Let's Get this Party Started!

“In the depths of winter I finally learned there was in me an invincible summer.” –Albert Camus


Dear Friends,

We made it through January. Whew! There was a lot of cold and fog and rain and darkness around here. Inside at Renee’s, though, signs of spring kept popping in with new arrivals in pastel colors. Darker, heavier clothing of winter was relegated to the racks of opportunity—that’s a sure sign of warmer, brighter days ahead.

Do you struggle during the long days of winter? What techniques do you use to stay positive and upbeat? I took up knitting, and I’ve read a lot of books. I organized my file drawers at home. I’ve taken up Sudoku and crossword puzzles. I told myself to enjoy the slower pace that winter offers. I’ve slept more. I have been logging my food and exercise to encourage less comfort eating and more movement.


Planning out-of-the-ordinary dates on the calendar helps, too. For example, I’m looking forward to Valentine’s Day because it’s a day we can step out a bit and show others our love and care.

Here’s another date to anticipate: a “play date” at Renee’s! On Sun., Feb. 24 from 1 pm to 4 pm, you are invited to bring a friend to Renee’s to play. Take a look at our new arrivals. Open your mind to try on something out of your box. Connect with other women like you who are making the best of the winter months.

When I was a kid I’d go over to my friend’s house and together we’d experiment with her eye shadows and lipsticks. We played dress-up. We had fun seeing ourselves differently and learning what worked and what we liked as we played. Experimenting brought us to a new understanding of ourselves.

The entire color palette of the Japanese skin-care line Noevir will be on hand for us at our play date. Emerald green eye shadow has even joined the ranks of their make up line. (One way or another, we are going to add some green to our lives this year.) And the West Coast sales rep will also be here. As an expert she can offer tips and tricks for taking care of our skin and adding new ideas to our routines.

Studies have shown that of all the ways to increase happiness, connecting with others is our greatest harbinger of pleasure. My happiness guru, Grechen Rubin, in her most helpful book “The Happiness Project,” notes that studies show “…if you have five or more friends with whom to discuss an important matter, you’re far more likely to describe yourself as “very happy.” Allow yourself to cultivate new friendships at Renee’s play date.

We will foster connection with other women on the 24th. Choose a question from our fishbowl and get to know someone new. Questions (from “The Little Book of Big Questions”) such as these will get us talking: What’s your greatest sacrifice? Describe your childhood home. How do you explain the color red to a blind person? If you could create the ultimate vacation resort what would it be like? Tell me about your mother. As we play, take a risk of becoming vulnerable with someone else like you. You may come away with a new friend!

So plan now to attend our play date. Put it on your calendar. Look forward to it. Post it on your fridge. Play dress up. Experiment with new make up. Relax into yourself. Get out of your box. Shake up your routine. It’s just for fun. Who knows? You might come away with new and refreshing insights about yourself. At the very least you’ll have a date on your calendar to anticipate and enjoy while we make it through the days of winter together.

Before you know it we will be enjoying the pretty spring flowers that are just now peeking out of the ground, warmer sunnier days, and soft summer breezes… And we will have made it through the month of February with courage and grace.

Sending you love,

Renee