Friday, February 15, 2019

Winter Survival- for the home

Truth be told, I would rather be cold than hot on any given day ( I've come to believe that my core temperature is naturally a solid 10 degrees warmer than most peoples). So while everyone else is groaning about February's freezing temperatures , I secretly prefer it to the humidity of August. And while I love my fair share of exploring, for everyday life I'm a homebody at heart and have embraced everything surrounding the Scandinavian idea of "hygge". As defined by the dictionary, hygge is " a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being.". When I think of bringing hygge into my home during these winter months, I think of it in terms of the five senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste). This is how I'm infusing hygge into my everyday life:
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Smell
Nothing beats the smell of homemade bread that's just come out of the oven. Though I took a break from baking my weekly bread towards the end of my pregnancy, I'm anxious to get back into the weekly ritual. Soups and stews make the whole house smell amazing and make snow days more cozy.  This recipe is still a family favorite.

Sight. 
Since the girls are stuck indoors a lot more these days, I went ahead and bought some fairy lights for their room. It's an easy way to make it more fun to stay indoors when the days are shorter.  I used to feel wasteful lighting candles for everyday living, but this year I changed my mind. While I could easily put candles under the "smell" category, the sight of a flame coming from a candle instantly ups the cozy factor. Since we don't have a fireplace, this is the next best thing. When the days were really short in December, I would light a candle when it started to get dark (at 3:45 here in Boston!), and rather than feeling depressed about the short days, it felt cozy being inside.
Taste
Nothing says cozy to me more than a hot cup of coffee. I'm a creature of habit, and drink out of my favorite mug every morning, and every morning it makes me so happy. Though it's not exclusive to winter, there's something about a favorite mug that makes me enjoy the experience of being indoors sipping my coffee. Saturday mornings with flapjacks and maple syrup in another winter treat my family enjoys, and pretty ceramics only add to the experience. 

Sound
There is something about a record player that is very nostalgic for me, years ago I splurged on the u-turn audio record player and I haven't looked back. I use it every day, and during winter months I love an old jazz record, like Ella Firzgerald.

Touch
Soft (fur) throw blankets and sleeping bags (for the girls) for movie nights are a must in my house, the thicker the better.

1. Fairy Lights
2. My current favorite candle
3. Farmhouse Pottery Maple Syrup Pitcher
4. Ella Fitzgerald record
5. Dutch Oven
6. Record Player
7. Fur throw
8. Tea Kettle
9. Farmhouse Pottery Mug



1 comment:

  1. UwallsJune 28, 2019 at 2:00 AM

    Our homes should be a reflection who we are and our family who lives in our home every day. I love that your home looks loved and lived in and cozy.

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