I recently learned something about this month's history, and it led me to an expanded understanding of what the end of the winter season has to teach us... but I still don't get why February isn't pronounced the way it is spelled!
Continue reading for what's inspiring me in this last month of winter...
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tunes: 'Calm & Dreamy Piano' by Pianza on YouTube
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decor: NEW Sweet Sweater 'Sweetie Pies'TM
After coming up with this cute idea thirty years ago, I finally created it! Find the full tutorial for my 25th Sweet Sweater Original creation 😍 in this post.
Make sweet hearts the easy way using paint strips, or any other paper you love (try gift wrap, old book pages, or old art prints!) then decorate with them. Find my quick tutorial here
Find ALL of my Valentine's Day blog content here.jpeg)
crafting tip: I use cheap flat plastic cutting boards as hot glue mats when crafting! Sit your glue gun on them while in use, and it will protect your surfaces from damage. (Find them at dollar stores and Daiso) These also work well when using a kraft knife or box knife.
blogs | socials to inspire:
Annisa @ A Pretty Happy Home blog
7 wood heart crafts
Sarah @ Go Clean Company blog
'5 Things You Should Clean' daily | weekly | monthly
Lynn @ Lynn Giunta Art colorful collage art on Instagram
scent: Ralph Lauren 'Beyond Romance' eau de parfum
Thinking of treating yourself this Valentine's Day? You should!
Last fall I splurged on a large bottle of this perfume, and I wear a tiny spritz every day. The warm floral scent makes me think of cherry blossoms, raspberries, and blushing roses.
gifting: share with your sparkling friends & family!
Wrap a mini size bottle of any bubbly pink beverage - rose', champagne - or soda bottles of pink lemonade or grapefruit juice - in a clear gift bag, along with some shredded paper and a pretty bow. Top it off with a vintage pin or charm, and include a fun pink striped or dotted paper straw if you wish! I recently gave these to the hostesses of an event, and they were all delighted...
more Winter | February crafting & decor inspo on Pinterest
moments: I recently woke up feeling unwell, and within an hour knew it was an oncoming migraine due to a change in barometric pressure. I took my meds and decided that since it was a lovely sunny day, I would lie down to rest on the backyard porch swing. With no phone, no book, not even my eyeglasses to accompany me, I laid back on the pillows and just watched the soft breeze make the leaves dance, soaked up the warm rays of the sun, heard the windchimes and the hummingbirds buzzing around me.
I closed my eyes as I relaxed, and suddenly the sweetest trilling notes of a song came from our lemon tree nearby... I immediately recognized that 'our' red breasted house finch (I call him 'Redd') had returned after a winter away. I know his beautiful song well, and was so happy to hear him warbling away in a private concert just for me! He ended up splashing about in the tiki birdbath fountain, and I watched him for nearly an hour as he enjoyed our backyard tropical oasis. I think that encounter did more to calm my nerves and pain than the meds did 😊 Nature is healing.
Here's what I learned about February and how it resonated with me...
Every winter, the ancient Romans would celebrate a month-long festival of spiritual cleansing, purification, and atonement. The name of the festival was Februa - 'feast of cleansing'. Because of its importance, the Romans named the month in which it fell Februarius, which means "of Februa." That evolved over centuries into the Old English name February.
The winter season has always called us humans to reflect, restore, and recharge ourselves and our lives at the beginning of each new year... which was actually the ending of the year in the first Roman calendar. Looking at this month of winter as they did, as a 'spiritual ritual of cleansing', is a deeper way to enhance the way we live and love in this season - and beyond. It's a bit like nature's preparation for spring, as much of the deep work is unseen... but the effects of that work can be visible if we care to look closely.
We are currently in a season of life on Earth that is in deep need of love.
I believe that February can encompass not just romantic love on Valentine's Day, but expand to include the love, friendship, and connection we share with everyone in our lives every day - romantic partners, families, friends, neighbors, communities. What if we each harness the insight we gain from our internal reflection and purposeful healing to reach out into our relationships - doing so with the intent to heal, restore, deepen, and express our love for the people we share our lives with?
How? As William Ward said, Love is a verb, and is expressed through action.
Even the most simple actions - such as sharing a flower from your garden with a neighbor, writing a note of appreciation to your kids' teachers or a coworker - can spread love and kindness in a wide circle around us. Imagine the impact that gestures like this could have on the people you know and care about!
Consider also how small acts of love would impact people you may not know, but are still part of your community... Drop off a bag of wrapped chocolates for your local urgent care staff, or pop one into your mailbox for your mail carrier to enjoy. Check in on an elderly neighbor before a storm hits, and offer to do a grocery run for them - or for neighbors who are frightened about their safety right now.
Reaching out on a larger scale is easy, too...
Use the 'Five Calls' app to interact with your representatives and share your thoughts about your community's specific concerns. Donate $5 to a cause you believe in... we've all seen online fundraisers balloon into truly life-changing amounts when thousands of people each give just a few dollars to help a fellow human in need.
How amazing is it that we can assist and positively impact lives of people around us - and even around the world - with such a small gestures?!
'Many hands make light the work' is an apt description of how love jumps into action, just as William Ward described. The power of love will always overcome the love of power - and it begins with each of us, every day. May this month bring you opportunities to express love to yourself and to those around you... and may you receive love in return.
Be well and stay warm, friends!
💗 Deb.png)
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