Hi all! January has come and gone and 2018 is already 1/12 done! Ain’t that crazy?! Anyway, though I’m coming from a few nicer days in St. Louis – and I’ve heard that the weather was really nice in Chicago as well last weekend – we’re still right in the middle of winter. And as my fellow Chicagoans know very well, winter here doesn’t end until the end of April – three full months from now. Isn’t that just a dreadful thought?
Therefore, I thought I would share with you guys some tips and tricks to not only survive, but even enjoy winter. They all start with hygge!
Whether or not you have heard about hygge (pronounced hoo-gah) before, just know that it’s a cozy lifestyle that’s becoming increasingly popular, especially among millennials. It originally started in Denmark, and it became very popular throughout Scandinavia, where people needed a way to fight the gloom of the cold, long and dark winters they were experiencing. It is now gaining popularity throughout the world, and that makes me so happy!
So, what’s hygge about? Well, it’s about living in the moment, it’s about coziness, warmth, and being present. You’re living a hygge lifestyle if you’re slowing down, sharing comfort food with friends and family, staying home and creating a welcoming space, or spending time on the couch or by the fireplace, buried in blankets and pillows. In other words, hygge is about finding happiness in the simple things in life.
Here are a few hygge activities for you that will help you survive winter; you might even end up enjoying it!
Inside Activities
Invest in throws and blankets
No matter the size of your apartment you can still hygge. Actually, tinier, simpler apartment are usually cozier than large houses, it’s just a matter of setting it up right. My advice is: invest in throws and blankets. You can never have too many! I always have a couple extra blankets on my bed, plus one on the guest bed/sofa that can be considered my hyggekrog, aka my hygge nook, a space in the house that’s extra cozy and comfy! Plus, I also have a couple on my actual couch, because who doesn’t love to snuggle under a blanket while watching TV or Netflix?
I got my pink throw from H&M Home and I was really surprised by the quality! It’s really soft and warm. Other than that, you can find great blankets at Target, HomeGoods and even Primark – my friend Chiara got me a Star Wars blanket from Primark for Christmas and it’s awesome!
Fix the lighting!
Hygge is about comfort and coziness: that rarely pairs well with bright lighting. Therefore, fix the lighting! Use dim lights around the house, and you can even use candles! They will make your space look 10x cozier and they’ll make it smell amazing too.
Cuddle up with a dog
Don’t get me started on how annoying it is to have to walk your dog 3-4 times a day in the freezing cold. Not fun. However, that’s the only negative that I can think of of having a pup. Everything else that comes with it is amazing, especially in the winter, when you’re home all the time and need a companion for the cold, dark winter months! Cuddling up with a dog is definitely hygge, and it is by far my favorite hygge activity. Luckily, we have our good ol’ Spud, a 95 lbs (45kg) Great Pyrenees mix who just turned 6 and who loves to chill with us. He also likes to lay down in the snow and literally chill in the freezing temperatures, but that’s because he’s a mountain dog. We don’t like to do that. That’s just him.
Anyway, having a dog is fun and it is hygge! Even though you can’t take your dog out for hours like you would in spring or summer, winter is still a great time to spend time with your pup.
Make a hot beverage of your choice
Hygge is about getting cozy and warming up the spirit, so making yourself a hot beverage of your choice is a must! My personal favorite is lemon tea with lots of honey, which also helps fighting the cold and the flu. However, a great coffee or a hot chocolate work too – especially if topped with whipped cream. Yum.
Have a spa day (or night) at home
There’s no better way to relax at home than taking an afternoon or an evening for yourself and declaring it a spa night or a spa day. Get your skincare on, cover yourself in luscious body lotion, paint your nails and apply a face mask. Bonus points if you’re doing so with a friend or two! You can be extra and even put on a robe, if you’d like.
As far as products are concerned, lately I am loving the Mask of Magnaminty (thank you Maria for the awesome Christmas gift!) and the Sleepy body lotion by Lush. The first one leaves your skin feeling super soft, while the second one seriously relaxes your body and puts you to sleep! (Also, Lush is not paying me to say any of this, but if someone can make this collaboration happen, let a girl know. I’d love to receive money for reviewing products that I already love and use!)
Other than that, I’m pretty much obsessed with face masks – ask any of my friends. They’re like a hydration bomb, and a quick way to turn any night into a spa night.
If masks aren’t your thing, you can always take a good soak in a bubble bath, with a bath bomb or bath salt!
Cook or bake some comfort food
Another great hygge activity consists of taking the time to cook or bake some comfort food. You know, the kind of food that we love to indulge in in the winter: cakes, muffins, cookies, but also soups, stews and anything that slow cooks. Plus mac and cheese, am I right people? All I know is, I feel extremely cozy and happy every time I bake a cake and get to share it with my friends. Plus, that amazing smell that comes out of the oven… mmmm.
Read a book and play board games
Pretty self explanatory. Reading a book, maybe by the fireplace, under a blanket and with a warm cup of tea and a couple of cookies, is the ultimate hygge activity. I’m reading The Baltimore Boys by one of my favorite authors, Joel Dicker, and I love going to bed after a long day and reading a few pages before falling asleep. What are you guys currently reading?
If you’re not the reading type, board games are also hygge af and so much fun. It’s a great way to have fun with your friends. Unless you’re me, who sucks at Monopoly and can’t play any cards game.
Outside Activities
Go to a cute coffee shop
Coffee shops are super hygge. Just think about it! Warm coffee, sweet treats, catching up with friends, reading a book, while it’s snowing or raining outside. So cozy! There are tons of hygge coffee shops out there: a few of my favorite ones are Maison Parisienne, Floriole, La Colombe and the most hygge of all, Two Hearted Queen, a real hidden gem in my neighborhood!
In Milan, I love Pavè and Caminadella Dolci for a good merenda (afternoon snack). Pavè is now very well-known, while Caminadella Dolci is still kind of a hidden gem that I discovered thanks to my friend Francesca at A Milano Puoi (and my friend Sofia who forced me to go!)
Have a staycation
If it’s too cold to go out, but you and your friends still want to treat yourselves to a fancy night, just have a staycation at a hotel! My friends Lizett and Maria and I had one last October at the JW Marriott in downtown Chicago, and we had so much fun – I actually wrote about it here. It’s the perfect way to splurge a little bit, relax and spend quality time together.
Plan a weekend getaway
A weekend getaway is the best way to get your hygge on. Rent a cabin in the mountains or by the lake and immerse yourself in relaxation. Edo, his family and I rented a lake house in Wisconsin for a few days last September, and it was amazing to get out of the city and relax for a bit. It was super cozy too, definitely recommend both the getaway and our Airbnb!
Take a day trip
Day trips are more affordable than staycations, and they’re also easier to plan. Good day trips are the ones to museums and to the movie theater, – how many movies can you watch in a day? – but if the weather’s a bit warmer you can enjoy outside activities, such as going to an apple orchard, going ice skating, or going to a Christmas market. If you’re at all close to the mountains,
Or, if that’s more like you, take a day trip… to the spa. My favorite one in town is the Cowshed at Soho House.
Anyway, in the end, hygge is about you! You can – and you should – customize it as much as you want, by choosing your favorite books, music, scents, food and cozy activities.
However, if you do need some inspiration, I have a whole board on Pinterest that’s dedicated to hygge!
I have just been reading about Hygge and i really want to get the book. Thank you for showing me how awesome it is and you have me more excited than before to read the book
Thank you so much! Glad you liked it!
The concept of hygge is my favorite! Yes please 🙂
Glad you’re a fan too!