This year I wrote a brand new book called Dwelling. Dwelling (due to release in April) reflects my desire to create a home that takes good care of the people who live inside. It’s about considering how you feel in your own dwellings: both home and body.
Dwelling is about creating a sanctuary that nurtures you in home and body, so you experience a greater sense of well-being, peace, comfort, and belonging. I believe that feeling well where you dwell involves becoming more aware of what you do or don’t need around you and then making the intentional changes that better support your well-being.
Even with the holidays upon us, I can see how I’m consciously rejecting what feels expected so I can focus on nurturing what I know matters more.
Case in point, there are 7 days remaining before Christmas. I have a Christmas tree with lights, but my ornaments are still in the bin. No garland or stockings are hung from my mantel. We have magical paper snowflakes hanging from the ceiling in our kitchen, but there is still a pumpkin wreath on my front door. Oh, and I just realized I haven’t yet removed gourds from my other porch!
There’s still time to ditch the pumpkins, right? I might be evolving my home slowly though the seasons, but I’ve got this. With that said, I will probably still do some sort of mini-Christmas tour here on the blog as I enjoy that (and it is a fun blogging tradition), but I am not making any promises :).
After 12 Christmases online (and as one of the original home bloggers), I think it’s safe to say if nothing else, I am consistent about one thing! I seem to default to a gentle collision of simplicity, imperfection and magic in the season. That’s what seems to feel right to me every year. I don’t seem to know how to do this any other way. You’re welcome. Or I’m sorry. This is how I roll.
Slipcovered Sofa Source / Specific Sofa Details / Rug / Battery Candles
I don’t know about you, but scrolling through too many images of staged decor or perfect settings online tends to leave me longing to slow down and enjoy the real and tangible already in front of me.
That sense of home and reflecting on what this season is all about is what feels sacred and right to me right now.
It’s my son’s last Christmas living under our roof before he officially becomes a college student (how!!!) next fall. It’s amazing how the milestones of the seasons remind you how fleeting time is. I know I will never regret slowing down to focus on what really matters to our family and letting go of the rest.
I cannot wait to share my new book with you all! Dwelling is a lovely hardback with inspiration, practical tips, action steps and journal prompts, surrounded by simple illustrations and beautiful hand lettered quotes. I’ll tell you more about it after the holidays!
Dwelling will be released on April 2, but you can actually preorder it right now on Amazon (without charge and lowest price-guaranteed!).
It would actually be a HUGE help to me as an author if you would take a moment to preorder it right now, you won’t be charged for it until it releases. Dwelling will ship when it releases, and note that any preorder gifts or incentives we offer in the new year will apply to your order retroactively.
As long as you are preordering the book, grab yourself another book with Amazon’s limited time save $5 offer! All the details are below.
- Use promo code GIFTBOOK18 to save $5.00 when you spend $20.00 or more on Books shipped and sold by Amazon.com. Enter code GIFTBOOK18 at checkout. Offer expires at 11:59 p.m. (PT) December 21, 2018.
- Pre-order Price Guarantee! Order Dwelling now and if the Amazon.com price decreases between your order time and the end of the day of the release date, you’ll receive the lowest price.
How are you savoring what matters most to you in this season, and letting go of the rest?
An old saying of rug makers. Perfection does not please Allah. Always something to remember.
I always tell myself that “things don’t have to be perfect, to be perfect” – family and home are most important.
I am amazed by how you roll. I feel we are kindred spirits. I have been with you on your ten year plus journey and look forward to reading your blogs all the time. Yes what matters is right in front of us and we have to slow down and inhale all the magic right there. Merry Christmas Melissa and thank you so much for your inner and outer beauty!
Thank you so much for your encouragement! Merry Christmas, Denise!
I not only pre ordered, I used the promo code to purchase Simple Gatherings. So excited to be getting a present for myself..Christmas and for my birthday in April.
Oh so wonderful, thank you thank you Francesca!!! Merry Christmas!!!
Book ordered ☑️. I’m loving the sweet, simple cover. Great colors too! I’m excited and looking forward to its April arrival.
Also thank you Melissa for reminding me that it’s really ok to have the the tree up with no ornaments on it yet!!
Wishing you and your beautiful family a wonderful Christmas! Hugs from KS.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Linda!! Wishing you a Merry Christmas, too!
I love your blog and have all your books – so excited for a new one! Preordering today – one for me and one for my daughter :)
Yay thank you so much Kerry! I think you’ll both enjoy it, I’m excited for everyone to read it!
Just preordered your book. I have the complete collection :-). Love the direction of your new one, too. And I took a deep breath and sigh of relief as I read today’s blog. I just finished a long run of a show and had two weeks to pull off getting my home ready for Christmas. While I wanted to get it all done, I’m making ‘concessions’ here and there. Trying to focus on the sacred and true meaning and not “I’ve always done this” lol. Thank you for your candid share today. You made my day :-)
Oh I’m so very glad, Mary Ellen, we need to give ourselves grace and the reminder of what is truly important to us. Thank you for preordering!
Hi Melissa, I just preordered your book!! Wish it was coming out today:). Been following your blog for many years. I love how your home actually looks like a family lives there. Not staged. I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and many blessings in the coming New Year.
Thank you SO much, Nancy! I wish it was coming out today, too! Merry Christmas to you!
I am a huge fan and follower but have not purchased any if your books. I’d like to choose one to begin with but would love someone to tell me why one of them stands out amongst the others. I’m working on simplifying and being more intentional on my decor, creating cozy without clutter. I keep wanting to get to a bookstore to leafvtgrough tgem to decide but this Amazon offer is too good! thanks everyone!
Diane, I love all of Melissa’s books but especially enjoyed Love the Home you Have. Makes your re-think why you have what you have. Hope this helps.
Hi Dianne! Thank you! It really depends on what type of book you are looking for. If you want photos, The Inspired Room or Simple Decorating or Simple Organizing all have home decorating / organizing images, tips and ideas. If you want to curl up to read to be encouraged and inspired to think about your own home in a new way, Love the Home You Have (on contentment and creating a home) or Make Room for What You Love (simplifying) are two favorites! XO
I tried to pre-order the book and it says it the promotional code you entered cannot be applied to your purchase . I don’t understand and I’m ordering more books at that .
Hi Katina! It has to be books shipped and sold by Amazon.com , that’s probably why it isn’t applying!
Hi Melissa! I so agree with you about keeping all the craziness at bay during this busy season, and keeping as much as we can SIMPLE! I love every one of your books. The new one looks wonderful and I look forward to it. But… will it be released later on in paperback? I really prefer the ease of holding and reading a paperback. The binding is usually more flexible and lays flatter than a hardback. Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!
Hi Mary! I don’t know of any plans to release it in paperback, but who knows? However I think you’ll find it is a nice small size that should be more comfortable to hold, and the binding might even be flexible. And it will make a lovely gift book, too!
Melissa – can’t imagine when you find time to decorate for Christmas, let alone write a BOOK! Looking forward to reading it!
HAH! Well it’s never easy, but the book got done and yet, not much Christmas decorating did! You just can’t do it all! Thank you :).
I’m really looking forward to reading ‘Dwelling’. ‘Love The Home You Have’ is still one of my favourite books ever. I also bought copies for my sister and my friend.
Thank you so much, Norma! That makes my heart happy. I hope you will love the content of Dwelling and feel just as encouraged by it.
I’m excited about this book, Melissa. This is how we’ve been trying to live for the last several years. This Christmas too, is calm, we are enjoying the season.
Thank you, Deanna! Calm is a perfect word for the mood I want to be in as well.
I just ordered mine! Counting down until April!
Thank you Stephanie! So grateful!!!
I was so pleased to read your post this morning…..not everyone has perfectly staged Christmas decor and I feel that it fuels so much discontent and unhappiness to continually view these “perfect” homes online. Since I have two grown children, I separated all of my Christmas decor into thirds. I kept 1/3 and equally distributed the remaining 2/3 to each of them. We all have decorated our homes beautifully with what we already own. By utilizing what we have, all of us can relax and enjoy the season and truly reflect on the reason for the season and why we celebrate it in the first place. P.S. Love your blog and best of luck with your new book!
Thank you, Stacy! I LOVE how you pared down by simply spreading the ornaments around your family.
I believe I remember one year you had a star covered in tin foil because you had just moved? Forgive me if I’m wrong, but it has been something I still remember all these blogging years later! I appreciate your ability to choose slow and what is most important. And congrats on another book again. So exciting!
Oh my goodness, Ashley, yes! We were packing and moving out during the worst snowstorm! We almost didn’t decorate at all but we made a tin foil star. So neat that you remember that post! I just went to look for it, here it is, 10 years ago!
https://theinspiredroom.net/2008/12/23/oh-the-packing-inside-is-frightful-but-the-weather-outsides-delightful/
Enjoy your sweet little family and this MERRY season of waiting for your little girl. xo
Hi Melissa! Your home is always so beautiful and cozy looking no matter what the season. I agree with your philosophy…people and times in our lives is what’s important. I just pre- ordered your book! Can’t wait till April. ?