I've never heard so many negative notes about a season as I have about Winter. Capital W.
It seems like the majority of the nation despises the post-Christmas cold and instead of embracing the inevitable and trying to make it more enjoyable, everyone skips ahead to spring, thus passing over a very lovely 3+ months of the year.
So, today's blog post is going to be welcoming winter with all its inconveniences, cold mornings, and cozy nights. We're here to enjoy the seasons as they come and see what magic we can find the everyday winter moments.
From updating your tech backgrounds to help inspire your work to sharing a fun trend that's perfect for this time of the year, this hefty blog post is filled to the brim with some fun tips to make the most of early January. But in reality, this whole blog over the next 2ish months will be dedicated to Winter.
From learning about hygge to eating seasonally, dressing the way you want for the temps outside to ways to keep active and stay healthy, I'm so excited for the upcoming content and I hope it will help inspire you to embrace the season and enjoy a slowed down, simply-appointed style of life.
January Desktop Wallpaper
to download, right click and save
There's always something nice about a digital refresh after the holidays. Cleaning out your inbox, changing your tech backgrounds . . . It makes the process of actually sitting down to your computer to work just a little bit more enjoyable. If none of these wallpapers catch your fancy, you can always go back through the archives and find one that fits your current vibe.
An Easy & Healthy Winter Snack
Popcorn is one of my favorite snacks of all time. It's fast, easy, can be healthy and doesn't take a fancy machine or even a microwave to make!
I make my popcorn on the stovetop because I think it tastes so much better than air popped or microwaved popcorn. And it couldn't be easier.
Ingredients *makes 2-4 servings
- 2 tbsp of oil ( I often use coconut or just canola)
- 1/2 cup of popcorn kernels
- desired toppings: sea salt, butter, olive oil, truffle oil, parmesan, sprinkles, chocolate, caramel, etc.
How to Make:
- add your oil to a saucepan with a lid over high heat on the stove
- add 3 kernels of popcorn to the pan and cover
- when the 3 kernels of corn have popped you know the oil is ready for your 1/2 cup of corn
- add in the kernels and shake frequently until the corn is popped
- immediately remove from heat, add to a bowl, and cover with your toppings
If you need a visual for making the popcorn I just posted THIS REEL with a full visual explanation!
How to Sustainably Reuse Your Live Christmas Tree
Every year Lee and I go through the cozy ritual of picking out a live Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving and we have it up well into the New Year. We love having a live tree in our home but I'm very conscious about the fact that using a live tree for a month and then disposing of it is not the most sustainable practice.
So, instead of pitching it out to the curb this year, here's what we're doing with our live tree:
- using it as a natural bird feeder through the winter – our backyard is more or less a bird sanctuary. We see cardinals, woodpeckers, bluejays, sparrows, crows consistently and the still fluffy branches of the Fraser fur make the perfect hiding spot from the winter chill.
- I make a few pinecone bird feeders with peanut butter, peanuts and birdseed and hung them through the tree too!
- when the tree starts to look a little worse for wear and the needles have fallen we'll cut it up and use the branches and trunk for firewood for our backyard fire pit.
A Trend I'm Loving
I'm never one to jump on trends. Very few ever speak to me in substantial ways, but this one has been popping up for the last year or so and I'm thinking it's more of a here-to-stay aesthetic rather than a here-today-gone-tomorrow ideal.
If you've been on TikTok or Instagram over the past year the "That Girl" aesthetic has been one to watch. On Pinterest it's also called the "Clean Girl Aesthetic" or "Wellness Aesthetic". Basically it's what new year's resolutions are built on. Clean, minimal styling, beautiful workout gear, products that can help sustain a healthy lifestyle. Lots of neutrals, cozy workout sets. No wonder it speaks to me.
Cheers to more smoothies, juices and matchas in the New Year!
Books on My January TBR List
January is the perfect time to make a dent in your reading goal for the year. Snow days are made for reading and you're going to feel a lot more productive reading than becoming one with Netflix. Here's what I'm reading this month! As always you can join our Group Board over on Pinterest to see what other members of the SPT community are reading!
- This Time Next Year - Sophie Cousens *currently reading
- The Bookshop on the Shore - Jenny Colgan
- The Watchmaker of Filigree Street - Natasha Pulley
- The Assassin's Blade - prequel to the Throne of Glass Series I finished last year
- The Kinfolk Table - Nathan Williams
- Chasing Slow - Erin Loechner
Daily, Weekly, Monthly Planner Downloads
For the one that needs a little extra organization or motivation, these easy to download and print planners are the perfect solution. I made them for daily, weekly, or monthly use depending on what you need.
Feel free to download and use for your own use.
