Do you ever see classes and demonstration opportunities and think to yourself how fun it would be to step out of your safe little box, and explore what’s out there in the world? I’ve been contemplating the things I’ve done in my life lately, and decided I need to make time to have more fun! By the way, fun is a foreign word for me . . .

Allowing myself to have fun has not been an easy thing for me to do. For some reason I’m always worried that somehow, if I allow that, I will be in trouble. A silly notion I know . . . Heavenly Father wants us to be happy! And if that means going out and doing something we haven’t done before He gives us permission to have fun!!!

I’ve been wanting to take more classes to upgrade my floral design and arranging skills. Did you know Harvard researchers did a study on the effects of having flowers in your home? This is what they discovered:

1. Flowers can provide a boost of energy and enthusiasm. Having flowers at home can have a positive carry-over impact on our mood at work, too. The study found that people were more likely to feel happier and have more enthusiasm and energy at work when flowers were in their home living environments.

2. Flowers feed feelings of compassion and kindness. Study participants who lived with fresh cut flowers for less than a week felt an increase in feelings of compassion and kindness for others.

3. Flowers chase away anxiety, worry, and blues. Overall, people in the study simply felt less negative after being around flowers at home for just a few days. Participants most frequently placed flowers in their kitchens, dining room and living rooms where they spend a lot of time at home. They reported wanting to see the blooms first thing in the morning.

I actually signed up for a Mother’s Day arrangement last year with “LUX Catering and Design” in Salt Lake City, Utah.

“LUX” is one of Utah’s most award winning and highest rated catering and event companies.

I was so excited, and looked forward to a fun evening, but a few days before the class, it was cancelled. They had originally scheduled two different dates, and when the date I signed up for didn’t fill up, they ended up combining the two classes into one. Sadly, it was on a night I was not able to attend.

This year, when I saw the class offered again, I signed up and went. We put together a small arrangement in a cute vase. I didn’t learn anything new or earth shattering, but the food was yummy, and the company was fun!

So the goal was achieved! I had fun!! It even involved something to do with Mother’s Day . . . which is my least favorite day of the year, and I still had fun!!!

The week after Mother’s Day, I noticed another fun opportunity at one of my favorite stores in Bountiful, Utah – “Noble House Furniture and Design”. This is a local company who offers full interior design services in addition to lovely furniture, rugs, accent pieces, and gifts.

I follow them on Instagram and noticed they were offering a girl’s night out tea party. The focus was designing and decorating our outdoor spaces. I had SO much fun at this one!!!

Yummy food, a floral design demonstration, an incredible swag bag filled to the brim with the cutest stuff, a bouquet of flowers compliments of “Willow Specialty Florist” in Bountiful to bring home and arrange any way I wanted, and ideas galore that inspired me to finish the seating area on our back porch to make it feel welcoming and homey!

What I loved the most about all the presenters at this one, is they didn’t make you feel like you had to spend an insane amount of money to make your personal spaces more inviting and cute!

I loved how they encouraged us not to buy any furniture that we hadn’t actually sat in and thought was comfy! They told us if it wasn’t comfortable, not to buy it! Seating for me, has to be esthetically pleasing, but if it’s not comfortable I will wait until I find something that it.

The ladies from “Willow” demonstrated ways to incorporate flowers and foliage from our yards to complete stunning and beautiful floral arrangements.

I’ve actually started working on my outdoor space since I got home from this party, mostly using things I already had.

I’ll be sharing the finished pictures in another post, but I wanted to focus this post on how it’s ok to give ourselves permission to go out and do things we wouldn’t normally do just for the sake of having some good, clean fun!

And if we learn something along the way, even better! I came home from the class at “Noble House” feeling excited and happy to put my floral arrangement together, and start working on my outdoor space to make it feel more enticing to go outside and enjoy!

Ron and I are super busy, but we do enjoy a nice quiet evening out on the patio at the end of a busy day. That is, until the mosquitoes here in West Kaysville lower our hemoglobin levels to the point of passing out, at which point we retreat back inside to safety! That too is a topic for another day!

After a wet cold spring here in Utah, we are finally getting some warmer sunny days! The nine flats of zinnia’s are in the ground and happily growing, mixed in with six more flats of my other favorite flowers. A summer full of crazy fun activities is fast approaching, and I can’t wait to share some of the things I’ve planned to bring more fun, and happiness into our lives! The kids are out of school, and I decided to do Grandma Camp 2024 early before everyone gets too busy. So it’s happening this coming weekend, and I’ll be posting all about that next week! We are so blessed to live where we do! Even with all the crazy things going on in the world, I’m still trying to live the motto my sweet mother-in-law has taught me – “It is ok not to worry about things we have no control over.” God is with us, we are meant to have joy even in the midst of crazy world issues. Be sure to always look for the LIGHT!

The challenge this week is to give yourself permission to have some fun!!!

Plan a girl’s night out, a “Secret Life In Salt Lake Day”, plant a flower or two, buy some inexpensive flowers at Trader Joe’s and put together an arrangement for your home. Do something for your outdoor living area that makes you feel happy, even if it’s taking your camp chair outside in the shade and enjoying the sound of the birds singing! All of these things bring LIGHT, joy, and happiness into our lives! Heavenly Father knew it would be hard, but aren’t we so lucky He blessed us with flowers, friends and family to share life with together!

Have a great week, and go have some Light-filled-fun!

Love Ya, Les :)