//Discover image courtesy of Nowness; //INSPIRE image courtesy of Bauble Stockings; //THRIVE image courtesy of Liv & Let
Friends, happy Wednesday! Now that we are nearing the end of February, it means we are in the home stretch of the Frugal February Challenge. If you’ve been following along, I hope you have enjoyed it and found it to be a worthwhile activity. I’ve been taking notes on what has worked well for me and where there are opportunities for improvement, and I’ll be sharing an honest review of my experience next Wednesday.
Before I get to my Frugal February recap, I have an exciting new series to share with you. It’s called Take 5, and the name reflects the phrase “Take five.” that is often heard on movie sets and theater stages to indicate a short break to pause, reflect, and reset before beginning again. I will use this space to collate simple items that take about 5 minutes each, in the categories of Create, Discover, Inspire, Practice, and Thrive and share them with you periodically. These are some of the categories I find most meaningful in my day-to-day life, and I hope they resonate with you as well. While I envision keeping these same categories in each edition of the series, I might swap in a few different ones if I find something particularly inspiring to share with you that doesn’t fit neatly into these established categories.
//CREATE
The winter months are a great time to tackle a few craft projects while also looking ahead to spending time with loved ones at family gatherings or spring luncheons, or catching up with dear friends at an outdoor coffee shop. Why not combine the two by creating a few handmade notes to send to individuals you’re looking forward to seeing? Or perhaps tie a handmade tag to a jar of jam or a batch of homemade cookies as a thank you for someone special. Use whatever materials you have on hand; a small section of a pretty paper bag from a favorite shop, wallpaper samples, or leftover wrapping paper are all great options. Embellish with stickers, stamps, dried flowers, artwork, individual motifs cut from scrapbooking paper (such as the purple flowers), ribbon, and more. These note cards and tags are just large enough to fit a short handwritten note, a favorite quote, or a touching bible verse. Select motifs and color combinations the recipient will love, and you can be sure you’ll bring a smile to their faces. The card and gift tag took me about 5 minutes each to create, and I only used materials I had on hand, making this a fun, easy and free craft project. I can’t wait to deliver these this spring.
//DISCOVER
I’m a busy body by nature and especially love to see how other people decorate their homes. I always feel so inspired after perusing interior design books and cottage industry magazines and learning more about particular design choices that reflect a home’s architecture and history. If you love to view beautiful homes from the comfort of your own home, Nowness.com’s In Residence series allows you to tour the homes of renowned designers, artists, and architects. Each video tour is less than five minutes in length, and the homes they spotlight are all stunning and unique. I enjoyed hearing the stories of how the owners fell in love with their homes and what makes their spaces so special. I particularly enjoyed the Beverly Hills home of Kelly Wearstler; the lush grounds, pristine 1920’s architectural details, and the light and bright interior spaces are so calming and serene. I could easily imagine spending hours reading, crafting, and simply relaxing in this space.
//INSPIRE
If you’re not yet aware of Bauble Stockings, I hope you will check them out at your earliest convenience. Kate Stice Stewart and her team of designers create the most charming designs that are truly works of art. The gorgeous patterns are so inspiring on their own, but what I love most is that Bauble Stockings are Certified Fair Trade and are hand-embroidered by women in Haiti. Many of the women who stitch the bauble size (or mini) and full-size stockings are single mothers, and through their stitching they are paid a salary that is equivalent to a teacher or nurse. The women are also able to work from home, which as we all know, has been invaluable over the last two years of the pandemic. Kate also donates 5% of the profits to the Atlanta Children’s Shelter and is truly an inspirational leader and businesswoman.
In January, I purchased the Peace on Earth – Blue stocking, and I absolutely love it. The design is beautiful, and the quality of the handwork is amazing. I can’t wait to display it on my Christmas tree for many years to come. It was a struggle to select just one stocking to purchase, as they are all stunning. In addition to the Peace on Earth, I was torn between the Rose Medallion Tree, Nutcracker Patisserie, and Holiday Trimmings (all by Dogwood Hill), and the Partridge in a Pear Tree by Kelly Fielden. Ultimately, I ended up selecting the Peace on Earth because it reminded me so much of my Delilah Dove heirloom felt ornament, which is one of my most cherished designs. Kate, in case you’re reading this, it would be a dream and an honor to be invited to design a Bauble Stocking – I have so many ideas!
The idea to create Bauble Stockings came from a tradition her father started many years prior. Each Christmas, he would tuck a special “bauble”, or possibly a note on where to find it, in his wife’s needlepoint stocking that hung on their tree. This was always the last gift she opened on Christmas morning, and seeing her face light up with joy was a highlight of the holiday. Kate wanted others to experience the same joyous tradition and started Bauble Stockings since she wasn’t able to find something similar online. Perhaps Kate’s story will inspire you to start a similar tradition in your homes this Christmas. You’ll treasure the memories of the five minute grand finale for many years to come.
//PRACTICE
If you’re looking to be happier, healthier, and more productive this year, I recommend adopting a daily practice of gratitude. Each morning write down three items from the previous day for which you are grateful, and over time, you’ll notice a huge difference in your outlook and demeanor. It’s called a practice, because you really do need to practice this daily so that it becomes a habit. Studies have shown that people who practice gratitude have better physical health, less fatigue, greater resiliency, and more.
I’m a bit of a notebook snob and prefer to write in pretty notebooks, but a simple notebook or even the notes app on your phone will suffice. I really like this particular gratitude journal because of the helpful prompts and the fact that it has space for morning and evening meditations. I try to wake up a few minutes early each morning to have some quiet time before my busy day in my home office begins. I’ll either do a short meditation, write in my journal, or read a chapter of a meaningful book (I’m currently reading The Hidden Messages in Water) to ensure I start the day with a clear mind and a positive perspective. During this time, or perhaps as I’m eating my breakfast, I’ll also capture a few notes in my gratitude journal. It only takes about five minutes to fill in the morning meditation section, but I find this simple activity sets the tone for my entire day. I certainly notice a difference on days I skip it. Then, each evening, as I’m preparing for bed, I fill out the prompts in the evening reflection section. This helps me to look back over the course of the day to remember all the good things that happened, and writing a positive thought before bed really does help me to sleep more soundly and peacefully. I can’t recommend this practice highly enough.
//THRIVE
Receiving a diagnosis of breast cancer is a scary and lonely experience. While I have been fortunate to not hear my doctor utter those life-changing words of “You have cancer.”, I have many friends and family members who have been impacted by this devastating disease. Upon diagnosis, individuals may struggle to find information, resources, or support in their community and feel overwhelmed at the prospect of going through breast cancer alone. Lauren Lopriore, a breast cancer survivor herself, set out to change that. She founded Liv & Let as a source for inspiration, resources, and support for anyone on the breast cancer journey, including breast cancer survivors, pre-vivors, caregivers, thrivers, and members of their support system. Through information sharing, blog posts, and care crates, she is making a difference in the lives of those impacted by breast cancer. I had the pleasure of meeting Lauren at the Bloom Bash Dallas 2 Conference in 2019, and I am in awe of all that she is doing to change the face of breast cancer. Please take 5 minutes to learn more about Liv & Let and how Lauren’s amazing work is helping people to thrive.
I hope you have enjoyed this inaugural edition of the Take 5 series. How will you take five minutes to create, discover, inspire, practice, or thrive in the days ahead? I would love for you to share!
As usual Tiffany, you never cease to amaze me with your intellect, insight and propensity to see in life those things most people miss. I’ve really enjoyed your blog entry TAKE FIVE. I’m sure, many people who hear about your “blogs” will automatically spread the word that a new voice has come upon the scene that brings clarity and meaning to those in need of guidance.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your kind words!! I so appreciate them.