Well, I guess winter is coming. And according to the weather forecast it is coming tonight. Ugh. It is NOT officially winter until December 21st, but apparently nobody informed the weather of this because we are supposed to get snow tonight. As you might have surmised, I am generally not fond of winter weather. I hate being cold and I hate the slushy mess that snow turns into.
Update: Yes it DID snow and we are not amused….it is October and there are still leaves on many of the trees.
Percy (the patio heater) stalwartly enduring an early snowstorm. Too early snowstorm.
It was gorgeous, but REALLY cold at the Arboretum today!
On the bright side, it looks beautiful when it snows…especially as viewed from INSIDE :) So let’s turn our attention to ways to enjoy the season inside by cozifying our homes!
Lights
One of the most redeeming features of winter is the holiday season - I love Christmas lights and the gorgeous glow they give to the house. If winter is going to come early, why not Christmas lights too? Preferably the incandescent variety in warm white, not the horrid bluish LED ones reminiscent of a K-Mart, please. There are a few warmer LED ones that are closer to the incandescents that I will reluctantly admit are okay in a pinch. I may have contributed to an incandescent Christmas light shortage since I am currently in possession of 56 new boxes of 100 string strands… they aren’t for me, they go with the 30 rolls of ribbon, 7 trees, 14 wreaths, and 225 feet of garland currently hanging out in my storage area. It is all leaving come December for a couple of commercial holiday installations:)
String your lights around the branches of unsuspecting houseplants, tuck them into decorative bottles or jars (this works best with battery operated fairy lights), hang decorative lit stars, or line your sunroom or patio with icicle lights or patio lights for a soft glow.
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Speaking of lights, now that the days are getting shorter and you’ll be using lamps and lights more often, be sure any overhead lights are on dimmers, and get your light bulbs right! This post contains a handy chart for choosing the right bulbs (spoiler alert - the right bulbs are NEVER fluorescent). Nothing can transform the mood of a room faster than the right light!
Candlelight
Candles are great any time of year, but are especially cozy in the colder months. Light candles for your dining table, and add tea lights to your mantel or tablescape. If you are absent-minded about real candles like I often am…(like that time I forgot and we had dining room tablecloth flambé for a hot second…), then I highly recommend Luminara battery powered candles for a surprisingly realistic facsimile. And having candles on hand, real or faux, will mean you are all set in romantic style for any power outages that snow season brings!
Blankets and throws
Throws come in all sorts of wonderful textures and colors and add a decorative as well as a practical element to your home. You can never have too many throws! And for cozy sleeping I highly recommend a down comforter - here’s what to look for and how to choose the right one for you.
Throw pillows
I know, I know, they are controversial - how many is too many? This guide will help. But throw pillows are another way to get both decorative and practical elements. For cozifying, choose soft comfy textures that feel good to touch. Velvet, chenille, fleece, and mohair are all good materials to consider.
Hot beverages
This is the time of year to spend the day with a warm drink in hand! My beverage of choice is hot tea sipped from a pretty mug or china teacup. But a special treat is hot mulled cider or wine - bonus points - it makes the house smell great while it is simmering! Decadent hot chocolate is another fun winter treat, but upgrade from the instant powder packet…if you are going to sin, do it right! Make your own with high quality chocolate melted into simmering milk and served with whipped cream, homemade marshmallows, or a peppermint stick, add a splash of Bailey’s, Vandermint, Buttershots, or Kahlua for a decadent adult beverage - yummm.
Baking
Another fabulous thing about cooler weather is that it makes turning on the oven more enticing. The smell of fresh bread baking, or a sweet treat in the oven, fills the whole house with a wonderful aroma. With 5 minutes of prep time, 4 ingredients (if you count the water!) and a little planning, this no-knead bread is a fabulous treat. Serve it with soup, use it for sandwiches, or eat it hot out of the oven with butter and honey or olive oil and cracked pepper! A loaf of this rarely lasts more than 24 hrs in our house, but if you have leftovers around long enough to start to dry out, it makes fabulous bread pudding or French toast too! Another favorite?… these sea salt caramel brownies, but beware, this is the brownie recipe that will ruin you for all other brownies!
There, I’m feeling a tiny bit better about the looming winter season…I hope you are too! What are your favorite ways to cozify your home for the colder weather?
