I Believe in Being Festive

When I started thinking about putting pieces of my work together to sell, I decided that I would group pieces in collections with a common theme. One of the collections is titled," My Philosophy." No serious or high brow subject matter here. It is instead, my philosophy on the little things in life (which are the only things I've mastered thus far)

I started making a list of the things that I believe and believe in; they're the little things that make me happy and maybe even explain who I am a little bit. For instance, I believe in singing as loud as possible in the car. I believe that sunglasses complete an outfit. I believe in having a favorite historical figure. While we're on the subject, I believe in being nerdy and being proud of it!

I also believe in being festive and celebrating everything! Major holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries of  important events are always more enjoyable with decorations, special music or even an ugly sweater. It's all about getting into the spirit of whatever you're celebrating and making the day a little more extraordinary.

This past week I got into the spirit and celebrated Bastille Day. I love Paris and I love history. And no other day puts those two things together like Bastille Day. If you're not familiar, it is somewhat similar to our Independence Day in the way it is celebrated with parades and music. The holiday is generally noted for marking the start of the French Revolution in 1789 (a favorite subject of mine.)

 I filled the house with the sound of french music; a little Edith Piaf and a little La Vie en Rose while I made french onion soup and creme brulee. Instead of watching some revolution themed movie on TCM as usual, a friend and I went to the Getty Museum. They are currently having a special Parisian exhibit which I was especially eager to see. We walked through the rooms admiring the ornate yet everyday clothes, the french-latin dictionary, tapestries, portraits, writing sets, and so much more.

For me, being festive and celebrating even the smaller things gives me something special to look forward to. It adds a little extra joy to the day. And it gives me an excuse to acknowledge the things I love. Bastille Day 2011 was a success. Next on my list of celebrations is Christmas in July!