Summer is a time of year marked with unhurried moments and simple pleasures. It is when we all seem to slow down — whether intentionally or not — immersing ourselves in the small joys that only come with this season. The days go by at a leisurely pace as we sip tea brewed in the sunlight or doze off under the shade of a tree. The magical days of summer are fleeting, and before we know it, the days will get shorter and the air will turn chilly, and these warm, lazy will become a distant memory. The best way to savor summer is by slowing down and embracing the season and all the delights it brings. Here are 15 of our favorite activities for doing so:

1. Grab a tote bag and head to your local library. Check out as many books as your bag can hold. Find a quiet place where you can read, and make it a goal to go there as often as possible.
2. Purchase a beautiful glass pitcher from a thrift store, and use it to brew sun tea each day.
3. Turn off the TV at night and play games with your family instead.
4. Invite friends over for a classic BBQ, complete with all the traditional foods and snacks. Have everyone leave their phones in the house.
5. Create a playlist that consists of soft music, like jazz or folk, and play it while you putter around the house.
6. Do as much as you can outside.
7. Lay blankets on the grass and spend the evening looking up at the stars.
8. Load up the car with delicious snacks and head to a new-to-you town a few hours away. Try to find somewhere to stop for ice cream along the way.
9. Learn to play a new lawn game and have people over to play it.
10. Teach yourself to make ice cream the old-fashioned way.
11. Find a place where you can dip your toes in some water.
12. Spend the day at a local carnival or fair.
13. Go camping, either at a campground or in your own backyard. Don’t forget the s’mores!
14. Find a difficult jigsaw puzzle and set it up somewhere in your house. Pour some lemonade and make a little progress on it every evening.
15. Dust off your bike (or find a place where you can rent one), and spend the day exploring your city.

Explore more ways to savor summer in Bella Grace Issue 40.

The post 15 Ways to Savor Summer Slowly first appeared on Bella Grace Magazine.

I’ve never been one to make serious resolutions when a new year arrives and instead take two different approaches. I think of the things I will not be doing in the coming year (my “unresolutions”) and I think of what I want more of in my life. You know, those little things that when you do them, they bring you so much joy that you wonder why you don’t do them more often.

It was an uncharacteristically stormy, dark winter in Southern California — something I had never experienced in my lifetime of living here and one I just wanted to pass as quickly as possible. I had completely abandoned all those whimsical things I had vowed to add to my life in favor of just getting through what seemed like months of endless rain.

I missed the sunny days we seem to take for granted here as well as the ability to spend time outdoors whenever I wanted. I missed the delicate flowers that bloom every February in my neighbor’s yard that couldn’t survive the heavy downpours this winter. I missed weekly trips to the farmers market that’s a few blocks from my house, an event that was cancelled more often than not.

Many people think of spring as a time of rebirth, a time when we can put the dark, gloomy days of winter behind us and look forward to happier, brighter times. This year I decided to be one of these people and use the new season as a chance to start anew and recommit to adding more of the little things that bring me joy to my life.

This spring, I’m embracing joy and delight by …

1.  … moving any clothing with a bright color or cheerful pattern to the front of my closet.
2.  … wearing sundresses with my cute new pair of white sneakers, much like I did when I was a little girl.
3.  … eating all things lemon-flavored.
4.  … sprinkling wildflowers seeds in our flower box and seeing what grows.
5.  … opening up the windows as I start my day and closing them as I’m going to bed.
6.  … rearranging the backyard to set up a reading space to enjoy before summer comes and it’s too warm to sit out there.
7.  … writing notes to strangers inside books before putting them in the Little Free Libraries around my neighborhood.
8.  … meeting friends for a scoop of ice cream or a sundae.
9.  … playing soft music while I prepare meals filled with my favorite springtime produce.
10.  … keeping my fingernails painted in pastel shades.
11.  … taking walks through my neighborhood to watch as the yards fill with blooms.
12.  … buying flower bouquets from the grocery store and scattering them around my tiny house.
13.  … enjoying my meals outside whenever I can.
14.  … sitting on the porch and blowing bubbles for my dogs to chase.
15.  … adding my “fluffiest” novels to the front of my “to be read” shelf.

How will you be embracing joy and delight this spring?

Christen Hammons is the editor-in-chief of Bella Grace magazine. She lives in Orange County with her husband and their two rescue dogs.

The post 15 Ways to Embrace Joy & Delight This Spring first appeared on Bella Grace Magazine.

Embracing the art of letter writing is a wonderful way to add a romantic touch to your everyday life. The thought of sitting down with some beautiful stationery and penning a note to a loved one makes our hearts flutter a bit, as does the idea of going to our mailbox and finding a note addressed to us. If you’d like to bring back this charming art, April is the perfect time to start because it’s National Letter-Writing Month. Here are 30 letters to write in 30 days.

1. Someone you admire
2. An older relative
3. A teacher who had an impact on your life
4. Your favorite author
5. A friend you’ve lost touch with
6. Your mail carrier
7. Someone you’d like to get to know better
8. A friend you only communicate with through text or email
9. Your parents
10. A neighbor
11. Someone who is going through hard times
12. An online friend
13. Someone you are proud of
14. A person who needs some encouragement
15. Your child(ren)
16. Someone who is far from home
17. Your future self
18. Someone who you hurt in the past
19. A celebrity you admire
20. Your past self
21. A person with whom you share an inside joke
22. Your childhood best friend’s parents
23. A local business that’s been helpful
24. A coworker
25. Someone you miss
26. A stranger
27. Someone you’d like to meet
28. The person who gave you your happiest memory
29. Your significant other
30. A healthcare provider who helped you

Click here to view or download a printable version of this list!

This content was borrowed from Bella Grace Issue 35, which is available for purchase from our publisher’s website.

You might also enjoy: 10 Things to Write About in a Letter · Celebrating The Art of Letter Writing · How to Write a Love Letter to Yourself

The post 30 Letters to Write in 30 Days first appeared on Bella Grace Magazine.

I’ve said for years that the universe tosses you gifts daily, and that you just have to hold out your hands and catch them. Most of those gifts are overlooked moments; we get busy or tired and we just miss them. We expect them to be big and wrapped up in silver paper, with a red bow on top. I’m as guilty as everyone else. I get lazy and don’t want to peek into the shadows or even under my pillow, but that’s where they live. These gifts. The sweet nothings of the everyday.

A List of Sweet Nothings

1. The first day you spy cherries at the grocery store
2. Full moons
3. Crescent moons
4. All of the moons in between, even the ones on stormy nights hiding behind nighttime clouds
5. Heart shaped leaves
6. Newly painted walls
7. White linens
8. Lazy pink tulips
9. The flight of owls through the darkness
10. Crows on fence posts
11. Early morning robins.
12. Dark chocolate
13. Well done steaks
14. Back porches
15. Candlelight
16. Friendships with no need for conversation.
17. Campfires
18. Starlight
19. Cowboy boots
20. Movies watched for the hundredth time
21. Stripes
22. Polka dots
23. Pale blue cotton
24. Cello music
25. The sound of sleet against the windows
26. Fallen flower petals
27. Granny smith apples
28. Auld Lang Syne

A Journal Prompt for You:

Life isn’t comprised of big moments. Instead, it is filled with these sweet nothings that could so easily slip by without notice. It’s important to keep your eyes and heart open to these bits of magic that are tucked away in every corner. To get into the habit of taking time to notice these things, grab a pencil, or that cherished blue ball-point pen, and visit the following places, recording what you find that sends your heart aflutter (1) on your front porch (2) on a bench near the local playground (3) on a walk through your neighborhood and (4) your bedroom, tucked into the softest of linens.

For more inspiring journal prompts, take a peek at our sister publication, Field Guide to Everyday Magic filled entirely with the worksheet-style prompts, captivating photographs, and inspirational quotes that Bella Grace magazine has come to be known for.

The post Sweet Nothings first appeared on Bella Grace Magazine.

There are some songs that seem to embody the lightness that comes with summer. You hear just a few notes and you immediately feel freer and happier; you simply have to sing or hum along. Instantly the music transports you to road trips, backyard barbecues, naps in the shade, bonfires, and late nights under the stars. In Bella Grace Issue 28, our readers share songs that give them all these summer vibes. Whether you are taking a road trip or simply traveling around town, we’ve created The Ultimate Summer Playlist (on Spotify), so you can listen along with our readers’ favorites all season long.

Follow Bella Grace on Spotify | Listen to The Ultimate Summer Playlist

What are songs are on your personal summer playlist? Share your favorites with us in the comments below!

The post The Ultimate Summer Playlist first appeared on Bella Grace Magazine.

Google “how to be happy,” and you’ll be met with 226,000,000 results as proof of our collective search for bliss.

However, even with that much information at hand, there’s never a quick, one-size-fits-all answer. I’ve found that my journey towards greater satisfaction in life is a slower, more organic process of growth and change.

Change, however, doesn’t always have to be epic. Even the tiniest positive changes have rippled through my life and made a difference. And while it’s not always possible to be happy, I’ve realized I can always make an effort to see the bright side of things. That minor change in perspective has helped lighten up not just my life, but the lives of those around me too.

Here are 15 tiny things I do to add more positivity to my life. I hope they help you find more positivity in yours too.

Keep a Happiness To-Do List

I make plenty of to-do lists for my errands, but every so often I also take the time to write a list to remind me to do things that make me happy. The things that make me smile are definitely just as essential as the tasks that keep life going logistically. Plus when I’m feeling replenished and joyful, I have more energy to tackle the more difficult tasks.

Give Yourself a Smile

Can a fake smile lift your mood? I’ve read that researchers found the answer — by using pencils. By asking subjects to hold a pencil in either their teeth or their lips, scientists got each group to unknowingly smile or frown. The smiling group rated the same newspaper comics as being funnier than their frowning group counterparts did. So perhaps what’s happening on your face really does affect how you feel. When I need a boost, I try to smile even if I’m not feeling great. Oftentimes, it reminds me that there’s always something worth smiling about.

Is It Kind?

I find that speaking positively is easier when I put my words through this test, which has been found quoted in the work of many wise poets and teachers. Before anything I say leaves my lips, it must be able to pass through three gates: 1) Is it true? 2) Is it necessary? 3) Is it kind?

Give Compliments Freely

Whether it’s a chic pair of shoes, a job well done, or a lovely smile, if I notice something about someone else that makes me happy, I always make a point to say so out loud.

Meditate for Three Minutes

Meditation is an excellent way to press pause on the outside world and reconnect with yourself. Taking even just three minutes to do so allows me to enjoy the positive benefits without disrupting my schedule, no matter what I’m doing. I don’t think you need to be an expert meditator to do so, either. Even when I can’t seem to tame my thoughts, simply sitting quietly and taking some calm, gentle breaths helps me recharge.

Offer Kind Words to My Reflection

Most of us are in front of a mirror at some point during the day, whether it’s when we’re getting ready in the morning, or washing up at night. When I’m face to face with my reflection, it’s easy for me to see my own self-proclaimed flaws. However, I make a point to stop and notice at least one thing I like about myself, whether it’s physical or internal. Even though it sometimes feels awkward or embarrassing, I try to voice my compliment to myself out loud. I think kind words mean the most when they come from ourselves.

Take Note of Three Things I’m Grateful for Each Day

Even on the most discouraging days, I can always find something to be grateful for. Bringing those things to the forefront of my mind helps give them greater emphasis in my life. I either jot them down in my journal or simply think them to myself before I go to bed.

Keep a Positivity Vision Board

Vision boards are a tried and true way to capture inspiration, and a great way to showcase your personal idea of positivity. I keep a Pinterest board of images and quotes that make me feel good, so I can delight my eyes as needed.

Find Sunshine in Unexpected Places

To me, the feeling of sunshine on my skin is one of life’s most uplifting pleasures, but especially in the colder seasons, I don’t see the sun as much as I’d like. A friend once taught me that sunshine is still there even when you can’t see it, and I’ve never forgotten her words. Visualizing the sunlight that helped grow the food I eat, the paper I write on, or the plants outside my window that are dormant but still very much alive reminds me that even when I can’t see the sun, it’s still there in spirit supporting me.

Wear My Favorite Color

As much as possible, I try to wear my favorite color, which tends to change from season to season. Even if it’s only in a small way, like a scarf or a ring, it helps keep me feeling bright. Also, when I do so, I try not to give thought to trends. A favorite is a favorite. I give myself permission to wear bright yellow from head to toe if it makes me happy.

Watch My Posture

I’m usually not aware of my own posture. Throughout the course of a busy day, I tend not to notice as I gradually sink into a slouchier state as the day goes on. However, making an effort to be conscious of my posture has helped me notice when I need to stretch or take a walk, which gives my body a needed break and keeps me from accumulating aches and pains that can make me feel grumpy.

Set Intentions

Grocery shopping is usually an errand that I’d gladly eschew. My heart always sinks a little bit when I realize it has to get done.  But even the most mundane task can have a positive spin when you take a moment to put an intention behind it. My intention when I grocery shop is to fill my kitchen with nourishing food that will help everyone in my household stay energized and cared for. With that in mind, my shopping trip is no longer a chore, but a wonderful gift to give.

Revisit Photographs from Great Times in My Life

Whether I have a real photo album handy or just the camera roll on my phone, I sometimes like to pull up pictures from my favorite weekend adventures, dinner parties, or family gatherings. When I look at a photo from a time I was having a blast, I usually find myself reliving the joy as I treasure the memory.

Send a Positive Text

In the same amount of time it takes to open Instagram or Twitter, I can send a quick “thinking of you” text to a family member or a friend, and spread love. You never know when someone might be needing some.

Carry a Symbol of Positivity With Me

An old copy of The Little Prince, a smooth stone from a camping trip at the beach, a tiny bottle of lavender essential oil — these are all things that I’ve been known to carry daily in my purse or my pocket. Even if I don’t have time during the day to take them out or use them, knowing they’re there makes me feel good.

What do you like to do when you’re craving positivity? Leave us a comment and let us know.

The post 15 Tiny Ways I Add Positivity to My Life first appeared on Bella Grace Magazine.

When you look in the mirror, what do you see?

Here at Bella Grace, we believe there is beauty in imperfection.

We hope you’ll join us in celebrating what makes you you – just as you are.

Today, we’ve collected three snippets from Bella Grace articles that focus on the importance of loving who you are and embracing the unique qualities that make you unlike anyone else.

In “Embracing Imperfection” from Bella Grace Issue 6, Joy Jordan talks about how cherishing her flaws taught her to stay humble and real.

“The more I accept my own imperfections, the more I make space for others to do the same. Just like judgment feeds judgment, acceptance feeds acceptance.” — Joy Jordan

Learning to love who you are replaces negative thoughts with a beautiful confidence. You’re embracing every part of you. It’s a powerful confidence that acts as a shield against the possibility of people’s words affecting your self-esteem.

“I believe bed day to be the ultimate form of self-preservation … You deserve it. And your soul will thank you. Deeply.” — Kimberly Wilson

From soft linens to twinkle lights, Kimberly Wilson gives helpful advice on how to make a day of preservation. A day to reflect on your life and just simply, be. A day wrapped up in your own thoughts and silence.

Read the full article, “20 Step Recipe for Self-Love: A Bed Day” in Issue 8 and discover a list of things you can use to create a day of self-reflection. You may find it to be the perfect time to journal and discover why your imperfect qualities are in fact beautiful.

“I love my freckles. Although some describe them as unattractive blemishes that should be removed with their special skin cream, I define my freckles as memories of places I’ve been; things I’ve done; and the people I’ve had the privilege to meet along the way. Life is hard, and everyone carries life’s mark on them differently. My mark is my freckles.” — Jocelyn Wright

You can find the complete list, as shared by our readers, in “51 Things We Love About Ourselves” in Issue 11.

We hope that this provides a bit of encouragement and reassurance for embracing your brilliant, beautiful selves – quirks and all.

Bella Grace would not be able to share women’s stories without the support of our kindreds, readers just like you. If you know anyone who might benefit from a positive start to their week, sharing this post would be the highest compliment to us.

Help Inspire Our Community

What imperfections have you learned to embrace?

The post Embracing Who We Are, Where We Are first appeared on Bella Grace Magazine.

Certain sights send my heart soaring, but they’re not ones you’d expect.

I like clutter. I’m not talking the “I should be on an episode of Hoarders” clutter, but the kind that is proof of a life being lived. Whenever I look around a home – whether it is mine or a dear friend’s – these messes always call out to me and fill me with warmth and joy.

• A sofa overloaded with throw pillows and blankets

• A cupboard filled with mugs and glasses that don’t match at all

• An unmade bed

• A nightstand piled high with books

• A few pairs of shoes scattered near the door

• A coat rack stuffed with jackets and scarves

• The remains of a dinner party after the last guest left

• Board games shoved into a cabinet any way they’ll fit

• Baskets overflowing with children’s toys

• Flour scattered around the kitchen after a day of baking

What are some sights most people would see as clutter that send you over the moon? I’d love to hear them!

Discover more imperfections worth embracing in Issue 7 of Bella Grace where our readers share 58 Beautiful Messes We Secretly Love.

The post 10 Messes I Not-so-Secretly Love first appeared on Bella Grace Magazine.

Whenever I find that I cannot understand the world as I feel I ought to – or whenever I find that I do … but wish that I didn’t, I decide that I want to escape, and always return to the same place.

Italian philosopher Umberto Eco once said, “To survive, you must tell stories.” I believe him, because every time life chooses to become overbearing, as life inordinately does, I return to the story of Neverland, and I let it nourish my soul as only a dose of agelessness and fairy dust can.

I’m not able to rightly distinguish the first time I realized the power of Peter Pan in my life, but I’m willing to believe it was somewhere in my adolescence … about the same time I realized I would not be young forever. Most children can’t wait to grow up, but I remember, even when I was very little, thinking to myself how I wished I could stay small, and that time was passing entirely too quickly for my liking. From then on, I knew Neverland was the answer.

J.M. Barrie, in his genius, recognized our need to be free … to exist (even for a short while) in a place where time stands still, and the currency of “happy thoughts” is all it costs to fly. Life tends to be slightly more complicated. We grow up and give up – we overwhelm ourselves with important tasks that force us to adopt all the adult behaviors we swore we’d never succumb to. In his novel, Barrie writes, “The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease forever to be able to do it.” When did you stop flying? When did I? I find it hard to believe that I would give myself permission to do so, and yet here I am … so grounded. A servant to my schedule, I find that play and pretend often seem so very far away, until I not only forget to fly, but to breathe as well.

Still … Neverland remains, waiting patiently with its pirates, mermaids, and fairies, all on the edge of my imagination, bookmarking itself for my eventual return. When I do find my way back, I dance in the forest with the lost boys, our bare feet matching the rhythm of tribal drums. I play hide-and-seek with the shadows cast by Tinkerbell’s luminescent flutter. In Neverland, I am the heroine of my own story, brandishing bravery and wielding my wild heart to the seasons that shift with Peter’s ever-changing moods.

In Neverland … I am free.

But just like Wendy, something always calls me back, and I must leave behind childhood once more – my solace the same as hers … that the memory of Neverland is enough to sustain me, and I only need to decide I want to be there, to return.

Jodi Lynn Anderson, author of Tiger Lily, brought light to this truth of mine, stating, “I like to think that one day after I die, at least one small particle of me … will float all the way up to Neverland … I like to think that nothing’s final … that you and I are always young in the woods, and that I’ll see you sometime again, even if it’s not with any kind of eyes I know of or understand.” And so when I miss someone – when I miss myself, it is to Neverland that I go, willingly stepping into childish reverie, into a place where forgetting all but the moment is the way of life.

To live with Neverland, to nourish our souls with glimpses of the second star, or first love, fairy dust, and waking dreams … that is to live life to the fullest extent of our imaginations.

12 Ways to Get Back to Neverland

* Wait for a clear night … the kind where fading twilight deepens to an inky curtain littered with stars. Look for the second to the right star, and wish on it with every childhood dream your memory carries.

* Read the original novel, Peter Pan, or look up quotes from J.M. Barrie and revel in the depth of his magic. Soak into quotes like, “You know that place between sleep and awake, that place where you can still remember dreaming? That’s where I will always love you; that’s where I will be waiting.” Rediscover the child who never grows up.

* Just as Peter’s emotions bring on different seasons, allow your own fancy to determine the season you wish it to be. Dress for spring in the winter, or honor your perpetual summer heart by banishing anything dark in your wardrobe.

* Find a quiet nook in your yard and create a fairy garden. Furnish it with delicate decor, garnish the space with all things tiny and inviting.

* Refuse to change the battery of a watch that has stopped ticking. Wear it with pride, spitefully allowing this small symbol to prove to the world that time doesn’t own you.

* Sprinkle a bit of “fairy dust” into your makeup regimen. Brighten your eyelids with a shimmer and twinkle befitting Tinkerbell herself.

* Settle into movie marathons mode and watch a series of Neverland inspired films. Immerse yourself in a world where pirates, mermaids, fairies, and lost boys become your very reality.

* Buy yourself a bouquet of Tiger Lilies. Let yourself get lost in their orange brilliance, and remember that wild is beautiful.

* On a bad day, when you’re feeling just a little wicked, imagine you’ve joined Hook’s crew on the Jolly Roger. Draft a list of potential pirate names that suit you.

* As J.M. Barrie once said, “Fairies have to be one thing or the other, because being so small they unfortunately have room for one feeling only at a time.” Think about your feelings one at a time. Let yourself feel in entirety – abandon logic and embrace emotion as a fairy … feel something fully, just this once.

* Find a place where time cannot find you. Close your eyes and take yourself to Neverland. Visualize who you are in the story … where you fit in. Are you a fairy? A lost boy? A native? A villain? Pan himself? Wendy? Where does your tale begin? Consent to a waking-dream.

* Peter once said, “To live will be an awfully big adventure.” Meditate on what really living means to you. Ask yourself whether or not you have been living the life of adventure you were meant to have. If so … keep chasing Neverland … if not, run until you remember how to fly.

Elle Harris is a believer of impossible things. She is a lover of words, wonder, and the whimsical delights of everyday living. Caught in the creative place between reality and imagination is her favorite place to be. Please join Elle in pursuing life with intention, and grand conversation on her blog thisquotablelife.wordpress.com. Find Elle on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @ElleHarris82.

How do you nourish your soul with “a dose of agelessness and fairy dust?” Share with us in the comments.

The post Letting Neverland Nourish Your Soul first appeared on Bella Grace Magazine.

“When we focus on our gratitude, the tide of disappointment goes out and the tide of love rushes in.”
– Kristin Armstrong

My family has a Thanksgiving tradition where we go around the table and everyone says the one thing they are most grateful for this year. It’s a time of reflection for us all and usually sparks up a heartfelt conversation that brings us closer together.

As I was thinking over the one thing I would share this year, I realized this was next to impossible. There are countless things I am thankful for and each one, big or small, deserves acknowledgement.

With inspiration from Madelyn Mulvaney’s article in Issue 1 of Bella Grace, “The Art of the Gratitude List“, I decided to take a moment to make my own gratitude list … a thank you to all that fills my heart.

1. The amazing people in my life: my fiancé, family, friends. They push me to be the best version of myself and are a constant support system.

2. My golden retriever, Hudson. With his constant wagging tail and his generous nature of giving kisses, he has taught me so much about selfless love.

3. Relaxing nights filled with deep conversations

4. The sound of the ocean

5. Artisan cheeses

6. Overcoming obstacles

7. Cuddle weather

8. Surprises

9. Traveling to new places

10. Poetry

11. Candles, candles, and more candles … especially rustic scents such as sandalwood and pine

12. The lessons I’ve learned from my past

13. Stargazing

14. The smell of rain

15. Meeting new people

16. My free spirit

17. Succulents

18. Camping (Especially if it involves s’mores!)

19. Open-mindedness

20. Laughing so much I can hardly breathe

21. Wine tasting

22. Music that moves me … physically and emotionally

23. Hugs

24. Dinner parties

25. The color blue

26. City lights at night

27. Dirty chai lattes

28. Personal growth

29. Spontaneous adventures

30. The crackling of a fireplace

31. Desert sunsets

32. The smell of lilies

33. The challenges life throws at us

34. Discovering a new novel worth treasuring

35. The endless possibilities of what tomorrow will bring

This year, when my family goes around the table and shares what we are thankful for, my answer will be my full heart. I am beyond grateful to be surrounded by the beautiful things life has to offer, especially those I love and who love me in return. If life has taught me anything thus far, it is to not take anything for granted.

And to always let love in.

What are you grateful for? Let us know in the comments.

The post Thank You for My Full Heart first appeared on Bella Grace Magazine.