Inspired by one of my favorite blogs Brocante Home (who was in turn inspired by a feature in Harper’s Bazaar written by Diana Vreeland), Why Don’t You is a week’s worth of ideas for adding a little something special to your life. Simple ideas for lovely days!
Pick and choose what sparks your interest and fits into your schedule. Or use these simple ideas for special days as inspiration for coming up with your own ideas.
WHY DON’T YOU? – SIMPLE IDEAS FOR LOVELY DAYS
Buy new welcome mats.
I often find them at the dollar store or thrift shop. I put one outside each of my doors to help keep dirt from being tracked in but I like them inside each door as well. It gives you someplace to take off your wet shoes and boots. In the winter, I keep a basket of slippers nearby but in spring and summer, this is replaced with flip flops instead.
Get a pretty new umbrella stand.
Or find something around the house that you can use as one. I found pretty tin buckets at the dollar store and bought several of them to use for such purposes. It’s great during the spring when there’s lots of rainy weather!
I also like to keep a basket of small towels near the door. It’s perfect for drying off pets and humans on those rainy, muddy days.
Make some coasters.
Personally, I like to make them mug rug sized – oversized to be able to accommodate a cup/glass and a little snack. I find that when it starts getting warmer out, there’s always so much condensation on my beverages (I like a lot of ice!) and this helps protect my furniture from those pesky rings.
If you do get rings on your furniture from cups and glasses, here’s how you can get rid of them.
Buy some asparagus.
Very soon, the local asparagus should be ready where I live and I’m counting down the days. There’s just nothing like it fresh and local! It’s just the perfect spring vegetable.
Try this Bacon Wrapped Asparagus recipe or this Eggs Over Asparagus with Parmesan Gremolata recipe.
Polish the silverware.
Easter is right around the corner. If you are having guests, ease the last minute stress of preparing by starting now. Now is the time to polish the silverware, clean the good china, and even figure out what serving dishes you’ll be using. Oh and don’t forget to iron the table linens!
Perhaps you’re planning to go a little more low-key? It’s still a great idea to count your table settings and make sure you have enough of everything you need. Or head out and stock up on some pretty paper plates and napkins. Whatever it is that you plan to use, take care of it now so you can tick one thing off your list!
Read Roots & Sky by Christie Purifoy
The beginning of a new month/season is the perfect time to jump in! Christie tells the story of moving into their Victorian farmhouse and their first year of living there in beautiful prose. She relates it all to the seasons – to times of planting, times of preserving.
She speaks of friends, family, the beauty of nature, and the longing for that feeling of home, all the while embracing the idea that God and His kingdom are with us right where we are, right now. Her writing is filled with beauty and hope. I find it such a pleasure and so heartwarming to read it “in real time” – that is to say, I follow along month by month and season by season so that I am in the same time period as that which she is writing about.
Breathe in spring.
There is nothing like the fresh smelling air of spring! So head outside. Close your eyes, lifting your head up, face towards the sun. Feel the warmth on your skin. Take a few deep breaths in and out.
If you want to extend this (and you are in the physical condition to do so – check with your doctor first if needed), stand with your arms straight out to your sides, forming a letter T with your body. Take a deep breath and as you inhale, bring your arms in towards your body, crossing them over it as if to give yourself a hug. When you exhale, move your arms back out to the extended position. Repeat, this time hugging yourself with the opposite arm on top.
Now, place your arms down at your sides. Take a deep breath and this time as you inhale, lift your arms up until you are reaching straight up over your head. Slowly lower your arms back down to your sides as you exhale. This is a great way to get in a simple little stretch and breathe in some fresh air at the same time. It’s perfect for starting your day!
What will you do this week to make your days lovely? Find more Why Don’t You? posts here.
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