I have had time to start on a new table runner with my favorite of all times fabric My Folklore Dala Horse by Lecien... Oh how I wish I had bought at least a few yards of it... Santa, dear Santa - I wish for Christmas, pleeeaaase. (You think he will hear me...???)
I have been baking both ginger cookies and saffron buns and they are all eaten and gone. A reason to make some more.
I have taken snowy Winter Wonderland walks and watched the cats play in the snow, indulged in hot chocolates with Chantilly cream and tons of calories because it is soooo good.
I have wrapped all gifts, watched a few Christmas movies and discovered a new Christmas record favorite: Elvis Christmas with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra!!! This Christmas album is so good. I mean, I am a big fan of Bublé - of course (who isn't???) but Elvis makes me dance from room to room and wiggle those hips like never before. Elvis just makes me happy.
As much as I love and adore everything about Christmas, I'm not much different than many others who experience this time of the year to be rather stressful. We always, ALWAYS (!!!) wish for it to be a relaxing time when we can enjoy baking, cooking, crafting, gifting, decorating, socializing, music listening and so much more. We want it to be perfect, but honestly... Does it really have to be perfect? And what is perfect anyway? So with that in mind I swapped "musts" to "wants" and "pressure" to "joy" and instead of having it all, me and the kids have chosen the things and traditions that really makes Christmas special in our house. And now we have P E R F E C T Christmas spirit in our home. Perfect for us.
I can't believe it took me so long to realize this... All the years that I have felt like I'm never going to make it all in time, be enough or able to meet everyone's needs and expectations... it shows that everyone's needs and expectations are actually only my own... Yep, there you have it. It took some time to figure that out but life is a continuous journey of self discovery, growth and collecting wisdom. I kind of like getting older. :) Letting go... Just be. What a relief. And with that I sign off and wish you all a Happy Second Advent. No pressure. Stay Calm and Enjoy!
PS Forgot to tell you, but I did start on our Family Photo Wall over the sofa... I'm almost half way through, I add one picture at the time and who knows, maybe it will be complete just in time for Christmas. I'm loving the project and I feel so blessed when I see my family members all together up on the wall... So much love. I'm so lucky. (She says, and it might sound like an empty phrase but it is so true and she needs to remind herself how lucky she actually is...)
Kärlek
Annette
Annette
FOLLOW My Rose Valley HERE:
Back in 2014 (when we thought we were going to move house), I began decluttering EVERYTHING (even the Christmas deccies). I've always shopped all year long (waiting for sales and using coupons, etc) so now my Christmas season is fairly stress free!
ReplyDeleteI just love how cozy your home looks Annette! (and I too need to print out and frame more family pictures!)
~Dana
Hi Dana. It sounds so liberating to declutter EVERYTHING. I'm on a mission and slowly moving forward and for every corner accomplished I feel I can breath more lightly. The family picture wall is really making me so so happy. I've wanted one for years but never got around to it... So silly as it is quite easy to do...
DeleteHappy holidays my lovely.
Xx
Beautiful pictures. And about Christmas, I don’t like all ‘things to do’ or ‘must’. So we relax those days, do what we like, eat what we want and don’t buy much food ;) But I like Christmas decorations a lot ;)
ReplyDeleteSounds just perfect to me. Enjoy the holidays my lovely!
DeleteXx
Love the picture wall, it's looking great. I'm going for a relaxed Christmas here as well. The gifts are in hand, just the food and decorations to think about really. I'm not going to go mad. Low stress is the key! CJ xx
ReplyDeleteDear Annette, everything looks perfect. Just perfect. I have to check some Czech e-shops. These fabrics are really beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI love autumn, but the Advent time is my second favourite part of the year. But I don´t do extra cleaning (I clean every day - we have a little dog at home...), I don´t do extra baking. Hm, maybe I will do just small exception :) And... yes, the presents for kids are at home :) So, we really try to enjoy this time and stay calm. Maybe we need some snow :) Your pictures are beautiful!!!
Enjoy this time! :) Jolana
Good advice we can all use my friend. I am feeling a bit less pressure now that things are almost all done. Our tree is up but yet to be decorated, this weekend I think. Little Buddy is just as excited as he can be, that makes it all more magical. Hugs.
ReplyDeleteIt's crazy how we're all governed by our 'to do' lists, expectations both real or imagined. I admire you for stepping off the roundabout as it were, relaxing and enjoying time with family. Enjoy, Cathy x
ReplyDeleteHi Annette, Sorry haven't been posting lately as I haven't been well. Your home is looking very Christmassy. The garden certainly looks different with all the snow it doesn't seem two minutes ago you were posting lovely photos of colourful flowers and beautiful sunshine. Christmas is certainly a time for reminiscent feelings of time past and people we have lost, it can be quiet sad but also has a cosy comforting feeling at the same time. We have a favourite Christmas album of Johnny Mathis that my mum had in the 1960s when he was very young, as soon as I hear it the memories come flooding back.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful and happy Christmas.
Love and hugs
Julie x
Ahhhhh, this post is everything I love in a blog read! Happy Christmas Annette. I hope you have a super one and all of lifes blessings for the New Year.
ReplyDeleteMuch Love
Vanessa xxxx