Things I do to make my home cozy in the Winter

The winters can get awfully long, so I look online for new ideas to help me get motivated... something I struggle with especially in January. I stumbled into the Christian Homekeepers Blog this last fall and have enjoyed popping my head in every once in a while for new ideas. We then post them and share our ideas. Here's mine...


In my Winter Kitchen... I bake as many breads as we can eat! Since baking is not my focus in the Spring and Summer, my kitchen smells wonderful in the Winter.

My favorite Winter time meal is…. Clam chowder served with homemade Artisan bread. My kids love soups and they are so cheap to make.

I Do/Do Not (choose one) tend to be depressed in the Winter…. I often joke that my batteries are running low because I run on solar power. The lack of sun gets to me and I do get depressed sometimes. That's when I decided to leave my home for the afternoon, get coffee with a friend, go to a bright, beautiful store like World Market, or hit the flower shop for a fresh bouquet!

A favorite Winter time activity my family enjoys is.... playing board games while listening to music. Our favorite game right now is Ticket to Ride. We spend a lot of time around the table after dinner during Winter.

To help my home look and feel inviting in the Winter…. I have lots of blankets to cuddle under, and light candles that smell like cinnamon.

How I dress to stay warm … long sweaters and fluffy socks! Sometimes if I get chilled, I'll sit on the couch with my heating pad behind me. I dream of a fireplace... but that doesn't usually take off the chill :)

One really important health rule for the Winter time I’d like to share …. sit in a bath with good smelling oils. After I'm done cleaning up, I'll just dump some in the water and soak for a while. It helps my skin and makes me smell good at the same time!

Just another New Year's Resolution?

Happy New Year! I'm gonna lose weight, save money, get healthier... for a WEEK!!! I'll be honest, my staying power for things such as these lasts about as long as a vapor. You, too? I actually don't set New Years Resolutions. I never have. And honestly, we are all gonna die! Now, don't worry... I am not being cynical. The older I get though, the more I want to focus my life on things that will last for an eternity. Whether I die with a skinny waist or a fat bank account won't matter once I meet my Creator. I've decided to start with Galatians 5:22-23... "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. Against such things there is no law."

I want Jesus to be able to live in my life more this year than last year. Less of me. More of Him. More love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. When I sit and ponder how many ways this could effect my life and those around me, I get a little excited. If my waist is smaller or my checkbook shows more zeros, that doesn't make an impact on anyone but me. But if I live walking "in the Spirit" then there is no end to what he could do with a divine size serving of Love or Peace or Self Control each day of my life.

So could I encourage you this year not to forget the spiritual part of you. There's nothing wrong with getting healthy, but let's not neglect what will last. The eternal.