Hello darlings, I hope you are all well. I have been rather busy recently with university work but I felt inspired to create a new post dedicated to finding moments of joy in your daily routine during the holiday season. This can be difficult because so many unexpected occasions and situations often interfere with our attempts to cultivate moments of happiness. Nevertheless, I felt inspired after reading Kerrie Hess’s beautiful book, Joy In the Little Things, which explores Hess’s own experiences with trying to insert these seemingly insignificant rituals and activities, in order to feel more fulfilled.
From the very first sparkling words to the charming illustrations of macarons, peonies, teacups, and jewellery to the images of strong, chic women who grace its pages, Kerrie’s book is a love letter and guide to what makes us truly happy. Each page is adorned with one of Kerrie’s dreamiest watercolour illustrations and I loved exploring each page and feeling inspired by the end of each chapter… ♡
Simple pleasures are often the key to boosting your mood and practising gratitude, although many people can place an emphasis on the acquisition of luxury items and beautiful vacations, most often we do not need to seek or achieve such lavish activities / material items in order to feel that spark of joy.
In many ways, this forces us to look inwardly rather than out at the external world and what it can offer us – we must listen to our own hearts, register our consciousness in order to grasp what is truly important to us.
A quiet moment with a cup of tea in your favourite china ware can begin this moment of contemplation and relaxation. To reflect at the end of a busy week on how you truly feel and what your priorities are at the moment. I love to do this whilst reading a new book or a magazine…
at the moment, I have fallen in love with Megan Hess’s latest book on Christian Dior which is (of course) beautifully illustrated. I’m also re-reading all of Jane Austen’s works for one of my modules next year which I’m very excited for.
Baking your favourite dessert or sweet treat can instantly boost your mood and brighten up yours and someone else’s day. During the Christmas season, I love to gather my baking ingredients, play some festive music (my favourites are either Frank Sinatra’s Christmas album or the Nutcracker score) and start baking sugar cookies or gingerbread men! Of course, when they’re made you can make it even more fun by decorating them with icing and any cute sprinkles.
Practising ballet is something I do each week, all year round but there is something ever so exciting about classes at Christmas because its getting close to the Nutcracker season! Aside from my weekly classes, I love to take part in ballet intensives with the Adult Ballet Collective. Jojo runs inclusive workshops for all dancers and this year I’m taking part in her Waltz of the Flowers intensive with too of my best friends and I truly can’t wait.
Aside from dancing ballet, it can also be fun to either take yourself to see a ballet performance or watch some of your favourite ballets at home. I went to see the Royal Ballet’s Giselle last week (on my own) as an end of year treat and I’m also going to be seeing the Royal Ballet’s Nutcracker in December with my two close friends.
Creating a dreamboard will allow you to keep your aspirations and goals in perspective, whether its the job your dreaming about, the holiday you hope to go on in the new year, the beautiful Chanel bag you’ve always wanted or simply, the grade you want to achieve! I truly believe that manifestation is the key step to achieving and visualising what you want.
Aside from watching my favourite ballet performances, I truly adore to watch classic films as a way to spark a little bit of joy and inspiration into my daily life. Whether its to admire the clothing, their mannerisms/etiquette I think that films from the 1940, 50 and 60s can offer an array of inspiration ~ a few of my favourites are…
High Society, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, To Catch a Thief, Roman Holiday, Sabrina, My Fair Lady, The Swan, Funny Face, Rear Window, The King & I, An Affair to Remember, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Sissi, How to Marry A Millionaire, Top Hat, Swing Time, Gone with the Wind, The Red Shoes, The Philadelphia Story, Bringing Up Baby, Funny Girl.
It can also be a lovely idea to re-watch films you loved as a child. I personally adored the Princess Diaries movies and so, each time I re-watch them, especially the sequel! I’m always reminded of a lovely time in my life.
Of course shopping is another activity which definitely brings feelings of joy during the holiday season – whether in person or online, it is a magical moment when you find something which you know one of your loved ones will adore! How dreamy is this display outside the Dior boutique in Paris at Christmas? It is the stuff of dreams! P.S if you need any gift ideas, check out my latest gift-guide post!
Self-care is a phrase which is passed around so much in public discourse that it often begins to lose its meaning. To me, self-care is about putting yourself first, placing yourself as a priority, above anything or anyone else. This does not mean that you neglect those around you but you understand that nothing will work unless you acknowledge your own importance and needs. This can be experienced in the form of rest, remembering to do your skincare routine, taking time to reflect on how you feel, prioritising time away from work/university. I’m still learning how to value myself and understand my own importance and I think its something we all are working towards – no one is perfect at this but we need to make time for growth and restoration.
Wearing one of my favourite dresses is something that always boots my mood (“I love to twirl” ~ can you guess which film this quote is from?) and a spritz of Miss Dior will make everything lighter.
Going to your favourite café with a book and ordering a dreamy drink from a Christmas range is always a lovely thing to do at this time of year! Last week after spending a morning in the library and meeting my tutor, I took myself along to a cafe, ordered a toffee latte and read one of my books – complete bliss! I am particularly looking forward to visiting Ladurée this Christmas and trying some of their festive desserts.
Youtube|Instagram|Twitter|Pinterest
