Last Christmas I bought myself and a couple friends a book called The Year of Cozy. It gives you a bunch of different ideas, from crafts to recipes, to try every month to help build a cozier lifestyle. I’ve done a few here and there but this year I’m going to commit to trying at least a couple of ideas each month.
For January I picked; Do Nothing, Vegetable Cassoulet, Handwritten Love Notes and Organizing my Pantry.
Do Nothing – Well to be honest this a multi-list goal, I had already made the decision to keep Shabbas every week this year. But I found some good tips in the book to help me keep that resolution. I’ve made a ritual out of mindfully enjoying my first cup of coffee on Saturdays, sitting outside on my patio, slowly experiencing the flavors and sensations of the drink as well as do nothing but observing myself and my environment as I wake up. I also have started taking a walk on Saturdays, just to look around my neighborhood, enjoy the little preserve nearby and try to take in the subtle changes of the season here.
Vegetable Cassoulet – Something that I didn’t really think I’d enjoy as much as I did, this lovely little bean and veggie dish was warming, filling and completely satisfying. I usually make more soups in the winter but I’ll be adding this into a regular rotation while the temps are low.
Handwritten Love Notes – Ok, so no one can actually read my handwriting but I’m giving this a shot anyway. I have some friends that are amazing at writing letters and I’m always so grateful to receive one so I thought I’d return that favor and make a point to let them know that I appreciate them and think about them often.
Organizing my Pantry – This is also a multi-list goal, I have a get organized challenge that includes this as well but not to the crafty degree you’ll find in the book. A couple of funky jars and baskets, along with some labels made a huge difference in what I can now find in my pantry, which is the exact opposite of the frustrated hunting that I used to do. Well worth the couple of hour that it took to pull together.
Vibrant Thing 