Hygge is just a temporary fix. It's a lifestlye Band-Aid that will help create a home in the short term. True and lasting comfort, though, can't be tablescaped or found in some twelve-step Scandinavian formula. The perfect blend of coffee can't cultivate true contentment. There's no flannel blanket big enough to cover deep soul ache. A long walk in the woods won't change a life for the long haul. Reshaping an atmosphere can never permanently reshape a heart. But it can help, especially when paired with the hope of Jesus.
~Jamie Erickson, "Holy Hygge: Creating a Place for People to Gather and the Gospel to Grow"
My friends north of the Mason Dixon line are laughing at me, but these temps are unseasonably cold for us in Arkansas. I took this screen shot earlier this week, but as the week progressed the temps got even colder, and we had several inches of snow predicted for this morning.
1) All. The. Soups. We have been working through the winter squashes and pumpkins we bought at Drewry Farm and Orchards last fall. This chicken, pumpkin, and garbanzo stew has been a family favorite for many years. I admit I use less chicken than the 1 1/2 lbs the recipe suggests. The spice combination and the ease of popping everything in the crockpot make this recipe one we reach for again and again.
2) Versed Aging Skin Collection. The resurfacing mask is my favorite, but all of these products (focusing on exfoliation, moisture, & skin texture) check the boxes for me: unscented, cruelty-free, recyclable, and free of all the sodium laurel sulfate and paraben and aluminum, etc. Exaxtly what I need during the cold weather.
3) Pothos plants. I don't have a green thumb, but I've been able to keep a couple of these guys alive for the last few years, and they make me smile, especially in the dark, cold days of winter. Research suggests plants benefit us in multiple ways!
4) I love our little fixer upper. Built in 1939 with an addition in the 1960's, our home is drafty and cool in the winter, but I love the light that pours through our many windows. We've slowly added a few area rugs (yay for gift cards!), most recently in the kitchen. I'm shocked at the huge difference it makes for my feet, but I'm especially surprised at how much cozier our home feels with a rug on the floor.
5) Flannel sheets. The biggest game changer for the colder weather. I love my soft, warm, beautiful floral sheets. Flannel sheets tend to go on sale in the fall, and we took advantage of coupons and sales to replace our threadbare sheets. We have several sets for the three sizes of beds in this house, some prints are spunkier than others :)
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