Ten tiny things we did over the weekend that made our apartment feel fresh and bright and the frigid temps more tolerable.
1. Light some candles. The hardest part about coming back to our apartment after the holidays is the lack of a fireplace, so we’ve been lighting candles, instead. Though we’re burning through tapers so fast, I think it’s time for pillars.
2. Wash the shower curtain. Do you remember that post? Just in case you missed it, here’s some encouragement to take down your shower curtain and throw the whole thing in the washing machine. None of the spraying or scrubbing or getting pruney fingers in the shower while you scour. All of the clean.
3. Change the sheets. (These are our favorites, on sale).
4. Take a brisk walk. Even when it’s so cold that your nose hairs freeze. We went to a first birthday party in a sunny apartment in Morningside Heights this weekend (just one block away from where my grandmother grew up). Afterward we took a stroll through a neighborhood, nevermind the cold.
5. Make a warming dinner. We made a riff on this tart, swapping a whole bunch of kale for the mushrooms.
6. Exfoliate.
7. Make hot cocoa. Drinking it on a fire escape optional.
8. Learn a new card game. We recently played hearts with my mom and dad. I got through the mind-wrecking first few minutes that is me learning the rules to a new game, and actually finished by enjoying the game.
9. Make a smoothie. Greens, fruits, yogurt. Not warming, exactly, but fresh and bright, definitely. My sister Cait‘s been on a kick lately. We’ve gotten reinspired.
10. Plant a bulb or two. Nothing’s sweeter than a little wintery growth.
What’s on your list?
39 Comments
We have been on a candles and smoothies kick lately. Just perfect for this time of year.
OMG. Impressive!
i filled my entire living/dining room with fresh mimosa (so very Provence) & daffodils, muscari, crocus, yellow tulips, paperwhite bulbs.
spring flowers are keeping me sane during the last winter months…
Run 3 sprints. That's all. Fast easy and it wakes me up 🙂
OMG. Impressive!
These are so sweet. I love the candles idea and the brisk walks (which is def something hard to do but always worth it). Hope your week goes more warmly 🙂
http://www.southernfolly.com
I'm definitely with you on the candles and I'm trying to get there on the "brisk walk" idea. I've been loving citrus to boost my mood and give some color, and love, love, love cuddling up with a good book during the winter!
Good one! Nothing like January grapefruit!
Yay! (Thank you!)
Candles candles candles! That magical twinkling light in the evening makes such a difference. I've also been making a point take a moment and watch the sunrise (as in watch the sky lighten from my kitchen window, not the actual sun breaking from a horizon) rather than bemoan the fact that I have to wake up in the dark 🙂
Agreed! I don't think I've ever had David's tea—sounds like I should look for it!
We are keeping up with our daily walks, this time of year wandering through the wooded trails behind our house. Fun for our toddler and fresh air makes us all feel better.
Also my daughter loved the Christmas lights so much, I kept out three strands when I packed the decorations and then I strung them up around the openings to the living room, dining room, and kitchen. Just three simple LED strands that we turn on all day and unplug at night. It really does make the entire place feel more festive and cozy. 🙂
They're quite deep so I think the answer is yes! We have a small pillow top mattress on ours and they fit with room to spare. Best of all, the top sheet actually fits! I'm a huge fan.
I really enjoyed the sugar scrub! I even wrote about it: http://minioslo.blogspot.no/2015/01/take-care-of-yourself-child.html (and yes, I like you Boyle sisters!)
Yay! (Thank you!)
Such an uplifting post especially in the dark mountains of the Rockies in Canada! A long winter… while I can't stand the cold I appreciate the beauty of the sunrising over the mountains on my way to work. The frost and snow is gorgeous.I love candles..even those fake ones all over the house mixed in with the scented ( must have real scented ones of course! ) make such a difference. Brisk walks when you safely can and not freeze body parts 🙂 and cute cute mitts, hats and scarves. Wool coats to dress up and down. Scarves are the best accessory! Also, a variety of teas to mix it up in evenings ( do you have David's tea? ) and the most perfect comfy, soft throw on the couch – and ones for visitors to snuggle with. Thanks for your inspiration to appreciate all the little things each day 🙂
Agreed! I don't think I've ever had David's tea—sounds like I should look for it!
Do you happen to know if the West Elm sheets will fit a deep mattress? I've struggled for years to find a great fitted sheet that's deep enough for our pillow top mattress!
They're quite deep so I think the answer is yes! We have a small pillow top mattress on ours and they fit with room to spare. Best of all, the top sheet actually fits! I'm a huge fan.
I love candles too, and am really enjoying our three battery-operated Luminara brand candles. They are on a timer, too, so they are on when we come home from work and go off at bedtime. They are so realistic! Guests at our house didn't know they weren't real. And they're safe and perfect for power outages. I like to supplement them with real candles.
Claudia
Oh, the seed catalogs!
I'm about to return from India to chilly Scotland and I'm thinking about the transition that's coming a lot at the moment. Looking forward to working some tiny things into my new northern rhythms next week. Rebecca
Wishing you a safe return!
What an impressive daily ritual! Stay warm!
Thank you for this list. Wintertime lists might be my favorite.
Thank you! Now, got get yourself a little something green!
Oh and on my winter list… brisk walks like you, tea parties, game nights with girlfriends, perusing garden books and seed catalogs, and tidying up my home.
Oh, the seed catalogs!
I love this post as I have been doing most of these all week. I bleached the shower curtain, washed all the rugs and linens change sheets every 4 days,, cleaning windows and cooking yummy comfort foods that make the apartment smell amazing. I use LED candles instead of candles, as a migraine sufferer I cannot burn candles, but they are fabulous because they last forever on batteries and have timers that go on at dark. Its a warm inviting addition to any apartment. I position the LED pillars in different sizes all about to go at dark and off at bedtime. Its very pretty this dreary time of year. My best friend and I walk daily, very briskly no matter what the weather for 3 miles. Cheers.
What an impressive daily ritual! Stay warm!
Walking more is something my fiance and I said we were going to do this year. -30 temperatures sure are discouraging, though! Aye. Our apartment is seriously in need of some plant life, too! Beautiful, fresh photos.
Thank you! Now, got get yourself a little something green!
I've tried washing my shower curtain liner in the washer the past two times instead of by hand, but I think it doesn't have enough room to smush around in there, because it still comes out with some gunky spots. 🙁
Darn it! That happened the first time I washed ours, too! Now I do a fairly light load with just rags + liner and it comes out SPOTLESS. Don't give up!
"It's so cold that your nose hairs freeze." Going to favorite your blog for that one.
One of the things that is missing (filled in, and to expensive to remedy) in our flat is a fire. In winter, I have loads of candles – usually either a filled jar, or a long life tealight in a jar or teacup. The glow it gives is pure comfort.
Also, I completely agree on the getting outside. A walk in the dressing cold followed be hot tea in the warm is a glorious thing!
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