How to cozy up your home on a cold, blustery day
On one of those gloomy rain-drenched or bitterly cold days when you're reluctant to do much besides stare out the window at the blustery gray weather, why not spend some time "cozying" your home? After all, this is the type of weather that forces one to stay inside more often so why not celebrate that fact versus bemoaning it. If it's nippy, light a fire. Heat up homemade spiced tea and snuggle under freshly washed cotton throw with a new magazine.
Whether making soup or placing your favorite quilt on the back of the couch, here are five ways to warm your home interior and your soul:
One, grab a handful of magazines off your coffee table, or from your local market, and breeze through the pages, looking for ways to add those special touches to your comfort spaces. From pulling your down comforter out of the linen closet to placing your grandmother's hand sewn quilt on your dining room table, you'll find many techniques to refurbish your cozy nest. If you can't buy them brand new, head to thrift stores where you can find an abundance of your favorite genre, be they home decorating or child rearing or gardening.
Two, get that soup on the stove--or in the crock-pot! Check out the yummy crock pot and soup recipes either in your favorite battered cookbooks or try some recipe sites online. How about some crockpot beef stew? You'll need to throw in some stock meat, some tomatoes and lots of fresh carrots, broccoli and cabbage, and let it simmer for several hours.
Three, how about trying to make some homemade bread? If you have a bread maker, it's all the easier, but the homemade kind is a nurturing way to while away some time. As you flour your hands and the surface, and knead the dough, you can play some uplifting music or turn on a comforting program on TV.
Four, prepare your favorite warm beverage, be it mulled cider or wine, hot cocoa, coffee-perhaps flavored with a dash of cinnamon, or spiced tea. Making batches of these warm beverages is a cozy activity in itself. They make great gifts when placed in a jar and covered with pretty fabric and scrap ribbon. There are all sorts of recipes in books and on the internet for these drinks. Why not have one of each on hand for yourself and anyone you choose to spend some cozy time with?
Five, find a well-loved movie on TV or in your local video store. The main requirement is that it be cheerful, not depressing. Now's not the time to tackle that serious, well-reviewed film that you know you should see. Instead go for something old and tried 'n true or ask for some recommendations. How about keeping a list of videos you want to rent, or programming your VCR to record shows and films on television?
Once you've stocked your larder with goodies to enjoy, have your special show cued up as fragrant soup stews on the stove, and bread bakes in your oven, settle down on your sofa with your favorite afgan, with your pet or your honey, and have a cozy day.