May is spring at its peak and we’re ready to welcome it with open arms. It’s the time of year where we feel inspired, as we ready ourselves for so many fun-filled and carefree outdoors occasions ahead. We’re particularly excited to host some plein-air apéros in the mild weather of the coming weeks, before summer’s heat arrives. May is also when we celebrate our moms and our servicemen and women! At partager la joie we’re excited for every opportunity this month offers to celebrate togetherness and make memories with those who matter most in our lives.
May is for Mindfulness
Mindfulness and self-care are something we like to make part of our daily practice, but we look to this month as an opportunity to revisit these routines because May is recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month. For more information on resources available for mental health visit nami.org. Also for mindfulness coaching, workshops, and retreat opportunities, we recommend checking out thefullfillinglife.com. Whatever your interest level or needs may be, make May a moment to create some healthy mindfulness habits. Schedule time for yourself, either alone or by reaching out to a friend or family member you enjoy spending time with. Take time to journal about anything that might be on your mind—it’s amazing what a helpful tool self-expression can be. Set aside some time for physical activity and also for quiet time, which might include meditation, yoga, and/or breathing exercises. Take a break from screen time and social media. Taking time out to read a good book, take a walk or any other activity you find relaxing in nature can change your whole day. Nurture yourself and encourage others around you to do the same. Supporting each other with the goal of leading a healthy lifestyle in mind is a wonderful way to build a kind, caring community.
Mark May’s Moments
Cinco de Mayo—Stock up on limes and invite a few friends to enjoy a fiesta al fresco! Gather around and make a pitcher of our fresh margaritas and our tasty avocado and tomato salsa with chips… or make it a cooking class and learn how to make churros together. If you’re celebrating with kids, make or buy a piñata and fill it with candies and other fun small party favors. There’s nothing quite like the release, for people of all ages, of taking a good swing at the piñata and enjoying the joyful explosion!
Kentucky Derby—Who’s to say the Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports doesn’t make a fine occasion to gather for a boisterous apéro or light meal? This year’s race falls on the evening of Saturday, May 6, so strew a few red roses in anticipation of the winner, invite some friends and take a look at our May Epicure for our mint julep recipe as well as fun ideas for small bites or dinner fare.
Grateful for Mom—Mother’s Day is the moment to express gratitude for the special moms in our lives, although we think it’s important to appreciate our moms every day! This year Sunday, May 14th is this special day in the US. We all know and have been loved and influenced by a mother—or several, between our moms, grandmothers, that special aunt… Maybe you’re even a mother yourself. Most of us have a handful of beloved “mom” figures, including teachers, mentors, older friends, and in-laws, that we can also honor on this special day for the many gifts they’ve given us. Maybe some of the moms you hold in your heart are no longer around, which may make this day bittersweet. If so, today is a good day to celebrate the lasting love they have given to you. Mother’s Day is a time when we honor all moms and reach out to let them know how much we cherish all these special women, and the ways they have shaped our lives.
Memorial Day—is the 29th of May, the weekend known as the unofficial start of summer! It’s a day of patriotic gratitude, when we honor the sacrifices made for us by generations of servicemen and women. Plan a picnic at home, the beach, or wherever your destinations may bring you. Drape your table in red, white, and blue, and add flags to your outdoor space. If you’re planning an evening meal, the sky will provide the stars for your stars and stripes… just add sparklers and s’mores by the fire! Wow your guests with our recipe for homemade pickles—so simple, fresh, and delicious. Fresh-squeezed lemonade with mint sprigs from the garden is always a refreshing delight to accompany the first barbecue of the season.
Make Room for New Moments
May is all about hitting the refresh button this year, so how about starting some new traditions? Although we find comfort in routine, it’s quite invigorating to make room to experience the new. Be creative—host a yoga and coffee gathering on your patio or an outdoor make-your-own pizza night with friends. As you probably have noticed, we love to make an event of the sunset. Grab an apéritif with those special someones and toast this beautiful wonder of nature. It really doesn't matter what day you make time for each other. Pick a theme, or for that matter a location that everyone loves—go ahead, mix things up. We think you’re going to love it!
Summer Bucket List
If you’ve been following us for very long at plj, you know that we love to celebrate the joy in everyday life. Yes, we love spontaneity, but we also believe a little planning on our part is the best way to make sure these moments happen! So with summer just around the corner, now is the perfect moment to set your sights on things you’d like to do in the coming season. Create a bucket list— just to whet your imagination. Here are some of our ideas. Feel free to use it as it is or expand and personalize it!
Curating a Spring Home
Design Notes
Now that spring is in full swing, we’re bursting with blooms of all kinds… At partager la joie, May means lilacs! In New England, and in many other climates as well, these delicate blooms in shades of purple and white are an iconic hallmark of this month, and freshly cropped lilacs in a dramatic vessel bring pure spring joy. Spring is also the perfect time to take advantage of the many blooms in your outdoor space—late spring tulips popping up, blossom-covered branches—and to create beautiful outdoor planters and gardens. Come shop our handcrafted woven containers and baskets to style your warm-weather space.
Create an outdoor oasis. Start with spring plants—plan a visit to a local nursery to choose some favorites for your outdoor containers. It’s purely a matter of taste, but at plj we love to create a theme. For example, lots of fragrant greens with hints of white and purple flowers. Remember, there is care and maintenance involved (plants need to be watered) so know your limits. But cultivating some type of a garden is a wonderful way to spend more time in nature and creates an opportunity for a peaceful mindfulness practice. Not to mention the way it beautifies your outdoor space and creates a welcoming environment to share with others—it’s a win-win!
It’s time to set your outdoor table! Bring on the picnics, barbecues, and plein-air apéros with family and friends. We love outdoor gatherings because they are elegant yet simple, playful but not fussy, and—you guessed it—so joyful! Fill planters with flowers, set up furniture, gather cushions and throw blankets. This is a great time to gather all your outdoor supplies handy—table linens, vases, tableware, lanterns—so taking dining outdoors is simple. Lighten up your tableware: think linens that are easy to care for, seasonal table decor, woven accents, some candles, and voilà— you’re all set.
Be sure to follow us on Instagram for all of the seasonally inspired table settings and outdoor design ideas we’re so excited to share with you. Looking for curated inspiration ideas for hosting your summer events? Get in touch here and let us give you some personalized guidance through our Inspiration Workshop designed just for you!
Our Spring Essentials
Take a look at the adorable summer styles we’ve curated across our collections this garden party and beach season, including super-cute dresses, tops, totes, and travel scarves. For the home, we’ve stocked woven accessories and planters, olive wood servingware, fresh table linens, lightweight throws, and scented seasonal candles for all your summer gatherings. Don’t forget to check out our warm weather wellness essentials— rose hydrating mist, beauty elixirs, freshly scented body oils and bath salts, soft terry carry-alls— just a few of the seasonal finds we’re excited to share with you! Shop partager la joie
Spring Epicure
We’re in the mood for light and bright cuisine that boasts seasonal flavors this month. Our simply sweet scones are a must for a Mother’s Day brunch or tea—easy to make, yet slightly decadent. Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with our classic margaritas, sheet pan fajitas, and our homemade avocado and tomato salsa. We've gathered plenty of inspiration to perk up your spring menu and kick off your outdoor dining season.
Lemon Asparagus Parmesan Pasta
Raspberry Bread Pudding
Coconut-lime Chicken with Crunchy Slaw
Sheet Pan Fajitas
Simply Sweet Scones
Rustic Roasted Tomato Sauce
Avocado and Tomato Salsa
Homemade Pickles
No-mayo Potato Salad
Simple Fresh Tomato Pizza
Fresh Margarita
Mint Julep
Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies
In the Merry Month of May
Let’s not forget this month’s most famous nickname. Merriment is the very definition of shared joy. As we welcome the calm, gentle days of May, let the occasions we celebrate recenter us in joy and gratitude. At the heart of a mindfulness practice is taking a moment to focus our energy on appreciating life—nature, our loved ones, our connection with each other and with ourselves. Let’s savor these refreshing late spring days and create a spirit of joy together with the ones we cherish most!
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