Leaning into winter

As I type this, I’m wrapped in a blanket as I watch snow flurries dance by my window. Not exactly where I thought I’d be mid-April. Trust me, I’m just as “over it” as the next person. But as is the case with other phenomena, I can’t control it. I can choose to fight it, be annoyed, or find the silver lining and lean into it, knowing it won’t always be so.

Here’s how to savor the last of the winter season:

Light a candle or a fire. This is the quickest way to bring a little hygge into your home (more on hygge here). There’s no need to shell out a lot of money on a candle; most of my favorites are from here.

Watch movies under a blanket. Our favorite thing as of late is to enjoy a cozy picnic dinner and a movie. The entire family loved this one and this one. And my husband and I just watched this one.

Drink tea. I have been living on tea all winter. I drink this when I'm trying to curb a sweet tooth, this when I’m looking for something warm and comforting, this when I’m feeling under the weather, and this before bed.

Spend more time in the kitchen. Roast a pan of vegetables. Make this soup. Bake cookies and eat them fresh out of the oven. Warm foods will nourish your body and soul.

Crack a window and breath in some fresh air. Perhaps not conventional advice when it’s 30 degrees outside, but that cold, crisp air will wake-up your system and feel so refreshing, even for a few minutes.

Treat yourself. Indulge in a hydrating face mask (I love this one) or take a long, warm bath. If you aren't hooked on the smell alone, this bath soak is also moisturizing, and you can feel good about supporting a local, woman-owned business.

Winter has long been recognized as a time of restoration, spent indoors surrounded by those we love. Before we know it, the first signs of spring will emerge, we’ll open all the windows and let in the spring breeze. The days will get longer, and quickly fill with playgrounds, and play dates, and friends, and swimming pools, and activities. So let’s enjoy these last few days of winter for what they were meant to be: slow and relaxing.