Happy Monday, friends!
Today I am sharing Part One of the May Cozy Life Photo Club that I am hosting. These photos and words are from my Instagram page, so that's why they read more like captions and not a usual blog post. I hope you enjoy this fun little challenge!
May your week be an absolute delight! See you next week for Part Two!
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Day 1…Introducing Me.
Hi friends! I’m Elizabeth, a single gal (waiting on my love), daughter of two and sister to one in my mid-twenties. My family and I live at Shady Cottage, our humble and beloved home, nestled among a plethora of cedar and oak trees. In the springtime, our back garden is filled with the heavenly scent of wisteria growing along our fence and in the summertime, we savour the cheerful scent of honeysuckle. Our home and garden are tucked under a canopy of green where squirrels run through the tree branches and birds sing their melodies each morning.
Teacups, aprons and books are just a few of my favorite things. Celtic music, watching my favorite movies or shows, nature through the seasons, cooking or baking, trying new recipes, travelling both near and far from home, photography, writing, knitting, sewing, rainy or snowy days, fresh flowers of any kind, perusing antique shops and used bookshops, forests and hills, the scent of sea air and the sound of crashing waves, ribbon roads, candles, ramblings through the garden, attending concerts, and all things old-fashioned, floral, and cozy have my heart forever. I’m a mix of old soul meets young at heart with a bit of crazy thrown in, and I have a million hobbies and interests.
I am, without a doubt, an introvert who loves her people and doesn’t like time alone. I’m a self-confessed idealist and a seeker of beauty, wonder and light. I’m a 26-year-old woman on the lifelong journey of reacquainting myself with the little girl hiding inside, forever seeking to reawaken my imagination and see the true magic of the world again. I seek to live a life that is filled to the brim with beauty and overflowing with magic and whimsy, immersed in art, kindled in imagination and rooted in nature. Idealistic? Maybe. Possible? Most definitely!
Homemaking is a passion of mine. I love and cherish the world of home and cultivating life within its four walls brings me endless delight and pleasure. My belief is that home should be the center of life and all of life should spring forth from our beloved corners of the world. That’s what I hope to share here.
Day 2 ...Outside My Window
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With springtime here in full swing, my most favorite view outside my window is finally here. Ever since we moved to Shady Cottage nearly three years ago, this has been something that makes me utterly happy with delight. An introvert’s haven, I call it. When the leaves are full and vividly green and the branches are covered completely...and that’s all you see when you look out. No neighbors or other houses. Not the road or cars. Just nature and peace and quiet. The only things I see are tall trees, bushes, squirrels running free, buzzing bees, other critters and our shed. Lush and gorgeous and just how I love it.
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If you know me, you know that I dream of living far out in the countryside, away from people, among nature and animals and wild wonder. Just me, my people, the earth and her creatures. And a gate at the entrance, if we’re being totally honest here. This is as close as I get to that for now...and it suits me just perfectly.
Day 3…Cookbook Love
I received my first cookbook for my 8th birthday. That was almost 19 years ago, and my collection has grown immensely since that late July day. I collect many things, and one of the most fun is my cookbook collection. I won’t tell you how many I own because it’s far too many to count. Most of them I’ve found at a favorite used bookshop, some I subscribe to yearly and others are ones that I find spur of the moment.
There are so many different types of cookbooks and I have specific ones I use for different occasions. My usual go-to for daily cooking is almost always Taste of Home or Gooseberry Patch or a favorite I discovered early last year, Hope’s Table. These all look incredibly worn and the pages are stained, marked up, and terribly rippled in texture. They get a lot of use and love and it shows!
From the time I was 7 years old, I was far more interested in watching the Food Network than cartoons. And that’s exactly what I did! I watched all the chefs from the early to late 2000s, but after that, the channel changed and it didn’t appeal to me anymore. I really enjoyed (and still do!) collecting cookbooks from those chefs that I loved watching as a young girl and teenager. I also love a good baking book as much as anyone and Mary Berry is my all-time favorite. I adore her!
Cultural cooking is an area that I enjoy delving into here and there and have picked up several cookbooks on different travels, both in different parts of the States and in Ireland (so far!). I would love to grow this part of my collection to all the different types of foods we enjoy in our home.
Cookbooks are one of my dearest loves. I read them like novels and just enjoy thumbing through them in the evenings. I’ve done cookbook challenges before and am in the middle of one right now. (I’m planning on sharing this on my blog.) And I’ve even had several of my own recipes published in a few cookbooks before, which sent me over the moon with giddiness. I’ve rarely met a cookbook I didn’t like!
The photos here are a good peek inside my collection.
Day 4 ...What’s Cooking
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Cooking is honestly one of my favorite things. It’s never felt like a chore to me, though I have gone through times of lacking motivation or inspiration. And a few times, I’ve lost the delight in cooking. But it is something that brings me immense happiness and fun.
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My mom and I take turns cooking, because it’s something we both enjoy. She’s the one that I would watch cooking shows with as a little girl. And it was my mom who inspired me to begin my own recipe collection after I spent my girlhood years helping with hers. And she is constantly encouraging me to try new things and make up my own dishes in the kitchen. We love talking recipes and planning new things to try. And the past few days, she’s been doing most of the cooking.
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I did, however, make my way to the kitchen last night. We’ve been raising a sourdough starter for two weeks now and are just beginning to use it. So far, so good. Two things tried and baked and loved!
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The first photo here is the cinnamon spice sourdough bread I made last night. The recipe was originally for muffins, but I never follow a recipe to the dot. I like breaking rules in the kitchen, putting my own spin on things, and just having fun with it all. This bread was so wonderful...it made our home smell like an autumnal day, which I love. And the flavor was delish! Perfect with tea!
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The second photo is our pizza from two nights ago. Last year I found a new interest in pizza making...but I had to find the perfect crust first. I eventually found two and usually don’t mess with something that isn’t broken. But I decided to try sourdough pizza crust on Sunday evening and it was the bomb! My people are picky about their pizza crust, and this one got raving reviews! Literally perfect in every way!
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So, what’s cooking at your house these days?
Day 5...My Cozy Corner
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This is my cozy corner, my creative space, my personal haven and retreat. I’m a single gal living at home with my family, and my sister and I share the upstairs. Last autumn, we made the decision to move our beds out of our bedrooms and into our common room. We wanted to make our rooms spaces for us to do our individual projects, watch tv or movies, read or sew or craft, or other things. And our sleeping space would be the common room, and we enjoy hanging out in there together anyways. It was the best idea!
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Ever since, I’ve loved my room even more and am always looking for ways to make it more me, more cozy and more of my haven. It’s a fun process that truly never ends, as there’s always something new to add or change up or a way to bring cuteness or coziness in.
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I love this spot! It’s where I spend my time before bed, usually a couple hours. Writing, knitting, reading a novel or magazine, adding to my commonplace or book journals, watching a favorite movie or show (currently it’s a Korean drama). I’ve just begun learning hand embroidery this year and am working on my second project. Sometimes I get in the mood to sew, so I bring out my sewing table and work on a project there. We sometimes do puzzles or board games on that table, too...and at Christmastime, we worked on holiday crafts each night. This spot is perfect for so many things, and I love it to bits.
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There are other cozy spots in our house, of course. Our kitchen, family room, sunroom, my bed, even our garden feels cozy. But this one is perhaps my favorite...it’s mine and just how I like it to be. And I enjoy so many things here, I can’t begin to name my favorite. The blankets and pillow make it even warmer and cozier, especially in the colder months. The white blanket is for our kitties and the grey one is for me. Candles lit, a soft lamp, baskets of crafting and writing supplies, and a mug of something delicious also add to the coziness. It all speaks of me and brings beauty to my space and delight to my heart.
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Do you have a cozy corner? How do you make spaces as cozy as possible?
Day 6 ...Evening Rhythms
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I am a person who lives by rhythms...daily, seasonal, etc. They bring peace to my days and help me to feel like myself. Schedules and rigid routines don’t work for me, but gentle rhythms and rituals suit me perfectly. That’s how it was during my childhood and it just seems to fit our family.
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My evening rhythms begin at dinner with my family. Either my mom or I or both of us will cook dinner and then clean up the kitchen. Then she and I, along with my sister, settle in for the night in our living room. We watch videos on YouTube that we all enjoy or an episode or two of a show that we’re working through. Right now, we’re rewatching The Amazing Race. We sometimes play board games or work on a project or bake something. Sometimes we’ll go outside for awhile or even for a night drive.
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Then when I head upstairs that’s when my personal evening rhythms begin. It’s always a bit of online time, watching YouTube or writing. That’s every night. Then I switch it up a bit...some nights I’ll watch a movie or a show that I’m working through. Sometimes I craft, like right now, I’ve just begun my newest embroidery project. I may read or clean my room or sometimes I even completely empty my bookshelves and reorganize them. It all depends on my mood. I’m also trying to get better about incorporating a cup of hot tea in the evenings too, which really is a nice way to end the day. Then it’s off to bed for sweet dreams.
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Are you a person who lives by gentle rhythms or are you more of a schedule type person?
Day 7...Dress Wearing...also part of my weekly Friday Feminity Gathering series
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Summer dresses with floral patterns are finally in their season... and I couldn’t be more excited! I love the colors and patterns this time of year. And anything floral is bound to call to me!
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The weather has been so lovely, though the mosquitoes have made their seasonal debut. I always seem to be a feast for those pests! The earth is alive again and bursting with colors and blooms. The grass and trees are lush green again, too... and it’s so nice to see that after the dead brown of winter. I can’t tell you how happy the green makes me!
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This weekend is Mother’s Day here in the States, so we’re having a special meal for my mom. And I’m making donuts and a cheesecake for us to enjoy over the weekend...both upon her special request. We don’t bake all that often, so these are a real treat!
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I hope you all have a lovely weekend, dear friends!
Day 8...Wandering in Nature
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“When we walk on the earth with reverence, beauty will decide to trust us. The rushed heart and arrogant mind lack the gentleness and patience to enter that embrace.”
(John O’Donahue)
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Nature is one of my happy places. She has so many lessons to teach us if only we take the time to slow down, notice and pay attention. Perhaps one of the biggest lessons is that in nature everything gets accomplished and is made beautiful in its time. Nothing is rushed or hurried through. Each season has its purpose and beauty. Nature is gentle and always but never changing. Nature reminds me that slowing down is the best way to live. Noticing little things brings about immense happiness. And beauty is often right in front of my face. She teaches gentleness, patience and being awakened to wonder.
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Most of the time, the nature I wander is right outside my door. The previous owners of our home made the gardens an enchanted, magical place. Fairies make their home among the ivy and gnomes reside among the tall, reaching trees. It feels special and secret and beautiful. A couple days ago, on a ramble through the back garden, my mom noticed these flowers blooming. They were tucked behind other plants and hidden among the green. But their color poked through and brought delight to our hearts and eyes when we spotted them. How sweet it is to find these hidden surprises!
Day 9...In My Cup
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For Mother’s Day weekend, we made homemade donuts...plain donuts with a delicious chocolatey glaze. They are heaven! Best of all, we tried making them in our new air fryer and they came out perfect! I was a bit skeptical at first, but after the first one came out, it was decided unanimously that this new way was the best. My family has been raving about them all weekend long!
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In my cup today is a new-to-me tea...glazed lemon loaf from Tazo teas. This tea is heavenly...it smells absolutely divine and the flavor is a combination of vanilla and lemon. Seriously, it’s my new favorite!
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Herbal tea, hot chocolate (with vanilla almond milk), or sliced cider is my jam. I like an occasional vanilla latte, though it must be decaf. Caffeine is not my friend. It makes me feel not the best and brings out my goofy side. Though according to my family, I don’t need caffeine for that to show!
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Happy Mother’s Day to all the mamas out there, especially my dear mom. We’re having a special dinner tonight with homemade cheesecake for dessert...we’re very excited for that! May your day be a beauty, dear friends!