We never had a family Christmas celebration this year. Sickness stopped us twice. I was sad to take down the Christmas tree and all the decorations, with presents still there. I also had the Christmas tree decorated with all my favorite ornaments in just the right places, and I loved it.

On New Year’s day, I decided to stop moping and have a “French Girl Reset”. I took down the tree and most of the Christmas decorations and stored them carefully. I’m getting better about how I store and organize things to make my life easier.

Then I decided to put into my home what gave me pleasure and joy—like the French girls do. I took several days to do it—like a French girl… they don’t rush. They don’t multi-task.

I polished wooden furniture, I wiped down ceiling fans and molding. I windexed windows. I rearranged side tables and made small adjustments to make my living space perfect for me.

I kept out some winter decorations that gave me pleasure and added a few touches of spring. I looked out the windows while I worked and enjoyed the differing displays of God’s beauty and light that comes in the morning and wanes in the latter part of the day.

I baked loaves of sourdough French bread and made sourdough pumpkin scones from Lisa Bass’s Sourdough Cookbook (From Farmhouse on Boone). I exchanged the chocolate chunks for walnuts in the pumpkin scones, because while I love both pumpkin and chocolate, I don’t love them together. And as a French girl, I could do whatever I wanted.😉

A few French Tips:

1. Take your time and enjoy the process of whatever you find to do.
2. Slow down.
3. Get rid of diet books. Eat fresh foods according to your body’s feedback. (And ask God to help you find the right food for your body.)
4. Think through what you want, and think before you speak.
5. Keep the things in your life that add value.
6. Don’t try to be all things to all people.
7. “Don’t take shortcuts. Don’t multi-task. Do one thing at at time completely, in the moment.” (A Woman’s Guide to Finding Her Inner French Girl by Debra Ollivier p. 14)
8. Be frugal. Repair things around your home when possible.
9. Do not go to excess when spending or eating.
10. “…don’t let anger or worry linger….process your feelings so they don’t take up permanent residence on your face.” (A Woman’s Guide to Finding Her Inner French Girl by Debra Ollivier p. 34)

I will share a few pictures from a French girl perspective.

Here is our mantel above the fireplace with a few of my favorite things. The vase is one of two that always sat on my grandmother’s mantel. I found the mirror at an antique/variety shop. The larger elephant was a long-time-ago Christmas gift from my younger brother, to me and my husband. The smaller elephant in front is carved with another elephant inside. (I always wonder how they do that.)

These flowers were a Christmas gift from a friend. I did not want to put the vase up after they faded away, so I made a new arrangement with artificial greenery to last the rest of the winter season. The candles were hand rolled of beeswax by my daughter and grand daughter.

I made this little scene with homemade, snowy, pine trees that were a Christmas gift from my daughter’s family. I thought the little Holy family fit there so well, and they may just stay there all year. The deer picture was a freebie from the Graphics Fairy, placed in a Dollar Tree frame.

French girls like to garden and grow their own fresh food. It can be done, even in the winter time. I’ve planted turnips in the enclosed bed.

The mustard greens and collard greens are thriving, even with temperatures in the 20’s and not covered. I’m trying to hurry and finish this blog because I want to pick some greens for supper and make some sourdough cornbread to go with them.

Mustard Greens

Baby Collard Greens

And even in the winter time, I find it a miraculous gift from God that flowers still bloom. This is a Hellebore or Lenten Rose that will soon be covered with burgundy colored blooms.

Do you have any tips for things you do to enjoy the winter season? If you do please share them in the comments.