Hi Reader,

It's Sharon from Simply Home, back with a new edition of the Simple Things Digest.

Today, we're talking red balls, blue walls, and shiny things...wait, that didn't come out right. Keep reading. You'll see what I mean.

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Life Things

I didn't realize just how inactive I was until I wasn't.

Since I stopped taking the statin I was on, my legs have come back to life. I can easily go up and down the stairs. I'm more active around the house---tending to neglected chores, tackling projects and cooking more often, all without my calves, quads, and Achilles getting so stove up.

Besides stopping the medication, I went to a holistic health practitioner who does muscle testing. That's something I've been interested in trying for years. (Our bodies are so miraculous, they hold a wealth of information.) I'm so glad I finally went!

She, or maybe I should say my body, gave me a protocol of supplements, diet, grounding, and other modalities to follow for the next several weeks. Just two weeks in, and I'm already feeling more alive, more energetic.

As my body comes back to life, the more I seem to be living in the truth of who I am. And it has showed up in the most unlikely of ways.

"I want to add more red to my tree this year," I told my sister.

"Okay she said as she reached for the deep, red ball ornaments.

We strategically hung them in a garland-like pattern around the tree.

Next we added my stash of blue ornaments, then the green ones, followed by the sentimental ones; a collection of Old World ornaments from our Aunt Becky, my now grown daughter's red paintbrush Rudolph with one missing googly eye, her picture frame ornament with the photo taken right after she'd chopped off her own bangs, among other sentimental treasures.

Strands of gold bead garland effortlessly dripping from the branch tips finished off the tree. When I stood back to take a final look, all I could see was red balls glaring back at me.

"I can't do the red," I texted my sister later that night.

To say red aggravates me is an understatement. Looking at it on my tree caused a disturbance in my soul. I'd thought if I went with a deep, almost burgundy, I could enjoy it. But the ornaments looked too bright under the tree lights.

I told her I was going to try gathering anything red into clusters, hoping it wouldn't be as distracting if it weren't spread out all over the tree.

I lived with the new arrangement for a day or two before taking every single red ball off the tree and placing them back in their original packaging. I returned them to At Home the next day.

As for the other red ornaments I have, I nestled them deeper into the tree for a little peak of red, which works really well for me.

There were also the new clothes I had tailored to fit (the ones I had to buy because last year's jeans are too small), and the extra layers in my haircut, added for a more flattering style.

And, after wanting to host a holiday open house for my culdesac since moving here three years ago, I decided to just do it. It's happening next Thursday.

I'm not really sure which came first, the health changes or stepping more into alignment with who I'm meant to be. It doesn't really matter because, as I often say, our physical world is a mirror to our spiritual one, and vice versa.

Speaking of mirrors, I started a Substack for my writing. It's where I'll share reflections, life lessons, personal growth, and essays. It's called The Mirror.

I was sitting in a coffee shop, about to work on the introductory article for The Mirror, when the owner of the shop said, "You look great."

"Thank you. I've been in a rut lately. Sometimes you just have to make a change."

"I'm just saying what I see. You're shining," he responded.

And that, shining my light, is what it's all about.

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Home Things

As I mentioned, I've been in project mode.

I reorganized my gift wrapping station. (You'll get to see that soon.) That led to reorganizing my indoor tools, then my household cleaners, relocating all our photos that need to be organized, switching furniture around in two upstairs bedrooms (again), and playing around with mood boards for my powder room.

Every year at this time I say how much I'd love, love, love, to redo the powder room before Christmas. For the past three years, it hasn't happened.

This livelier me isn't willing to let another year pass without doing anything. So I decided to get some momentum going by playing around with my design ideas.

As a reminder, here are a couple of before photos.

I mentioned this before, but while I appreciate the artistry of the faux finished walls, and they were even my style at one time, it's just not me.

I'd also like to replace the vanity light, cabinet hardware, sink and faucet.

My dream powder room has one of those arched backsplashes and either a wall mounted faucet or a gooseneck faucet. I'd also love two sconces, one on each side of the mirror.

And of course, powder rooms are the perfect spot for wallpaper.

One of my favorite color palettes is black and white with a mid-tone blue

But, my dream makeover is outside of my current budget. The wallpaper alone is between $500 and $600, not to mention the labor of having it installed.

If I went with paint, I'd leave the texture on the walls for movement and interest, painting over it in Smokey Blue by Sherwin Williams.

Going from an over-the-mirror vanity light to two sconces would require knocking holes in the wall and patching and repairing drywall. That means two different contractors which would add to the cost of the makeover.

If I stick with a single light fixture, I'd want a larger one than I have. In that case, I'd prefer a bigger mirror. Thankfully, I have a round black mirror I could use.

The question is...should I try to DIY this before my holiday open house next week???

Trade the holiday hustle for simplicity and ease with my Simply Christmas planner.

Quick Things

A timely reminder to invest in your energy, rather than manage your time. There's a big difference!

Dreading all the holiday parties? Mel's perspective will help you feel less guilty about it.

​This taco soup makes the perfect weeknight meal. (Just scroll down until you see the recipe.)

Get realistic looking garland at a great price! (This is not the viral Norfolk pine garland.)

Loving the look of these inexpensive wreaths! (I have them hanging in my breakfast room windows.)

Nothing to wear for the holidays? Just try this simple outfit formula. You can dress it up or down, depending on the occasion.
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Thank you for joining me today. It's my pleasure to walk alongside you in your 'simply home' journey.

Wishing you simplicity and ease,