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Happy Sunday Reader!
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We have talked about the Scandinavian practice of Hygge before, but fall is the perfect time of the year to put it into practice! Remember, Hygge is the practice of creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with good people.

As the evenings get darker, lighting candles, using string lights, and enjoying a cozy evening with people you love is a perfect hygge and fall themed evening!

If you live in the southern hemisphere where you are going into spring, you can still hygge! Spend time with people you love, and make your environment warm and cozy inside and out!

PS. for those who forgot, it is pronounced "Hoo-ga".

Self care tip.....

Hygge uses the cornerstones like cozy, friends, sharing, activities, warmth, belonging, and mindfulness to evoke an atmosphere or feeling around what you are doing. Here are some perfect hygge ideas for you to embrace this fall!

Cozy lighting: Setting the cozy atmosphere turns almost any activity into a hygge activity.

• Use candles of complementary scents inside to enjoy the soft lighting and a great smell!
• String a few sets of warm lights around your bedroom or living room
• Set up some solar lights around your porch or patio for those cozy warm evenings

Outside/inside pairing: One of the best parts of hygge in the fall is the combo of outside/inside living. Plan an outside/inside activity like:

• Raking leaves followed by hot chocolate and board games
• Picking apples followed by making an apple pie!
• Host a chili dinner and go watch the local football team at a home game
• Pick pumpkins then bake a treat from some extra pumpkin while carving the ones you picked

Good food: Food is a key part of hygge! Enjoy the best the season offers with these ideas!

• Slow down and bake a pumpkin bread
• Slow roast a delicious stew that you smell all day long
• Buy a few high end meats and cheeses you love and charcuterie on the living room floor
• Share your baked treats with friends or neighbors

Quality time: Spending quality time with people, while doing these activities, is key to finding warmth and fulfillment in hygge.

• Invite someone over to do whatever you have planned for the day with you. Errands or relaxing are more fun with a friend!
• Plan a special outing or activity that you don't want to do alone
• Arrange a fall specific activity like picking pumpkins, raking leaves, or making cider with a group you enjoy
• Invite someone to join you for dinner (without stressing and turning it into a "dinner party")

Etsy Find of the week.....

Having some of the right tools can help you in your hygge journey! But, you dont have to break your budget buying new things! First, look around your house and see what you can move or repurpose in a different area to make it feel more cozy. Moving a dim lamp into your living room, adding some blankets to your bed, or shifting pillows from a living room chair to your bedroom all can make an impactful change without costing a dime!

If you do want a few fresh things, here are some of my favorites from Etsy!

Show the world your love of hygge and be warm and cozy with this hygge sweatshirt!

Start your hygge experience off on the right foot with this great hygge starter kit!

Add some warm and cozy to your living area with this neutral wool blanket! Perfect for those chilly fall nights!

Ensure your house even smells like hygge with these hygge specific candles!

Upcoming week intention......

Find one hygge themed activity and plan to do it in the next week. Make note how you feel after and see if it is a self-care activity you should do regularly!

Weekly good news to share.....

The enormous projects that some people take on is mind-blowing sometimes! A great fall themed hygge idea would be to visit a corn maze and farm with some close friends or family. In Illinois, they take the corn maze to a whole new level! This is the world's largest corn maze and this year it is dedicated to the 60th anniversary of James Bond! I hope you don't get lost in this maze!

Featured blog post of the week......

Good food and friends are cornerstones of the hygge lifestyle. One thing I love about these Copycat Sweetgreen Bowls is how you can customize them for the season! For fall, make them extra cozy by trying some of the following ingredients in your bowl:

• Roasted sweet potato
• Cinnamon spiced almonds
• Hearty quinoa
• Fresh diced apples
• Roasted beets
• Maple-Tahini dressing
• Baked acorn squash
• Smoked gouda
• Pumpkin spice carrots

One thing I am loving this week.....

When I think of hygge this year, I am noticing so many ideas of how to make your house, living room, and bedroom hygge friendly. While I love my décor, there is definitely some room to add coziness and hygge to it this year!

Hygge doesn't need to be over-the-top with décor. I love this simple, neutral, but still warm and cozy home design!

If you need some hygge inspiration, Camille Styles has some fabulous inspiration for you! I need that funnel neck sweater for chilly evenings at home! What design idea caught your eye!??

Montana knows cold and how to stay cozy inside when it is chilly outside! They have some great home hygge inspirations!

Katie

PS: Don't forget to join us on Instagram or Facebook to share your thoughts on our topic this week!

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