• Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Collaborate
  • Blog
  • Parties
    • Children’s Parties Ideas
    • Holiday Parties
    • Adult Party Ideas
  • Holiday Ideas
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Fourth of July
    • Spring
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
  • Seasons
    • Winter
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Autumn
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
  • Project Gallery
    • Crafts
    • Decorating
    • DIY
    • Good Ideas
    • Tutorials
  • Shop My Home
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

  • Book
  • Speaking
  • Meet Vanessa
    • Featured

January 4, 2017

The Post Christmas ‘Blahs’

Hello sweet friends! How are you? Are you recovering from the craziness of the holiday season?

I don’t know about you, but I find myself feeling all out of sorts in the days following Christmas. On the one hand, my family does infinitely better when we are operating within a routine.

So getting back to our regularly scheduled programming is more than welcomed around here. But on the other hand, my emotions tend to be all over the place and I feel discombobulated (that’s one of my all-time favorite words by the way!).

Winter vintage tabletop decor

And, in years past, I would give those emotions too much merit. I used to analyze them and wonder if I was supposed to make big changes in my life or big changes to my home or big changes to my hair.

I would simmer and stew over those post-holiday emotions and allow them to form a cloud over the brand new year.

But somewhere along the line, I began to recognize them for what they are.

Just the normal response to coming back down to reality after a month of crazy schedules, hyped up kids, too much sugar and a ridiculous number of activities.

Are you struggling with the post-Christmas ‘blahs’?

May I recommend that you don’t put too much stock in those feelings?

 

How about instead of giving into them, we just do simple things to boost our spirits?

Keep a few twinkling lights glowing here and there.

Winter cabin themed Christmas mantel decor

Light a candle in your favorite scent.

Put on some music that always makes you smile.

Read a good book.

Take a bath.

Go on a walk. 

Have lunch with a friend. 

Spend time in prayer and in God’s word.

And just celebrate moving out of a season of excess and into a season of simplicity.

Sofa table Christmas decor atthepicketfence.com

 

Happy New Year!

Vanessa signature

Find more encouragement and inspiration in our book ‘Life in Season’ in stores now!

AnnouncementMeme2

15 Comments Filed Under: Community, Good Ideas, Good Thoughts

Subscribe

Get the latest goodness straight to your inbox!

Previous Post: « The new year never looked so Lush!
Next Post: Winter Decorating Ideas »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Michelle says

    January 4, 2017 at 4:18 AM

    Thoughtful post. Thanks for sharing! In this bitterly cold first week of January, I give thanks for my warm, cozy home and my snuggly dog and will settle in with my new books I received for Christmas. You are right, don’t overthink the post holiday blues…..as we know, this too, shall pass. And I too, have one small tree twinkling day and night!

    Reply
  2. Sandi says

    January 4, 2017 at 4:46 AM

    I like what you have written. I still have my tree up and I turn it on every morning because I love the little lights. Hugs,

    Reply
  3. Lynn Jackson says

    January 4, 2017 at 5:11 AM

    What a lovely post. I really enjoy a cup of white tea in the afternoon, but my stress level is higher this year. My husband broke a small bone in his leg a week before Christmas all our Christmas travelling cancelled , I guess we will be having Xmas in July delivering late presents. Then I was sick had to stay in bed New Years weekend ( 4days) I planned to take Xmas decoration down and put away. But will do what only what I can till done and still enjoy my cup of tea but my homemade baking container are empty. ☕️

    Reply
  4. laura says

    January 4, 2017 at 5:31 AM

    Vanessa- Timely post! Great suggestions! What I remind myself is resolutions, DIY lists and enjoying the snow this time of year in Denver. And life moves so quickly. PS I love love love your small Christmas trees!

    laura

    Reply
  5. Dianne Stavropoulos says

    January 4, 2017 at 6:06 AM

    Yes! Discombobulated says it all, doesn’t it? God goes before us into every New Year and He is never surprised by the things that take our breath away. I pray for a year of soulful rest for all of us – no matter how bone weary our bodies may be! Happy New Year to you and your!

    Reply
  6. valarie sanford says

    January 4, 2017 at 6:48 AM

    Amen sister, thanks for the wonderful perspective! Blessings

    Reply
  7. Sami says

    January 4, 2017 at 8:19 AM

    While I appreciate your post, I must say there are no blahs here. I am excited about the new year, more than willing to take down and store the Christmas décor and get on with normal. As I age I am finding that the hysteria over the holidays is wearing and I am pleased when it is over. I hope I don’t sound unfeeling but I wanted to share an alternate mind set.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      January 4, 2017 at 8:34 AM

      You don’t sound unfeeling at all Sami and I appreciate your perspective! 🙂

      Reply
  8. Bonnie says

    January 4, 2017 at 9:44 AM

    Thanks Vanessa for the good insight. I sometimes feel that way right after the holidays and I forget that there are good things waiting for me in the new year to come.

    Reply
  9. margaret says

    January 4, 2017 at 10:17 AM

    Thank you for those good tips to start the new year.
    Happy New Year to you and your family!!

    Reply
  10. MARY-ANN (FROM CANADA!) says

    January 4, 2017 at 8:52 PM

    Happy New Year to you, too, Vanessa! I always enjoy your posts!

    Glad to know that I am not the only person who gets a little down after Christmas — and especially when you pack away your Christmas decorations and everything seems to look so drab after having so much color! I love Christmas and everything that is connected to it! It is absolutely my favorite time of the year!

    However, it isn’t long before I count my blessings and realize that I am truly blessed! God is so good!

    Bless you!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      January 5, 2017 at 6:57 AM

      Thank you so much Mary-Ann and Happy New Year to you as well!

      Reply
  11. Jenny says

    January 6, 2017 at 6:16 PM

    I know this feeling as well. Luckily, my kids have January and February birthdays, so quickly after the Christmas festivities are over, we begin planning birthdays. It’s nice to pair-down after Christmas and plan low-key birthday celebrations. And, due to their birthdays being right after Christmas, we ask that their birthday party guests bring donations for the local animal shelter, in lieu of gifts.
    ~Jenny
    https://www.introvertsguidetosobriety.com/

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      January 7, 2017 at 8:22 AM

      That is such a great idea Jenny!

      Reply
  12. Terri says

    January 11, 2017 at 7:55 AM

    I just read this post… thank you so much !! Great Words of Wisdom… and some wonderful ideas…. Our family had an amazing Christmas … and just this past week we had a cabin vacation getaway in the Smokies… so beautiful… It snowed!! … and snowed !!! lolol… kind of a big deal for us “Floridians”!!! lol….. but then when everyone heads back home and to “Normal” … well… I feel those same blahs just a bit !!!! Thank you again for this uplifting post !!!!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Search This Blog

Get the book!

Invite Vanessa to speak at your event!

Stay updated!

  • A New Look for the Family Room

    A New Look for the Family Room
  • Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze

    Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze
  • The Slow Exit

    The Slow Exit
  • Honed Quartzite Kitchen Counters Reveal

    Honed Quartzite Kitchen Counters Reveal

Sign Up and Never Miss A Post!

Must Reads

Latest Recipes

Strawberry Muffins with Lemon Glaze

Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze

Apple Bread Pudding

view more recent recipes

Recent Posts

  • Decorating a Sofa Table May 31, 2023
  • Strawberry Muffins with Lemon Glaze April 19, 2023
  • Console Table Refresh March 24, 2023
  • Laundry Room Makeover February 23, 2023
  • Winter Decorating Ideas January 27, 2023

Footer

Stay Connected!

Instagram

Our son just turned TWENTY and I can hardly wrap m Our son just turned TWENTY and I can hardly wrap my head around the fact that we’ve completed two decades of parenting! I’ve had time to reflect on this season of life and shared some of my thoughts over at @club31women.

“Someday, years from now, we will watch home movies of the year 2023. And it will seem like I am peeking into the life of another family. I will have vague memories of those moments but my life will be so consumed with what is currently happening that it will seem like another lifetime. So, I embrace this season…this day…this moment. And I choose to declare that the emotional war in my heart between ‘what could have been’ and ‘what might be yet to come’ is over. I’m waving the white flag. I want my children to know that it is good and proper that they grow up and leave the nest. I want them to know that I can celebrate the passing of time rather than resist it even if there may be a few bittersweet tears that spill over from time to time.”

Head over to their devotional page to read the rest and I hope my words bring you encouragement for wherever you are on your parenting journey. 🤍
There’s nothing quite like enjoying the rewards There’s nothing quite like enjoying the rewards of your labor! The whole family pitched in to get our bark spread around the yard (I’m the master at raking it until it’s nice and even) and by the end of the day we were all done. Now we can head into summer with our big yard projects completed! 🙌🏻 Do you put in fresh bark every year?
Welcome June! I’m so glad you’re here! What’ Welcome June! I’m so glad you’re here! What’s your favorite thing about this month? Mind can be summed up in this quote…

“In early June the world of leaf and blade and flowers explodes, and every sunset is different.” John Steinbeck
“No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom “No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation.”
General Douglas MacArthur

Grateful today and every day for those who were vigilant to the point of death in the preservation of our freedom and the principles upon which our country was founded. May we honor their sacrifice by being vigilant too. #memorialday
I’ve been on the lookout for small side tables t I’ve been on the lookout for small side tables to pit next to our outdoor couch and when I spotted these plant stands at @walmart from their @betterhomesandgardens line I knew they would be perfect…and they are!! 👏🏻 This is not a sponsored post. I’m just happily sharing this great find and why we should always be open to thinking outside of the box when it comes finding solutions for our decorating dilemmas.

Now we’re ready to head into this beautiful weekend! ☀️
What do you do when you want to use a bunch of boo What do you do when you want to use a bunch of books in your decorating but it can cost $50 or more for just ONE brand new book? Head to the secondhand bookstore of course! I’m so excited about this new look in my family room and this easy, inexpensive decorating tip I’m bringing to you for this #tiptuesday
Today feels like one of those days that is worthy Today feels like one of those days that is worthy of a chef’s kiss. Blue sky with nary a cloud in sight, perfect mid-70’s temps, a gentle breeze blowing through my hair as I walk around my yard to see the status of my flowering plants.

This morning I was running errands and the weight of hard things that are happening in the world, the culture, my own community and even in our circle of friends just felt so heavy.

But, as I was exiting a store, I passed a couple who were in their late 60’s/early 70’s and holding hands as they walked through the parking lot. I happened to glance over just as the husband lifted his wife’s hand up and planted a kiss right on it. It was a moment that reflected such love and tenderness and it was made sweeter by the fact that they weren’t spring chickens. I felt honored that I had been the one to observe and appreciate that moment.

What an incredible thing it is that as humans we are able to hold so many emotions in our souls all at once. To feel sorrow for the pain a friend is enduring, grieve the decline of a culture drifting further from the Lord, ponder how to navigate a challenging school situation, marvel at and enjoy the beauty of creation right outside my door and feel joy at getting to see a tangible example of lasting love while walking through a parking lot.

I truly believe that as we mature in our lives and in our faith, we learn to embrace the tension that comes with the collision of different emotions and recognize that they can all coexist at the same time without one taking something away from another. Simple joys make the hard stuff a bit easier and hard stuff makes us appreciate those simple joys even more.

What’s a simple joy that you are thankful for today?
Oh what an absolutely lovely weekend we had!! Here Oh what an absolutely lovely weekend we had!! Here are some highlights…

*Friday night I joined some wonderful ladies at church for a time of fellowship and yummy desserts. I made a strawberry lemon coffee cake and it was amazing if I do say so myself. ☺️ We are new-ish to this church and have just felt so warmly welcomed and folded in which has been very healing.

*Saturday was filled with getting our outdoor spaces spiffed up and my guys got our new table put together!

*Sitting outside for lunch with a yummy salad and iced tea felt like a little slice of heaven.

*Sunday we went to the iris gardens with my in-laws and then came home for naps and the most mouth watering ribs that my sweet husband had on the smoker all day.

*This glorious weekend ended with some ferocious rounds of UNO-corn (a hilarious version of UNO) and brownies my sweet daughter made for our dessert.

How was your weekend sweet friends? 🌸
I am absolutely and completely a better version of I am absolutely and completely a better version of myself when the sun is shining! Raise your hand if this is true for you too.

And, not only do I feel myself seeming to physically rise up from a slumbered state to greet the sunshine we've been longing for, I find that it seems like my house is rising up too. Every room, every nook and cranny (even though I now see dust bunnies that I missed during my cleaning on the dreary days), every leaf and flower outside...it's all coming to life and breathing fresh hope into my spirit. What a gift it is to be able to enjoy this home in all of the seasons of the year and of our lives. Now, I'm going to head outside and clean our deck and maybe there will be some time leftover for those dust bunnies!
I’m slightly obsessed with these glass dispenser I’m slightly obsessed with these glass dispensers! They come with pre-made labels for SO many different options and would make a great Mother’s Day gift! I love how they add a bit of pizzazz to my kitchen. And they go perfectly with some of my antique accessories like the little dish my mother in law gave me for salt and pepper and the tiny toothpick holder which belonged to my great grandmother. 

If you’d like the link to order them, just leave a comment with the word ‘bottles’ and I’ll send it your way. They’re even on sale right now! 🙌🏻
Load More... Follow
Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2023 At The Picket Fence