Home & Hearth

15 Ways to Keep Warm and Cozy this Winter

December 31, 2019 by Sylvia Rose 2 Comments

When the Christmas lights get taken down and winter becomes long, bleak, and seemingly endless, it’s time to take action. Here are 15 ways to keep warm and cozy to survive the winter with a cheery heart.

fireplace — `Photo by Jayden Wong on Unsplash`

GETTING HYGGE

In 2017, Meik Wiking published The Little Book of Hygge, which introduced the Danish concept of coziness and convivial cheer to the Western world.

Pronounced “hoo-gah”, hygge quickly exploded and became a means for marketers to sell candles and plush blankets.

I can understand why.

Living in Canada, I’m not a stranger to long cold winters. The sun rises at 07:00 and sets by four in the afternoon, so for those folks who work 9-5, winter can be an unhappy time.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that’s very real and affects millions of people. We need as many ways to keep warm and cozy as we can get!

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Four Easy Elixirs to Keep You Warm This Winter

December 27, 2019 by Sylvia Rose 4 Comments

Whether you need a way to keep warm or something to relieve an aching throat or sinuses, these easy elixirs are bound to make you feel better. Learn how to make these hot drinks so that you can make them when you need them the most!

In Canada, winter brings so many wonderful things that I look forward to every year. Unless I’m going somewhere, I love being hit by huge snowstorms and digging my way out. Ice skating and skiing hold a special place in my heart, as do long winter walks. I usually focus on the things I like, which makes an otherwise harsh season more bearable, but there are two things I am constantly battling with: keeping warm and staying healthy. These easy elixirs check both boxes, and if you are feeling under the weather, they will help to soothe and perk you up. The best part is that you probably have all of the ingredients you will need!

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A Simple Christmas Tale of Rustic Longings

December 24, 2019 by Sylvia Rose 1 Comment

This is a personal reflection on what Christmas was like growing up and how all I ever wanted was a simple Christmas. In a consumer-driven world, getting back to basics is more important than ever…

snowy evergreen trees — `Photo by Jeremy Gallman`

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

First off, it’s December 24th. Usually, I’m in my kitchen, but today I’m in the country, celebrating Christmas in a rustic family cottage. This is the first time in years that the cottage has been opened for Christmas. It’s cold and we’re all bundled up in sweaters and slippers, huddling around a blazing fire. It’ll get colder when we go outside to go to church together, but it always feels warmer coming in from the cold. There’s good food, fine wine, and family all around. This is what it’s all about.

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Raclette Dinner Party Ideas (and how to make sure it’s successful)

December 17, 2019 by Sylvia Rose 2 Comments

Need raclette party ideas? A raclette dinner is a wonderful way to gather around your favourite people for a fun and delicious communal meal. Learn how to throw one of your own for an evening to remember!

WHAT IS A RACLETTE DINNER PARTY?

What does it mean to host or be invited to a raclette dinner party?

It means you can expect to be seated around a table with other friendly faces, much like you would with fondue.

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Instead of a burner and a pot, there’s a raclette grill and everyone has a little tray that they fill with the available fixings.

Underneath the raclette machine’s griddle, there’s a broiler that everyone fits their trays under for the cheese to melt.

Yes. There’s cheese.

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How to Make a Cheese Board for Your Next Wine & Cheese

December 3, 2019 by Sylvia Rose 5 Comments

Cheese plates are a classic element at any French dinner table. Traditionally served after the meal, they’re the perfect way to wind down. Learn how to build a simple cheese board that will have your guests diving in with gusto.

LIFE IS BETTER WITH CHEESE

I didn’t grow up with cheese boards.

I was a small town girl, so there was nary a cheese shop in sight. All we had was what we got from the grocery store. The standard was processed cheese slices, havarti, and the occasional brick of Black Diamond.

The fanciest it got was a wheel of camembert and limburger cheese.

It’s not that we weren’t cheese people, we loved cheese, but we just didn’t know anything about it. That changed when I met my husband’s family.

Out of respect for their privacy, I won’t say much about my in-laws, but when it comes to food and wine, they have exquisite taste.

The first real cheese board I encountered was at their table, which comes out every time I’m there for an evening meal.

Usually, a cheese plate counts as the dessert course, but having a terrible sweet tooth, if I was given the option between cheese and cake, I’d be reaching for the cake fork!

I’m so thankful that they don’t make me choose between the two, because we have both… And so can you!

A VIDEO ABOUT MAKING A CHEESE PLATTER

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My Fridge Cleaning Nightmare (how to not let your fridge get the best of you)

November 19, 2019 by Sylvia Rose 14 Comments

This is a tale of horror and shame as a modern day woman with a vintage soul grapples with what too many responsibilities and not enough time means for her fridge. Fridge Cleaning for the Modern Day Woman will either leave you feeling better about your fridge, or ready to roll up your sleeves to face what you’ve been fearing.

Fridge cleaning can be so much more pleasant than this!

The state of my fridge was downright embarrassing.

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