Let's get cozy.
Fall vibes + musings on slowing down this holiday season.
Have a Hygge NO-vember
I feel like the end of Daylight Savings Time is the unofficial start to cozy season here in the south. I’m relieved to have some daylight before I get to work in the mornings again but wish it didn’t mean coming home in the dark. Oh, and fingers crossed that the time change doesn’t completely knock our sleep schedule out of whack! It may still be warm out but I’m determined to embrace all things hygge.
From the Oxford dictionary:
hyg·ge /ˈh(y)o͞oɡə,ˈho͝oɡə/
a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being (regarded as a defining characteristic of Danish culture).
"why not follow the Danish example and bring more hygge into your daily life?"
This season is full of changes. We’re packing up the Halloween decor and thinking about cleaning up and clearing out before decking the halls with garlands, tinsel, and string lights. I’m giving myself permission to slow down, take on less, and be more mindful at home. You may have seen that meme going around on the internet about NO-vember and it’s true. It’s okay to just say no. Instead of pushing myself to do chores non-stop, I’m thinking about seasonal meal planning, sitting outside while the kids play in the sandbox after work, and fitting in another episode of the Great British Baking Show with my husband before I crawl into bed, cozy up with our kitty (Fern) underneath a warm blanket, and read a few pages of a book. I’m giving you permission to slow down this holiday season too.
LOVING LATELY
In previous iterations of my newsletter, I had a reading, watching, and listening segment. I’d love to start that back up if it’s okay with you. Here are a few things I’ve been loving lately.
Shop: I’ve been trying to read more on my Kindle and follow @DailyEbookDeals religiously for updates. I highly recommend signing up for Erika’s Patreon + Discord if you’d like to chat with other readers about all the best book deals.
Read: Harry Potter: A Magical Year is the perfect seasonal book for Harry Potter fans. Each page has beautiful illustrations paired with lines from the series for each day of the year. In the new year, I’m planning to incorporate reading the day’s passage into our bedtime routine.
Watch: I’m still slowly making my way through Season 5 of Outlander on Netflix. The America storyline hasn’t kept my attention the way that the other seasons did. Can we time travel back to Scotland, please?! If you’ve read Diana Gabaldon’s books should I stick it out?
Wear: My kids will be wearing these corny-copia PJs for Thanksgiving.
Save: I’m already dreaming about Christmas and I’m itching to go thrifting to incorporate more found items + vintage decor into what we have. If that’s your thing, I’ve been pinning lots of Pinterest inspiration.
Eat: I’m a huge Half-Baked Harvest fan-girl and I’ve been thinking about this Creamed Spaghetti Squash with Browned Butter Walnuts ever since I made it last holiday season. It’s time for a comeback on our table. I think I’ll bring it to add to our spread of side dishes when we get together with family on Thanksgiving Day.
Listen: Right now on Spotify I’ve been listening to Taylor Swift’s Midnights album on repeat. Some stand-outs for me are Maroon, Snow on the Beach and Question…? Because I’m basically still listening to the same bands from my college years, I’ve also been into the new Artic Monkeys album The Car and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs album Cool it Down. You can frequently find me leaving work blasting Spitting Off the Edge of the World as I drive away from the parking lot.
That’s it from me for now. I’m planning to share some baby, toddler, and preschool stocking stuffer ideas in the coming weeks and I’ll check back in at the end of the month with my November reading recap. For now, here’s a quick poll.