Shay’s Ways: 11 KEYS TO A COZY WINTER!

Happy February, friends!

It’s another edition of Shay’s Ways 😉 .

My calendar and the weather could not have aligned better because it’s also…our second day of staying home due to icy weather.

Thanks to freezing rain, our kiddos were home yesterday and now again today which means, this mama is doing all the things to keep her sanity.  Agh.  No.  That’s not what I meant to type.  I meant to type I’m doing all the things to make our home cozy.  #sillyme 😉

Today, I’m sharing my 11 KEYS TO A COZY WINTER! 

Before we begin though, take a look back at my other Shay’s Ways posts in case you need one of these topics in your life today too…

25 Keys to a Peaceful Morning
22 Keys to making Fall Cozy
19 Key Fall Kitchen Essentials
18 Keys to Prepping for a Trip
14 Keys to simplify BACK TO SCHOOL
21 Keys to Savoring Summer
21 Keys for Working at Home {Summer Edition}
25 Keys to Outdoor Summer Entertaining
25 Keys to Maintaining our Yard
17 Keys to my Holiday Prep

We all know by now that COZY is my very favorite word.  One can be cozy year around, but in the wintertime?  It’s extra easy.

These aren’t rocket science keys, but today, home with my kiddos, this is what we’ll be doing to stay cozy (I highly recommend them all!).

My 11 KEYS TO A COZY WINTER:

1: READ. As you know, I love to read all year long, but reading under a cozy blanket by the fire during the winter while sipping coffee?  That is basically my perfect day (my other perfect day is reading on the beach in the sun with a margarita…I’m complex like that 😉 ).  I posted my JANUARY BOOK REVIEW this week which included a book on Hygge (the Danish word for a cozy and content life), so make sure you check that out!  Speaking of the fire…

2: LIGHT A FIRE. If you have a working fireplace, it’s now or never.  This is the season to light it.  I also love burning my Magic Candle Company Candles as the wicks make a flicking/fireplace sound so even in “non fireplace spaces” it fees like you have one on.  You can also pull up fireplaces on your TV (Youtube has them!) which is a fun way of “adding a fire” to a room without a fire.  It’s crazy relaxing even on the TV!

3: BURN CANDLES. Speaking of candles, burn them.  From morning to night, it just makes every space cozy.  My favorite scents during the winter are pine, musk and woodsy smells.  Although, one can never go wrong with a vanilla or lavender in the winter either.

4: MAKE SEASONAL RECIPES.  Today (as I write this), we’re going to make CHILI for dinner, and we’ll bake something too.  We haven’t decided exactly what we’re baking, but it will be ooey and gooey and delicious. Make sure you check out my…

…34 Cozy Winter Soups too!  They’re all so easy and so delish!

5: ADD THROW BLANKETS TO EVERY SEATING AREA.  We love sitting under throw blankets when we read or watch TV.  If you have yours put away in a cabinet, pull them out and place them near seating areas.  From pets to kids, everyone will grab them and cuddle up for that next movie.  Speaking of movies…

6: WATCH SEASONAL MOVIES.  Winter movies?  Yes. My family feels certain some movies are more fun to watch during the winter.  For example, Bridget Jones’ Diary is my favorite movie EVER, and I always enjoy it more this time of year because it both begins and ends in the wintertime.  Other movies that feel wintery to us are Grumpy Old Men, Groundhogs Day, Dumb and Dumber (think about it…it’s perfect, ha!), Frozen, Cold Mountain and The Edge.

7: USE FLANNEL SHEETS. I’ve said this before, but I’m going to say it again…Andrew and I first put flannel sheets on our bed in the winter and loved them so much that we now sleep in flannel sheets year around.  We bought THIS SET years ago and have loved them.  Flannel sheets are AMAZING.  I cannot rave about them enough.

8: TAKE A BATH. I take a lot of showers because they’re just faster…but in the winter, take a bubble bath.

9: WEAR COZY SLIPPERS.  Well, you know how much I love my slippers. I wear them year around and they are, without a doubt, the most worn item in my closet.  If you don’t have a good pair of slippers, get you some!  Your feet will never want to go back to not wearing them again.  You can see…

…my round up of my favorite COZY WINTER FAVES HERE!

10: TURN OFF THE OVERHEAD LIGHTS. Nothing is less cozy than harsh, bright lights.  In the winter, stick to little lamps and the glow of the fireplace or candles for instant coziness.

11: MAKE A HEARTY BREAKFAST. If you’re a breakfast skipper or bagel grabber, now is the time of year to make cozy, hearty breakfasts especially if you have nowhere to be bright and early.  Try…

…my EASY MAPLE FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE!

That’s it!  Those are my 11 KEYS TO A COZY WINTER!

Now, I’m off to spend the snow day with my kiddos and enjoy our cozy winter, but if you have ANY OTHER KEYS THAT YOU IMPLEMENT TO MAKE WINTER COZY, please share!!  I would love to know!

Also, since it’s February…

…I am re-sharing one of MY MOST POPULAR RECIPES OF 2022!

You guys, if you haven’t made my Valentine’s Chex Treats, what are you waiting for?  This recipe is SO DELICIOUS and SO SIMPLE too!

And one more thing just because it’s officially February…

…if you’re looking for a cute sweater to celebrate the season, I’m so obsessed with THIS ONE…or…

…THIS ONE if you want a little less subtle 😉 .

Have a great start to your month!  I’ll see you back here tomorrow! xx