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“Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of LOVE.” ~Hamilton Wright Mabie

Christmas means so many different things to so many people, but to me it means the season of giving, spending special time with loved ones whether family or friends or even being with strangers and sharing the gift of giving… I have so many lovely memories of Christmas past shared with so many different people in my life, some are gone now and some are still with me and this Christmas I’ll have new memories to tuck into those places where I’ll pull from when I’m needing the connection or I’m feeling nostalgic, wishing you such a lovely Christmas with whomever shares your heart and the sweet memories you hold so dear ❤️ Shirina

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Christmas is such a nostalgic time of year and makes me think back to my childhood… to so many memories… sweet memories… and those memories in turn pull on my heart strings, missing loved ones who are no longer here… but keeping them close, as we talk about them, remembering and sharing stories. I love hearing those stories.  

Christmas for me is all about love, most especially love. It’s about family and friends, and memories and tradition. And making new memories. And welcoming new members to the family. Sharing favorite recipes. And both giving and receiving. I hope your holiday, whichever holiday you are celebrating, is everything you wish for it to be. 



Wishing the world love and warmth and peace. 

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, God Jul,  Joyeux Noël, Frohe Weihnachten, Glædelig Jul, Buon Natale, Gledelig Jul, Feliz Navidad, สุขสันต์วันคริสต์มาส !!! 

❤ Michele 

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I love the anticipation and countdown. Christmas is my favorite time of year… so full of magic and mystery. And HOPE. And giving. And LOVE. 

I hope these days are filled with family and friends and love and memories and everything that the season means to you. 

my uncle Roger’s rose… still blooming so beautifully ❤

xo, michele 

🌲❄🌲❄🌲❄🌲❄🌲❄🌲❄🌲❄🌲❄🌲❄

Christmas is coming may it bring you many days with family, friends and loved ones. 

Even if you can’t be together physically, you’ll always be joined by the love in your hearts… 

many blessings to you and yours~

xo, shirina 

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During this last month of November I was inspired by Michele’s gratitude jar and decided I’d like to have one as well and everyday no matter what I look for the blessings and gratitude in each day~ even when things are a struggle or I’ve had a bad day or even a melt down as we all probably do I remember to look for the good in my day no matter how small and insignificant it may seem to others it is my moment and my grace and my comfort or blessing and I slow down to take a moment to say thank you~ thank you for this moment, for this reminder that Im blessed and loved and grateful…. wishing you those moments as well~ they are there for all of us. xo, Shirina

My heart is full and I am so grateful…. for the big and the small, for the people in my life who love me just as I am, for all the messiness that makes up this one and only life I’ve been given… yes, for all of it. 

xo, Michele 

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The days are changing and getting moodier~ I truly love this time of year… When the days get colder, when the rain and fog slip in and when I come home and plug my Christmas tree lights on, and wind down from my day… truly enjoying this time of year and all that it holds for us, hoping your enjoying it as well, even just in the small quiet moments of your day I hope you find peace and calm and blessings from your days ❤️

xo, Shirina

🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲

Snowy days, a fire in the fireplace, Charlie with his twinkling lights, candles burning, Christmas music in the background, a warm mug of something yummy. December days…

xo, Michele 

[48:52]

As we transition from one season of Fall and gratitude into the next season of Winter and giving, as the weather starts to chill we pull out the comforts of home with additional blankets and warm socks…

and soon we go find our treasured boxes of handmade, vintage and ornaments 

from Christmases past and add in the new things from Christmas present, it gives us time to ponder the season and what it all means~ of times with family and friends and those who are no longer with us physically but still in every part of our hearts they are always with us.

As I place my ornaments on my tree I remember my mom’s homemade ornaments which were made out of cardboard egg cartons that she decorated with paint, chunky glitter & sequins, I remember my mom’s handmade snowflakes which she hung on the walls and windows. Which has given me a love of snowflakes… 

I am now a collector of snowflakes for my tree and have collected them for my sisters as well…

memories and traditions are such a lovely part of our lives and fill our hearts with so much joy, nostalgia and comfort in the times when we remember and need it the most…. 

Christmas is a time filled with so many wonderful things and in the season of giving I want to remember to live my life in a way that helps others in need, to bring comfort where ever it is needed and to be a source of light for those who feel alone… 

We are blessed in so many ways in this life and I am making it a focus daily to see those blessings no matter how small….and just know that I carry all of you in my memories, my heart and in my daily blessings

xo, shirina

❄️☃️❄️☃️❄️☃️❄️☃️❄️☃️❄️☃️❄️☃️❄️

december…. a month filled with tradition, love, memories, emotions, favorite holiday foods and sweets, stress, joy, nostalgia, for some sadness and loneliness, favorite movies, gatherings, giving, receiving and so much more. 

 right after thanksgiving, i dig out all of my christmas boxes and start to decorate the house with cherished items that only come out at this time of year… things i’ve collected over the years… ornaments from trips we’ve taken around the world, vintage ornaments handed down from my mom, gifts from friends & loved ones… all things that fill my heart and bring me joy.

getting our christmas tree is also one of my favorite traditions.  to drive out to the tree farm and handpick our sweet little tree… this place makes me so happy. 

bringing an actual tree in from the wild brings a little bit of magic into your home.  trees are full of knowledge and life and wisdom and it is a gift to have one in your home.  

when we search for our christmas tree, we avoid all of the picture perfect trees in search of the smallest one, the one that just needs a little extra love.  we got our tree yesterday and we couldn’t love it more… meet charlie. 

wishing each of you a magical month, filled with love and peace~ 

i end this week’s post with a very sad and heavy heart, as i lost my uncle on friday. sending extra love to my aunt, my cousin and my dad… who lost a husband, a dad and a big brother. ❤️

xo, michele