Perfectly Seasoned
My Christmas tree was on the curb December 26th. By December 27th, there was no holly or jolly to be found. Christmas was over, and so was the season of glittery embellishments and ornately adorned mantels. Garland, gone. Lights, loaded into Tupperware to be forgotten until November 1st. Adios to Feliz Navidad!
See, I take seasonal décor seriously. And while it is a running joke of how seriously, the truth is I learn something through every cycle of change. Currently my favorite season to celebrate, Valentines, is on full display. And while I, mostly, successfully manage to integrate it into my standard home décor, there are some seasons that demand to stand out. That is Valentines. In a home of green and yellow hues, admittedly the red hearts can be garish. I could omit them completely, but I embrace the season of love and its pressure to be accommodated. Like love, it doesn’t pretend to make sense, it just is. As I start the new year with new energy, my first goal is always to just be. To try to exist and see where things take me without worrying about whether I make sense amongst the background of my last year’s life. Let me be like Valentines, pushy, unflinching, polarizing, and a little Delulu.
Pre-Easter Spring, yes Spring is separated into two seasons, don’t question it just accept it. Anywho, Pre-Easter Spring is full of manifesting. There are signs reminding of blessings, encouraging joyfulness, a bunny or three to as a nod to whimsy. White bunnies and gold eggs seem normal after Valentines’ foolishness. Pre-Easter Spring is the perfect blend of playfulness from Valentines into the promise of the next season, Post-Easter Spring, when oversized eggs are replaced with an oversized welcome sign. This season is about promises and new life. The florals and foliage complement my home the best. A few bright beginnings here, a random baby chick there… it just feels fresh. Where Pre-Easter Spring emphasized grace, Post-Easter Spring amplifies performance, it encourages growth. It is a season to thrive and everywhere your eye lands you’ll see pockets full of posey.
Summer is, surprisingly, less bright but this is when my base décor shines. It is a moment to settle and appreciate the foundation that has been built. Throughout the year I am constantly scouring various stores to find the perfect things to replace the previously perfect things. Summer is understated but perfectly designed. There are a few sunflowers because florals are a must. There is a hand painted Juneteenth sign for the door because July 4th is just a day to BBQ. I also have an astonishing diverse collection of gold metal faux balloon art. I can’t really explain why. I picked one up one day and couldn’t stop. So, now it’s a thing. With all the moving and grooving we do during the year, Summer is a moment to reflect, recover and rest before the busy seasons of the later part of the year.
Fall, as a real season, is my favorite. The deeper shades of green and yellow feel wiser than the previous colors of the year. The base décor of Summer is partly replaced with Fall specific vases and stands. Pushing the energy in a different direction, Fall feels like new start to an old year. It is building up to the grand finale. What did I learn from my décor so far this year? What needs to change now? Yes, there are lots of leaves, obviously, and nods to all things Autumn. It is cozy but it is prominent. It’s not a quiet season. I get to incorporate my favorite color, orange, as my birthday nears, and I enjoy walking into a home that feels like a party for myself. Also, there’s no separation between Halloween and Thanksgiving. These are days, not seasons, and I will not be debating.
Fall is a longer season of décor. By November 1st, I’m itching to up the EXTRA. Christmas season is just that. There is not a surface untouched. Hell, the ceiling isn’t even safe. The wallpaper is covered in wrapping paper like a gift and for that season, it is like living in a fairytale. Nothing feels real during this season, but it all feels exciting. Honestly, I need the house to be as amplified as our schedules while checking off all the holiday traditions. This is a taxing season. The décor alone takes days to feel right and I always feel like I need a little more. I don’t know why it is never enough, even with multiple Christmas trees throughout the house, but Christmas is just the most. It takes every bit of my energy. By the time it finally rolls around on the 25th, I cannot wait to pack it up and recover from it.
Multiple totes later… I feel relief and ready for the cycle to begin again.
It may sound ridiculous, and that is fine, but seasonal décor isn’t just about keeping up with what it looks like outside, it is about creative expression. Plus, the Littles love it. They look forward to the transformations, and all the specialty snacks and activities, that come with them. It is a way of keeping life interesting and ensuring I am intentional about being engaged in my most intimate space. Also, it’s fun and cute and often on the nose, which for us, makes sense. I am constantly refreshing and reimagining what my world looks like, one trip to Michaels at a time. Whether it is just a table, a room, or a whole house, spruce things up! Embrace change as a predictable cycle of demands, weird moments, random things, bright colors, darker times, and full out celebration. Live a lot and go Seasonal.