Wrapping Up My "Cozy" Series

Morning, friends!

October has drawn to a close for 2020...hard to believe! While in many ways this year has seemed to drag on f o r e v e r, in other ways it has flown by faster than ever. And October has certainly gone by so fast! It seems like we were just beginning this Cozy series together and now it is time to bid farewell.

I wanted to thank you all for faithfully coming by for a visit here at my Inglenook. For every comment, email, message, etc., it has all meant so much! I had such a grand time writing and putting the series together and even though the month is over and the series is complete, there is still so much Cozy talk to be had...in the future.

I hope you found encouragement, inspiration, a kindred spirit atmosphere and some beauty along the way this past month...even if just the tiniest little sliver. I hope something has brought a smile to your face and happiness to your heart and cheer to your day...even if just a small bit. If so, then I am grateful. I know that I was so uplifted as I wrote about coziness and the goodness of home and beauty of autumn. I was reminded of the blessing of slowing down and noticing and living softly and gently.

Until later, dear ones, thank you again for visiting my cozy corner...

Happy Halloween and a beautiful November to you, too!

Stay cozy,

E

♥

 

Pumpkin Spice Streusel Muffins

Happy Friday, friends!

Have I got a treat for you?!?!? 

 Pumpkin is obviously the star flavor in autumn. It's in everything from foods to candles to coffees and teas. One of my most favorite ways to enjoy the pumpkin flavor is in a muffin and these pumpkin spice streusel muffins didn't disappoint! I love anything with a crumbly topping, so these were a real hit in my book. My family loved them too and the spices filled the air with a heavenly scent as these muffins were baking in the oven. They pair wonderfully with spiced herbal tea and are great for breakfast or a quick afternoon pick-me-up or dessert...anyway you eat them, you'll love them.

Keep on scrolling for the recipe!

Pumpkin Spice Streusel Muffins

4 eggs

1 1/2 cup sugar

20 oz. pumpkin puree

1 cup canola oil

3 cups flour

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. baking soda

3 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. salt

For the Streusel topping:

1 cup flour

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

1 stick melted butter

In a large mixing bowl, cream together the sugar, brown sugar, eggs, oil, and vanilla. Then add in the pumpkin puree.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and pumpkin pie spice. Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet. 

Evenly scoop the batter into muffin tins lined with paper liners. Make the streusel by combining all the ingredients and crumble about 1/2 to 1 Tbsp. of the streusel topping mixture to the top of each muffin. 

Bake in a 350*F oven for about 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Cool and enjoy...or enjoy slightly warm if you can't wait that long!

♥

Happy baking, friends!

May your weekend be lovely in every way imaginable!

Simply From Scratch Scrumptious Granola

Well, dear friends, we are nearing the end of October and that means that soon, this series will be coming to an end. But, before I conclude this Cozy series, I have a few more posts to share with you. Today's is a scrumptious recipe for homemade granola...

This recipe is taken from the Vermont Country Store cookbook and has been ever so slightly tweaked by me. After literally a decade of searching for a granola recipe that we love everything about, this was where we landed...a good place to land, if you ask me! {{smiles}} One thing that we love about this recipe is that you put everything into a food processor and gently grind it just until everything is chopped up nice and small. If you like big pieces of dried fruits and whole nuts in your granola, you would just skip this step, but for us, this really made the granola so much more enjoyable to eat. It also makes it 100% easier to use as an ingredient in other recipes, such as my Apple Granola Muffins, which I shared about on Monday. (see HERE)

I hope you get the chance to try this recipe...it's great on vanilla yoghurt, with fruit, in muffins, etc. 

Simply From Scratch Scrumptious Granola

4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

 1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds

1/2 cup raw pumpkin seeds

1 cup walnuts

1 cup pecans

1 cup raw almonds

1/2 Tbsp. salt

2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 cup maple syrup

1/2 cup olive oil

1/2 cup dried apricots

1/2 dried cranberries

1/2 cup shredded coconut

Combine the oats, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, pecans and almonds into a large bowl. In small batches, lightly pulse the mixture in a food processor, until everything becomes chopped up. You can skip this step if you prefer more chunky granola. 

In a smaller bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, olive oil, cinnamon and salt and stir into the dry ingredients. It will look just slightly moist. 

 

Spread the granola evenly onto a large baking sheet tray that has been greased. Bake in a 325*F oven for 45 minutes, stopping every 15 minutes and stirring the mixture to prevent burning.  

While the granola is in the oven, place the dried cranberries, dried apricots, and shredded coconut into the food processor and pulse just a few times until they become smaller. You can skip this step if you prefer larger pieces of fruit. Then, immediately stir into the warm granola and combine thoroughly.   

Let cool completely before storing in mason jars. It will keep there for up to 2 months.

Enjoy!

♥

An Autumn Teatime by Candlelight

Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree.

-Emily Bronte-

Teatimes have become beloved favorites in our home and putting together special tea parties brings us a special delight. We love choosing the perfect menu and picking out just the right foods to mark the occasion, usually a season or holiday to be celebrated. And over the weekend, my mom, sister and I were so excited to get to enjoy an autumn tea party together.

It was Sunday evening, the air was chilly and crisp and the sky was dark with night. We spent the night before preparing our desserts and making small preparations for our savouries, though we would bake them the next afternoon. On Sunday afternoon, we gathered in the kitchen to finish our meal, adding the final touches and making sure everything was just how we wanted. As evening approached and nighttime filled the sky, we lit our candles and added a few fresh pumpkins to the table for that autumnal beauty. With dimmed lights and the soft glow and gentle flicker of candlelight, we feasted and savoured the wonder of the season, the goodness of beloved company of dear ones and the scrumptious taste of the foods we had prepared.

{a glimpse at our tea party...}

Our menu included...

Sausage Bread (recipe coming soon!)

Turkey Bacon Cheddar Cups

 Chicken Ranch Pinwheels

Mini Cream Cheesecakes with Toppings

Pumpkin Streusel Muffins (recipe coming soon!)

Molasses Spice Cookies (recipe coming soon!)

Toffee Caramel Pecan Scones (recipe HERE)

{pumpkins are a must at an autumn tea party...}

As autumn rolls on and as we prepare to welcome winter once again, I have been pondering the goodness of feasting and celebrating and of home. I believe there is much to be found in those things.   Feasting is not only about filling our bellies but also about gathering together with those we love nad hold dear. And of celebrating...every single day is worth a celebration, even if it is a small one. Lighting a candle at dinner is enough to mark each day as unique and a gift. And then home...how blessed we are to know that the world of home is a wonderful world, full of creativity, imagination, love, laughter, belonging, fulfillment, happiness, magic and wonder.

My mind has been filled with thoughts of how we oftentimes look beyond our own four walls and close circle of family and loved ones for our happiness to be fulfilled and our purposes to be found. Back in the old days, most folks centered their lives around the home and their families were their world. While they may have known people outside their own relations, their closest friends and dearest companions were, indeed, the ones with whom they shared a home and life with. How far we have gone from those days! And it isn't all progress, my friends. How much more of a peaceful, moral-centered world we would have if people returned to the world of home and invested in the relationships with their family circle instead of always looking elsewhere for companionship, purpose, and happiness?!?!

Sometimes I find myself wishing for days gone by...days I've never known because they were long before my time. Days when families were people's highest priorities. Days when the home was seen as sacred ground and a place of value worth protecting and cherishing. Days when people looked within their four walls for companionship and invested deeply into those relationships. Days when families looked into each others' eyes when talking and sat together at the dinner table for a meal and actually loved being together. Days when morals and family values and simple manners weren't a foreign concept. Days when families actually did things together instead of just co-existing in the same house. Days when you would see familiar faces when you went to the shops and when people had a gentle, kind countenance. Days when the majority of people had the same ideals and goals and values and you didn't feel like the black sheep walking in a field surrounded by white ones.

I long for days like those.

But I have come to realize that those days are totally, completely possible with the choices I make. Just because it seems like everyone is going one way doesn't mean that I have to tread that same path. Just because it seems like "everyone is doing it" doesn't mean that I have to do "it", whatever "it" is. Just because people are abandoning morals and family values, doesn't mean that I need to follow suit. And it also doesn't mean that I have to surround myself with those who are choosing that path that I know to be foolish and wrong. I can stand firm in what I believe to be good and true and beautiful and surround myself with those walking the same path and make room for more along the way.

The same is true for you, dear one.

May we be people of virtue and morals and values. 

May we not give way to the culture, 

but stand firm in the pursuit of that which is good, true and beautiful.

Be blessed, dear ones!

♥

Scrumptious Pumpkin Spice Bread

October gave a party;

The leaves by hundreds came --

The Chestnuts, Oaks and Maples, 

And leaves of every name.

The Sunshine spread a carpet,

And everything was grand,

Miss Weather led the dancing, 

Professor Wind the band.

-George Cooper-

Pumpkin spice and everything nice, that's what this bread is made of!

   Baking traditions are a big part of our family culture. There are specific recipes that we reserve and set aside for special times of year or holidays. There are special menus for Thanksgiving and Christmas and Easter and New Year's Eve. And in the autumn, we bake bread. This pumpkin bread has been part of our yearly traditions for going on almost a decade. I have fond memories baking this on freezing, rainy November nights, while football games played in the background and in between taking loaves out of the oven, running outside to get a bit of fresh air, only to run back inside to quickly get warmed up again. Those are sweet times and fun memories for me and this bread was always a part of it.

Autumn just wouldn't be autumn without pumpkin bread.

 Over the years, I have tweaked and played with this recipe and made it perfect for my family's tastes. I am especially glad that I was able to cut down on the sugar tremendously, using less than a third of what the recipe originally called for. We love making this bread in mini-loaf pans and freezing to enjoy over the cozy months, and we also love sharing with friends. {{smiles}}

Happy baking, lovely readers!

♥

Scrumptious Pumpkin Spice Bread

1 1/2 cup sour cream

4 tsp. baking soda

2 cups butter, softened

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 cans pumpkin puree (15 oz. each)

1 Tbsp. pumpkin pie spice

1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

1/4 tsp. ginger

4 eggs

1/2 cup canola oil

1 tsp. vanilla

8 cups all-purpose, unbleached flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

In a measuring cup, combine the sour cream and baking soda. Set aside. The baking soda will cause the sour cream to grow and increase in volume.

In a mixing bowl, combine the softened butter with the sugar until creamy and thoroughly mixed together. Add the pumpkin puree, eggs, oil and vanilla. Stir well. Add the sour cream mixture and stir again.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, baking powder and salt. Gently add the wet ingredients into the wet and stir very well, making sure to get everything at the bottom of the bowl. 

 Divide the batter into mini-loaf pans that have been sprayed with nonstick coating and sprinkle a bit of sugar on the top of each loaf. Bake at 350*F for about 35-45 minutes, or until a toothpick comes about clean.

Enjoy!

Autumn Apple Granola Muffins

Homespun

We see it in a sun-dappled porch

and feel it in the grass between our toes.

It's the echo of a quieter time.

A memory we can always return to.

It's home.

-Author unknown-

Monday greetings, dear friends! 

I believe that lots of people are enjoying some time in the kitchen during these gorgeous October days, filling their homes with seasonal spicy scents and their cupboards and freezers with delicious goodies to enjoy in the coming days. Autumn is truly the season of being in the kitchen. {{smiles}}

As I shared last week, I delighted in our annual bread baking day and baked up several varieties of breads and muffins for my family to enjoy now and tuck some away in the freezer as well as to share with friends and neighbors. One of the new recipes that I tried are these Autumn Apple Granola Muffins. This muffin recipe is so wonderfully delicious! They aren't too sweet or overpowered with spices, it's the perfect amount of both sweetness and spice. The thing I love most about this recipe is that I got to use homemade granola in the muffins...I recently discovered my family's favorite recipe for granola after years of searching and I was so excited that I could incorporate it into these muffins. I really think that's what made them so special and yummy! (I'll be sharing our granola recipe soon!)

We love these muffins for breakfast or a snack in the evenings, and they do pair perfectly with a cup of herbal tea or even coffee. And if you want to really go all out with the apple flavor, some spiced apple cider would be heavenly as well!

Without further ado...here's the recipe!

Autumn Apple Granola Muffins

4 cups all-purpose, unbleached flour

2 cups granola of choice

1 cup sugar

6 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

4 eggs

1 1/3 cup apple spiced cider

1/2 cup canola oil

3 cups peeled,  grated Granny Smith apples

In a large bowl, combine the flour, granola, sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Whisk well to combine thoroughly. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, cider and oil. Gently pour the wet ingredients into the dry and stir until just combined. Fold the grated apples into the batter. 

Divide evenly into muffin tins lined with paper liners. Bake at 350*F for about 20-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Enjoy with your favorite warm drink!

What is your favourite muffin recipe, friends? Do tell me about it! What have you been baking lately? 

May your day be lovely and your home be filled with warm, spicy, seasonal scents!

♥

Raindrops, Snowflakes, Slowness, & Gratitude

There was a discernable chill in the air now, and wet leaves were everywhere- in yards, on the sidewalks, in the street, stuck on cars. It looked like the world was covered in a cobbler crust of brown sugar and cinnamon.

-First Frost, Sarah Addison Allen-

pluviophile -

a person who loves the sound of rain,

or feels joy and peace on rainy days

chionophile -

a person who loves cold weather and snow

Both of the above words would describe me to a "t".  

I am without a doubt, unashamedly, a self-confessed lover of rainy days, cold weather and snow. There's just something magical and wonder-filled about days when the rain is trickling down the windows and grey, puffy clouds are in the sky, or when snow is gently falling on the ground, creating a hush over the earth as they fall slowly. I know that a lot of people hate days like that, but for me, it is pretty much as perfect as life can get.  

As much as I love snow and wish that I lived somewhere that had a true winter, where I live, our winters are mostly wet, grey and chilly. sometimes I like that, but I admit that I often find myself wishing that I lived in a snow-covered place...one day. Until then, I remain in this place where winters are rainy and grey and the grass is as dead and brown as can be. Not very pretty, in my opinion. Every year, we dream and wish for snow and some year's we are fortunate enough to have a gorgeous snowfall, but most year's we are lucky to see a light sprinkling of white for a few hours one morning.

Rainy or snowy days bring an atmosphere of coziness and an invitation to slow down with them. They create a hush over the earth, each in their own unique way. They call us inward and to cultivate a warm place to rest, retreat and savour the goodness of home. They also help us to recall the things which bring us joy and happiness. 

For some reason, ever since I was a young teenager, I have this weird ritual that I must do every time it snows. And that's making pancakes. I think it has something with watching the Love Comes Softly movie back then and the gorgeous snow scenes along with all the pancakes being made in the warm kitchen with the cozy fire lit in the hearth. That really struck me and ever since, whenever it snows, I find myself at the stove stirring the batter and dropping pancakes onto the griddle. Rain also brings about its own rituals. I love going for a drive in the rain, as long as it's not storming or hard to drive. I also have always loved the way rainy days make the inside of a home a bit darker and how it just calls for you to light candles and turn on softly-lit lamps. The glow from those two light sources creates an ambience that is hard to beat. 

Rain and snow also invite us into gratitude. They are two of the earth's natural wonders, as normal and ordinary as they may seem. I never fail to be amazed and stand in awe of the earth when she is covered in a blanket of white snow. Seriously! White fluff falling from the sky...it's pure magic! And the way rain makes the earth so lush and richly green in color in the summertime and how the raindrops gently rest on the petals of a flower in the spring...in the winter, picking icicles off rooftops after they form from freezing rain or the way an autumn rain makes the leaves fall from the trees and create a carpet of nature's goodness. It's all wonder and beauty!

Rainy and snowy days bring peace and calm over not only the earth, but also us if we allow them to. When we stop complaining about these forms of weather that is so often seen as negative and instead see them beautiful and blessings and magical, we, too, will be filled with that peace and calm. When we allow their gentleness and softness and slowness to influence us and when we give in to their invitation to gather in and make cozy and create magic, we awaken ourselves to the wonder that nature is always full of.

Are you a pluviophile or a chionophile, or both? What do you like about rainy or snowy days?

 Do share below!

Reawakening Your Creativity

Slumps. You probably know what I'm talking about. Well, I'm here to share about a slump I've found myself in this year.

2020. What a year, right? It started out nice and slow and just like any other year. Then, in late February, things changed. A worldwide pandemic hit and every continent was shut down and people were being affected in big ways and small. It didn't matter if you were rich or poor, old or young, red or yellow or black or white. It didn't matter if you were a hustle and bustle type of person or if you preferred a slower-paced life. It hit us all, in one way or another...and for some, it hit hard. The news was loud and everyday headlines were coming out faster than I think they could write them, and certainly faster than any average person could keep up. On top of that, there has been some social unrest and a complicated, heavy election at hand as well. Needless to say, 2020 has been one heck of a year. I think it's all going to be one that we don't soon forget and one we will all be recalling stories from fifty years from now.

Anxiety has always, unfortunately, been something that I have known very well. On top of that, being a highly sensitive person with some OCD at times, let's just say I know what it feels like to be down and depressed and overwhelmed with anxiety while at the same time feeling scared and being overcome with a barrage of intrusive thoughts. I wrote a bit about this earlier this year HERE. And all of those things really hinder me at times from being happy and calm and peace-filled. They've also put me in a slump more than once. 

Earlier this year, as the things were unravelling in the world and as the news got louder and more rampant, I began to feel myself falling into one of those slumps. I no longer had a desire to even do any of the things that made me who I am and brought me happiness. They became less than desirable and even when I would do them, I just didn't feel happy...the anxious thoughts were still there and the voices were still in my head. Sometimes louder than ever. 

Over the summer, I began to ponder these things and came to the realization that I no longer wanted to be in this slump. I declared that enough was enough! In the past, I have been a head-first type person, just delving in all the way, but I've come to learn over time that way doesn't work for me. So this time, I chose a different path. One that was softer and gentler and slower. A path towards reawakening my creativity.

Most of this was done quite mindlessly, as I am a firm believer in things happening organically and naturally, but I was always aware of my thoughts and tendencies. I would notice when I was feeling anxious and how it hindered me from doing something that I enjoyed...for example, cooking. Then I would take notice of what happened when I just stepped forward and got myself in the kitchen and made dinner for my family.  Even if I didn't feel it at the start, soon after, those good, happy feelings came back and I began to taste the delight that I always felt whilst cooking. I think that the key to moving forward is not to put too much thought into it...pay attention and take notice and then just let things happen naturally as they may. That's when the magic takes place!

One night in bed I was pondering things and came up with an idea to make cooking fun again for me and something that I enjoyed and loved again...it’s always been more than just fixing food and preparing a meal to me, but a creative outlet, a way to explore and experiment and a way of expressing love for those who I share my life with. I’ve called it The Great Cookbook Adventure of 2020, taking a bit of inspiration from The Great British Bake-Off, and have been slowly finding joy in cooking again ever since I began a few weeks ago. I will share more soon, but I mostly wanted to say that if you’ve felt more anxious and stressed out this year and your creative outlets don’t seem appealing anymore, if you feel dry and like the light within you is dim, I get it. But teeny tiny baby steps and treading softly and gently make a big difference in such a short amount of time...and without you even realizing it. Stick it out. Even when you don’t feel like it, take part in that creative endeavour you love so much; it will give back more than you can imagine and be immensely more lifegiving than you can dream. 

Softly and gently. You will get there. 

The truth is that slumps will come and they will go. It's kind of the rhythm of life as we humans journey down life's path. But sometimes things, like a worldwide pandemic and loud news headlines and lots of "insufferable know-it-alls" will kind of just make it all worse. I know that's been the case for me this year, and maybe you can relate...whether it be a creative slump, or whatever. We all had to deal with this pandemic and are still dealing with it. We all had to give things up, whether they were big or small or both. There were things we were all looking forward to and they were either very different than imagined or they didn't happen at all. Every single person's mind has been filled with news stories and headlines and loud voices this year, more than usual, and our bodies are just trying to keep up. 

Take it easy. Go along softly and gently. Live slowly. Let the magic come how it wants...naturally and organically. Better days are on the way. Spring days will come again. No one person is left out of the equation...beauty is just around the bend and there will be plenty of magical adventures and happiness ahead. One step at a time; one foot in front of the other. 

In the meantime, we keep calm and carry on. Knit that scarf. Cook that dinner. Bake that bread. Decorate your home. Pick those flowers. Walk through your garden. Paint that picture. Write that poem. Imagine that story. Read that novel. Watch that movie. Crochet that hat. Sew that quilt. Mend those clothes. Ride that bike. Sketch that landscape. Frost that cake. Pour that tea. Make that bed. Play that instrument. Embroider that cardie. Plant that tree. Hang that wreath. Open those windows. Laugh til you cry and your belly aches. Light those candles. Listen to that music. Dance like you're five years old again. Twirl in the leaves. Jump in that rain puddle. Keep dreaming and planning and hoping and knowing that magic is not gone.

Your heart is being healed as you do all these things, little though they may seem. Let the beauty of it all renew your spirit and fill you again. Let the light within you come to life again and shine brightly. Just let it.

 

♥

An Autumnal Tradition ♥ Bread Baking

Happy Friday, lovelies!

Autumn in our home means lots of things, but one of my favorites is...

b r e a d  b a k i n g.

Nearly every year since I was around sixteen years old, I have chosen a handful of season breads to make. Typically, I will set aside one weekend to work on this project on and off over a few days. This year, however, I spread it out over about a week, baking a bit here and there. I always look forward to this tradition because it means that we get to set aside some yummy goodness in our freezer to enjoy over the coming months, but it also means that we get to package up some special, yummy goodness to share with our friends and neighbors.

Being the recipe lover that I am, I do not commit to a set list of recipes each year. I have way too much fun trying new recipes and switching it up every year. The only rules I have are that the loaves of bread must be autumn-themed, have lots of spices and feature autumn flavors, such as pumpkin, apple, sweet potato, etc. This year, I also decided to mix things up a bit and include a few muffin recipes...because, variety is the spice of life, after all.

  

My baking list for this autumn included:

Apple Spice Bread

Apple Granola Muffins

Pumpkin Bread

Pumpkin Streusel Muffins

Apple Cinnamon Muffins

Spiced Chocolate Zucchini Bread

 

Keeping apple as the main star of these recipes, I chose an old favorite...Apple Spice Bread (recipe HERE) as well as a new-to-us recipe...Apple Granola Muffins (recipe coming soon!). I was even more excited because this autumn I also discovered a granola recipe that has since become our very favorite; this is a huge happiness because I've been searching and trying recipes for years now. And I got to use that granola in these muffins, which made them all the more delicious.

My final apple recipe for this year was my dear friend's recipe for Apple Cinnamon Muffins. I've made these nearly every year since she shared the recipe on her (former) blog here. And now, it's time for another feature ingredient...pumpkin! I've been making this pumpkin bread recipe (coming soon!) for yers now, probably since I was about seventeen. Over the years, I've made a few changes, and this year, I made a couple more and finally, it is perfect. It's a soft bread with not too much sweetness and just the right about of spice...and of course, pumpkin!

My other pumpkin recipe was a new-to-me one...pumpkin streusel muffins (recipe coming soon!) Streusel is literally one of my most favorite things ever! I made Banana Spice Crumble Muffins (recipe HERE) earlier this year and I was so excited to bake an autumn-themed muffin with a crumbly streusel on top...and boy, did this recipe deliver! And my bread baking day(s) concluded with a wonderfully delightful spiced chocolate zucchini bread (recipe HERE). At first glance, this combination didn't sound appealing to me, but I'm so glad I gave it a shot. It is amazingly scrumptious! Last time, I made the recipe in a regular-sized loaf pan, but this time I used our preferred mini-loaf pans. 

A few other favorite bread baking day favorites...

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

Banana Bread

Halloween Barmbrack (A yearly tradition in our home)

Old-Fashioned Gingerbread

What are your favorite seasonal breads to bake? Do share below!

Happy baking, friends!

♥

Gently & Mindfully Tending Your Heart, Body & Soul

Tending to your own heart and soul is a crucial aspect of any life. We must fill our own cups before we can begin to pour out to others and invest in the goodness of our bodies, minds, hearts and souls. Self-care is what a lot of folks call this. Living a gentle, cozy life, in my opinion, is a form of self-care in and of itself. Choosing to live a life that is, in one way or another or perhaps many ways, different and countercultural to the world around us is already a step in the right direction. Today, let's chat about filling our cups and gently and mindfully tending to our own hearts and souls.

 

Living slowly and softly is not only a way of life that allows you to fully embrace the beauty of life's ordinary and grand moments, but it is also a way of life that is healthy. In no way is hustling and bustling about 24/7 healthy for anyone. It results in stress and anxiety and can even produce physical or emotional or mental health challenges. The cozy, gentle life invites you into a slower, softer, more meaningful way of living and its benefits are without number.

Self-care is important because we must tend to our own hearts and souls and bodies. This is not a selfish ambition when done in the right way. But, there are ways to take this overboard and neglect your responsibilities, homes and families...all of which are of utmost importance. Self-care in its best form is actually quite simple. It doesn't have to mean going to a spa and getting a massage (that would be a worst nightmare for me!) or spending hundreds of dollars. I'm of the belief, that along with most things in life, simple is best and that applies to the ways we tend to our hearts, bodies and souls. Let's chat about some of these ideas, shall we?

Slowing down is the best place to start, I believe. As Maria says in The Sound of Music, "let's start at the very beginning, that's a very good place to start." Well, slowing down in the best beginning in self-care rituals. When we physically slow down we settle our minds and hearts. If there is a need t be in a hurry, that's one thing, but when we're just going about our daily activities and tasks, we would all do well to just s.l.o.w. d.o.w.n. You aren't going to get much more done if you hurry about and you'll just work yourself up in the meantime, creating unnecessary pressure, stress and even guilt. When we take a breath and slow down, we can get our tasks done better and more thoroughly because we are putting more care into them and we can even enjoy the process as we go along.

Being gentle with ourselves is also hugely important. We do not need to put pressure or guilt on ourselves when 99% of the time it is completely unnecessary. we forget that we are human and often expect ourselves to be perfect and do things perfectly. Instead, when we live with gentleness towards ourselves, we can appreciate the way we were created and the journey we are on. Life is, after all, a journey and the journey takes an entire lifetime. When you are softer on yourself, you can even have fun with yourself. I think being able to laugh at oneself is a huge blessing! There is a quote that reads, "Blessed are we who can laugh at ourselves for we shall never cease to be amused." We need to take ourselves lightly and just have fun with things...and ourselves. Be compassionate towards yourself and not critical. Oftentimes, we are compassionate and understanding to everyone else except ourselves and we are, toom any times, our own critic and worst enemy. It's time we are kinder to ourselves.

Protecting your mind and soul is critical. I don't care what type of life you choose to live, how old you are, or where you live, this is extremely important. Only let goodness in and then goodness will naturally flow out. The garbage out there in the world is loud and rampant and overpowering and coming from too many sources to count. Turn the news off, close your computer, silence your phone, unsubscribe from the newspaper or those magazines, whatever it is...take those steps and protect yourself. Your mind and soul are precious ground and they deserve to be protected at all costs. And you are the only one with the power to do so. If you are a parent, this responsibility lies on your shoulders to protect your children, and I do hope you are taking it seriously. Mind our own business and quit worrying about what everyone else and their cousin is doing or what they think about this or that. When we tend our own garden, we will have much more peace and calm and clarity of mind than we do when we are too busy being concerned about everyone else out there. We each have a garden and we need to stick to tending it alone.

Taking care of your health is important as well. Eating healthy foods and taking the time to prepare good, nourishing meals will benefit, not only your body for the good food you are putting in it but also your soul as you slow down and take the time to prepare the meal yourself. Taking proper vitamins and supplements and getting exercise is also important. Making sure to get a bit of fresh air every day will do anyone a world of good. Be sure to take deep breaths and notice the beauty of nature around you. Soak up the earth's healing benefits and drink in the peacefulness that she offers you. Removing chemicals and dangerous products from your home is also highly beneficial, and instead of using natural, healthy products, which you can oftentimes make yourself at home using ingredients you already have in your pantry. Moving to as natural life as possible is always best and tiny steps are the way to do it. Don't overwhelm yourself thinking it all has to get done and switched over in one night, but rather do a little bit here and there and soon you will see grand changes.

Creating peaceful, slow morning and evening routines brings calm to the start and end of your day. If you have to set your alarm in the morning, do so with a bit of time to spare so you're not in a rush. And, if you can, choose a happy or peaceful sound to wake up to instead of the loud blare of a typical alarm. Take the time to wake up slowly and get ready for your day in a calm manner. Calm doesn't always have to mean quiet or slow as a snail. This can mean putting on fun dance music while you get dressed but it can also mean you light a candle and have your morning by its flicker instead of bright lights. It's all about finding what suits you best. At night, make your bed as cozy as you can...make it a place you want to be to sleep, inviting and warm and squishy soft. Read a book or watch a lighthearted show before bed instead of scrolling through your phone or watching the news. Enjoy a cup of soothing herbal tea if you like that. Take a warm bath or shower and get your body clean and refreshed. Put on comfortable, cozy pajamas. Spritz a sleepy time blend of essential oils on your bed and pillows or diffuse some lavender in your room as well. Awhile before you are ready for bed, begin making the preparations for bedtime...turn the big lights off and only use soft lighting, reduce loud noises, and prepare your room for sleepy time. 

Other forms of self-care include enjoying different hobbies that bring you happiness. Spending an hour knitting in the evening or reading a few chapters of a delightful novel are two of my favorites. I also love spending time in the kitchen baking a batch of cookies sometimes or making a loaf of homemade bread. Writing in my commonplace journal and collecting favorite thoughts or quotes that I have come across brings stillness to my mind at the end of the day. There are even opportunities for self-care whilst doing your daily tasks. Washing dishes by hand using a sweet-smelling soap and listening to the rain trickle down the window or with soft music in the background. Lighting a candle whilst you are wiping down the counters at night and picking crumbs off the floor. Making the bed in the mornings with the sunlight streaming in and the sound of birdsong outside the window. Taking your camera along on your daily walk to capture the beauty of nature and the earth's changing seasons can remind you that beauty is everywhere. Self-care can also be done in the company of others. There are few things more soul-filling and lifegiving than being with those you love most. Having a night of no screens and just playing cards or board games and eating popcorn or ice cream around the table is so fun. Pulling chairs around the firepit to make a circle and just hanging out in the evening chatting and laughing can fill a person's heart more than just about anything. Allowing the conversation at dinner to last long after the meal is finished...the dishes can wait until later or tomorrow, but the lingering chatter and warmth of family can't be beaten.

And finally, learning to say NO is crucial. We are not required to attend every event we are invited to or take part in every activity under the sun. We are also not required to join in the negative train that is so prevalent out there. Turn your phone off or leave it behind as much as possible. You don't need that constant connection to the world in your back pocket, nor do you need to know what is always going on. Checking it just a couple times a day is plenty enough...the other times can be spent in ways that are much more beneficial and healthy to your mind and soul. We do have to attend every debate or gossip party there is. Those things steal our joy and peace and ruin our perspectives. There is much to be said about living a quiet life...it's one of the best things you can choose for yourself and your family and yet so many don't. 

I hope that you found this post encouraging and helpful in some small way. Self-care doesn't have to be grand or even done in solitude. The most important thing is to fill your cup with things that are lifegiving and soul-filling...and those things will be different for each person. But the importance of protecting your heart and soul are crucial for everyone.

 

Stay cozy, friends, and find pockets of delight in your ordinariness!

♥

 

Creating a Cozy Wardrobe

Clothing is a fun aspect of life! There are so many ways to incorporate your unique tastes and preferences into what you wear. And cozy clothing is what I'm all about! While I always tend to go for a more casual, comfortable, cozy type of clothing all year round, my favorite clothing always comes out at this time of year. In the summer, it's loose shorts or comfy capri pants or jeans with the bottoms folded up. It's cute tops or casual t-shirts and always, always sandals or flip flops. And they have to be my favorite pairs...I tend to stick to just a few pairs and wear them out over the course of several years before buying new pairs that look exactly like my old ones. I also love light, flowy sundresses in the early spring, before it gets too hot. But as soon as I am able to pull out my autumn and winter clothing, you'd better believe I'm all for it!

Cozy clothing to me means being comfortable and being myself and not "putting on" any fakeness. There's this terrible idea out there that in order to be "put together" one must dress up, spend hours on their hair, wear makeup and put on a pair of high heels. I'm here to say that is an awful, horrible, terrible, no good, very bad belief! I've shared before, but I, in no way, believe in wearing makeup, nor do I spend hours on my hair. I am of the very firm belief that the best kind of beauty is all-natural, authentic and genuine, and anything other than that is just fake. In a world of fake eyebrows, fake eyelashes, fake freckles, fake beauty marks, orange skin, big lips, and other ridiculous ideals for beauty, I am even more of the belief that natural beauty is best and the important message it sends to the world.

As I've already mentioned before, I am not a minimalist. And that also applies to my clothing...I don't have a capsule wardrobe, nor are all my clothes in the same color scheme. I enjoy a variety of colors, textures, and styles. I am not always in the shops or scouring magazines or online stores. All of my clothing has been collected over the years and lots of pieces are at least five to eight years old, with some being over a decade old. I do not get a whole new wardrobe each season; typically, I just pick up a few new pieces just for fun. I shop at regular retail shops like Target, different places online, as well as thrift stores. I love the freedom of not tying myself down to any one sort of clothing style or shopping method...it makes for a heck of a lot less stress that is often unnecessarily placed on people in regards to clothing and fashion and shopping.

Creating a cozy wardrobe doesn't have to happen overnight, nor should it. That would be expensive, stressful and honestly, not as fun as allowing it to naturally be collected over many years. Today, I thought it would be fun to share some of the clothing pieces that I consider essential to any cozy wardrobe.

Cozy attire is anything that you feel comfortable in. Think plaid patterns, big woolly sweaters, leggings, scarves, toques, flannel shirts, plush socks, and cozy winter boots. Don't forget some big fluffy slippers!

Clothing tends to be casual. There's no need to fuss over how you look. Life isn't a fashion show, after all. Nobody cares about that when you're having a good time. If you feel like you have to be too stylish, you're feeling the need to pretend. Don't pretend. You have to feel at home. If you don't feel at home, then it's not hygge.

-Pia Edgerg-

Let's start at the bottom and work our way up...

First, shoes. I'm a lover of boots, particularly brown boots. I have several styles, some ankle boots and others that come up mid-calf. I have two pairs of rainboots and snowboots...one of each in an ankle style and the others are mid-calf. This nice because it offers choices depending on what pants I'm wearing as well as how wet or cold it is outside. I also love a comfy, cute pair of clogs and sneakers. All of these shoes look great with nearly any sort of outfit, too, so they're very versatile.

Socks...I like warm socks that keep your toesies all nice and toasty. There are so many cute patterns and designs out there that you can even have fun with what you put on your feet! And they look so cute with boots, too.

For pants, I'm a leggings gal myself. I just love them! You can dress them down or up, with a dress or a sweater or sweatshirt or just a cute top. I also like my skinny jeans...boot cut or straight just don't suit my taste. For lazy days at home, or if I just feel like it, yoga pants are also a nice change. Corduroy skirts are my favorite for this time of year. Several years ago, I was able to find a variety of colors in several styles for a great price and they're great on their own or with leggings or tights under for extra warmth. (see above photo)

Next comes tops...I am a sweater lover...and sweatshirts. Both of which I have quite a few. Whenever we go on vacation, I love getting a sweatshirt from the place we're visiting. So far I've gotten them from Chicago, Florida, Nashville, New Jersey, Vermont, and Ireland. We also love showing support for our local or favorite sports teams with sweatshirts, too. Sweaters in all sorts of colors and textures are my kind of thing. {{smiles}} Where I live, I don't get a lot of use out of the super thick ones, so I opt for the medium or lightweight ones instead. And when it comes to regular tops, I think soft and comfy is the way to go. Flannels are, of course, always delightful, too! (The same ideas go for dresses...soft, casual, comfy, warm and cute.)

Jackets and coats are essential for the colder weather. I find it smart to have a few different styles...one lightweight rain jacket, a heavy waterproof coat, and a dressier coat. To be honest, I have a couple of each style that I've collected over the years...all on sale for bargain prices. I love cardigans to wear as part of an outfit or as a sweater, and I think they are such cute additions to any wardrobe.  

Now for some of the most fun parts of a cozy wardrobe...

Scarves and cowls. I'm of the belief that one can never have too many of them! {{winks}} I have enjoyed collecting quite a few over the years, also picking up several on our travels. The cowls in my collection are all handknitted by me as I just love doing that on cold evenings around the fireplace. I love having a variety of colors, styles, textures and weights when it comes to scarves and cowls in my drawer.

Gloves and mittens. I think the cozier the better when it comes to these items. Truly, how much better does it get than to have warm, thick woollen gloves on your cold hands on a freezing wintry night. And, of course, a pair of waterproof gloves are a must for snowball fights and building snowmen!

Hats. I love cute hats! The ones with the pompom on top are just the best, though I also love the handmade ones I've gotten in Ireland at a craftswoman's home shop. All of the items in this section here are also great for gift ideas come Christmas time and perfect for stocking stuffers. {{smiles}}

And the final section of a cozy wardrobe is pajamas! In our home, we love comfy, cozy pjs! Flannel, fleece, sweatshirts or sweatpants...we're there for it! Warm socks with the little rubber bits on the bottom to prevent slipping down stairs and fluffy slippers are also favorites, especially of my mom. She's a bit obsessed! 

Well, friends, there you have it! My idea of the perfect cozy wardrobe!

I'd love to hear what your favorite clothing is this time of year and what you consider "musts" for a cozy wardrobe, so do share below!

Stay cozy! 

♥