The Sweet Relief of a Fresh Start
From Holiday Glow to Garden Dreams
Taking down an 18-foot Christmas tree feels almost ceremonial. The careful unwrapping of memories, the gentle packing away of another season celebrated. And then—that moment when the space opens up again and you can breathe.
This is my favorite kind of reset. Not the frantic “new year, new you” energy, but the quiet satisfaction of a clean slate. Ornaments nestled in their boxes, garlands stored with care, and our home returning to its natural rhythm.
I love a fresh new dining room setting for the new year—clean and simple. Just a single amaryllis bulb wrapped in bees wax as our centerpiece, celebrating both what’s blooming now and the gardens we’re planning ahead. It’s a perfect bridge between winter’s quiet and spring’s promise.
Saturday brought one of my favorite traditions: inviting my dear friend—a horticulturist—over for tea and salad to dream about our 2026 gardens. Planning spring while winter still has us in its grip feels so special. Sipping tea, sketching out beds, debating heirloom varieties, and imagining what we’ll grow.
We even brought out our Jean Dubois silverware that we love—because these moments of planning and dreaming deserve to feel special.
It’s the perfect way to honor the transition from one season to the next. Not rushing past this quiet January moment, but settling into it fully before the growing season calls us back outside.
How do you reset after the holidays? I’d love to hear your rituals for starting the year grounded and intentional.
Cari Ann Carter is the best-selling author of Are Your Roots Right? Rightsize Your Space. Reclaim Your Life. and a multi-faceted entrepreneur with a passion for intentional living, design, and home.
She leads the Cari Ann Carter Group, bringing over 28 years of experience in real estate, design, build, and renovation, and is the creative voice behind DIY Designer Homestead.
Through Fresh Roots Living, she shares practical ideas for cooking, gardening, entertaining, and creating a home that supports your next chapter.