This Holiday Season MY WAY:
The Simple Pleasures
I took this photo of my oatmeal cooking and my tea steeping here in my new home in San Anselmo, California the morning after Thanksgiving this year. After nearly 2 months of dodging renovations by camping out in our "cave" (our dark unfinished basement) I woke up upstairs thankful for a lot of things. Thankful for my husband. Thankful for my new iPad 2 (thanks mom!) that I hilariously use as a camera. Thankful to be living out my passion for helping people to create Soulful environments and success in their life. Thankful for our dog Charlie's remarkable recovery after his stroke this fall. Heck, I was even thankful for my slippers that morning ;)
The morning I took this photo I was feeling completely aligned and thankful for my good ole' slippers. I slipped those cozy deep red babies on my feet and shuffled into the kitchen. As I was preparing my oats and tea it occurred to me that I had a grin from ear to ear. Just being in the space of home was making me smile. While I had made the best of our camping arrangement in the cave, I couldn't help but KISS the Universe for gifting me with light and heat and my home sweet home.
JUST BEING in my home with my sweet pup Charlie and my beloved Spencer was all I wanted for Thanksgiving this year. This life is such a gift! The light coming through the windows, the redwoods smiling at me from our sweet neighbor's yard, my ginger tea steeping, and the familiar fragrance of cinnamon, apples, and oats...mmmmm now THAT's a Soulful Nest...the simple pleasures.
Today the Christmas Spirit got me. I found myself whistling Winter Wonderland at my computer this morning. So I looked up the Andrews Sisters on You Tube, put Winter Wonderland on repeat, called my mom, dad, and sisters, and did a little dance around my office this morning. I want to encourage you all, as you eat tomorrow's chunk of chocolate from your advent calendar before your family members realize what happened...to remember to do your holiday your way. Bring in what's cheerful for YOU this year. If you're anything like me it's not the tree (that I'm not buying this year) or the gifts (that I'm not buying this year) or looking snazzy for the big Christmas party (that I'm not going to this year) that bring me joy...it's just the simple pleasures that allow me to enjoy the holidays best.
Happy Holidays Soulful Nesters!
All my love,
Siobhain