Page 147 - South Mississippi Living - December, 2021

Simple gatherings with our
friends can make what has been
a rough year and a half seem a
little less traumatic. So get your
home ready for guests in the early
days of December. This month is
one of the few in South Mississippi when
we can open our windows and let in some
fresh air. Clean what is dirty and put away the
piles of papers and everyday stuff that seem to
accumulate all year long. Pull out your decorations
and get a Christmas tree up early. Add festive touches
to every room in the house. Do not forget the kitchen and the bathrooms! A cherished keepsake or a simple bed of greens with a favorite ornament on top can go anywhere. Candles or tiny lights add instant holiday flair. Whether you go for the dramatic or the simple, get your decorating done early so you can enjoy the rest of the month, ready at a moment’s notice for company.
Any time is the right time to ask friends over to share the spirit of the season. There are lots of ways to enjoy time together that don’t require a lot of preplanning and extra effort. Asking folks to join you for a casual weekend breakfast is so easy. Scramble a few more eggs and pop open a can of biscuits! An impromptu happy hour stroll on the beach requires nothing more than letting your friends know when to make a drink and join you on the sand. We know friends who host “Ladies Only” brunches before the holidays and others who offer a “Laughter and Leftovers” potluck after the holidays. One of our favorite ideas is from a friend who hosts a Sausage Biscuit and Bloody Mary drop in on Christmas Eve morning. Everyone they know is invited over to mix and mingle and toast to one another
before heading back to their own kitchens to continue celebration preparations. It’s an
easy gathering to pull together and lots of fun for everyone who drops by! We see folks there we don’t see any other time of the year.
Get-togethers are easier when you get a head start on the cooking. Make some
appetizers and side dishes at the beginning of December and freeze them. Getting some of the cooking
out of the way early will relieve some of your “to do list” pressure later. Why not host a cooking day early in the month with one or more of the young folks in your life and share some of your family’s culinary traditions? Turn a chore into a fun way to spend time together and to pass along some of your favorite family stories. Tell them how important it is to take care of one another and how we should help those who are less fortunate, especially during the holidays. Maybe ask them to tag along to the grocery store and buy some extra groceries for the local food bank. Help them find ways to give to others.
Make a point to give yourself a special gift this year. You deserve it. Celebrate the season with your friends and your family in ways you may not have before. Allow yourself to be joyful in the simple moments you share with others, grateful for all the love in your life, and hopeful about what can be in the coming year.
Holly Harrison has been a licensed interior designer for over 35 years. Shannon Stage has spent nearly 20 years in the giftware industry. Together they own Sassy Bird Interiors in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living | www.smliving.net
December 2021 | 147