petite soiree

hosted a petite soiree chez maxey on saturday night to celebrate the fa la la with some of my fab work pals. lots o’ laughs, lots o’ wine, lots o’ fun. was so grateful for an evening of holiday cheer with (per mr maxey’s request) absolutely no work chatter. BLISS. we talked of travel and christmas plans and everything and nothing and it was perfect.

and perfectly needed, as i am lately feeling a bit unsettled. there’s a million reasons and absolutely no reasons why this is, but there you have it. we’re staying in europe for our second christmas in a row, and i’m suddenly obsessed with feeling like i need to make sure the chicklets aren’t missing out and missing home. so i’ve been shopping and picking up just ONE more little thing (which turns into 2 … then 3) and trying to fill this oregon-shaped-hole with sticker books and stuffed animals (yes, really) and barbies (YEP. WE DO.) and … and … and. and today it suddenly struck me that it’s not THEM who are missing home. i mean really, bitty has virtually NO memory of christmas in the US (a fact that both reassures me and depresses me). the oregon-shaped-hole is in MOI. not sure why it took me so long to recognize this, but today it struck me right in the face, heart and mind. i’m missing those familiar faces on christmas morning and cousins playing together and my dad sitting in his big leather armchair and chocolate croissants from williams-sonoma. there’s actually a chocolate-croissant-shaped-hole in my heart, which is the irony of all ironies considering we’re going to be in FRANCE FOR CHRISTMAS. ** which will be amaze-balls and i’m so very grateful … more to come!

ANYWAY, all of that to say i’ve been a bit restless as of late, a bit uncomfortable in my own head and skin, which made a house filled with gorgeous friends and food and laughter feel like such a gift.

hope you’re feeling the peace and joy of the season. and if not, praying the holes in your heart are being filled with friends and new traditions and something beautiful … cheers.