Living
Happy New Year!
Welcome to 2024! 
It's a new year, a clean slate & a fresh start! 
 
Cheers to you and everything that went well in 2023. I hope you celebrated every win and accomplishment with gusto! And, for those things that didn't go the way you had hoped (trust me…we all have those), let's collectively “let them go”.
 
We have 12 months ahead of us and it's up to us to make the most of them! We get to decide where and with whom to put our energy. One thing I do to help guide my year is to choose a word of inspiration and intent.  
 
For 2024, I've chosen a word that feels fresh and optimistic!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
My 2024 word is BLOOM
 
Image item
 

What the new year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new year.
~ Vern McLellan

 
This Month in the Garden
 
Image item
We don't have any snow on the ground yet, but this is how the garden usually looks during the winter. Things are covered and quiet. I find myself looking out the window and counting the days (80 to be exact) until Spring. But, even once we hit that magical date of March 21st, it will be another month before things are blooming in New York.
 
If you were wishing you had planted some bulbs in the fall, but didn't get around to it, I have an idea for you. White Flower Farm has “ready to bloom” baskets of hyacinths, daffodils and tulips. They will ship to you in March and you will have blooms in April. I've done this the last 2 years to supplement my own garden and have enjoyed the process as well as the results. 
 
Image item
 
Image item
 
The Daily Wellness Step I  Swear By
 

 
 
Image item

 
Entertaining
Boursin Snowman
I shared this little guy in my Instagram stories and he seemed to have inspired a following. So, I thought I should share this simple “winter” appetizer recipe here! Enjoy in front of a fire!
 
2 Rounds of Boursin cheese
½ for the head
1 ½ for the body
Roll into balls & wrap in saran wrap/chill
Roll in fresh Parmesan, use extra for “snow”\
Peppercorn for eyes & buttons
Tip of carrot 🥕 for nose
Rosemary for arms
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Serve with your favorite crackers

 
Image item
 
24 Ways to Kick Start your 2024
 
Buy a new calendar
+
Select pens in your favorite color and keep on your desk
+
Clean out one closet, drawer or room each week of January
+
Schedule a pickup of your donations 
(I like Vietnam Vets b/c I can schedule online and they take a lot of things)
+
Buy fun stamps  and new stationery
+
Treat yourself to fresh flowers
+
Get rid of dingy towels and take advantage of a white sale
+
Delete duplicate & bad photos on your phone
+
Update your holiday card list so you are ready for next year
+
Drink warm lemon water before you have your coffee or tea
+
Get outside every day - walk, run, hike
+
Stretch 10 minutes a day
+
Plan 1 fun, new activity or adventure each month
+
Listen to the audiobook Atomic Habits by James Clear
+
Try a new hobby - I'm doing needlepoint & calligraphy
+
Reach out to a friend you haven't seen in a while
+
Gather some book recommendations & make a list 
+
Make dinner reservations someplace new for Feb
+
Fill a carafe of water each night for the following day
+
Schedule your dentist & doctor appts for the year
+
Get a pedicure, even though no one will see it
+
Listen to a new podcast 
+
Write down all you accomplished in 2023
+
Start researching or planning a special trip
—
 

Happy New Year!
 May it be your best one yet!
Image item
LivE Give
Entertain
 Until next time…  xxElizabeth
 
Instagram
Pinterest