5 Ways to Have a Cozy Home for Fall

 

When I say 'cozy home' what do you think of? Warm blankets? Candles? The other day it was one of those crisp cold days (okay, cold in the south, which is where the temps are in the 50s!) where I honestly just wanted to curl up in a ball on the couch with a good book and a cup of coffee or tea. I'm a mom, so that didn't happen. Actually, all this staying at home all the time can be a big downer on your mood. However, even spending so much time with your crew, and in your home, you can get that cozy home feel, I promise! If you are a mom and yearning for that cozy home feel, here are some ways you can help make your home feel cozier!

Do a quick clean of the house

Set a timer for 15 minutes per room. You'll be surprised what you'll be able to accomplish in such a short amount of time, and for me personally, it helps me to be less anxious. A cluttered house can lead to a cluttered mind! Nothing says cozy more than a freshly cleaned house-it's almost like I can actually breathe and rest once it's clean. For those with young kiddos-you may have to lower expectations. Toys will get back out, spills will happen, handprints will reappear, but having things tidied as much as possible, and wiped down will certainly be a step in the right direction! 

Light a candle

I am not sponsored by Bath and Body Works at all, but if you get the Pumpkin Pecan Waffles, or Blueberry Pumpkin Waffles (notice a theme here?! haha) you can't go wrong! I love the smell of baking, and both the scent and the ambiance put me in a cozy mood. So stop what you are doing (yes! I give you permission to stop reading my post for a few minutes) go do a quick tidy and light a candle and see if doesn't help your mood!

Listen to some encouraging music

We really like our home Google Device. Listening to positive Christian music helps me get those chores done with a better attitude. Pouring out my thanks to God helps me appreciate the home given to me. I also feel like this helps calm the chaos that my house feels like 24/7! 

Read a Good Book with your Children

So you no longer have the luxury of curling around a good book and a cozy blanket on a cold rainy day, but bringing your children around you on the couch with the same snuggly blankets can be just as refreshing. My favorite Read alouds are the Little House books, Chronicles of Narnia, Ann of Green Gables, and Little Britches series (reader discretion advised-it contains some language. Mom can easily read around it though!). What are your favorite books to read together as a family?

Bake Cookies together!

Maybe this should be done first, since it makes such a big mess, but there is just something about freshly baked cookies on a wet, cold day. We recently made homemade chocolate cookies from scratch. I decided to do a merge of Magnolia's and a family recipe. The secret to good cookies is vanilla! Some don't include this, and also, less butter. Try 1 stick instead of 2 and the texture is so much better. Here is how we made ours (I didn't have baking soda, so I used baking powder and they turned out fine!)

Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 stick of butter
3/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 package of chocolate chips (I used a whole 2 cup package and it was super chocolaty and we had chocolate chips that simply didn't stick to the dough)

Preheat oven to 375F. Mix butter, sugars, egg, and vanilla, then add flour, baking soda and salt. Mix together-should make a pretty thick dough. Add chocolate chips. Make balls (not sure of size...they kept their shape pretty well!) and slightly push them down on the tray. Bake for 9 minutes. Should make about 30 cookies