a walk in the woods at the end of december.

Christmas winds blew into town and quickly left our tree empty and our bellies full from all the festive eating.

The stores have stopped playing music about snowmen and all that remains is leftover bows & torn wrapping paper. As a young girl, I often got the "after Christmas" blues. I would walk around the house, looking at the empty space below our tree, knowing school would begin once again and all the good butterflies leading up to Christmastime had migrated elsewhere. It was a sad and sore feeling, a bit like loneliness. I had something unsolved in my heart. 

Now that I've watched 16 Christmas's arrive and depart (the first 5 don't count!) I've gained thoughts more valuable than any wrapped gift or fork full of stuffing. I accept that Christmas goes away but that doesn't mean joy departs with it. Like a body of stars, there is something bright and magical about being alive for all 365 days. There will be many mornings not titled "Christmas" that make me feel just as happy. The mistletoe may have been pulled from the ceiling, but I'll still find reasons to kiss my beloved.

Since the moment I received the parcel for this fuzzy coat, I've been wearing it everywhere. In the house and out of the house, when it's cold and when the sun shines brightly. On the very first day I wore it, I walked through Shoppers drug mart & took a left turn into the fragrance aisle. I sprayed a generous amount of Yves st Laurent onto those little perfume cards and then placed the cards into my coat pocket. Now I smell like a pretty blossom & I didn't even pay a cent!

sweet lace white blouse : OASAP sponsor  

pink faux fur coat : OASAP sponsor

floral skirt : shoppalu sponsor  

brown leather boots : western store in Montana  $120