Seashells and Serenity

The coast during Christmas time casts a magical spell that fills the air with wonder and relaxation…

As soon as that first gust of frosty air arrives, you can feel winter settling in and beckoning for reflection. Enjoy simple comforts, reconnect with our truest longings, and ready ourselves for whatever creative pursuits. Join me as I lean into coastal-style hygge moments, infuse some coastal flair and warm our souls with seasonal beverages…  

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Getting in the Christmas Spirit

The turn of seasons ushers in winter's quiet reprieve, a stillness that bids us slow down and savour shorter days. Winter opens up room for the soul to reflect. As soon as December 1st hits, I go into Christmas mode! I start by taking time to slow down and really soak in the joy of the season. This year, I’m going to be really intentional about pressing pause and making time to snuggle up with a cuppa of spiced mulled wine. I’ll light a cranberry scented candle, put on my favourite Christmas playlist or movie, and get cosy on the couch with a chunky knit blanket. Slowing down and creating little moments of hygge (a Danish and Norwegian concept of contentment and wellbeing through savouring life's simple pleasures) is key for feeling that holiday magic.

Hygge can mean so many things to different people… to me it means lingering over mugs of hot cocoa and plates of homemade cookies while (hopefully) watching the snowflakes drift lazily to the ground. It's long walks bundled up against the elements, rosy wind-bitten cheeks, collecting shells and sea glass along the shoreline…

When you spend the holiday season along the coastline, time drifts away like seashells floating at high tide. The crash of the waves, the smell of the salty air - the ocean has an undeniable allure that calls to something deep within me. There is a certain sense of enchantment and I admit, I certainly have some kind of love affair with the ocean. ‘Coastal hours’ are less hurried and in harmony with the natural rhythm of the waves. The jangling bells of docked boats and the call of seagulls replace the incessant dings and rings of everyday life. If you're lucky enough to spend the holidays beside the sea, cherish this slower pace and each salty reminder to pause, unwind, and truly immerse yourself in the sensory delights of the sea.

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Create Christmas Magic: Decorate Your Tree with Heartfelt Ornaments

One of my most beloved Christmas rituals is heading to the local tree farm and selecting the perfect real fir tree. I meander up and down the rows of festive evergreens, inhaling that unmistakable pine-fresh aroma as I search for just the right height and shape.

My colour scheme is simple yet elegant – creamy whites, champagne gold, and accents of metallic for a touch of understated sparkle. The look is minimalist and timeless. I begin with bright snowy white at the top and gradually blend into a warm antique gold tone nearer the bottom. It creates a stylish gradient when lit against the lights. No Christmas would be complete without thoughtful traditions. Each year I buy an ornament representing something memorable from that year for our growing collection. And I’m especially excited to hang this year’s newest addition - a little starfish covered in pearls. Accenting all the snowy creamy colours I add seafoam green and neutral sand colours that reflect the tranquil mood of the coastline. These coastal ornaments blend and complement perfectly with my existing white and champagne baubles, lending just the right dash of coastal colour and charm.

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Bake Up Holiday Treats

I also love infusing the flavours of Christmas into my cooking and baking. Hot toddies, mulled apple cider, and spiced nuts are holiday staples. Just as scent can stir nostalgia and emotion, taste has the power to whisk us away to places etched in our memory.

Using citrus fruits like key limes, blood oranges, grapefruit, and lemons I incorporate their juices and zests into cookies. And nothing says ‘coastal’ quite like Piña Colada… and, rum raisin biscotti and lime sugar biscuits pair perfectly with hot spiked cider by the fire…

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Warm Drinks with Coastal Flavour

On chilly nights or Christmas morning, nothing perks up the holiday quite like a steamy, flavourful beverage. This year, give the usual hot cocoa and apple cider a beach inspired twist. Indulge in the flavours of the season with a warm mug of salted caramel hot chocolate spiked with a splash of coconut rum for a subtle tropical twist. The sweet warmth of velvety cocoa meets toasted sugar flavours with a hint of island spirit - oh yummy! Or stir your steaming cup with a pouring of aged spiced rum, full of vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg essence - adding a nip of something special to your hot drinks is the perfect recipe for coastal holiday hygge.

If you prefer alcohol free options, steep chamomile tea bags in warmed coconut milk with a touch of honey and sprinkle of cinnamon. The sweet creaminess is reminiscent of sipping pina coladas beachside at sunset. Or for a vitamin C boost, make cranberry maple cider with orange slices, cloves, and a dash of cayenne pepper. The tart, warming citrus notes pairs perfectly with a plate of Christmas cookies by the sparkling light of the tree.

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Tis the Season for Sensational Seafood Spreads

The magic of the holidays by the seaside lies in the flavours from the sea. When cold winds whip across the shoreline, nothing warms the soul faster than a steamy bowl of silky seafood chowder or rich, garlicky bisque, seasoned oysters, hot crab dip served with rosemary bread and bay scallops. Fillets of salmon, mackerel and sea bass glisten, carefully curated and seasoned to let their natural flavours sing. Holiday entertaining by the sea means gathering around platters piled high with ocean's bounty and raising a glass with loved ones.

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Decorate with Coastal Touches

By decorating with natural coastal elements that embody simple, breezy style you can infuse the spirit of seaside tranquility into your home this season. Incorporate natural elements that evoke seaside charm while still feeling warm and welcoming on cold winter nights. Focus on textures and materials like cable knits, textured throws, wood elements, and flickering candles to create a cosy atmosphere.

Layer blankets and textured lumbar pillows on your sofa. Drape organic cotton throws over chairs in natural hues like oatmeal and sea glass green. Display glass hurricanes filled with shells, sand, and pillar candles. Line the walls with wooden ladder shelves showcasing collected coastal finds - stacked books on ocean wildlife, whitewashed conch shells, and bundled beach grasses. Display your wreath finds from winter beach walks on spindle hooks.

Adorn your holiday table with elements reminiscent of the beach - think neutral linens, organic textures, driftwood and seashell embellishments. Create a relaxed, casual setting with touches like napkin rings made from starfish, and simple white dishes so the fresh flavours of seafood dishes pop. Centrepieces can include white pillar candles surrounded by green eucalyptus leaves, pine cones, pearls and strands of tiny white lights.

With a thoughtful blend of coastal finds and organic winter warmth, you can create a space that feels calm and cosy all season long.

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Infuse Coastal Holiday Scents

Scent and sound fill the air with coastal aromas like cypress, eucalyptus, pine, cedar and sea salt. Simmer a pot of citrus fruits and spices like cranberry and cinnamon. Soy candles infused with notes like ocean mist, coconut, and sea salt transport your senses straight to the water's edge. For an instant tropical escape, spritz an oil diffuser with pina colada or coconut lime essential oils. Play soft music that captures ocean wave sounds, seals barking or the crackling of beach bonfires.

Get some inspiration how to create your perfect blend of essential oils and understand their properties — oil blend formulas.

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Forage & Weave: Crafting Rustic Wreaths of Raw Beauty

The holidays always inspire me to make time for creative pursuits, no matter how busy the season. Over the years, I have delved into various creative outlets - from contemporary weaving with abstract mixed media materials to fluid acrylic pours reminiscent of seascapes, even fashioning modern-style pottery… This year, I've fallen in love with crafting wreaths and nurturing my inner artist, however imperfect. My latest wreath creation resembles wild, golden angel locks, simple and imperfect yet beautiful to me. I just love wandering the shoreline, collecting gifts washed up by the sea - weathered driftwood, skeletal coral branches, dried seaweed and barnacles - to later weave into wreath making projects that capture the magic of the seaside. The end results feel beautifully imperfect, bursting with the wintery essence of raw coastal edge and mossy forest floor.

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This season, I wish you time to reflect, rejuvenate, savour meaning in the little moments and reconnect with the people and pursuits that bring you joy.

USEFUL WEBSITES AND HELPLINES

Many of us may find Christmas difficult this year, for lots of different reasons. If you are concerned about yourself or a loved one, these mental health charities and support groups can offer expert advice.

Mind open Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393

Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (free 24-hour helpline)

Rethink Mental Illness offers practical help through its advice line on 0300 5000 927 (Mon-Fri 10am-4pm)

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You Might Also Be Interested In:

>> Coastal Autumn Hygge

>> How To Spark Creativity

>> WHAT MAKES A HOUSE A HOME

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Drift & Co