Life Moves Pretty Fast

Ferris Bueller said it best,  “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

I am feeling much the same way as we move toward the Thanksgiving holiday later this week as well as the rest of 2018.   Where does time go? 

As most of you know, I am an absolute holiday junkie but that doesn’t mean these fabulous days ahead don’t have their fair share of stress, sadness and a hard to describe feeling of something missing or lost.    Many of us feel this same way for different reasons.

The best remedy I have found to combat the holiday blues is to lean into the season ahead with vigor and try to make preparation, celebration, meaning and gratitude take center stage.   So, what does it take to make the days ahead just a little bit more joyful and special?    My recipe is an ounce of inspiration plus two cups of desire!  

While I can’t provide the desire (although I highly encourage it), I can share with you a few ounces of inspiration!

Inspiration #1: Create a Celebratory Beverage

Nothing will impress your friends and guests more than a holiday-inspired beverage. Last week, we hosted our final School of Style and our special guest was “The Beard Behind the Bar”, Jeff Naples, a renowned mixologist.   

His goal?   To inspire our guests to create some cozy cocktails just in time for Thanksgiving.  Who wouldn’t enjoy a Toasted Pumpkin hot drink?   You can see how it is done by watching the video below.

Which leads me to my second dose of inspiration.

Inspiration #2: Helpful Smiles TV

Little did I know that Hy-Vee has its own online streaming network called Helpful Smiles TV  (HSTV) full of insights, tips, and entertainment ideas.   

https://hstv.com/show/the-beard-behind-the-bar

How cool is that?    Need a new recipe? Need some meal prep ideas, kitchen hacks and more?    Then click on the link above to see more from ideas from “The Beard Behind The Bar” as well as many others to learn, laugh and live well.

Inspiration #3:   Simply Beautiful and Thoughtful Decor

You don’t have to be extreme to make your home come alive for the holidays.   It can be as easy as adding some fresh greens throughout your house.

By creating an eclectic table setting with all of your existing sets of dishes.

Or by adorning your table setting with a simple bow and a few metallic pretties.

How about adding some festive new pillows throughout your home?  

And believe it or not, there is still time before the holidays to update or finish those rooms you will be using for entertaining over the next eight weeks.    Our team is transforming three different spaces yet this week (Yes, before Thanksgiving) just in time for our clients family gatherings!

It is why we stock our showroom full of fabulously inspiring options...so you don’t have to wait months upon months to complete these important spaces in your homes!

Inspiration #4:  Find Some Simple New Ways to Show Gratitude

Being grateful looks so good on each one of us...it creates a happy glow.  And not only that, showing our gratitude to the important people in our lives make them feel good too.   There are so many ways to reach out to the people around us and let them know we are thankful.

Here are a few small things that I am going to make a point to do this week...

• I am going to  “Like” or “Love” every positive or inspiring post I see on my social media feed.  

In this digital age, it is a super small thing for sure but this tiny act of appreciating a friend or acquaintance might make a difference for someone that might be needing a little extra love or connection during the stressful holidays.

• I am also going to take the time to give a few of my favorite local businesses the positive review they deserve.  We all tend to jump on the negative when we have a bad experience but forget how amazing and meaningful it is to share the positive!   

• Most importantly, I'm going to work really hard to put my phone away (bad habit I have created) on Thanksgiving Day.   Being fully present with my family and friends might be the simplest and most powerful way to show my love and gratitude.   

I am thankful for each one of you that take the time out of your day to read this blog.   It truly is what inspires me to keep going. It is a cathartic experience for all of us to say what is on our mind out loud.   It allows us to do something about it.

I know that my life has improved because you take the time to spend your valuable time with all of us that write for this blog.

On behalf of the entire K. Renee team, may you have a joyful Thanksgiving.    We are beyond grateful for the opportunity to be a part of your world. And for those of you who would like to join us for a post-Thanksgiving celebration, we will be expressing our gratitude with a sweet treat on Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday.   

With lots of love and gratitude,

Julie