Two: Make your home beautiful. Fill jars with flowers, open the windows and let the sunny air in, play your favourite tunes, make your bed, pop your holiday souvenirs around the house....
Three: Do something you love every day. Bake, crochet, dance, write, draw...
Four: Don't force yourself to settle back into old, busy routines too quickly. Have some quiet time in the afternoon, take a Nana nap, snuggle up with a book and a cuppa, challenge your kids to a board game, take a blanket outside and read a book on the grass...
Five: Be active. Go for a walk every day, dance around your lounge room, jump on the trampoline, go for a bike ride, skip rope...
Six: Keep it fun. Eat pancakes for dinner, read aloud to each other, give each other manicures, have a party...
Seven: Change things around a bit. Move the furniture. Change the focus of the room. Be brave.
Eight: Make new rules. No TV during the week, kids set and clear the table for meals, chores, family Friday fun nights (thanks for the idea Rapps xx)...
Nine: Eat well. Plan meals, buy lovely seasonal ingredients, pick from your garden, try new recipes, get everyone involved in the prep, set the table with your best and fanciest stuff, light candles, eat together.
Ten: Be a tourist where you live. Explore the local area, go for long walks, visit the shops/farm-gates/wineries/restaurants/lakes/attractions, go on a picnic, row the lake...
And if all else fails, fake it til you make it. Pretend you are enjoying yourself and then you probably will.
This list is by no means law. It's just what's working for me at the moment three days after coming home. I was a little worried about how I would feel when the holiday was over. I was worried we would come home and I would be sad. I can be quite emotional like that. But I haven't. In fact I'm having a lovely time at home. So I thought I'd share my list here. Partly to remind myself and partly because it might possibly be of use to you when you get back from your adventures.
Happy travels - happy homes - happy Hannukah - happy Christmas - happy weekend. xx
Very wise. I've found the same thing, especially with the airing out of the house and the decluttering.
ReplyDeleteHappy baking! Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas Kate. There's no place like home xxx
ReplyDeleteLife back at home sounds just as delicious as life on the road. So positive and inspiring, thank you! Happy Christmas to you and your family x
ReplyDeleteWise words Kate, all sounds like great advice. PS Miss Jazzy looks tired.
ReplyDeleteDefinately some major 'thinking' going on in this camp for the return to the homeland...
YOU sound so happy Miss Kate.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous time.
Merry Christmas you guys!XXX
PS Kate love love love no.6
ReplyDeleteGlad the homecoming is going smoothly. This list is actually great whether you're coming back from a trip or just in a bit of a rut at home. I find I suffer from the post holiday blues about 2 weeks after a return but I'm hoping the return to a new home will take the sting out of our trip coming to an end. Hope you have a very merry Christmas!!! Mel xx
ReplyDeleteIt's a good list. I love the idea of coming home but continuing to be a tourist. Do we get to see the painting? I get very excited ;) when I see that word. Cherrie
ReplyDeleteI love your list and such a positive way to look at life now you are home.
ReplyDeleteHave a fantastic Christmas, it will be the best you've ever had.
Anne xx
Very sensible tips Kate. I wish I had read these before we finished out trip. My suggestion is to take things easy and resist the helter skelter or daily life as long as you can.
ReplyDeleteI am loving the crochet rug and have just downloaded the pattern. thank you.
Hey, words to live by for any traveller returning home ... when it can all be a bit anticlimactic!! Luckily, I've always got another trip to look forward to!!
ReplyDeleteA great list- even though we haven't been away, there is a lot of sound advice to bring a little freshness into our lives.
ReplyDeleteWIshing you and yours all the best for a great Christmas and for
2012, Kate.
xx
Jolly good advice for a happy life in general. I think you really have your life improvement goggles on since you have come back all fresh from this adventure and we are all reaping the benefits. melx
ReplyDeleteI love this,list Kate...in fact we incorporate many of them in to our day to day lives already :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like you have it all under control.
Xx
Love your list Kate, but I want to know how to organize photos into iBooks
ReplyDeleteHappy Christmas to you and your lovely family!xxxxx
ReplyDeleteAll sounds pretty great, keep it up! Your trip has clearly been good for all of you *just a little bit envious* x
ReplyDeleteCLever girl---this is dead right! I'll have to print it out for next time...
ReplyDeletew
xx
Your funny, you'll be knackered with all that power your using and you'll need another holiday!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat to see you home safe and sound!!! May the force of the "de-cleanse" be with you!!! xx
Welcome Home. This list is fantastic. We haven't been away but I think it works for school holidays perfectly.
ReplyDeleteWe've had Fun Family Friday this year and it ranges from board games, movie, walk, dinner out, art. The kids love it and it is the most lovely way to end the week.
I'm off to read more of your blog having just found you in instagram I'm a but sad I've missed all. It the final days of your trip.
Carol x
beautiful advice to live by.
ReplyDeletethanks kate!
merry christmas to you and your loved ones!
xox
Wise and insightful as ever. Going to print them and put on the fridge as I think we are going to need them come January 10! So, so pleased (and relieved) you are in a good place and not feeling flat post homecoming. Thinking of you guys and wishing you happy holidays!!!! Love to everyone xoxoxoxo
ReplyDeletenice entry!
ReplyDeletemerry christmas to you!
Welcome home family! Pepper / Kescha play date soon for sure! Mika x
ReplyDeleteoh kate, you are a legend. i wish i had read this list 6 weeks ago when we arrived home. it will have to wait to be implemented next trip. yipee. love the quilt in the most recent post. happy christmas to all
ReplyDeleteSo glad you are back home safe ans sound and enjoying your return. I hope your trip was a life changer in a fabulous way!
ReplyDeleteA recipe for happiness in general I think, loving all the happy energy you're throwing at the world.
ReplyDeleteThis list is brilliant! Oh my gosh! I will have to print it all out or something because these are the kind of things that are important to me but somehow get sidelined by less important but more pushy things. I am glad these sorts of things have been written in a list! So simple!
ReplyDeleteI am going on Maternity leave in four months....I might have to use this lovely list of tips as a plan of attack for approaching more than two consecutive weeks at home for the first time since ..umm...years and years. Now just to remember the tips when the time comes.
ReplyDeleteSeems like you have a lovely motivation in your settling back in. Lovely.
i like to let folks know when i link to their blog...i linked to this post in my post about landing after being away. I 'found' your blog deep late into last night and i am so glad i did. thank you. x
ReplyDeleteSuch an interesting story to read and I enjoyed reading it as well. Keep up the good work. tekken
ReplyDeleteDo you folks have a fb fan web page? I looked for one on twitter however couldn't uncover one, I would really like to turn out to be a fan!
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