When the city lights are being changed to stars & bells, all shop windows appear beautifully decorated in greens & reds and the air is beginning to feel a little frosty upon waking, it's time to cultivate that Festive Mood within us as well.
Whether you're the ultimate festive spirit or need a little push in that direction each year, this guide will remind you of some fun activities that sure do evoke that jingle bell feeling.
Talking of jingle bells…
Music plays (see what I did there?) such a significant role in welcoming the Holiday Season feeling into our homes and hearts.
And it's actually backed up by science!
Our brain responds to each external stimulus instantly, and the sound of music is one of them.
Music stimulates the part of the brain that produces the dopamine hormone and it's the hormone that affects our emotional behavior and mood.
The influence of music is both behavioral and neural which means that music not only affects the mood but also affects what we cannot control ourselves.
So get your Christmas playlists ready and hit the 'play' button! A little dance party will also contribute to the Holiday mood and get those endorphins running!
Coziness
The warm feeling of cozy slippers, a soft blanket on the sofa, lit candles, and a cup of hot cinnamon coffee or clove tea…
Coziness is such a huge part of feeling festive, in my humble opinion.
So a fun activity could be making your own candles or hunting the most pretty ones at the store!
If you're willing to create your own, there is much more space for personalization - the size, colour, wax type, its unique scent, the number of wicks, and so on!
It's also a wonderful way to spend quality time with your friends and family. Organize a candle party!
But before guests arrive…
Getting ready is another important way of getting in the mood for the Holiday Season! It's celebration time - bring out the cozy knitwear, black tights, velvet dresses, bows, and red lipstick!
Putting together a festive outfit, and doing your hair and makeup is just essential!
And we all know that a little extra time spent on our makeup results in us feeling amazing the whole day or evening!
Make the process of getting ready fun! Do your hair while listening to Mariah Carey or music you love. Enjoy it!
In case you still don't want to go 'all in', I encourage you to focus on your eyes. A soft line of eyeliner and/or a light coat of mascara will do all the talking for you!
It's the eyes that let other people notice you're genuinely happy. It's the eyes that bring together your whole look and it's the eyes most people will actually pay attention to. Not the earrings, I'm afraid (although they might!).
Our VolumeCare+ Mascara would be the ultimate game-changer for this time of the year as it will emphasize your eyes, coat your eyelashes beautifully & brighten up your whole complexion.
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And what's a better gift for yourself than feeling beautiful & empowered in your own unique way this Holiday season.
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And when guests arrive…
Are we thinking of the same thing?
Yes, once we're ready it's time to think about the food! When guests arrive it's lovely to treat them with something warm right from the oven!
A delicious meal is another way to make you and your guests feel joyful, festive and in the mood for celebrating!
And there is no need to stress over preparing the ultimate best dinner and making it just on time for their arrival. Having guests over is a wonderful opportunity to turn cooking into an activity!
Ask your friends and family to join you for a cheerful chocolate chip cookie masterclass or perhaps the whole 3 course dinner with roasting, baking & mixing!
Perhaps each guest can be responsible for their own course and have something prepared in advance so that your kitchen still stays at a decent state after this jummy & creative gathering!
I would actually love sharing some festive recipes with you in the following blogs if you'd be interested! Or maybe we can try pouring our own candles together? Let me know!
Planning, planning, planning
Another way to get in the festive spirit is to start planning your Holiday Season.
What are your plans for Christmas Day & Eve? Would you like to invite people over or be a guest yourself? And surely… Presents! Have you thought about what you're getting for everyone?
Now of course gifts aren't what this all is about, yet I'm so happy each year to be prepared. The art of giving and preparing the gifts brings true happiness to me and I believe for many others as well.
It doesn't have to be anything super expensive or luxurious, the thought is what matters and, in my opinion, attention to detail as well as personalisation.
The best gift can be bought or made when truly thinking of its recipient. Knowing them, their needs & wants and tailoring this gift to their own personal style.
Think of what this person is associated with in your mind, what makes them experience joy, what are their hobbies or perhaps what makes them different, what's that unique thing about them?
You honestly can't go wrong with a gift that's coming from your heart. Maybe you can make something from scratch or if you're not a crafty one, perhaps a sweet letter added to something you have bought could do the job.
Make it your own!
We all experience life through our own personal lens of experiences & emotions.
For me, these are the things that get me into feeling festive!
Having lovely music playing in the background whilst I'm cooking roasted potatoes with chicken and my husband is preparing the fireplace. Having more textures in the rooms I spend most of my time in by adding soft blankets, cushions, carpets, slippers etc.
Lit candles that only add to the mouth-watering aroma of our dinner. Having guests over and doing something lovely together or just enjoying a calm evening of endless conversations. Writing Christmas cards in advance so that they're ready to be sent out by mail on the dot.
Feeling grateful for everything that I have and focusing less on what I don't. Calling someone I love and care about. Spending time together.
But it can be something different for you! Maybe organizing an annual ski trip or preparing your garden for well-deserved winter rest or simply drinking tea.
I actually am a true believer in the smallest of things. For me, they make the biggest difference.
So have some time indulging in fun & festive activities in the next couple of weeks and share what've been up to here in the comments below!
I just LOVE being in the Holiday Mood and felt like I should be doing more of what brings me that feeling of festivities so writing this blog feels like perfect timing for me. Hope for you as well!
Talk to you soon,
Kate
