As time goes by, we’ve learned to appreciate each of our moments… not only the milestones, but the small ordinary ones, too. For our day-to-day life is just a collection of precious memories and experiences that’s continually evolving. Just reflect for a moment—isn’t it unbelievable how quickly time passes? We’re already approaching the end of the year! With gratitude and that perspective in mind as we look forward to the holiday season, let’s take this time to slow our pace and find joy in our traditions and the meaningful connection we have with our loved ones.

 At plj we’re leaning into November with the hopes of inspiring you to start the season with gratitude and simplicity in mind, as you focus on the true joy in giving, gathering, and celebrating the sparkle of this festive time of year.

A Holiday Home

As we plan for upcoming celebrations, let’s keep a grounded perspective by prioritizing what makes us and our families truly happy and relaxed when we’re together. It’s the season to fill our living spaces with all the beautiful greenery, ornaments, and sentiments that make our homes and hearts warm and inviting. 

 At plj we love to set a tone of simplicity with freshly scented greens and garlands, textured linens, gold and silver sentimental accents, and plenty of glowing candles to grace our surroundings. We look forward to filling our holiday tables with a variety of potted winter bulbs, arranging seasonal flowers in our favored containers and preparing our traditional favorite dishes along with a few new creations to celebrate Thanksgiving—and our everyday harvest-season menu.  Savoring the comfort of these moments and focusing on the joy, love, and togetherness they bring us is what matters most!

Cozy Moments to Celebrate 

November is a time of transitions, the chilly temperatures outside inspire a longing to create extra warmth inside. Sharing that coziness with loved ones and friends is the best part! If you’ve been on this journey with us for very long you know that at partager la joie we’re forever in love with Thanksgiving for the way it gives us occasion to pause, gather, and reconnect with family and friends over a much-anticipated meal. It’s a moment where we can express our gratitude by giving the gift of ourselves. 

Look at it as a celebration to set the tone for the rest of your festive season—make winter sparkle no matter your beliefs or which holidays you observe. It's a time to come together and express love and hope, making joyous memories we’ll hold dear in our hearts for years to come.

Gathering with Thanks and Perspective

Gratitude is a Practice — As we prepare for our Thanksgiving gatherings with family and friends, we’re reflecting on a quote we read recently from Norman Vincent Peale, who said that “the more you practice the art of thankfulness, the more you have to be thankful for.” The circular nature of positivity doesn’t get as much attention as it should, and we love the idea of gratitude as a practice, like meditation, yoga, or any other form of mindfulness. We also think that gratitude has the power to bring perspective into our world, leading to positive outcomes. So with gratitude in mind, when we gather with loved ones this month, let’s tell them just how much they mean to us and how thankful we are to be able to share our lives, joys, and moments with them. After all, filling our hearts and homes with gratitude and having connection with others is the true story of Thanksgiving.

Seasonal Giving — Prioritize the giving in Thanksgiving by choosing a local charity as a family—a food pantry, shelter, soup kitchen, etc., and finding a meaningful way to contribute or make a gift. Traditions like this give us the opportunity to expand the practice of gratitude beyond Thanksgiving day, encouraging each of us to grow our giving hearts.

Cuddle up for a Fireside Night at Home — Nothing says holiday time like a family movie night (be it a nostalgic classic or the latest episode of your family’s favorite new series), a game night, or simply relaxing by a fire with our special loves. See our epicure for seasonal recipes—perfect complements for the kind of evening that can easily become your family’s favorite tradition!

Inspiration Workshop: Hosting the Holidays 

It’s that time again…

At partager la joie, our mantra is, “It’s all about the joy.” Our goal is to provide inspiration and show you an approach that will help you through the planning and entertaining process and give you, as host, more opportunities to savor these special days ahead.

Our Holiday Hosting Notebook

If you’re new to us, we’ve created a holiday hosting strategy checklist just for you—from  Thanksgiving through the New Year. But before we dive into the details, we’d like to share our perspective for navigating hosting:

⧫ First and foremost, relax, envision your gathering, and then implement your design plan. Remember, elegance can be simple, and it's not about perfection—it's about gathering with those you love and celebrating your gratitude for that connection. If you’re a happy host, everyone will naturally share and bask in that feeling. The key to keeping your own stress low and enjoyment high during the event is to take the time beforehand to plan the details. 

⧫ Just as importantly, enlist help if you need it. Here’s a little pro tip: let go of the idea of doing everything yourself and embrace strategic outsourcing. For Thanksgiving, that might mean planning a pre-holiday pie workshop day with friends, letting guests bring their favorite desserts or sides, or ordering some of the basics from a local market, bakery, or caterer so you have more time to put your energy into the design details of the day.

⧫ Be open to new traditions as well. Life continues to evolve, and no matter where your plans take you this year, remember that what really counts is not so much abundance of dishes on the Thanksgiving table and sideboards, but an abundance of love and connections in our families and communities. 

Hosting is in the Details—and Here’s How We Do It!

• Get nitty-gritty with the logistics — Here’s where you take a deep-dive into the details. For maximum enjoyment of a day of entertaining that’s tailor-made to fit your style and minimize holiday stress, create checklists for:
• Shopping — Consider your guest list. Are there any special dietary needs or restrictions to keep in mind? When will you shop?
• Delegating — Who is bringing what, if you have invited guests to bring a favorite dish? Who is going to help with shopping, prep, and cooking? (Sometimes this is where the best holiday fun is had… share the kitchen joy and make memories for years to come!)  
• Food prep — What can you make or prep ahead? When will you do this advance prep? Who will help you? What must be done on the day of, or even immediately before serving? If your prep planning is strong, you’ll spend more of the day itself enjoying your guests and the meal. 
• Cooking —  Coordinating prep and cooking times lets you maximize your kitchen’s potential and minimize your game-day stress. This stage of planning will also help you work out potential logistics problems ahead of time.
• Serving — When will you set the table? What are your seating solutions and layout for the number of guests you’ve invited? List table setting items and serving dishes you’ll need and brainstorm table design and flowers. Outline how your meal will progress: courses, buffet, plated dinner, or family style? Will you begin with hors d'oeuvres or an apéro? Are you serving soup or another sort of entrée? Will dessert, coffee, and digestives happen at the table or later, in front of the fire? (We like to start out with a holiday craft cocktail like our Cranberry Prosecco, an Apple Cider Mimosa or an Aperol Spritz—see our epicure for recipes!) Simply prepare a festive tray, fill your glasses, and greet loved ones with a bubbly welcome toast.

To learn more about hosting and holiday planning this season, visit our Inspiration Workshop page at partagerlajoie.com and let us help you design a gathering that is perfectly and joyfully you!

Give, Gather, Graze

We’ve collected a stellar list of traditional favorites and a few new recipes for you this month. Whether you’re looking for festive showstoppers, table-brightening sides, brunch comfort, or seasonal sips and sweets it's all here in our epicure. Let us know if you make one of our holiday themed recipes by tagging us on Instagram—we’d love to hear from you!

Cinnamon Rolls

Overnight French Toast Bake

Belgian Waffles 

Brown Butter Pumpkin Seed Granola

Pumpkin Chia Seed Pudding

Pumpkin Roll

Quiche Lorraine

Fall Salad

Coconut Curry Butternut Squash Soup

Classic Chicken Soup

Roasted Butternut Squash and Spinach Lasagna

Pumpkin Mac & Cheese

Slow Cooker Bolognese Sauce

Roasted Boneless Turkey Breast

Simple Herb Stuffing 

Baked Brie with Honey and Walnuts

Apple Strudel

French Apple Cake

Cranberry Prosecco

Apple Cider Sangria 

Pumpkin Energy Bites

Serenity at Home

Gathering Around — Creating a sense of warmth and comfort in your home will make everyone feel welcome. Keep a basket of cozy slippers or woven socks by your entry door as temperatures drop outside. Where do you love to gather at this time of year? Filling your living spaces with luxurious throw blankets, freshly collected winter greens and earthy scented candles will encourage your guests and your family to enjoy the ambience of a crackling fire. Don’t forget to spruce up your outdoor spaces for the holiday season. Fill outdoor urns with tiny pines or cypress trees. Add candles, lamps, and simple strings of lights for both light and cheer. Remember, small touches can go a long way so aim to give a fresh and simple natural vibe—we love to incorporate a variety of greens like juniper, olive, laurel, and magnolia in our wreaths and garlands.  

Styling a snack board meant for holiday grazing — Making a grazing board to have ready when guests arrive simplifies your life as a host and is a great start to any cocktail or dinner party. We like to incorporate seasonal flavors and pair with a signature cocktail spritzer to start. Use a round or rectangular wooden board, tray, or basket lined with parchment and arrange a selection of cheeses—sliced and arrayed, cubed, or whole. We love to add a few warm bites this time of year—a holiday-themed baked brie in puff pastry in the center of our board, small slices of homemade quiche, or individual pureed soup shots in drinking glasses (our coconut curry butternut squash recipe works well here). Display thinly sliced meats shaped into rosettes. Add small accent bowls filled with honey, jams, soft cheeses, hummus, nuts, chutneys, olives, and dips. Arrange seasonal and/or dried fruits: grapes, figs, sliced pear and apple, and dried apricots or dates. Fill in the grazing board with crackers, crisps, and mini toasts and add a bit of style with festive appetizer plates and gold cheese knives, forks, and mini spoons.

Setting a Thanksgiving Table — Start with natural elements like boughs and sprigs of greens, and keep arrangements simple—an array of branches on a buffet and low-profile florals or mini potted trees along the center of the table. (We love olive, magnolia and eucalyptus leaves here) Then layer texture and color with a variety of tableware, such as neutral-hued Belgian linen or small patterned cotton napkins folded, in a napkin ring or tied in a knot. Incorporate olive wood serving boards and woven or glass table accents, and plenty of candles in various heights. Accessorize with a touch of personalization—special place cards, a personalized ornament, a handwritten card, or a small unique gift from a recent trip.

Surrender to Seasonal Wellness 

With temperatures getting colder and our inclination, however well-intentioned, to get lost in a frenzy of holiday excitement, we tend to over extend ourselves. Now is the time to put wellness front and center. Keep gatherings simple and focused on being together, and plan ahead to avoid taking on too much… Try to balance holiday indulgences (which we all love!) by preparing healthy meals, scheduling downtime for you and your family, and getting plenty of rest and quality sleep. Rejuvenate and enjoy this time—seasonal transitions are about creating joy by sharing cherished moments with loved ones.

Holiday Essentials

Whether you're hosting at home or traveling this month, we have your festive season covered. We’ve sourced hostess gifts, kitchen essentials, warmly scented candles, and beautiful woven and olive wood serving boards and plenty of table linens and accessories to choose from. Keep cozy and comfortable with our organic cotton travel scarves, blankets, and loungewear collection. To enhance your wellness and relaxation this season, stock up on our magnesium bath soak, eye pillows, lip balm, rose-water spritz, and our stand-by scent in our Calm and Refresh bath and body salts and oils—and so much more to lavish a little joy on everyone on your list. Shop partagerlajoie.com

A Heart Full of Thanks 

The holiday season can also be a challenging time for anyone already feeling lonely or grieving a loss. Here’s an opportunity to reach out, in your own way, at a time when even small gestures of kindness can make a difference. Meaningful moments shared can make a huge impact and add light and positivity to someone’s day. Extend a dinner invitation, send a handwritten note, make time for coffee or a stroll with a friend, or volunteer for a project in your community to help bring smiles to those in need. With our hearts wide open with a thankful perspective, let’s make the most of every precious moment we share together.

Remember the circular gratitude idea we discussed earlier? The more we practice the art of thankfulness, the more we have to be thankful for. We’re keeping this intention with us this season to help us focus on what Thanksgiving really means. Gratitude for each of our moments shared with those we love—simply put, this is the heart of our vision at partager la joie. 

Sending love + gratitude and wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving, xo Kristin