13 affordable ways to enjoy Winter

Welcome to another Coffee Talk!

What a treat to meet you (even virtually) for another talk. It’s especially true because we’re so close to Advent, Winter Holidays, Christmas… that time is definitely a valuable resource.

Needless to say that if you’re American or if you celebrate the American date of Thanksgiving, you’re probably in the middle of finding the perfect turkey, cooking the yummiest cranberries puree, seasoning the soft and smooth stuffing… while you keep your fingers crossed that all your guests will be seated at your table without any issue. —> It’s exhausting to write that down so all the best

Keeping that situation in mind, I wanted to help you as much as I can to enjoy the crazy busy upcoming season by sharing a couple of ideas to stay hygge/ cosy all winter long.

Grab your pen and your paper, I’m unveiling 13 affordable ideas that will turn every Winter day into a hyggelig celebration.

No Idea Whatsoever About What Hygge Is?

Don’t worry. I got your back. 😉

If you’re already a Hygge fan, just skip this part and start enjoying today’s blog post.

Still with me?

Ok.. awesome. Time to have fun.

What’s Hygge?

It’s a feeling you can’t buy of safety, warmth, peace, calm, contentment, and everything in between.

Based on cosiness, togetherness, and uniqueness, it’s a whole guide to craft a cosiness-based way of life for you AND your family.

To me, Hygge is like a roadmap to enjoy simple pleasure, slow down, unplug, and eventually becoming unapologetically yourself.

How can I learn more about it?

1/ Read the reviews I made at  How The Hygge Book helps me to love my own quirks

2/ Request a special invitation for #TheHyggeLounge at https://www.thehyggeplanner.com/newsletter

3/ Buy Meik Weiking’s book by clicking here (Where you’re buying from this link Amazon will give a percentage to WWF on your behalf. I’m not owning a penny nor a compensation by any means) 

How do you pronounce it?

Truth is, no one cares how you pronounce it as long as you can experience it day in and day out.

That said, it’s commonly admitted to be [HOO-GA] .

Keep it simple and don’t over complicate the process.

If you don’t get it the first time, no big deal.

Is there a Hygge lifestyle?

YES!! and I mean absolutely without the shadow of a doubt.

Hygge is more than just a list of things to do or have. It’s NOT a decor (see below for more infos).

If you’re quiet/ introvert, chances are you’re already living a Hygge lifestyle without even knowing it. Now, you can model what you’re already good at to enjoy that cosy, comfy, and homey feelings 24/7.

If you’re totally new and you’d love to implement that simple, decluttered, down to earth, eco friendly, and comfy way of living for your family, that’s totally doable.

Truth it, it’s WHY I created this entire site: to provide you the tools, the resources, and the inspiration to turn your life into a cosiness-based living without adding stress. (To get a weekly dose of cosiness-based pep talk, join #TheHyggeLounge HERE )

Where does it come from?

Hygge comes from Denmark (but the word itself comes for Norway). At some point in history, Norway and Denmark were one kingdom only.

For the records:

–  the first mention of Hygge is circa 1840 (which means Hygge is everything but a fad trends)

– Denmark is ranking on the top 3 of the happiest countries in the world every singe year!

– the tax level in Denmark is one of the highest in the world. Yet, the citizens ARE full of happiness.

—> Who doesn’t want to model what the happiest people in the world are doing to be happy, content, and joyful day in and day out?  I know I do (so does my Great Grand Mother in her journals)

Is Hygge only a decor for Fall & Winter?

This is a common myth I HAVE to bust once and for all. Danish people don’t stop living 6 months of the year. They enjoy and practice Hygge ALL YEAR LONG.

They just adapt what they do and how they do it. It’s definitely easier to have a snow day in winter and it’s definitely easier to have a BBQ outside in the middle of Summer.

Hygge is not stuck in Fall & Winter nor is a home decor.

If you want a decor, ask a professional to set up a stage… You won’t feel better in a snap because you have a fireplace and tonnes of fairy lights.

If it was that simple, everyone would be happy and medication wouldn’t be needed to avoid anxiety.

(If you’re under medication, NEVER EVER stop without a professional help. Asking for help should be your #1 priority. There’s no shame nor guilt to seek for a better health, or a better mental clarity)

You don’t have to spend $$$ to revamp your living room so it looks like a country living magazine cover… and you can show off on Instagram. Hygge is NOT a popularity contest. There’s no mandatory list of items to buy.

You can live Hygge in a moroccan house, a contemporary penthouse, a cottage close to the sea, a tiny house, a small apartment that looks like a boudoir, or a fancy super modern house. Hygge is what you made out of it.

Eh… you’re done with the introduction.

If you want to dive deeper:

– request your invitation for #TheHyggeLounge HERE

– check our workbook to craft a cosiness-based way of life for your family in 7 days HERE

– download our 108 Done for You ideas to practice Hygge as a family (when you have no time for brainstorm) HERE

#1 The traditional Advent Calendar Candle from Danish Tradition

You’ve seen it everywhere last Christmas and it’s for a good reason… This long lean candle with 24 numbers on it is THE candle for every Danish Christmas.

Most of the time these candles cost an arm and a leg (or two) especially in those “trendy hygge shops” with very fancy high-priced items (just because it’s labelled Hygge).

In my opinion, you can save a lot by:

• making your own candle (it’s easy and it stays affordable). Try to use soy wax, it’s safer and you can even share the cost of the wax by buying a full kilogram and split the wax with a friend who wants to make his/her own candle as well. Be careful if you are using beeswax, the smell is awesome but the price is higher.
• upcycling a regular candle to make it hygge (watch the video below to see how I did mine for about $2.5 and 5 minutes)

#2 DIY your own advent calendar with upcycling items

Speaking of upcycling, my MUM is THE reference. She’s got a tonne of ideas on how you can upcycle this coffee capsule or that piece of cardboard… for a fraction of the price of traditional items in a store.

When I was younger I felt ashamed because we did not have the same budget as my friends for Christmas gifts or Christmas decoration… Until I realized that it was such a treat to give a second life to custom objects, to spend time reusing it, to put a smile on a child’s face by giving away “almost brand new” toys made with old clothes or old items.

If you’re eager to give it a try or if you’re already an upcycling addict, you’ll love this board on Pinterest —–> Christmas Gifts Ideas

#3 A hygge scavenger hunt

It’s a treasure hunt I put into places when I was in North America. I was not able to fly home to celebrate Christmas every year so I have found a way to keep it as hygge as possible (even if I spent that moment alone in my tiny apartment).

All you need:

• A book you are dreaming to (re)read
• some indulgence like cookies/ chocolate/ hot cocoa/ tea/ fancy mocha vanilla skinned latte with whipped cream… the choice is yours.

How to:

• Each evening shut down every electronic item
• Curl up on your couch with your blanket
• Grab a piece of your indulgence
• Read one chapter per day

Don’t rush… Enjoy each paragraph, each sentence as a reminder of the chance we have to spend some time doing something we love. You can even do it with a friend and the next day you share your thoughts about the book around a coffee.

#4 The Advent Calendar (with a hygge twist) 

Ok… ok, we all know what an advent calendar is… but do you know that advent calendar can become very busy and stay very affordable as well?

NONE of the links below is affiliate links. They are just the results of my own research. I have no compensation, money and/or benefits to share them with you.

For the Cats

£9.95

From Lily’s Kitchen as well, an organic treats calendar for our little furry friends. I really enjoy the way Lily is showing how she cares for cats/ dogs and puppies. I would definitely buy from her if I had an animal right now.

You can buy the cat Christmas calendar at https://www.lilyskitchen.co.uk/products/cat/christmas/item/advent-calendar-for-cats

For Herbal/ Tea Lovers

$ 7 (approximatively)

24 different tea/herbal tea to enjoy a cup of hygge every evening until Christmas. Organic, fair trade and made for your cosy moments, you can find it at https://www.purenature24.com/tea-advent-calendar

Look for Lu Ann recommendations. Based in Ontario, this lady has made such a good job by gathering tea ideas for Christmas 2017. You can read a full blog post at http://theteacupoflife.com/2015/11/5-best-tea-advent-calendars-for-your-christmas-countdown.html

For Gluten Free People

My mum and I are on a gluten-free diet (not by choice but by health necessity) so it can be tricky to find an advent calendar in a store. Most of the time, we build our own advent calendar.

Yet, sometimes we are lucky and we can enjoy a “traditional” advent calendar like every people around.

These are my 2 options for this Christmas.

• Free from Heaven has listed 14 “free from” options to enjoy a delightful Christmas. You can discover them at http://www.freefromheaven.com/2016/11/14-dairy-free-advent-calendars/
• A chocolate version for Christmas (I can’t live without chocolate… so I love traditional advent calendar). I’ll be buying this Moo calendar for myself

It’s gluten free and it’s vegan… Two reasons to fall in love with this calendar at https://www.amazon.fr/MOO-FREE-Calendrier-lavent-v%C3%A9g%C3%A9talien/dp/B00447YPPQ/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?_encoding=UTF8&__mk_fr_FR=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&dpID=515AiS06SIL&dpPl=1&keywords=moo%20free%20advent%20calendar&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&qid=1505914038&ref=plSrch&ref_=mp_s_a_1_1&sr=8-1#immersive-view_1505914051479

It’s time to wrap up!

In this Coffee Talk, I had a lot of fun sharing ideas for a non-traditional advent calendar. No matter if you love tea, if you have kids or if you want to celebrate your furry friends, I got your back.

We really hope you enjoy our selection and we’d like to help you even further to plan a hyggelig Christmas time & to enjoy winter holidays with our Hygge Inspired Kit.

—> You can download our FREE Lite kit for Christmas by visiting www.thehyggeplanner.com/christmas 

—> OR you already know that you want to add a Scandinavian touch to your Christmas table but you want to make it as easy as possible and as hygge as possible. Then, we’ve got your back. Visit www.thehyggeplanner.com/hcpp for more details

You’ve enjoyed our last Coffee Talk? You can share it with your friends on social media, pin the images or subscribe to our waiting list to get exclusive access and a chance to receive more freebies all year long.

See you on our next Coffee Talk! Until then, keep it hygge!

✨Goodies you're too smart to miss✨