Kick the Blues, Welcome the Cozy

Anyone else suffering from the post-twinkle-lights blues? January can be tough for those who struggle with cold temps and dark days. Here in Shafferland, we do what we can to bring a dose of cozy to the long stretches of winter, in hopes that it will chase away the winter blues. Today I have a few suggestions that might help bring extra cozy into your home.

1. Light a fire...of some sort. 

We don't have a real fireplace in our house, but we do have an electric fireplace that we can run with or without heat. For Christmas, our gift to each other was a heater that looks like an old fashioned cast iron stove. (We got it for our sun porch, so we can enjoy it on cold days.) Nothing is quite as cozy as a real fireplace, of course, but in the pinch of the winter blues, soft light and gentle heat really can help create a little extra cozy. And if you don't have any kind of fireplace, you can always track down a fireplace video (like this one on YouTube) that plays for several hours, offering the glow and crackle of a cozy fire. If you're a candle-lover, get a Wood Wick candle in the scent of your choice. The wicks really are made of wood and crackle like a fireplace when you burn them. (Not gonna lie: I was pretty excited to find one in my dresser drawer a few days ago!)

2. Don the comfy...literally.

One of my Christmas gifts from Ryan (and also the gift we gave to all the girls in my family) was a Comfy. Have you heard of them? They are ginormous sweatshirts that are Sherpa-lined and soft on the outside. They have hoods and pockets and are absolutely like wearing a blanket. I have worn mine many nights since Christmas, and it is the warmest, coziest thing in the world. (And when I stand up to refill my coffee, it goes with me!) If you don't have a comfy, then make sure you have some sort of deliciously warm blanket. (Several years ago, Ryan's mom got me an electric throw blanket that I also love, and it's pretty popular with our small group crowd, too. It's available to the first taker every time we meet.) There is something about being warm and cozy on your person that chases away the blues! 

3. Try a new coffee or hot chocolate concoction.

Warm drinks in my belly = the best way to warm up and feel cheery when it's cold and dreary outside. You might remember that last year, our Christmas gift to each other was a latte machine for our house, and we have had fun crafting recipes for coffee drinks with it. Even if you don't have that, adding flavored syrups can jazz up your regular coffee or hot chocolate. If you need some inspiration, check out Monin's recipe section. That's where we've gotten several of ours! And I'm also of the persuasion that a little whipped cream and syrup drizzle on top makes for an extra cozy drink. 

4. Scarves for the double-win.

Of course we can't always stay home, which is unfortunate, because cozy on the couch is the best, in my opinion. But working, adulting, and all the responsibilities get in the way of that, right? I am finding that adding a scarf to my outfit (when I leave home) is the best way to combat that blah feeling. It keeps me extra warm as I face the blustery outdoors, and it also makes me feel extra cute. Because of my broken internal thermostat, I can only wear scarves in the coldest part of winter, so I enjoy the extra accessory. Warm = win and pretty = win! (PS - if you're so over the one way you know how to tie a scarf, here's a link to some ideas on other presentations!) 

5. Read your way warm. 

I have missed reading over the last few months and have decided that this month I'm going to try to trade in some of my social media time-wasting for much healthier book-reading. Read your way into an adventure, and you might just find your heart and self warming right up. Don't like the blah outside your window? Can't afford a real-time vacation to a warmer place? Go on a book vacation and warm up in the land of fictional destination. (Wear your Comfy while you read!)

6. Soup for days!

Since I've gone back to work here in the heart of winter, I'm learning a new dependence on my slow-cooker to feed us dinner at a reasonable hour. I'm so grateful I've accepted this adventure in the winter, because soups are easy ways to employ the slow cooker, and not much feels cozier on a cold winter night than hot soup with a few crackers on the side. (Here are a couple of our favorites: cheeseburger soup and Ryan's homemade chili.) 

7. Get a massage.

Of all the things on this list, this one is the one I employ the least and dream about the most. I love massages and always feel so much better after I get one. I think a perfect winter evening would mean getting a massage right after work and then crashing on the couch for the rest of the night (with the aforementioned fire, comfy, coffee, and book). Bye-bye, tension!!!

8. Employ your creativity.

Whenever I'm down in the dumps, I find that sitting and thinking about feeling blah is of no help whatsoever. I try to do something productive - and fun - to help combat the blues. I might make a batch of cookies, do some pages in my scrapbook, or plan a vacation to help turn the gears in my mind and warm up my heart. I always feel better at the end of the creativity fest, because I've actually accomplished something productive!

9. Shop the house and shuffle the decor.

Sometimes sitting in the same-old-same-old contributes to the winter blues. I try to spend January and February shuffling around things within the house. I might swap some pieces of furniture with pieces in other rooms or move around some pictures or other décor, just to give me something new to look at. If you're trying not to spend here in the post-holiday world, this one requires no spending. Just shop the house! (If you do have a little to spend, try getting a new plant or updating pictures in your frames.) 

10. Host a warm winter's party. 

Cheer up your heart by inviting over some friends! It doesn't have to be fancy or formal at all. Last weekend, we were invited to a birthday party for one of the guys in our small group. His wife made homemade pizzas and everyone else pitched in a side dish. We sat around the dining room table, swapping stories, eating pizza, and at the end of the night, we gathered in the living room and listened to one of the guests play beautiful piano music. It wasn't fancy, but it was warm and full of love and joy. It doesn't have to be Pinterest perfect at all. Just gather in some friends and enjoy the company!