February 2020

I host a "Joy Luncheon once a month in my home. These are catered by my daughter, Karen, whose business is Simply Done Catering & Events. 

At these the guests tour my circa 1890 cottage and then sit at my table to enjoy a delicious meal, good conversation, and a relaxing atmosphere. After lunch we all gather in the sunroom, and I talk briefly about subjects regarding joyful living, creating a life of joy, and finding joy no matter what is going on in your life. 

The above picture is of one of Karen's scrumptious desserts; fresh strawberry cake!  Guest always love her incredible desserts.  

I love these special times with my readers and having them in my home for a Day of Joy!  It blesses me and I hope it blesses all who come.  For information about the Joy Luncheons you may contact me at sandramansfieldwright@gmail.com.  

The luncheons have a minimum of ten guests and a maximum of sixteen.  For groups of more than sixteen-  up to fifty guests- we offer a Day of Joy event held at Karen's historic venue in Collierville, TN at 111 Walnut Street (Simply Done Catering & Events).  You may go to Karen's website at greatfoodsimplydone.com to see more about her venue and services. 

Also some have asked about me speaking at women's groups, churches, etc.  I am available for these events and love to speak to groups about 'Creating a Life of Joy' and other subjects relevant to today's busy women.  

Hope to see some of you in the year 2020!  Keep a smile on your face and be kind to yourself and others as you go through the days ahead. 

Here are some ideas to hopefully help us beat the winter blues or blahs:

 Let the sun shine in!  Open those blinds  or curtains and let your home be filled with sunshine.

Put lemon and peppermint essential oil in a diffuser to create an uplifting scent in the air. (mood elevator)

Lights on - keep. your house bright and happy even when the sun isn't shining.

Listen to upbeat, cheery music. Dance along. Sing out loud.

Exercise - 20 minutes of vigorous exercise will help lift our mood.

Go outside and breathe deeply. Fresh air and vitamin D from the sun will lift our spirits.

Help others. Get outside of ourselves and do something good and kind for another. Volunteer. 

Sip a cup of hot chocolate or hot tea to calm and refresh ourselves.

Plan a vacation. Make plans, have goals to work towards.

Read uplifting, encouraging books or watch movies which inspire and motivate.

For me keeping fresh flowers in the house helps. Fill your home with fresh, beautiful flowers (like the above picture).  These remind me Spring is coming - hang on!

Keep a stack of pretty note cards on your desk and some postage stamps so that when someone comes to your mind, you can quickly write them a note. Notes of love and encouragement help others to smile. Make a goal of writing at least one encouraging and loving note per week.

Train your mind to think "up" thoughts first thing in your day. When you  wake think of something good, positive, which causes you to smile.

Here are some ideas for Valentine gifts for loved ones, friends, family, anyone you know and care about:

"The smile is the beginning of love."

-Mother Teresa

Let us commit to speak only kind and loving words for the month of February to those we love and care about (well this is good to do with anyone). Do not say anything negative, hurtful, complaining, mad or discouraging (even to yourself). 

A beautiful gift to give is to make a sheet chocolate cake. Cut it into heart shapes using a cookie cutter. Then drizzle melted chocolate glaze over the heart shapes.  People love this!!!

Dip fresh strawberries into melted chocolate (can be dark or milk chocolate or white chocolate). Let the chocolate dry and then present these in a beautiful little box.

Some scriptures for us to remember through the month of love:

1 Corthinthians 13:13

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

1 John 4: 7 - 8

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love."

Psalm 36: 7

"How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings."

Romans 8: 38 - 39 (NIV)

"Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."