self-care

Finding Magic in the Everyday

~ Paris ~ Leave a comment

{Spotting a pink aurora from our backyard last December – Christmas Eve, to exact – which happened to be the third time that the aurora was visible from Northern California in 2024: May, October, and December.}

Life is hard. Tough times don’t last, tough people do. If you’re going through hell, keep going.

Those are just three quotes we hear – often from childhood – in regards to how hard life can be. And during those tougher time periods, it can sometimes feel like these quotes are the only truths to life. After all, when it rains, it usually pours. And while I won’t argue that life does have it’s challenging seasons, I’ve always found this mentality to be a bit too negative for my liking. Is life hard? Yes, of course. But is it also beautiful, fun, and exhilarating at times? Most definitely. So, while I won’t pretend that everyday is filled with magic, I do look for it everyday. Because even though some days might have more magic in them than others, there’s always at least a little bit of that sparkle that we can find in each day.

When I was younger, I would automatically assume that if my morning started off poorly, it meant my entire day would simply suck. But by the time I was a tween, I realized that even if I had a rough start to my day, it could still end on a high note. And by the time I hit my early twenties, I learned the biggest secret/ best thing: happiness is a choice; and better yet, it’s my choice. I could choose to dwell on a bad morning and allow it to ruin my day the same way that I could allow one bad moment in my evening to ruin an otherwise perfect day. Going beyond that, it was the knowledge that even the things I deemed as bad might have a silver lining to them. For instance, do I enjoy being stuck in traffic? Nope, I really don’t. But I can reframe that to remind myself that I now get to have more time to sing in the car, listen to a true crime podcast, or catch up on a phone call with a friend. Is it fun to wake up from a bad night’s sleep? Oh, God, no {especially when sleep is your favorite hobby like it is for me}. But I can once again reframe it as a reminder that I get to wake up on a beautiful morning, I get to indulge in a caffeinated tea latte from my favorite cafe {the best excuse for an $8 latte}, and I get to create a relaxing routine to help me sleep earlier tonight {think: lavender bubble bath, chamomile tea, and reading a book before bed instead of viewing a screen}. By reminding myself that “I get to” do something, it tells my mind that this is a choice I am able to make versus a difficult situation I am stuck with.

But finding magic in the everyday can go beyond just reframing situations and finding the good within them. Sometimes, after all, there is no good in a situation {such as a bad car accident, running late to an important meeting, or finding out a loved one is not doing well}. Sometimes we need to allow ourselves to feel sad, angry, upset, and irritated with the world because it’s true: life is not fair. And while I am all for being positive, I also recognize that toxic positivity is still just that: toxic. After all, there’s no positive spin for when your friend tells you they have cancer.

Further, beyond reframing my mentality to appreciate the less fun moments of life {like when your plants refuse to stay alive no matter how hard you try or a pretty piece of jewelry you were hoping to get ends up selling out before you can save up for it}, the other part is seeking the magic in life. Rumi put it perfectly when he said, “What you seek is seeking you.” By seeking out magic, it does tend to find us. And seeking it out can be simply appreciating the pretty moments in our everyday life. By looking for it, we can notice beautiful moments in our day to day life: a stunning sunset, a delicious meal, a beautiful bird flitting about, a decadently sweet smelling flower, or a day with perfect weather {for me it would be: cool but sunny when outside or rainy and grey when inside} to name a few.

So, whether it’s going for a walk on a day that’s too hot, but you spot a hummingbird flitting about, or you take time to make lavender shortbread to ensure your afternoon tea or dessert is extra special, finding magic in the everyday is a choice. And it’s a choice that makes our lives just a bit more fun, even on the hardest days and during the most difficult storms. So, here’s to finding magic in the everyday, aka our daily dose of pretty. x

x Paris

Romanticizing Spring 2025

~ Paris ~ Leave a comment

{Backyard Blossoms.}

Even before I heard of the idea to romanticize our life {thanks, social media}, I believed in it and made it my mantra and my motto. After all, romanticizing the everyday simply means finding ways to celebrate joy, find beauty, and savor the little moments. I learned a long time ago that while the big things {graduations, weddings, birthdays, once-in-a-lifetime achievements} would always be special, they wouldn’t occur often enough {aka, everyday} to allow me to feel as happy as I could. Rather, by celebrating the little things, I found a way to find joy in the everyday. Even if I had a rough day, I would have something to be grateful for {the chance to hear the birds sing in the morning, a day with perfect weather for me, a dish that was plated beautifully, and so on}. Thus, I’ve always loved the idea of romanticizing the everyday. From having fresh florals around me, a lit candle scenting my home, creating a morning ritual, or a new tradition, I adore making each day feel special. After all, life is truly about the little moments. Last week, I shared my spring to-do list with some goals I have for the season, but below are twelve ways I want to truly romanticize the season of love, one idea for each week of the season. I hope it inspires you to romanticize your spring as well. I’d love to know, how do you romanticize your life?

  1. Create a spring {aka, floral infused} morning drink {think: a lavender London fog, a rose petal matcha latte, an orange blossom + honey tea latte, and so on} to make waking up each morning a smidge more special. Bonus points for using florals from your backyard or balcony garden.
  2. Listen to music or an enjoyable podcast during early morning walks while the weather is perfect {aka, not too hot or too cold, a la Goldilocks.}
  3. Get fresh flowers from the farmer’s market each week so there are always pretty blooms around. Bonus points for creating your own flower arrangement.
  4. Get a new houseplant to bring in some greenery for the season.
  5. Create new traditions. From Taco Tuesdays or Fries-day with loaded fries {Mexican or Mediterranean style} to a cocktail {virgin or boozy} on a weekday evening or a cheese plate in the afternoon just because, create traditions for various days of the week. Bonus points for making a random weekday feel a bit more special.
  6. Learn something new over the next three months. Be it crocheting, astrology (with the astrological new year coinciding with the start of spring), becoming a wine connoisseur, or something else entirely, spend the season learning something new that you’ve always wanted to study.
  7. Spend a day baking decadent treats and enjoying the last bit of a typical wintery activity. Bonus points if it’s rainy and cold outside so you can turn on the fireplace and allow the oven’s warmth to keep you feeling cozy.
  8. Find a go-to spring dish to make weekly. Think angel hair pasta, extra virgin olive oil, seasonal produce, and freshly grated parmesan + truffle salt. Bonus points for using locally grown produce from the farmer’s market.
  9. Go to a new-to-you cafe that is great for people watching. Order your favorite drink {a lavender or rose tea latte} and pastry {a warm cherry danish or chocolate croissant} and enjoy it while people watching {and maybe with a print fashion magazine instead of an iPhone for entertainment}.
  10. Find your signature candle scent. As someone who adores lighting candles, nothing helps set the season more than swapping fragrances. Aim for more floral and fruity scents to welcome in spring.
  11. Dine al fresco more often. Perhaps in your backyard or balcony on a weekly basis or at a restaurant with a view from their patio or rooftop. Enjoy the beautiful weather and don’t allow it to go to waste.
  12. Go to at least one rooftop restaurant to enjoy the sunset with a delicious meal. Bonus points for a pretty view {of the ocean, forest, mountains, or city}.

x Paris