The Magic of Christmas: I Still Believe

I still believe.

And if you have known for any length of time you will know the significance of this word and this idea for me. For years, I have chosen ‘Believe’ as the single word I live by.  The word was splattered everywhere at my wedding, it is the signature on my emails and you can find it in almost every room of my house. I believe- in something- each day it may be different- but I believe.  It’s a daily reminder of motivation and of purpose and around the Holidays it is the reminder that there is something bigger than myself.

shop the look: denim // top // shoes // hat // cape // clutch 

In the spirit of the season and in the spirit of believing I must say I believe this hat and these shoes are two of my most favorite recent purchases.  As the holiday season (and life) often calls for fancier dress I was on the hunt for a pair of neutral classic heels and I came upon these lovelies from Michael Kors.  While I will not brag about the comfort as I am not one to say heels are particularly comfortable I will say I could happily wear them for a night out, a holiday lunch or Christmas party.  I love adding a bit of fancy to my everyday (ie the shoes) but as I am more casual gal I needed to keep this outfit easy and ready to wear… enter the beanie! I love the color, the feel and the fit.  If you watch my Instastories you will have seen it worn many times- tis the season for beanies! The denim is J. Crew and I cannot recommend these enough- I have these exact fit in two other washes- pretty much the only denim I am wearing. The dark color is great for a more dressed up appearance up but can also be worn for the everyday errand running or lunch date.  I paired it all with a simple grey mock turtleneck to keep the outfit looking sleek and streamlined.  This is a great layering piece- perfect with a faux fur vest or puffer over-top or even a soft cozy cardigan.

This cape was a present from Brendan last Christmas.  It is quintessential British cape and I love it.  Not only does the lining make me smile but the warmth is unmatchable.  It is pure wool, heavy, thick and amazing.  I have linked a few others <here> and <here> as I am aware this exact one is a bit pricey.

Tis’ the season to believe and even at 34 years old I still believe in the magic of Christmas.  The last time I read The Polar Express to Declan, just the other night, I was literally choked up by the ending (if you are not familiar the little boy receives a bell from Santa that can only be heard by those who continue to believe in the magic of Christmas).  I realized as I read this children’s story to my son that I have never stopped believing.  The bell still rings for me- each and every year.  The magic of Christmas completely consumes my heart and my mind- it is the driving factor in continuing the traditions of the season (see my post about Holiday traditions here), it is the reminder that magic is what you make it and it is the intention of ensuring my son grows up believing.

While I will never preach my religious views to you and I accept and respect everyone’s opinion to feel and practice the way they choose, part of the magic in believing lies in my faith.  It is about believing in something bigger than myself- that this life is a gift given to me. It is about believing in my purpose in this life.  Teaching my son about the magic of Christmas, about the beliefs of our faith and about the importance of respecting what he is given is a journey that only gets more and more important each year.  I never want Declan to stop hearing the bells….

And I promise to never stop believing.

With Love,