christmas | Periwinkle Starr

Hello Y’all! I hope you are doing well in your corner of the world. It’s Christmas Eve in North Texas, and we have had the most odd weather I have seen in a very long time. The temperature is 61 F, and we have thunderstorms and warmth which doesn’t sit right with me. I had the pleasure of visiting the Deerfield Christmas Lights which is a beautiful estate filled with very expensive homes. From what I learned, every Christmas, they go all out…and I mean all out decorating the exterior so much so that people come from all over the metroplex to admire and walk the neighborhood just to get a glimpse of the decor. All this in my very own backyard and I had no clue. The houses were picturesque! So beautifully decorated, it felt like a magic Christmas wonderland. I walked for almost two hours just admiring the lights, the details, the funny themes and taking pictures. One house took the cake in my opinion. I mean, it had EVERYTHING from Santa’s toy shop, trains with real steam, a ferris wheel, an elf disco floor, reindeer, a donkey with a saddle you could pose for pictures on and so much I couldn’t imagine how much it costs to set it all up.

Thankfully, the weather was nice enough to walk because the lineup of cars that we saw meant some of those folks would be there for a minimum of three hours just trying to get to all the houses bumper to bumper. It brought so much joy to me on what the season is all about and the privilege of living in a country where we are free to enjoy and celebrate our beliefs without fear or retribution.

And so, wherever you are in the world, I wish you a very Merry Christmas, and no matter what circumstance you’re going through, It can get better and if you do your part, it will. Be thankful, be hopeful, take action, don’t dwell on fear, and look forward to the future. Until I come your way again in 2025, I remain

Periwinkle Starr

Hello Y’all! I hope you are doing well in your corner of the world. It’s once again the most wonderful time of the year, and yours truly is just now being able to slow down and take a good break. I started this post multiple times but couldn’t bring it to the finish line, but here I am, and I appreciate your patience with me. I sincerely believe that 2025 will be a more consistent year, and yes, I know I have said that before, but I think this time is different. For the first time in a long time, I have been able to keep all my plants alive, explore my city a little more and in more ways than one, and intentionally make attempts to enrich my life and relationships. Breaking out of set patterns is very much needed and having new experiences whether it be travel or learning is always a good idea. The Year 2024 was a year of change, new growth, and redirection. There was so much exposure and if you live in the States or access the internet, you know what I mean. We had an election, and now we are just grateful to wind down into Christmas without any more unwanted surprises.

Wrapping Christmas Presents…Is there a Science Behind It?

So it’s 10 days before Christmas and I’m as ready as I’ll ever be. Gifting presents to loved ones during the holidays is the norm, especially in the Western world and presentation is of the uttermost importance. The skill of wrapping in my opinion is a god-given trait because some people are great at it while others entirely suck….and I mean very badly. That gift has never been a trait of mine and I tell you this because as far back as I can remember, my presents were always outstanding because they were the most poorly wrapped in the group. What can I say, I was somewhere else when everyone was handed these innate skills. But alas, I am not alone! A friend of mine and I recently discovered we were more of bag and tissue gift-givers which was funny especially when we traded horror stories. In my mind friends, it’s the thought that counts. Now if you aren’t as em…..gifted and would like to do a better job at wrapping, please look up the following link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ik_yEXHUlg As for yours truly, I think tissue and bags will remain my saving grace.

Have You Made Your Lists Yet?

Now I’m not referring to Santa’s Naughty or Nice list. At the end of each year, I love to make two lists. These include things I set out to do versus what I actually did AND a list of things that I did and how I could improve. If you’re a very busy person or feel like you cannot get caught up on tasks, having a list is the game changer. And if you, like me tend to procrastinate especially when you have extra time, then this simple solution will get you happily productive in zero time. Coming from an old school of thought, actually writing down and crossing things off a list is more my thing.

Folks, it’s been a great year with its highs, some lows, and everything in between. From Periwinkle Starr, I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I have included a few random photographs which include everything from soups, a view of the reunion tower, my most recent gluten-free bread recipe, a delicate slice of cheesecake, delicious Thai coconut soup I had somewhere in D.C., and a Christmas tree I found very pretty somewhere in the Downtown Dallas Area.