Bringing It Home

Santa trucks are coming! And so are the holidays. And so are the visitors. 

I live in a community where the majority of the population are transplants. This means that most of the time, our celebrations are filled with friends that we regard as family, not necessarily true blood-bound family. The holidays create a different dynamic, this is the time of year when people are more likely to make the effort to visit their actual family, even if that family is not nearby. 

For many of us, this creates a self-created frenzy of "readiness" for hosting. Take the laundry list of household To-Dos from the last year and insist that they are completed in the next few weeks in preparation for the anticipated guests. The frenzy is amplified if our guests haven't seen the house in a long time (or ever before) and if we have made any design changes to the space since the last visit. 

The same concept applies if you happen to be hosting a big event; a retirement party, a birthday or even a dinner party with friends. 

Hurry! Unbox and hang all of this stuff by Thursday! 

Suddenly, the artwork you had framed months ago but is still leaning against the wall needs to be hung!

Those last half dozen moving boxes that you never got around to unpacking must go!

The gallery wall must happen before breakfast! 

The guest room that you haven't thought of since, well, maybe ever, needs new blinds! And curtains! Our guests are coming from the west coast so we can't possibly let the east-facing room be this bright!

Previously, we were going to go light on the Christmas decor this year, but now my in-laws are coming and we need to deck the halls!! 

In my heart I know that my in-laws will not mind if the artwork isn't hung or the garland is left off of the stairway, but it feels deeply important to complete these tasks. It is as if though my effort in perfecting things before a visit or event is a reflection on the appreciation I have for others willing to travel and share the event with our family.  

Everyone wants to be proud of the home they create, and I want that luxury for each and every one of you this holiday season. I know that for myself, when I am going through a difficult time - what I lovingly refer to as the "Struggle Bus" - I both need things to be done AND have no will to complete them. 

Every one of us has times where life is just too much to handle. A period of illness or the lethargy of winter or funneling all of your energy into helping someone else can leave you feeling sad and empty in your own space. This holiday season, I would like to help a few of my supporters who are on the Struggle Bus. Do you know someone who could use a boost? Decorating for the holidays or updating the color of their walls, please let me know if someone comes to mind who is going through a hard time and could use some happiness in their lives through design. CLICK HERE to nominate someone who is currently on the Struggle Bus, we will reach out to the chosen winners by December 1, 2022.