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

 

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:"

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  

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

~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  

~Book Banning

+Embrace & Respect Others’ Stories

+Using Your Public Libraries

+Reading, Listening to Books; Lectures & more 

~Soaps So Big I can’t hold the bar          

+Right-sized & Flower Petal Soaps

                                 

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

+Gardening for All Seasons   

   

~Mythologizing Deer

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

~Bad Plant Parenting      

+Learn Plant Love! Mix faux with live plant design 

~Throwaway Consumer Culture

+Artisanal & Sustainable Everything 

~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

 

~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."

        

~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.

~Buying too much Stuff!

+Purging & Editing home & office space

~Milk in Plastic from distant dairies

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

* 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.