What I’m Enjoying This December

So recently, I had the absolute honor of meeting my sister in law for the first time!  If you follow the podcast or my other content, you may have learned that I recently acquired a brother!

Pretty cool, right?!

It’s a wonderful story that I will reserve for a different day, but in the meantime, I will share with you the gift that is Mar-Lo’s Handmade! 

Marlo was not only a pure delight to meet, but I also soon discovered that her talents are many, and she recently decided to start sharing them with the world!

The candles she creates are so unique in that they are made from a coco apricot crème wax and a soothing, crackling wooden wick.  The sound truly is enchanting and it makes me feel like I’m sitting next to a wood burning fireplace. It’s just about the coziest thing I can think of to bring a feel of warmth to my desk top!

I’ve also enjoyed her candles while creating in my kitchen to add to the peaceful vibe that is necessary for me when having my hands in food!

Checkout her candles, fragrances, and other custom creations at marloshandmade.com

Other things that are bringing me joy right now is focusing on the things that bring me a sense of comfort during a time of year that feels heavy, over scheduled, and obligatory to me.

One of my longest traditions has been to go to the Christkindle Market in Chicago every year to acquire a holiday mug.  If you know anything about this market, you will know that it is rich with German culture and holiday traditions. 

You can find a lot of unique things there, but perhaps the most popular, aside from the food maybe, is this annual mug.  Every year the design changes a bit as does the warm sips I’ve had in it over the years.  Traditionally a warm spiced wine fills the mug, but in more recent years, it’s apple cider for me. 

I have 17 mugs from my yearly visits so far and I fully intend to keep the tradition going!

And yes…I’m aware of the Santa butt in this picture!  It’s a favorite thing of my kiddo’s so I find joy in what makes him happy as well 😊 And I thought it might make you smile too!

Something else that brings me comfort during this time of year, is putting on display the ceramic tree that was once my grandmothers.  The gerna tree, as I lovingly called her, was part of her décor at Christmas time as far back as I can remember.  It was actually made by her sister, my great Aunt Marie.

Both these women have been influential in my life.  After my gerna passed away, I inherited this tree.  It’s an absolute treasure to me and one that I will forever look at with memories of my grandmother and enjoying holidays with her.

Some of you might know that my mother passed away a little over a year ago.  That is one of the reasons I describe this time of year as heavy, but no amount of distraction or looking for ways to find cheer will erase the void I feel by the lack of her presence.

I try to do little things though to keep her front and center in my heart.  Things like creating her favorite foods, or presenting my son with something that she would have given him…and things like embracing the spiritual meaning of the cardinal. 

Do you know what some say it means when you see a cardinal?

For many of us, we don’t find out until we have lost a close loved one.  So for you, I hope that perhaps, you don’t know.

Many people believe seeing a cardinal is a “sign” that those who have passed are with us in spirit. It is often believed that the red bird is carrying a message from a deceased mother, father, sister, brother or friend. The bird is seen as a go-between from the great beyond to those still here on Earth.

The sight of a cardinal holds special meaning, sometimes evoking emotional or spiritual feelings. They say the vibrant red bird is an uplifting, happy sign that those we have lost will live forever, so long as we keep their memory alive in our hearts.

I am choosing to find truth in the comfort of that.

The next time you see a cardinal in your presence, pause for a moment to take notice of where your thoughts were before you say it.  Think about what you are doing, where you are at, or maybe even what your current intention is.  My guess is that if you pause long enough to notice, you will become aware of the connection between what is now, and the appearance of this beautiful bird.

What are you enjoying this holiday season? Where are you finding comfort, peace, and joy? I’d love to hear about your traditions and what is close in your heart this year!