As I write this, I’m basking in a beautiful spring day in Paris and feeling fully inspired. Nature is blooming, the city is bustling, and I feel at home just observing it all unfold around me. The first of May in France is a public holiday. La Fête du Muguet—Lily of the Valley Day—is a tradition dating back to the Middle Ages. People typically give this delicately scented flower to loved ones as a good luck charm. Since 1948, May 1st is also la Fête du Travail, or the French version of Labor Day. 

At plj, Lily of the Valley is one of our favorite markers of spring. When we first moved into our home, my late grandmother planted these little gems from her garden into our newly growing landscape—I look forward to seeing these reminders of love and shared joy bloom every spring! 

We’re delighted to welcome these gentle days of May—the calm feeling of increasingly mild weather, the end of a school year, and moments for new beginnings. We’re ready to relish in spending more time outdoors, sprucing up our outdoor oases with new plantings, and savoring the season for spring picnics and dining en plein air. 

Mindfulness Matters

Do warmer, sun filled days really make us happier? We certainly think so, but let’s take a deeper look. Much has been written on just this topic. Sunshine, temperate weather, time spent outdoors, and even proximity to water have all been linked to how “happy” individuals rate themselves as being. (For further reading on this fascinating subject and how current research dovetails with our lifelong love of the sea, we recommend Blue Mind: The surprising science that shows how being near, in, on, or under water can make you happier, healthier, more connected, and better at what you do, by marine biologist Wallace J. Nichols.) 

We have also found that spending too much time each day on social media and watching the news may increase feelings of anxiety. There’s no better way to combat media overload and boost our mind’s natural balance than shutting off our devices and getting outside as the weather improves.  

We’ve been thinking a lot about what contributes to feelings of stress and what contributes to feelings of happiness, and we’d like to share some of our insights. There are a variety of factors that influence the way we feel, including individual lifestyles, but in general there are habits we can develop that will lead us to experience more well-being in our daily lives—and who doesn’t want that?

Mindfulness and self-care are foremost on our list of ways we can cultivate happiness. While mindfulness is something we like to make part of our daily practice, May is recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month in the US, so we look to this month in particular as an opportunity to revisit the way our routines impact our well-being and mindset. For more information on resources available for mental health, visit nami.org. And 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 implement or reinforce some healthy mindfulness habits. Schedule self-care 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 mindfulness, which might include meditation, yoga, and/or breathing exercises. Take a break from screen time and social media. Making time 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.

May Days to Remember

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. These are good ideas for an early-may birthday theme party, as well! 

Mother’s Day—Although we are grateful for our moms every day, Sunday May 11th is the official day in the US to express our appreciation for the special moms in our lives. We all know and have been loved and influenced by a mother—or several, between our moms, grandmothers, that special aunt… Most of us have many beloved “moms,” including teachers, mentors, colleagues and friends who we can celebrate on this special day for the many gifts of love they’ve given us. Maybe some of the women you hold in your heart are no longer with you, which may make this day bittersweet. If so, Mother’s Day is a good day to remember the lasting love they have given to you. It’s the perfect moment to honor all moms and reach out to these special women to let them know how much we cherish them and appreciate the ways they have shaped our lives.  

Memorial Day—May 26th is a day of patriotic gratitude when we honor the sacrifices made for us by generations of servicemen and women. Memorial Day weekend is also known as the unofficial start of summer and a wonderful time to gather your loved ones for an outdoor celebration. Plan a picnic at home, the beach, or wherever your sense of adventure may bring you! Set your patio table with red, white and blue linens and accented with festive dinnerware and flags for a patriotic outdoor gathering. If you’re planning an evening meal, the sky will provide the stars to your stripes… just add sparklers and s’mores by the fire. Treat 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—or try a delicious oven-roasted shrimp boil, perfect for a large group. We love to serve a delicious warm berry cobbler with local vanilla ice cream for dessert!

Our Summer Bucket List

Make Room for New Moments—May is about bringing in a sense of calm and refreshing our daily lives, so how about starting some new spring traditions? Although we find comfort in routine, it’s quite invigorating to make room for new experiences. Be creative…

As you probably have noticed, we love to make an event of the sunset. Sunset soirées can be as simple as sharing apéritifs with those special someone(s) and toasting the beautiful wonders of nature, or as elaborate as hosting a themed gathering with friends or planning a golden hour excursion. Maybe it’s time to visit a new destination or learn something new together. It’s all about connecting and making time for each other, whatever the activity may be. 

If you’ve been with us for a while, you know that we love spontaneity, but we also believe a little planning on our part is the best way to make sure these joyful 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. We’ve created a bucket list to inspire you. Feel free to use it as is or expand and personalize it.

•Visit a new destination. Maybe someplace you’ve always wanted to go, or maybe a location that’s newly caught your imagination.

•Spend time with family and friends. Marking your calendar is the best way to make sure this happens, but don't overschedule… and remember to leave room for impromptu gatherings!

•Spend time by the sea (or in the forest or in the mountains—wherever your happy place might be, near or far).

•Leave time for outdoor activities like daily walks, swimming, nature hikes, bike riding, etc.

•Plant a garden—anywhere from a few planted pots on a patio or in a windowsill garden to a container of cooking herbs, beautiful flower boxes, or a full-on vegetable garden.

•Make outdoor dining a regular part of your menu—plan picnics away from home and enjoy your own outdoor space to the fullest!

•Take time to journal. 

•Make a summer reading list. At plj we have found that the best book recommendations come from our friends, and we suggest keeping a running list of favorites. Feeling ambitious? Share the summer book joy by creating a shared list or a book club with friends who love to read. Tag us on IG to share your reading list with our community.

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, we’re in love with 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 fresh-cut lilacs in a handsome vase bring pure spring joy. Spring is also the best time to take advantage of the many blooms in your outdoor space—those late-spring tulips popping up, those blossom-covered branches—and to create beautiful outdoor planters and gardens. Browse our handcrafted woven containers and baskets to style your warm-weather space. 

Create an outdoor oasis. Once you have your space spring spruced and furniture in place, it’s time to add the details to your design—our favorite part! 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 us this year, it’s lots of fragrant greens, love jasmine and various small trees and plants with lots of white flowers and hints of lavender. Think about the scents of the season and place these aromatic plants near your doors to enjoy often as you pass by them or nestle a beautifully filled vessel in your lounge space. We love to style clusters of florals in various containers so we can move them depending how we’re using our space. 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. We love it! (One important thing to consider is the care and maintenance plants need, so be sure to have some green-thumb helpers lined up for your summer travel plans :)

It’s time to set your outdoor table.  So let’s bring on the picnics, barbecues, and plein-air apéros with family and friends. We love outdoor gatherings because they make even the simplest event feel festive and special. Now that your outdoor space is ready, this is a great time to organize and gather all your outdoor accessories— throw blankets, table linens, vases, tableware, lanterns—so taking dining outdoors is both elegant and effortless. Lighten up your tableware: think linens that are easy to care for, seasonal table decor, woven accents, and scented candles. Check out our new home finds to help you style an oasis that is all your own—and be sure to follow us on IG for all of the seasonally inspired table settings and outdoor design ideas we’re so excited to share with you as we move right into summer. 

Looking for curated inspiration ideas for hosting your summer events? Get in touch here and schedule an inspiration workshop designed just for you!

Picnic Essentials Checklist

The season of beautiful lengthening days and warming starlit evenings has finally arrived, so we’re excited to share our picnic essentials list. Be packed and ready to enjoy May’s picture-perfect days and evenings at a moment’s notice:

• large basket

• a sturdy ground-cloth blanket

• durable tableware (plates, napkins, beverage glasses, linens, serving utensils and cutlery)

• serving tray/baskets

• cheese/cutting board, knife, bottle opener

• cooler

• garbage bags, hand sanitizer, paper towels

• flashlight, bug repellant

• sweaters, wrap and extra blankets for those chilly spring days

• favorite game(s) 

• bluetooth speaker

• lanterns or flameless candles for ambiance

• comfy lawn pillows or folding chairs (optional)

• a small folding table (optional)

Spring Style Essentials 

We have curated some exciting new finds for our spring and summer collections in Style, Home, and Wellness, as well as restocking some of our popular favorites.

In our Style collection we’ve curated cute kaftans, flowing cotton beach pants and shorts, gauzy tops, woven totes, a new recycled leather bag, and many travel accessories—everything you need to get you relaxed and vacation ready.

In our Home collection we’ve sourced many new fresh cotton patterned linens, new woven table accessories and planters, olive wood servingware, lightweight throws, and new fragrant candles for all your seasonal gatherings. 

In Wellness, browse our popular sleep essentials, eye pillows with lavender, cleansing bars, agave cloths, hydrating foot balms, hydrating mists, beauty elixirs, lavender sheet and pillow spray—perfect gifts for Mother’s Day!

May Epicure

This month we’re in the mood for light and bright plates that make the most of seasonal flavors. Our simple scones are a sweet 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 spring inspirations to pack for a picnic or enjoy dining in your outdoor oasis, and we’ve also added a few new discoveries from our recent travels.

Greek Yogurt Bagels

Simply Sweet Scones

Raspberry Bread Pudding

Lemon-herb Parmesan Pasta 

Lemony Hummus

Avocado and Tomato Salsa

Homemade Pickles

No-mayo Potato Salad

Pasta with Roasted Tomato Sauce and Burrata

Simple Fresh Tomato Pizza

Roasted Shrimp Boil

Sheet Pan Fajitas 

Seafood Paella

Berry Cobbler

Fresh Margarita

Mint Julep

Saint Germain Spritz

A Leisurely Stroll Through May

Our moments lingering in market-thronged streets and strolling down cobbled lanes in Paris will stay with us for a long time—the kind of pacing that just naturally creates a feeling of well-being. As we welcome the serene days of May, let’s not be in a hurry. 

Savoring the stillness and refreshing mild mood invites us to celebrate our joyful occasions ahead with gratitude. Look at the longer days and abundance of blossoms as a moment to focus on appreciating life—nature, ourselves, and the connection we have with our loved ones. With balance and gratitude in mind and the season in full bloom, take comfort in the calm and move forward with renewed energy.