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Tuesday 22 December 2020

Christmas Dinner: Why We are Dressing Up



It's been a hot minute since I've been here.  I know, I know, I let it slip again but I am okay with that.  The holiday season is super busy both professionally and personally, add my daughters birthday into the mix, a running challenge, doing winter photo shoots on the weekends,  and I just can't do it all.  As I've gotten older, not sure if I am wiser, but the truth is I know and can deal with NOT DOING IT ALL.  I feel significantly less  pressure to do it all, mostly because I am working so hard to remove the pressure I put on myself.  So here we are, two weeks without a post and I am here happy and with a full heart.  


The holiday season is upon us and I've been thinking a lot about being casual and embarrassing slowing down, but also having a need to feel dressed up and festive even though there is nowhere to go.  I think it's going to be a balance of those things but I've decided that for Christmas dinner, regardless that it's so small this, we are gong to dress up.  Here is the thing, Mr. and I went on a date at the beginning of December.  We hadn't gone out since August and although we are happy and content our routine was becoming this, get up, run for me, go to work, come home, change into sweat pants and a hoodie, do supper, run kids to activities/go for a walk, tidy up and get everyone ready for the next day, lay down and watch a Modern Family, sleep, REPEAT.  On weekends I just through on the sweat pants and hoodie right from the start.  You get into the rhythm and it seems fine.  BUT a rhythm and rut are so closely connected.  I finally had enough.  With no events, celebrations, gatherings, I looked down at my unshaven legs and was just OVER IT!  We decided we were going for a date night.  We got dressed up.  I shaved my legs too... and we had SO MUCH FUN!  We enjoyed a lovely meal. Great conversation.  We broke out of our daily routine and reminded ourselves of a different time, a different routine, a different version of ourselves.  It was exactly what we needed.  So, I've decided that I am going to still make a meal, I am going to take out the "fancy" dishes, and we are all still going to get dressed up for Christmas dinner.  The rest of the time we can be low key and continue to enjoy our lounge wear but for one evening we are going to do what we always do at the holiday season.  


As for the outfit, EVERYTHING is from my closet.  I am really not shopping a lot these days and my bank account is thanking me for it.  Although I have something special coming in the mail for me that I really hope is as wonderful and flattering as I've built it up in my head.  Hahaha.  I really love having some good quality pieces that I splurged on such as my H & B jewelry and this long cardigan that shimmers and glistens in the light (purchased a few years ago at Nordstrom, sorry).







What are your thoughts?  Remember there is no right way to do anything, just the right way for you and your family.  


Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a beautiful and restful holiday season!



15 comments:

  1. We're dressing up on Christmas Eve even though we'll be at home. I think dressing up makes it feel more festive and it's fun. I love your holiday outfit - you look gorgeous! Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

    Jill - Doused in Pink

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    1. Merry Christmas Jill! I feel the exact same way about it just feeling more festive when we put a little effort into dressing up. Did your daughter make it home for the holidays?

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  2. Such a lovely couple! I and my wife will dress up like you and your hubby even when we just stay at home this Christmas!

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    1. That's so nice. I think it makes us a lot more festive and somewhat closer to normal this holiday season.

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  3. Gosh, y'all are cutie pies!! You clean up real good. That is a darling dress. Flirty and feminine.

    I am all over the place trying to do it all and not succeeding. And - like you - finally being okay with not doing it all. I looked at our mismatched Christmas wrapping paper on the packages under the tree. I thought of all the bloggers with perfect packages and coordinated paper on a color scheme. And I giggled. I have come a long way to be able to let things go a little.

    Not sure what blogging in 2021 is going to look like for me. One minute I want to go all in, do all the blogging. The next minute I wonder if there is any reason or purpose to my blogging. Praying for some clarity in the next ten days!! Merry Christmas.

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    1. Everything you wrote here resonates with me 100%. The matching wrapping paper, yep, had that thought too and then thought, NO, I am not buying more STUFF for a pretense. I am also all over the place with my blogging. I love who I;ve met, the creative outlet, being inspired, but it take a LOT of time and I wonder if that time would be better spent elsewhere. Yet somehow I can't seem to let it go completely. I guess I'll do it when it feels right and not when I just don't have the desire to. I can make my own rules :) Hahaha.

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  4. You look so beautiful and elegant for Christmas. Merry Christmas.

    New Post - https://www.exclusivebeautydiary.com/2020/12/kilian-woman-in-gold.html

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  5. You look so beautiful! I dressed up for Christmas eve church, and with restaurants and things closed in our state, us going out to church felt like a "date night" because we haven't gone anywhere is SO LONG! Enjoy the rest of your holiday! -Meranda

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  6. That's so nice. I know what you mean, any occasion I snatch up. My MIL 2as able to go to her church as it's very small but most 0lace to my knowledge had to have a live streamed service. I am glad that you were able to keep your tradition.

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  7. You look fabulous! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas! Wish you and your loved ones a Happy and Healthy New Year!
    xoxo
    Lovely
    www.mynameislovely.com

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  8. Bo, you are one good looking couple, my friend! I love that you got out of your rut, dressed up, and did something fun together. I have been in that same rut since March but I am too anxious to go anywhere on a date! If the weather were nicer, I would be all about a quiet picnic in the park or something with my husband. I suppose when Spring arrives, I will add more dates to my schedule! You look absolutely beautiful in your Christmas outfit, my friend! Thanks for linking with me.

    Shelbee
    www.shelbeeontheedge.com

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    1. Oh Shelbee, I do empathize. I kept thinking it wasn't necessary and although I wasn't nervous, I also felt like maybe we shouldn't go out. That being said, doing it showed me how much I have missed doing a few of those regular things. Don't get me wrong, I love how much more we are just spending time outdoors and I actually don't want that to change, but being able to go out was a really nice reminder of life before COVID.

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  9. That navy dress is beautiful on you and that cardigan the perfect pairing with it! :) We all dressed up for Christmas day as usual too. We didn't go to church but we did get dressed up to spend the day with family. It's nice to stick to traditions like that! :)

    Happy new year! Hope that your 2021 has started well :) Thanks so much for joining the #WeekdayWearLinkup!

    Away From Blue

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    1. I know exactly what you mean. Even on NYE I had a bit of a blue mood since it was just us, but then at 8 p.m. I decided, I am getting dressed up as I planned and instantly it changed my mood. We ended up have a nice but very different kind of night and that's okay.

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  10. I dressed up on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and it made me feel a lot better! I did change into my PJ's a little earlier than normal in the evening and I was ok with that! Ha! I love your glitzy/sparkly cards over that dress. Super cute photos of you and your sweet husband!

    Carrie
    curlycraftymom.com

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