Dearest flower friends,

 

What can I say, I love the holidays. There's something so wonderful about being merry for merry's sake. My husband surprised me with a Christmas tree earlier this month and I am grateful he took the initiative. Because in the past I've been guilty for wondering, What's the point? Why go through the effort?

 

A part of me regrets giving into all this capitalist consumerism (sometimes it all just feels like so much stuff), but the other part of me, the kinder part, understands that (especially for us non-religious folk), the effort is the point. The reason is simply to make space out of our daily lives to add a bit of festive joy into our worlds. To gather, to celebrate, to rest, to reflect, and to eat delicious food. Lots of it. 

 

And of course, to spend quality time with family – something I've been cherishing more and more these days as I begin to grow my own.

 

I'm grateful for my mom who always made Christmas feel special, year after year. Those sweet memories of childhood decorating the tree while listening to Christmas music, setting up the nativity set, addressing all the envelopes for the family cards to be mailed out. Wrapping gifts and baking cookies. Those sleepless nights before Christmas trying to hear the reindeer on the roof, and the feeling of glee at the sight of all the stuffed stockings and presents under the tree. What I've come to love about the holidays is the tradition itself - these special moments that make our lives feel more magical.

 

Now as a florist, I get to enjoy the holidays with an aesthetically-inspired spirit. Decorating spaces with glowing trees, mantlepiece installations, and cedar garlands, adorning everything with velour bows, hosting wreath workshops and making herbal medicine gift kits. It's a time to get crafty and scrappy, soaking up the final weeks of the year with the people I love. 

 

In that spirit, wishing you all safe travels and a heartfelt ‘Happy Holidays’ this season.

 

With love,

Emily