10 WONDERFUL THINGS TO MAKE, DO AND CELEBRATE IN NOVEMBER
Happy November!
Autumn in the UK is something pretty darn special. Golden carpets of leaves, bright and chilly, damp and foggy, fierce gusting wind, rainbows and the first frosts, and all against the backdrop of the beautifully changing trees. It’s my spiritual season and i am loving it. November has also been fraught with sickness in our home and we have been canceling things left right and centre to try to make time for us to get well. I have decided to name November a month for nourishment: #NourishinNovember (join in if you wanna!) I am also increasingly aware of the ways I need to look after my mental health more too. A month for movement, nourishment and rest is needed!
I love celebrating November as it has some of my favourite celebrations. Sometimes November is reduced to “nearly December” but let’s not wish this magical month away, hey?! Autumn leaves, first frosts, Bonfires, fireworks, and still being a part of the EU 😜 . Noting the changing of the seasons, especially in the colder months, is such a grounding, helpful thing to do for general happiness levels. The switch into winter mode can be particularly triggering for people sensitive to darkness or find the Winter months difficult. Spending time outside, or simply looking out of your window and just noticing what’s happening in nature, can be an immeasurably helpful mindfulness practice, it’s absolutely free and can be done anywhere. Autumn therapy.
Join me for a workshop (now open globally!)
I have lots of gorgeous IRL wreath and Christmas styling workshops happening (see all available dates here) but this year I have also done my first ever online class! This enables me to reach more people at a cheaper price point. the first was brilliant and I’d love to have you along for the second! The woven base foraged wreath class is now available (plus kit option) and on the 28th November, I’m running a live online Christmas wreath class, using a mossed wreath ring. Kit options are also available for this one. Sign up here.
Here are this months favourite things to make, do and celebrate.
Celebrate Bonfire night.
Which is today! Happy Bonfire day if you’re celebrating! I love all the celebrations at this time of year that involve fire and light; fireworks night, Diwali, Michaelmas. All of them a reminder of our inner light and strength as winter approaches. We’re all too poorly to venture out for a bonfire tonight but we enjoyed watching them from our window!
Make an Autumn leaf garland
Make the most of the beautiful colours of the tree canopy (don’t forget to look up when you’re out!)and make a leaf garland. We make one every year and this year my 7-year-old did the whole thing by herself. It is the simplest, loveliest craft. Collect and press leaves for at least a week. Then attach them together using a needle and thread. That’s it. If you don’t press them they will curl up which is also lovely!
Book something for you
Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, the next few months tend to be quite busy with social events and commitments. Before things get too busy, do your future self a favour and book something in just for you. It could be breakfast with a friend, a wreath making workshop 😉, a trip to the cinema, a day spent in bed watching festive films. Book it in and approach it like an actual holiday: protect it!
Start Christmas making, if you celebrate it.
We aren’t that big on gifts, and either do secret Santa with our family or agree not to do gifts (but spend time together instead). For gifts that we do buy, we’ll try to do it second hand or homemade. So now is the time to start making if you’re going too! Frankie wants to make her friends jars of pickles after we did a workshop with Wasted Kitchen earlier in the year! Could work?! Maybe?!
#NourishinNovember
December can be a frantic knackering month. Use November to fill your body with nutritious food and get lots of rest so your body is strong for the busy month of December and the winter season ahead. #NourishinNovember. It has a ring to it doesn’t it?!
Volunteer or donate
Think about how you or your family will give back to others over the winter period when demand for services such as homeless shelters, domestic violence helplines, and food banks etc reach their peak. Volunteer, campaign, collect donations (always speak to the charity first to get what they actually need) give money, support a local food bank etc.
Prepare for Advent.
If you celebrate it, advent officially begins on Sunday 1st December with the lighting of the first of 4 candles to mark the countdown to Christmas. Whether you mark advent like that, or if you want to organise an advent calendar, It's a good time to organise it. I always make an 'experience' based advent calendar where the kids opens an envelope with an activity (and sometimes a small chocolate) each day. It takes some planning but it really helps me to be organised in December! I put things like baking, drinking hot chocolate, any special trips, watching a Christmas film etc on there.
Make Christmas Pudding and mincemeat!
‘Stir Up Sunday’ is the Sunday before advent begins, the 24th November and is the traditional time to make your Christmas pud and mincemeat. Both benefit from weeks of maturing before Christmas. I love this tradition, everyone takes a turn to stir and add a wish.
Reduce your festive commitmentsMake the busy festive season ahead easier for you and your family. Decline any invitations you don't feel thrilled about, simply say no to excessive travel, suggest not buying gifts or reducing the amount bought, say no to that request from school or work that's stressing you out. You don't have to say yes.
Rest and hibernate
Just like last year, this point will stay on this list throughout winter. Don't fight your bodi’s natural desire to hibernate. Embrace it. Take action in your home, however small, to make it a cosy retreat. Rest, eat hearty food, don’t allow yourself to get too busy- whatever that looks like for you.
Wreath workshops!
The wreaths are heeeeere! I would LOVE it if you wanted to join me for a wreath workshop this year! I have dates in Faversham, London and Rye (see them all here) PLUS a live online workshop that is available globally too.
The Life Book 2020
I am also gearing up to open the doors to my Life Book (aka January Book) E-Course which will be available for pre sale this month. I have had some lovely lovely feedback about this course, which is all about planning and goal setting in a radically kind and flexible way. I will be incorporating some feedback and lessons learned this year into the 2020 class and I’m so excited to get dreaming and planning with you all again!
A tour of my house!
Lastly- I was utterly THRILLED to be asked by Medina from Grillo Designs to be a part of her renter home tour. I haven’t ever shown the full house so this is a first for me! See the whole tour and photos here.
Have a wonderful wonderful November,
Hannah
