting at 7:40am, I never had the desire to really dress up. This has continued with me towards adulthood… I sure do love a comfy outfit!

These past few months, I have found myself breaking out and discovering a love for style. I still do love a day spent in my leggings and a t-shirt, but it has been so fun to start putting together outfits and really start narrowing down what my own style is.

I’ve been pinning it all to this Pinterest board if you’re wanting some inspiration as well!

There’s Joy & Tell for April. I’d love to know, what brought you joy this month?

Share Ever Joyfilled

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING I GET A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH MY LINKS. These posts/resources are also not a substitute for medical/professional advice. Please seek professional help if you feel you or someone you know needs it.

As kids, it moves at the pace of molasses. Being told something was two weeks away felt like it might as well be ten years.

Then, sometime around when you start doing more taking care of yourself as an early adult, it seems to speed up to normal—whatever that means! At the age of thirty one now, I now feel like something bei…

Read more

This is the month when it really feels like springtime is arriving. The flowers are dancing in blooms, the trees are swinging with new leaves, the fresh grass smells quite like heaven, and the people are out and about with that slightest of bounces in their steps once more.

Where I’m currently at in the Midwest, April also always brings a little last lingering farewell from winter days. Be it waking up with frost on the ground, snowflakes falling, or just some chillier days, April always reminds me of the phrase, “a long farewell” when it comes to winter’s last grip on us.

Perhaps that is why this month starts off with April Fool’s… it always tends to play one last trick on us!

Anyhow, this month, I find myself feeling thankful for the newness this time of the year always brings… a reminder of the season of spring and its eternal lesson of freshness once again.

Here’s your Ever Diaries for April.

P.S. If you’re new here, every month I post an Ever Diaries where I celebrate the month ahead with joy. I always love to include a place I’m dreaming of in the newsletter, so take a peek at the pictures and see if you can guess where it is this month. I’ll let you know in the sign-off!

A little conundrum of a month

Back in the Roman calendar days, April was the second month, following March which started off the new year. Quite the shift from the modern new year starting in the stillness and quietness of January.

The Roman king Numa Pompilius is credited for this change when he introduced January as the first month, yet evidence—interestingly— shows the movement of the new year to January did not occur for the Roman calendar until hundreds of years after Pompilius’ death. Julius Caesar made the transfer towards the Julian calendar system, keeping January 1st as the beginning of the year later in 46 BCE, but the date would get shifted between Christmas and March 25th within the Christian faith as history marched on.

The Gregorian calendar made further adjustments back in 1582 (after holidays kept changing due to the Julian Calendar neglecting to account for those pesky leap years!) to become the calendar we use presently. Amazingly, Great Britain and its American colonies were some of the later adopters to the new Gregorian calendar, taking until 1752 for them to do so and for them to start their years on January 1st.

So, alas, while springtime brings forth this unbridled and beautiful energy with it, it still comes three months into the start of the “official” new year. However, it is interesting to think about the idea how, a long time ago… we would just be kicking off the new year right about now.

When it comes to April, it’s still wonderful riddle is how it came to get its name. Some suggest perhaps ‘Aphrilis’ is in honor of the Greek God of Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love. While others feel April took its name from the Latin word 'Aprilis,' which could be traced to 'aperire,' meaning 'to open,' the true origin remains—as the saying goes—lost to history.

No matter how April came to be or why, within it’s thirty days, there’s this new year freshness to it, this month is one of beauty and a reminder of why its rainbow-kissed skies, emerald green grasses, and lusciously fragrant flowers are a true delight year upon year.

Sources: https://www.dictionary.com/articles/april

& https://www.britannica.com/story/why-does-the-new-year-start-on-january-1

Worth a revisit this month

April, in four words

A little snippet of words to describe this fourth month of the year.

1. Freshness: the air, the laundry, the atmosphere

2. Iridescent: rainbows which dance across the skies after a heavy April shower

3. Budding: the trees, the flowers, & new energy comes forth

4. Dawning: After a long winter’s tale, spring comes in bright like dawn… a reminder that the sun will always come again

That's a wrap for this month's Ever Diaries! In April, I dream about the love spell that is Provence, France. Someday, I'll get there!

Au revoir,
Claire

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING I GET A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH MY LINKS. These posts/resources are also not a substitute for medical/professional advice. Please seek professional help if you feel you or someone you know needs it.

A wonderful reminder of what’s to come as spring continues onwards.

This month really found me embracing a more sense of lightness and femininity. I’ve been loving these gentle days, prepping my meals with the music playing, and embracing a life with a bit less screens and more books.

Here’s my joy & tell for the month.

#1. The Parent Trap

My Pinterest algorithm has been showing me images from the movie, The Parent Trap (1998 version) lately, and I have been loving the nostalgia of it. With this internal shift towards more gentle… this movie really encompasses this. I watched it for the first time in a long time this month, and it has quickly risen to be one of my top favorite movies. Highly suggest a re-watch if you haven’t seen it in a while. It’s a light and fun reminder for when the world feels a little—or a lot—heavy.

#2. Oura Ring

This month, I decided to get myself an Oura Ring. Pondering on it for a few months now, I knew it was time when I just felt like my nervous system was hitting a wall. While I’m still in the new days of it… I can already say I’m a fan. It’s nice to be able to get the insights it provides without the need for a smart watch. After feeling like my nervous system needed some addressing, I knew, for myself, a gadget alerting me to texts, etc. was not what I personally needed. I love how the Oura Ring is beautiful in its design and goes with my other jewelry I wear.

#3. Flowers on the Counter

A habit I’ve picked up from my mom, I love having fresh flowers on the counter. It makes such a difference in brightening up the space—especially when you’ve had some cold and snowy days like we did this month! I love tying the seasonal feel to the flowers, too. Early March had me craving daffodils and tulips to give me this smallest bit of hope spring would arrive indeed. As we move towards April, I feel like I’m going to be drawn more towards the outdoors to see what I can pick from the yard.

As Miley Cyrus says, “I can buy myself flowers.”

#4. The Barefoot Contessa

Listened to this podcast episode of Good Hang with Amy Poehler this month with her special guest of Ina Garten. I forgot how much I adore her!

She just has this effortless coolness and classic-ness to her with is such a delight to hear.

I just started her memoir on audio, and it’s been amazing to see how Ina really made the lemonade out of lemons in her life. And probably the best lemonade ever knowing Ina.

#5. Real Letters

During the holidays, I decided to gift myself a subscription to The Flower Letters and for my birthday I got myself a subscription to Letters from Afar.

Both send you physical letters through the mail, and both are restoring my hope that not everything needs to be digitalized.

Keep the mail going!

And that’s Joy & Tell for this March. I’d love to know, what brought you joy this month?

Share Ever Joyfilled

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING I GET A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH MY LINKS. These posts/resources are also not a substitute for medical/professional advice. Please seek professional help if you feel you or someone you know needs it.

This Women’s History Month, here’s a soundtrack to help you remember your innate power within.

Happy Women’s History Month to all the amazing women out there! Cheers!

#1: "I Have Confidence" from The Sound of Music

#2: I AM Woman. by TRÏBE

#3: "Don't Rain on My Parade" by Barbara Streisand

#4: "GIRL" by Maren Morris

#5: "Flowers" by Miley Cyrus

#6: "Defying Gravity" from Wicked

#7: "Wildflowers and Wild Horses" by Lainey Wilson

#8: "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman by Aretha Franklin

#9: "Love of My Life-ARKADI Remix" by Jennifer Lopez and Arakadi

#10: "Resilient" by Rising Appalachia

Cheers to Women’s History Month!

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING I GET A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH MY LINKS. These posts/resources are also not a substitute for medical/professional advice. Please seek professional help if you feel you or someone you know needs it.

The month of spring… the month of relief.

Relief that, perhaps, winter is behind us (mostly), and we can allow ourselves to quietly say…

We made it.

Here’s your March in five senses.

What’s March in five senses to you?

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING I GET A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH MY LINKS. These posts/resources are also not a substitute for medical/professional advice. Please seek professional help if you feel you or someone you know needs it.

Here’s February’s Joy+Tell!

#1: A Refreshing Take on Aging

Barring any insane advancement, we are all going to continue aging. And aging is such a blessing. For me, I just feel like I come more and more into my own with each passing year.

I stumbled upon this beautiful podcast segment with Kate Winslet which puts what I’m trying to say into more eloquent words.

Favorite quote?

“You cannot control or dictate the opinions and attitudes of other people. All you can do is live your best life...”

#2: TRAITORS!

After watching Tara and Johnny during the Olympics, I found myself moving towards watching the show Traitors in which they are contestants. If you love playing the game mafia, this is a large scale version of it!

#3: A Wonderful World, Indeed

Also from watching figure skating in Italy, I was mesmerized by the performance of Ami Nakai who skated to “What a Wonderful World” by Lexi Walker and the Piano Guys. It’s such a stunning song to begin with, but this particular version really takes it another level.

#4: Hard Days

There’s been some hard stuff happening in my personal life these past few months, and I got the sweetest letter in the mail from one of my friends. She wrote: “It’s okay to have hard days. You are loved. You are human.”

Reminded me that if you know someone going through hard stuff, it makes such a difference to let them know it is okay, that you see them, and you love them.

#5: Little Things

Hanging on my bulletin board by my desk is a print-out of this Morgan Harper Nichols reminder to appreciate.

Brings a little smile to my face when I look at it and answer one of the questions.

What brought you joy this month?

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING I GET A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH MY LINKS. These posts/resources are also not a substitute for medical/professional advice. Please seek professional help if you feel you or someone you know needs it.

Our shortest month, and our last (full) month of wintertime has arrived in all its snowy glory—at least where I am!

Here is your February in five senses.

May all your February days be cozy!

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING I GET A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH MY LINKS. These posts/resources are also not a substitute for medical/professional advice. Please seek professional help if you feel you or someone you know needs it.

In all honesty, I love having a January birthday... I’ve never experienced those post-holiday blues quite as hard because I knew January brought celebrations. Truthfully, it feels like the Universe knew I needed a reason to love January, so it had me be born during it!

In celebration of my 31st, I made a list of 31 hopes I have for this next year of life. Most are vague (you’ll see I use the term ‘more’ a lot!), but I like it that way. I won’t hit them all out of the park, but I do dream and wish for me to grow in all these way over the next 365 days.

Here’s to 31!

1.) Play more.

2.) Laugh more.

3.) Rest more.

4.) Take at least six trips this year.

5.) Be creative—art, music, poetry, pottery, etc.

6.) Continue onwards with therapy.

7.) Meditate daily (or try my best to!)

8.) Journal daily (again...or try my best to!)

9.) Do a monthly vision board background for phone/computer

10.) Meet up with friends in real life more.

11.) Celebrate the big + little things.

12.) Read for fun more.

13.) Take photos just for the enjoyment of it.

14.) Set more boundaries.

15.) Love more.

16.) Listen better.

17.) Consistent strength training.

18.) Wear the clothing of my future self.

19.) Wake up earlier.

20.) Go to bed earlier.

21.) Speak my truth more.

22.) Go on more hikes.

23.) Allow my dreams to come true.

24.) Spend little time on screens.

25.) Use my drone more.

26.) Buy things for myself.

27.) Windows down, music up.

28.) Let go.

29.) Watch the sunrise and sunset more.

30.) Fall in love with life more deeply.

31.) Bask in the beauty of all of this.

This was a really fun experience to do on my birthday, and I can't wait to see what I'll write down for my 32nd next year!

Wishing you warmth and coziness this winter day!

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING I GET A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH MY LINKS. These posts/resources are also not a substitute for medical/professional advice. Please seek professional help if you feel you or someone you know needs it.

Given the recent events of this month, I want to reshare this early little post I wrote back in the midst of COVID. It feels a bit extra fitting during this time.

Here it is.

Not to sound like a broken record-- but whew. Seriously whew.

What a year it has been.

From moments of pure “down in the dumps” to moments of...well...pure joy. We have covered the spectrum of emotions, haven’t we?

If there’s one emotion though that remains from the year, I truly hope it is joy.

We Can Feel Joy and Pain at the Same Time:

One of my favorite books, The Book of Joy, by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu (+ Douglas Abrams) truly opened my eyes to why we need to choose joy every single day.

Something that I love about the idea of joy is that it allows space for darkness.

“DISCOVERING JOY DOES NOT, I’M SORRY TO SAY […] SAVE US FROM THE INEVITABLE HARDSHIP AND HEARTBREAK. IN FACT, WE MAY CRY MORE EASILY, BUT WE WILL LAUGH MORE EASILY TOO. PERHAPS WE ARE JUST MORE ALIVE.” –THE BOOK OF JOY

Joy leaves room for the not so fun emotions to be felt. It allows for us to feel the pain that comes in life sometimes. But in feeling that pain, as The Book of Joy suggests, also enables us to experience life a little more.

Why It's a Good Thing to Feel Joy and Pain:

Memes, videos and skits are out there to add humor to just how crazy life feels sometimes. It can be filled with a lot of difficult stuff, heartbreak and emotions.

However, feeling--and choosing joy--means that we can feel that very pain.

If we aim for happiness, we would feel like we can’t feel this way...those not-so-fun feelings go against happiness.

But with joy... the not-so-fun emotions are part of living in joy.

Something that I have noticed since the COVID pandemic is how people seem to be more authentic.

More people are saying, “This year is hard”. More people are saying, “I’m tired of making it seem like I have it all together because I don’t!”. More people are deciding what really matters to them and changing their life to reflect that.

More people are just being real. And that’s a good thing.

In allowing ourselves to feel the pain that has comes in life sometimes, maybe we are allowing ourselves to feel a little more humanness. In doing so, perhaps we are feeling a deeper sense of joy underneath it all.

Let’s Be Real (+ Joyful!):

We don’t need to force ourselves to be happy. We can choose to be real and say, “This year has been hard” and we can grieve the opportunities, things and relationships that the time drastically has changed.

Instead of seeing that as not being optimistic or “seeing the glass half full”, we can take comfort that we are still aligned with joy.

Joy has room for pain. It has room for the hurt. Because when we feel that way, we’re being human and we’re being joyful.

WITH DEEP LOVE TO MINNEAPOLIS.

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING I GET A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH MY LINKS. These posts/resources are also not a substitute for medical/professional advice. Please seek professional help if you feel you or someone you know needs it.

Fresh crisp air. Sights of snow flakes. Mugs full of steaming tea. Stunning sunsets.

These are just a few of my favorite things about this season—cueing Julie Andrews!

Here’s a winter to-do list.

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING I GET A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH MY LINKS. These posts/resources are also not a substitute for medical/professional advice. Please seek professional help if you feel you or someone you know needs it.

While winter-post-holiday season- can often feel a little bland... there’s truly some bliss to be found.

Look towards the fresh new snow, the fresh new calendar year, and the joy that lies beneath it all.

Here’s 10 pins to help warm you up and get you in that blissful wintertime vibe!

1.) Winter Mornings

2.) Ski Trip Abroad

3.) Ski Trip Stateside

4.) A Heartwarming Valentine’s

5.) Wintertime Sun

6.) Winter’s Beauty

7.) Snowed In

8.) Capturing Winter

9.) Winter in the City

10.) A Scottish Wintertime

Check out more wintertime inspiration over on my Pinterest board!

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING I GET A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH MY LINKS. These posts/resources are also not a substitute for medical/professional advice. Please seek professional help if you feel you or someone you know needs it.

While it can feel excessively long to some, I find January is all about embracing wintertime. Hygge and coziness is the name of the game for me when this month starts.

Here’s January in five senses.

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING I GET A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH MY LINKS. These posts/resources are also not a substitute for medical/professional advice. Please seek professional help if you feel you or someone you know needs it.

When I think of Christmas, I think of England.

I just adore how the Brits do this time of the year. It’s honored, it’s charming, but it’s not perfect. Nor is there any hint of this being the goal.

Christmas lights are strewn across the houses in the most delicate and beautiful of ways, not covering every square inch. Towns are dotted with Christmas markets selling items that are delightful and affordable, not outlandish and extravagant. People are busy shopping for gifts with large grins on their faces and laughter flowing through the alleyways rather than clenched jaws and tight expressions wondering how they’ll find something for everyone on their list.

We’ve been hearing over the years how we have largely missed the truest meaning of Christmas. I never really thought deeply about it until this adventure through the British countryside in the Cotswolds.

I don’t think we’ve lost the truest meaning of Christmas, I feel like it’s just buried. Underneath the desire to do everything when we realistically can’t, beneath the push to have the house decorated in the middle of November, and covered by the drive to give our family and friends these ideal gifts when oftentimes it’s simply being together which is the biggest gift of all..there is this little spark of magic shining the truest meaning of this season.

No matter your own beliefs/celebrations this time of the year, I personally believe the essence of this season lies in connection. Connection to our families, near and far. Connection with our friends, old and new. Connection with something greater than ourselves, whether it be a figure or simply spirit.

When I say England’s festiveness was simple, it does not mean it wasn’t beautiful. For me, I found it even more stunning and charming. The toned down decorations (compared to the USA!), the Christmas trees which aren’t decked in a million lights, seeing little kiddos and their parents being present with one another, it highlighted Christmas in a way that reminded me... the sense of this season lies within us all.

Wishing you all a very merry season ahead filled with oodles of cups of good cheer and countless expressions of wonder.

A note: This post is not sponsored or an ad.

CHEERS TO A FESTIVE SEASON AHEAD!

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING I GET A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH MY LINKS. These posts/resources are also not a substitute for medical/professional advice. Please seek professional help if you feel you or someone you know needs it.

Cheers to the festive season—here’s 10 pins to celebrate.

#1: Holiday Shopping

#2: Simple + Beautiful

#3: Tied With a Bow

#4: Festive Time in London

#5: Dried Oranges

#6: Come On In

#7: Christmas Markets

#8: Scandi Inspiration

#9: A New England Holiday

#10: A Festive Corner

P.S. HEAD OVER TO MY PINTEREST BOARD FOR EVEN MORE FESTIVENESS!

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING I GET A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH MY LINKS. These posts/resources are also not a substitute for medical/professional advice. Please seek professional help if you feel you or someone you know needs it.

Where waking up to a gentle blanket of white snow gets you excited and a stroll around the town square looking at all the holiday lights makes you stop and appreciate the moment.

It’s not an official season, per se, but it is a highlight of the perennial year.

Here’s a to-do list for this holiday season.

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING I GET A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH MY LINKS. These posts/resources are also not a substitute for medical/professional advice. Please seek professional help if you feel you or someone you know needs it.

Is there a more celebrated month during the year?

I feel like October might come close, but December seems to be the resounding winner.

It’s not hard to see why. Festive spirits, cheerful decor and a world that comes aglow with lights.

It is joy epitomized.

Here’s this month’s five senses.

What's December in five senses for you?

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING I GET A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH MY LINKS. These posts/resources are also not a substitute for medical/professional advice. Please seek professional help if you feel you or someone you know needs it.