Winter is my absolute least favorite time of the year! Once Christmas is over, I am ready for sun filled warm days! I would be ecstatic if spring started on January 2nd each year! But…winter drags on, the days are still dark, dreary and grey in my corner of the world.
I am thankful however, that I don’t have snow to contend with; for me that would be unbearable! I am a self-professed weather weinie. I complain when the temperatures dip below 50 degrees. If I had to shovel snow every day I would just hibernate inside, and you wouldn’t see or hear from me until spring, LOL.
For years I would fall into a post-Christmas winter funk, wishing time away until warmer weather finally arrived; itching to get out in the garden and get my hands in the dirt. Over the years I realized that instead of fighting something I couldn’t change, I would embrace it instead!
All through the holiday season we are in high gear, cooking, shopping, baking, entertaining; it gets overwhelming at times. The time flies by and before we know it, the holidays are over and behind us for another year. This is the perfect time of year to give ourselves permission to slow down, reconnect with those we love, and recharge our batteries!
If you are lucky enough to have a fireplace, now is the time to get a roaring fire going! One of my favorite activities in the summer is sitting around a campfire, so why not enjoy a roaring hot fire to chase away the cold? Don’t have a gas fireplace and need help getting a fire going? You can find my useful DIY for making your own fire starters here.
It’s so easy to create a cozy spot to enjoy it. Once you have that fire going, pull up a comfy chair, add some soft pillows, and a warm fluffy throw. Add a small table where you can set down a mug of hot coffee or tea and then curl up with a good book or your I-pad by the fire.
Create a romantic destination for you and your sweetheart with a few pillows, your favorite libation, a few nibbles and a candle. After the craziness of the holidays, now is the perfect time to slow things down and reconnect with your sweetheart.
Pull out all your fluffy pillows, soft throws and warm blankets and use them to create cozy inviting spots with layers of texture that are just begging you to come on over, curl up and relax. Think of them as soft little vignettes of coziness.
Give yourself permission to spend a cold rainy winter day in front of the TV, snuggled up under a soft blankie in your jammies. Watch the rain (or snow) and enjoy a lazy afternoon binge watching your favorite TV shows or movies.
Create layers of softness on your bed, this is the time of year to pile on the blankets and cuddly throws. Sleep in on a lazy weekend morning and treat your sweetie to breakfast in bed. You can find tips here for creating a warm and inviting designer look bed that you won’t want to leave when the alarm goes off in the morning.
Spend some time in the kitchen if you enjoy cooking. How about trying out a new recipe? For inspiration, you can find some of my favorite recipes here.
Dust off your crockpot and cook up a pot of your favorite soup, a thick hearty stew or a big pot of chili. Bake a fresh loaf of bread to go along with it. Nothing says cozy more than the smell of baking a fresh loaf of bread with dinner simmering away in your crockpot! You can learn how to bake your own loaf of fresh bread here. It’s easier than you think! Why don’t you give it a try?
Open your window coverings wide to let in the light. Pick up a bunch of fresh flowers the next time you are at the grocery store. Just setting out a pretty pitcher with fresh flowers alongside a candle will brighten up a room like nothing else can!
Sit back, relax, stay comfy cozy, and enjoy a well-deserved respite. This is the perfect opportunity to be thankful to our almighty father for the blessings he has given us; for our beautiful homes that keep us warm and safe from winter’s cold. Remember that many pray for what we often take for granted.
Stay warm and safe my friends! Spring is on its way.