gratitude for 2020 — all aflutter

My sweet husband gave me this stunning MQuan New Sun Marigold Incense Burner for Christmas (lucky gal, right?!). I love her gorgeous work and the intention it’s made with. He also included some absolutely beautiful Incausa Palo Santo incense. Today seemed like the perfect day to smudge the whole house; to clear away any negative juju and to invite the fresh, powerful, positive energy that I hope to bring into the new year. Goodness knows there has been enough weird juju this year to last us a loooong time and I wanted it out.

While I do share in the “good riddance” sentiment to a year of unspeakable suffering by so many for so many reasons, I have found myself more grateful to my core this year than maybe any other of my life. And some of the things I feel most grateful for are the direct result of our being forced to slow down, to keep it close and to find new rhythms to our days.

- I love that I get to hug my husband at lunchtime each day instead of scheduling business meetings with each other to compare busy calendars.

- I love that I got to see the look on my littlest’s face when the big concept of multiplication clicked in his little brain during our afternoon math sessions.

- I love listening to my older son’s genuine, unselfconscious belly laughter during online small groups when no teacher is monitoring.

- I love that I got to spend almost every moment of the last 9 months of my sweet pooch’s life by his side instead of leaving him behind while we raced around.

- I love that I’ve deepened friendships, some old and dear and some new. Shared experiences, even at a distance, create such strong bonds that even “new” friends now know my heart even though we’ve never even shared a meal.

- I love that in all of the chaos, I found space in my brain and heart to start a new business to create an outlet for my passions and that lovely people actually responded.

So I will DEF welcome more “normal” times and can’t wait to hug my parents and entertain friends + family indoors and travel the world and see my sister IRL, but I hope some of what we learned to appreciate in 2020 will stay with us.

Here’s to another hopeful trip around the sun. May it be filled with health, joy, adventure and love for you all. And please leave a note to tell me what little (or big!) 2020 adjustments you hope to cling to in the new year.

I’ve also included some resources for gorgeous smudging supplies if you want to try it in your home, too (note: you don’t have to use Palo Santo; white sage is also popular for smudging, I just prefer the smell of Palo Santo. Read this Lonny article to find out which might be best for your space and intention). Whichever you prefer, any of these beauties would make stunning gifts for anyone who might like to invite some good juju into their life. xo

Screen Shot 2021-01-09 at 12.29.44 PM.png

Screen Shot 2021-01-09 at 12.34.07 PM.png

Screen Shot 2021-01-09 at 12.36.47 PM.png

Screen Shot 2021-01-09 at 12.38.28 PM.png

Screen Shot 2021-01-09 at 12.40.47 PM.png

Screen Shot 2021-01-09 at 12.42.02 PM.png

Screen Shot 2021-01-13 at 9.43.27 PM.png

Screen Shot 2021-01-09 at 1.03.26 PM.png

1. Stunning minimalist Bodha brass incense burner from Jones + Co // 2. Incausa Stonewear Clay Incense Burner from Cedar & Hyde // 3. Sounds sustainably harvested Palo Santo sticks from Morningtide // 4. AA grade Palo Santo sticks respectfully collected in Peru via Etsy // 5. Crescent Incense Burner by Michele Quan // 6. Incausa Breu Resin Incense Parcel // 7. Catherine Rising Floral Smudge Stick from Jones + Co. // 8. Incausa Palo Santo Wood Incense Bricks from Cedar & Hyde // xo