10 Ways to Practice Gratitude, Most Lovely Things In BHG, a Holiday Outfit and more on Weekend Meanderings.
Good morning friends, how are you?
Today I am joining Kim and Juliet for weekend meanderings, our weekly series of things that caught our eye, piqued our interest. Adventures, style, life and so much more.
These next few weeks are going to go by in a whirl of preparations, presents, parties, stress and more so today I thought I would remind you to slow down and just be.
Take some time from your day to rest, regroup and reset your mind and body and most importantly set aside a little time for gratitude.
Let’s Meander
Thankful & Grateful
For some reason people think Thanksgiving is the only time during the year that we need to be thankful or grateful. I guess if it the only time of the year that you are going to be grateful than it is as good a time as any.
But the fact is, the more grateful you are, the healthier and happier you are.
Scientists say that people who are grateful are more healthy physically and psychologically than people that aren’t. They also have more empathy, less aggression, they sleep better and have better relationships.
All good things in my book.
10 Ways to Be Grateful
1.Be Kind
Be kind to everyone you meet. Smile, say hello, be polite, hold the door for someone, offer to return their grocery cart. Make a point of doing this everyday, you will make them feel better and you will feel better too!
2. Thank You Cards
Send thank you cards to the people in your life that you are grateful for, send a card to your parents, best friend, your siblings, a co-worker or anyone else that you want to know that you are grateful for their presence in your life. Snail mail is so rare these days it will make them feel extra special. There is still time to write your cards and get them in the mail.
3. Give
Give the gift of your time and talents. Volunteer at an animal shelter, walk the dogs or play with them. Tutor kids who need help after school. Read and visit with the people at your local nursing home.
4. Say Thank You
I was taught to say thank you and please at an early age but sometimes I feel as if it is a courtesy of the past. Thank your yoga teacher for a great class, thank the checkout person and the bagger at the grocery store, say thank you to your barista for making you the perfect latte.
5. Be Thankful
Take a minute and be thankful for your family. Though they may drive you crazy some days I am sure they you give you a lot of love and joy. Why not let them know it? Share a memory of happy times, or thank them for the support and love they have given you.
6. Spread Joy
Spread joy, give someone a compliment I promise you will make their day.
Four years ago I was having a terrible day, and I was wandering aimlessly around a store. Every time I looked up I saw a little old man staring at me. Eventually he came over and tapped me on the shoulder, my first thought was that he wanted some help.
Instead of asking for help he asked if he could tell me something. I said yes and he said “I just wanted you to know that you are beautiful and have lovely eyes.”
I know I looked a wreck that day as I had been crying and had just come from the gym but I will tell you that after I thanked him I feel lighter, happier and I felt beautiful. I still think of that little man all these years later.
7. Be Appreciative of your world
Appreciate the world around you. Get out take a walk, take in your neighborhood, your town or go somewhere new and appreciate all that you have around you. If you live near the ocean or a lake sit and enjoy the waves lapping at your feet, if you live in the mountains enjoy the peace and quiet or the sounds of the animals.
8. Spend Time in Your Favorite Place
Spend some time in your favorite place with your favorite place and feel the blessings of both.
9. Self Care
Practice self care, take care of yourself as well as you do everyone around you. Exercise, eat better, read, learn something new, appreciate your one body for everything it has done for you!
10. Write it Down
The best way to practice gratitude is to to do it every day!
Get yourself a journal, a notebook or use the note section of your phone and take 5 minutes every single day to write something that you are grateful for.
Most Lovely Things in BHG!
Image Most Lovely Things
Did you see Annie @Most Lovely Things in the new December issue of BHG!
If not you are going to want to head over to her blog and read the post about how it happened, the behind the scenes of the photoshoot and of course all of the projects that were featured in the magazine.
Annie will teach you how to make twig stars, wrap gifts and make gift tags.
Congratulations Annie, I love your feature and am so excited for you!
Make sure to get your copy of the December issue of BHG.
Weekend Outfit~A Little Sparkle
shoes with bow/ flats//black glittery skirt//sweater //earrings//handbag//nail polish
In other news
Looking for a Christmas book to cosy up and read this weekend?
How to be a good-enough home cook
The spectacular implosion of crypto’s biggest star, explained
A brain expert shares his 7 ‘hard rules’ for boosting memory and fighting off dementia
Trader Joe’s Fans Make Sure to Check Out the Holiday Sweet and Savory Selections for Christmas
British Christmas Recipes to add to your holiday baking list.
How to Create a Globally Inspired Den
Have you seen these cool prints?
I have this handheld mixer and love it.
This cheeseboard would make a lovely hostess gift.
I ordered these gingerbread inspired espresso cups as a gift and decided they were so cute I am keeping them.
Love these holiday trays(especially the plaid)
Get ready to celebrate the holidays with these 5 party platters.
Lucy has done it again, this bronze and black tree is gorgeous!
10 Compelling Questions to Avoid Small Talk At Thanksgiving Dinner.
The Allure of Dating Pete Davidson.
In Case You Missed It
This week I shared inspiration for decorating your front door and porch! Including this amazing house from Flower magazine.
One of my family and friends favorite holiday treat, rosemary and tarragon spicy mixed nuts.
5 Ways to Survive the Holidays, these next few weeks might be a challenge for many.
And last but not least my Friday Favorites post where you will find, food, finds, books and lots of links to interesting articles and more.
For Thanksgiving tables capes, side dishes and more.
Weekend Sales
Amazon , I am partial to all of the book sales and all of these hand blown ornaments.
THANK YOU
Before you go I wanted to say thank you! And to let you know how grateful I am for YOU.
I have been blogging for many years and although I originally started writing the blog for my family, I continue to write for all of the friends I have made here over the years, many of whom I have never met.
Your comments, emails, notes and prayers make my day and I am blessed to have had you by my side during some of the best and worst times of my life. Thank you for spending a part of your day with me and for making my life better for having you in it.
THAT’S IT
I hope that you enjoyed meandering today and that when you leave here you pop over to see all of the things that Kim and Juliet have discovered this week.
If you missed any of the previous Weekend Meandering posts you can find them all here
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MAKE MINE A SPRITZER
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA STYLE
Have a wonderful and safe weekend!
This post contains affiliate links, if you make a purchase I will earn a small commission at no cost to you.
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Lucy Clayton’s Doll House, Courtney Allison, Mrs Pedersen’s Garden and more on Weekend Meanderings 
Spooky Decor, Sweet Treats, Costumes and More on Weekend Meanderings
Happy weekend, my friend.
Thank you Renae, have a lovely weekend.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving week!
Elizabeth, Really enjoyed this list and the thank yous nowadays and kind words to others mean so much. That was drilled into me as a child by my grandmother and I am grateful for that… Also the grateful mindset is so good! I began going down the rabbit hole with your links- and just getting back to comment now. I need an hour and a cozy corner to look at it all!
I’m very grateful to do this with you and Juliet and to especially you for asking us. It has been a lot of fun and worth all the work. Thank you Elizabeth for bringing us together. Wish you could have been with us yesterday to go to tea. Hopefully, sometime in the future the three of us will get together for real!
Hoping Thanksgiving is wonderful and fun. xoxo
Ps. pinned the nuts and will give them a try for Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving week, Elizabeth! I love all these thoughtful reminders on expressing gratitude in our lives. So important for a happy and fulfilled life. Annie in BGH is beyond exciting … I’m so happy for her and I hope she’ll share all about the process and experience. I’m off to decorate our library for Christmas … never have I done any Christmas decorating so early. We’ll see how it goes. Wishing you and your family a blessed week. xo
Hi Elizabeth,
I so enjoyed reading “10 ways to Be Grateful”,
I throughly enjoyed it. I was raised on thank you’s and thank you cards and please., and “do unto others,” way of being. I had wonderful parents, they were excellent roll models. They weren’t perfect, but as I told my mama, “you did the best job you knew how.” My mother told me that before she passed away. Around this time of year I miss both of my parents so much.
The little old man sort that you shared I lived. That took so much courage for him to approach you for fear of rejection. I bet it was on of the most memorable days of your life.
I so enjoy so much of what you have to share.
You give so much and I’m the fortunate recipient. Thank you and yes I’m grateful for you,
Oops !!! I make comments on my iPhone. I need to start proof reading before I send.
Please excuse typo errors.
Sort should had been *story*
lived should had been “loved”
on should had been “one”
I am sure you figured out what I’m saying.
Elizabeth!
What a beautiful and timely post about remembering gratitude! So many small details that take only a second or two!
Thank you so much dear Elizabeth for sharing about BHG! You are so sweet to mention it here and on your Instagram!
I hope you have a lovely holiday!
Xx
Hello Annie,
Have a happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving week, Elizabeth! Lovely reminders here of different ways we can live with more gratitude. Was so excited to see Annie’s feature in BHG! So well deserved, and her IG feed is a fav for sure. Her creativity and generosity in sharing so many tutorials is inspiring. Bet you are baking up a storm this week! I did some decorating this weekend and look forward to being in the kitchen for a couple of days now. xox
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Michele. xo