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Viewpoints: Observations Looking In The 2023 Rearview Mirror & Looking Ahead: 2024 Perspectives For Home & Garden Style

 New Year, New Perspective - Articulate Persuasion

Around this time of year, I like to take stock of the world around me ~ those things that in the past year, I dealt with, confronted and, looking ahead, embrace.  

This isn’t a list of resolutions or “What’s In/What’s Out,” nor is it a “peeve poll”~ it’s more a reflection on those cultural touchstones in my areas of expertise I’ve observed that I hope are fading in the rearview mirror and those that I hope we can all embrace in this monumental year ahead. Some are just fun.

I hope you enjoy perusing my list of what to “Let Go Of” and what I predict we’ll “Welcome:”



Perspective Stock Photos, Images and Backgrounds for Free Download

Focusing in on my lines of work and spheres of interest: Gardens, Cocktails, Entertaining at Home, Tablescapes, social justice, the Arts, Books, Design and Style, I offer the following curated Perspectives for what’s out, or Letting Go of what’s so last year, and looking ahead to Welcome a fresh, new beginning and predictions for the year ahead in 2024:

Let Go Of Welcome

~Fear +Courage ~ Be Fearless not Foolish

~Book & Movie blurbs that don’t tell you what the story is about! Just quotes from, ahem, Influencers                     

+Succinct Story/Plot Overview (need to know if I’ll like it!)    

~Same for Artist Statements  

Buried (2010) Original One-Sheet Movie Poster - Original Film Art - Vintage  Movie Posters
Look too familiar?!

~Missed Dining Experiences

+Entertaining at Home with Elegance & Hospitality for not just dinner: Think Desserts; Breakfast; Tea Time   

                   

~Dining in Front of TV or while working or…

+Set your Table with Style ~ Repurposing things you have as Tablescape Accessories 

~Too-precious Cocktails

+Cocktails with Prohibition Era Panache

~Too-Boozy Cocktails      

+Cocktails with Taste using NA, Low, No-Proof ABV & Fresh Ingredients

Hardie Grant Low- and No-alcohol Cocktails: 60 Delicious Drink Recipes for  Any Time of Day - Linden Tree Books, Los Altos, CA

~High Tech/High Concept Drinks 

+Sustainable Spirits; Savory, Spicy, Coffee, Tea, Chocolate-based Drinks

~High Cost of Going Out

+Affordable Happy Hours/At-Home Happy Hour

~Boring Garnish

+Art of the Garnish! Fresh Garden-To-Glass 

   

~80’s Style Wine Bar

+Wine Bars Comeback!; plus Charcuterie Boards  

Create a Charcuterie and Wine Pairing Like a Pro | Sequoia Grove Winery

The Best Reviewed Fiction of 2023 Book Marks

~Book Banning

+Embrace & Respect Others’ Stories

+Using Your Public Libraries

+Reading, Listening to Books; Lectures & more 

Libraries and e-books: Where is our Spotify for books?

~Soaps So Big I can’t hold the bar          

+Right-sized & Flower Petal Soaps

Big Ass Beer Soap: Over half a pound of soap made with real beer.                                   Amazon.com : Scented Soap Petals (Wild Flowers) : Beauty & Personal Care

~Fussy Gardens/Especially Thirsty Ones      +Regenerative Gardening & Using Natives

Investing in Regenerative Edible Landscapes: A Smart Move for Property  Owners - Food Forest Abundance

+Gardening for All Seasons   

   

~Mythologizing Deer

+Deer population management for many reasons, but just look at these conifers.

Stop Deer from Eating Your Plants - Russell Lawn & Landscaping

~Bad Plant Parenting      

+Learn Plant Love! Mix faux with live plant design 

Top 10 Plants That Make You Happy - Salisbury Greenhouse - Blog

~Throwaway Consumer Culture

+Artisanal & Sustainable Everything 

How to style your home more sustainably, according to experts

~Super Expensive “Senior Living”         

+Aging in Place with Great Design & Technology 

~Large Brand Logos & “Throwaways”

+Animal Prints, Bows, Bold Belts, Florals, Clip Earrings & Clutches, Classic Designs

Animal Prints and Accessories to Wear All Year  23 Stylish Ways to Wear the Bow Trend - Creative Fashion

At Auction: 100s of Jewels From Classic Films | The Adventurine

~Non-Apologies as in, “I’m sorry YOU feel badly”   (Well, I wouldn’t if you hadn’t...)

+Succinct mea culpa & get on with it

~Lack of Appreciation +Sincere Gratitude 

~Blaming Government or Politicians for everything you don’t like/have been influenced to diminish              

+Volunteering and honoring public service & public servants    

“Ask Not What Your Country Can Do for You; Ask What You can Do for Your Country.” 

If that doesn’t motivate you yet again, you can research how volunteering helps “improve our mood and feel less stressed. Volunteering increases motivation and provides a sense of accomplishment.”

   What Is a Public Service Job? -A Detailed Guide - UniCreds      Public services without government? | Institute for Government

~Selfishness +Altruism 

~Using social media to hide behind to tear up ideas & other people; spreading false rumors, hopefully, at least, unwittingly…

+Putting etiquette into your social platforms; respect others and their ideas. Civility is elegant manifestation.

Etiquette and Mannerism:Social Media Etiquette | SevenMentor

~Buying too much Stuff!

+Purging & Editing home & office space

11,700+ Closet Organization Stock Photos, Pictures & Royalty-Free Images -  iStock | Womens closet organization, Linen closet organization, Closet  organization system

~Milk in Plastic from distant dairies

+Local, Glass-Bottled Milk (& eggs, yogurt) Delivery  We Love our new-found, home delivery service 👍

In Maine, the milkman returns

* Getting an email or text survey the nanosecond you complete an interaction with a company or service.

For doing their job! 
Don’t respond. Let them do their own employee evaluations. 

~Another surefire Welcome is to Subscribe & Follow me on Instagram 🤩 GardenGlamourbyDuchessDesigns

My videocast of inspiring women: Ladies Who Lunch Conversations 

And my YouTube 

Thank you for your support and allowing me to grow and to provide the content for you.

What are your personal Viewpoints and Perspectives?

Wishing you and your loved ones a year of good health, peace, love. I hope you will welcome your heart and mind to adventure and good experiences and give gratitude for all your blessings.  

Welcome style and elegance. 

Be inspired.  

Be Glamorous! 

Thank you.  


2 Comments

  • Anonymous

    It would be a better world if we all studied and followed these suggestions. Thanks Leeann. Have a good year 2024.

  • Garden Glamour

    Bless you and Thank you for taking my suggestions to heart. If we all could modify our behavior and/habits to change what we can and to commiserate ~ and perhaps influence 🙏 what we alone cannot. But together, it’s possible. And still others, we manifest acceptance with grace. And for all, deep gratitude. Cheers to the hope of 2024.

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"Love of beauty is taste. The creation of beauty is art."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

 I adore plants. Plants are my muse ~ they are my paramour… I’m a garden artist; a nature lover, & horticulturist. I’m an author & writer. My passion for culture & beauty, along with my trait curiosity, brings you an authentic celebration of life. I’m a storyteller ~ weaving the artful gifts of horticulture, garden design, tablescape decor, floral design, cocktail culture, garden-to-glass recipes & their glamorous garnishes, homegrown edibles, food & drink; & cooking, to bring you my flair & what I’ve been told is an avid elan ~ as well as the stories from those who inspire me ~ to pursue an elegant, enduring, & joyful, entertaining lifestyle. It’s an honor & a privilege to do what you love.

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