January is great! Who knew?

Trendy Chevron print looks great in cool winter blue.

This fabric that I found reminds me of an icy blue frozen lake.

Our backyard frequently plays host to deer. This one is snuggled into the snow trying to keep warm.

My seven month old daughter is a red-headed snow princess. Here, she is peeking out at the surrounding snowfall at brother's bus stop.

Snowfall.

Seasons Greetings -Whatever Season it may be!

Hello everyone! I hope the new year is treating you well! As a brief introduction to this blog and its purpose, I quote William Butler Yeats: "Where beauty has no ebb, decay no flood, But joy is wisdom, Time an endless song". And of course the basis for the title of our blog is from the scripture in Ecclesiastes, "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven: a time to keep". This blog was started by my mother and I to showcase the celebration of each month and season. We believe that memories and hope to sustain through hard times can be made in traditions or celebrations -big or small. Life is a journey with different themes, experiences, and meaning for each of us but we can attest to the importance of finding some reason to celebrate -no matter how simple or strange - as a means of making it through this journey with something to smile about in times of hardship. We also strongly believe in living seasonally wherever you are. By living seasonally we mean in tradition, food, habit, and thought. Nature and human nature are complimentary to each other. For example, in January citrus is in season. It is not only healthy to consume citrus this month to boost immunity and decrease inflammation, but even the essential oils in the fragrant rind are shown to have psychologically stimulating effects in tired, depressed people. Also, bringing them into your home for display brightens your mood on cloudy, cold days. We try to bring out the best that each month has to offer and explain why you and your family will benefit in spirit and health by celebrating life seasonally. As for the set-up and imagery of this blog, we are not, in any way, 'techies' and have yet to grasp putting the pictures right and making things 'pretty'. We are decorators in the physical world, but not so much in the digital. Nonetheless, we will keep working on making this blog beautiful to look at because our mantra is ambiance. So, hang in there while these two computer-challenged women attempt to create a digital sphere that makes you forget you are looking at a computer and instead, makes you feel as if you have walked into a seasonal haven of beauty and celebration. Another warning (personally speaking), as a mother of three kids -one being a particularly demanding baby, and my mother working full time, we may not always be perfect in consistent entries, but we have committed to give it our best efforts. Just be aware on my part that if my entries are at times rushed, sloppy, or skipping about, it may be due to the fact that instead of the usual co-workers many of you may have, my "co-workers" may need their diapers changed stat, intervention to keep from punching each other in a friendly wrestling match gone awry, an immediate fix from the near-death experience of being hungry for a snack, and the occasional literal life-saving actions that oft accompany fearless, energetic, and determined children. Thank you for taking a look at our blog. We hope you learn with us and celebrate with us!  ~Sincerely, Stephani

"January brings the snow, Makes our feet and fingers glow." ~Mother Goose

I love January. I really do. I love it as much as I love all the other months despite its wrongful reputation for being the most depressing month of the year. I suppose it is given such a title for various reasons -reasons such as the fact that many see it as a stark month devoid of fanfare in comparison to the pageantry of Decembers' Christmas, the obligation to return to work and routine, the end of "the most wonderful time of the year" attitude that resonates in the celebrating portions humanity, the end of eating like gluttonous medieval kings, and goodness knows there are no presents exchanged. Poor, disdained January! So why on earth look forward to a month like the one I described? Why should anyone find a welcoming attitude or even excitement for dull, cold, endless January? Read on and I will give you a few reasons why.

First: The True Twelve Days of Christmas:

January is technically NOT the end of Christmas! No! Historically, Christmas is celebrated until January sixth aka Twelfth Night or the Feast of Epiphany- which marks the true end of the Twelve Days of Christmas. Only in our modern commercial-determined society do we celebrate backwards and start the Twelve Days of Christmas twelve days before Christmas (perhaps this has something to do with the erroneous 'Day after Christmas' sales and dominantly secular celebration of the like). Here is an interesting article concerning the modern-day tendency to rush Christmas out as quickly as we rush it in (even infringing upon the true spirit of Thanksgiving here in America).   http://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/christmas/9778402/Why-have-we-cut-short-the-12-Days-of-Christmas.html This hurry of holidays is entirely a new age practice -one which I refuse to take up. I prefer the old fashioned savoring of the holiday season and enjoying the tidbits of Christmas traditions as many days as I can. The next time you are tempted to toss the tree the "day after Christmas" in modern day terms and move ahead with gloom and resentment into January (with the momentary exception of New Years celebrations), do not despair! Why not enjoy a few more Christmas stories, a few more glances at the tree, and a few more Christmas carols to truly get the most of the Christmas spirit. Besides, having an excuse to begin wrestling with those strands of lights is always welcome in my book. Some ideas for Twelfth Night:

-Have a medieval-style dinner. go to the library and look up traditional foods served on this day and although you may have to make a few modifications, you could experiment in the kitchen to come up with your own versions. 

-Have a Christmas Carol sing-along or party. After all, you won't really be singing or hearing these songs again for another year.

-Make and/or deliver evergreen wreaths adorned with or accompanied with seasonal fruit to family or friends (a medieval tradition).

- Enjoy a genuine Plum Pudding or Wassail (or cider) as was the traditional foods of the day long ago.

-Celebrate advent by putting on a liturgical play with family or friends

-Bake a "King Cake" -also a traditional food made on Epiphany. Here is a recipe: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/king-cake-recipe2/index.html and here is a site explaining this traditional cake: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_cake

-And if you are truly itching to start un-decking your halls, you could start to take your decorations down, as it is also (historically) considered bad luck to have them up past Epiphany.

Second -Celebration of New Years Eve and Day:

Most of us celebrate New Years and New Years Day. Most of us also have our own traditions and agendas concerning this day based on our lifestyles, proximity to relations, and work demands post modern day Christmas break (meaning my plans as a mother of three little children and a resident doctor husband who isn't home a great deal will be different on New Years Eve from someone who can stay out at parties until the early hours of the morning -that said I have braved a few family-friendly parties with the kiddies and stayed past midnight). Here are some ideas for New Years Eve celebrations:

New Year's Eve:

-Appetizers (and cocktails if you drink) for dinner

-Hosting a New Years Eve party with beautiful decorations of gold, silver, and white.

-Sticking to the historical tradition, make a meal of roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, and apple pie with ice cream and cheddar cheese for dessert.

-Light a bonfire outdoors and host a night cookout in the snow complete an ample hot chocolate bar, tinfoil dinners, songs and dancing, and whatever else can keep you warm and entertained around the fire in the cold. 

-(If you are eager to get a start on those New Years health resolutions) Host a party asking everyone to bring a dish featuring a healthy meal or food they intend on implementing into their repertoire. (aka a new smoothie recipe served in little shot glasses, or a new salad in little baked phyllo cups, etc). For an activity you could do a funny aerobics video or play on the Wii fit. You cold even ask your friends to dress up in their work out garb or wear hideous work out garb (think shiny tight pants and striped velvet track suits).

-If you have kids, make resolution charts, chalk boards (with the new chalk board paper that I can't stop buying), and help each child pick a goal or two and discuss or write down the steps necessary to reach the goal. Make sure the goal is realistic for them (and you).

-Play charades as a family or at a party. This is also a historical practice from medieval times. 

-If it is legal where you live, light a few fireworks, or hand-craft some noisemakers with the kids or friends. Be loud and celebrate! 

-Put together a slideshow of pictures from the past year and watch it as a family.

New Year's Day:

-relax in your pajamas ALL day!

-work on a puzzle with the family

-Have a sledding party, snowman building contest, or if you live somewhere warm -go to the beach and have a sand sculpting day with your family or friends

-If you live somewhere warm, plant a citrus tree in your yard or in a pot on your deck.

-(Our family tradition) Host a dinner party that is all citrus themed in decoration and food. Citrus season starts this month and, in my opinion, is the perfect food to reflect an attitude of starting a year with energy and, forgive me -a 'zest' for life. 

-Have a movie marathon at home with your family complete with popcorn (or as we like to do -a popcorn bar with different add-ins to make different flavors of popcorn such as Parmigiano and pesto, or cinnamon-sugar, or dark chocolate and cayenne pepper, or a dash of barbeque sauce and cheddar) and treats, even trivia rounds prior to the viewing of each movie with a small prize for the most correct answers. If you really want to go all out and involve kiddies, you can have them draw movie posters to display or if you are making this a party, you can design invitations reminiscent of old movie posters. 

Well, this is where I leave off today for singing the praises of January. I have plenty more to offer in terms of ideas and celebrations for this month, but a crying baby and hungry five-year old make an end to blogging for the time being. I will (hopefully)continue this post perhaps tonight or tomorrow. Take a peek for ideas about ditching the idea of "spring cleaning" in favor for January cleaning, celebrating the season of citrus in food, decor, and health benefits, ideas to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. day, and the reality and love-hate psychology associated with New Year's resolutions. I hope you peek at our blog again for more! Have a great day!

For additional winteresque images that inspire us to embrace the cool, clean, airy tones of winter, and also to celebrate the winter season, click on these links:

http://www.marthastewart.com/865650/icy-glass
http://austenonly.com/2010/01/05/jane-austen-and-christmas-celebrating-twelfth-night/
http://www.blog.birdsparty.com/2012/11/white-winter-wonderland-christmas-party.html
http://www.occasionsonline.com/winter-wonderland-party-2-different-ways/
http://www.occasionsonline.com/winter-wonderland-party-2-different-ways/
-http://catchmyparty.com/blog/tag/winter
http://www.ehow.com/list_6520063_winter-games-kids-parties.html