My Top Tips for Staying Cozy this Winter

This post is sponsored by Save on Energy, Ontario's go-to source for energy efficiency information and rebates for your home.  All thoughts and opinions presented below are my own.  

The staggering popularity of "Hygge" (pronounced "hoo-gah") speaks volumes about our collective desire to feel cozy and content.  But the Danish aren't the only people who crave cozy - many languages have similar concepts and words that try to capture that elusive feeling.

Swedes offer up "Mys," which touches on coziness and comfort with an emphasis on slowing down and relaxing, while in Norway people strive for a "Koselig" days, which has a complex meaning, but conjures feelings of warmth, comfort, and relaxation.  Those in Holland long for "Gezelig" - the mood of feeling cocooned, like being in a warm coffee shop on a cold winter day.  Having married a fella with Scottish ancestry, I personally enjoy the Gaelic "Còsagach" (which means snug), simply because it sounds the heartiest. 

 

However you choose to describe it, it's unsurprising that so many of us crave coziness and contentment - especially in the winter.  I've spent my entire life living in Ontario, Canada.  That is the equivalent of 33 winters spent trying to stay warm.  In the very first apartment I shared with Hubby, I was warm - for the first winter in my entire life.  We didn't have to pay for heat, so I kept the thermostat at an irresponsibility tropical temperature.  Our hibiscus thrived - a clear sign that it was way too hot in there.  Since then, adulthood, utility bills and environmental consciousness have superseded tropical indoor temperatures, so I have had to get creative.  What hygge, koselig, and còsagach have all taught me is that staying cozy is a crafty combination of practical changes and mental shifts to fully capture that feeling of coziness and warmth. 

Here are my favorite lakehouse-tested tips for staying cozy - even when the weather network issues an Extreme Cold Weather warning and there's a blizzard roaring outside.

Let the Window Coverings do the Work

As soon as the sun rises, I open the curtains and blinds to capitalize on the heat from the sun, but once the sun sets, I close the curtains again to keep in as much heat.  Insulated curtains would be amazing, but the substantial tweed drapes in the bedroom and office do the trick.

Check Weather Stripping and Window Seals

Having a woolly dog is a great way to see where you're losing heat - just check out their favorite spots!  Can you guess where the cold spots are in the lakehouse?

 
By ensuring that weather stripping and window seals are in great shape, you can prevent as much heat from leaking out as possible.  No pup to help?  Hold a candle, as still as possible, near any doorways or windows - if it flickers, you might have some drafty spots to seal up.

Indulge in Hot Apple Cider - No Holiday Required

This fall was the first time I had ever made hot apple cider - seriously!  We had friends over for one last bonfire and because it was already getting pretty chilly, I just couldn't envision wanting a cold beer so I made hot apple cider in the slow cooker.  I made it without alcohol (because alcohol actually drops core body temperature), but kept some handy so guests could spike their own.  It was a magical night - we even saw the northern lights! - and it made me realize that I don't need a special occasion to make cider, which always felt so much like a "holiday" drink to me.  You can make hot apple cider from scratch, but you can also buy apple cider in jugs and then spice to taste.

Easy Slow Cooker Hot Apple Cider

• 1 gallon apple cider or fresh pressed apple juice
• 6 cinnamon sticks
• 1 tablespoon whole allspice
• 1 tablespoon whole cloves
• 2 sliced oranges (wash first)
• A few 1" pieces of ginger, peeled and quartered

Add ingredients to a slow cooker and simmer on low for four hours.  You can also bundle the spices in cheesecloth or a tea bag designed for loose leaf tea, but I find the flavor is richer when the spices are loose - just strain as you serve and add rum to taste, if desired.

Invest in a Humidifier

Humidifiers are a fabulous addition to a home, for so many reasons: they can help plants thrive, ease sinus congestion, and re-hydrate the air - which means you can say goodbye to static and cracked skin.  But adding humidity to the air can also help a home feel warmer.  Not convinced?  After your next bath let the water sit, with the bathroom door open, and see if that little amount of moisture helps you feel warmer... 

Throw a Party

You can turn down the heat when you have friends and family over because body heat does wonders to increase the overall temperature in a room.  So, if you have the winter blues and just can't warm up, throw a potluck party or have friends over for some board games - bonus points for something that gets everyone excited and moving, like charades or twister!

Turn on That Ceiling Fan

It still feels counter-intuitive to me to turn on a ceiling fan in the winter, but heat rises so a ceiling fan - especially with our tall living room ceiling - helps push that warm air back down, where we can enjoy it.  The important thing to remember is that when ceiling fans spin counter-clockwise, the angled blades push cool air down, so in the winter set your ceiling fan to spin clockwise instead, which will draw the cool air up to the ceiling and force the warm air back down.  Some ceiling fans even have a "winter" setting.

Layer up Your Decor

I've never been a huge fan of seasonal decor because I'd rather spend money on permanent pieces, but I have to admit that this time of year I can totally understand layering in cozier textiles, like faux fur blankets, or maybe rolling out a cozy wool rug underfoot.  If a few decor touches help a home feel cozier, it's worth it!  Just make sure that no new additions (especially rugs) cover up any vents.

Hopefully these tricks help you feel cozier this winter - without reaching for that thermostat!  Nothing makes winter drearier than getting slammed with a massive heating bill.

If you're looking for more ideas to help make your home feel cozier, while also saving money on your monthly bills and supporting your community, visit www.saveonenergy.ca.  You'll discover new technologies, incentives, and tips for increasing your home's energy efficiency, as well as learning about how these changes can make a positive impact on your home's comfort and resale value.  I am always grateful for any information that helps save me money and feel more at home in my house, so I hope you'll find some great ideas!

Save on Energy is social!  Find them on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.

Taking a HomeSelfe: An Easy Way to Assess a Home's Energy Efficiency

On some of our looooong drives home from town, Hubby and I often weigh the pros and cons of living in the country.

Pros of Living in the Country:

• Lake view!  With ducks and otters...
• Foxes, deer and bears mosey through our yard like we live in a Disney film
• Well water (the water in town tastes like a swimming pool)
• Peace and quiet
• More land than we could afford in town 
• Better odds of surviving the Zombie apocalypse 
• Beautiful neighbours:

Cons of Living in the Country:

• 35-60 minute drive into town (depending on where we're going in town/who's driving)
• No pizza delivery
• Mailbox that's 7 km away from the house
• Treacherous dirt road that covers the truck in mud
• Mud covered truck that covers my clothes in mud
• So much mud 
• This:

Our lists get pretty lengthy, but always in favor of living out here!  One money-saving perk was that (until recently) we had lower electricity bills than the folks in town.  While those suckers were on time of use (TOU) billing for electricity, we enjoyed less expensive tiered pricing.  TOU simply means that there are different prices for using power at different times of the day/week and the highest prices are, of course, when people are getting ready for work or making dinner at the end of the day.  In other words, when you need electricity.  This is the breakdown:

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#HolidayCents Giveaway: Win a $200 Prepaid VISA Card

RetailMeNot.ca recently reached out to me with a challenge (and a chance for you to win $200), and I'm excited to spill the beans because I love talking about money.  RetailMeNot.ca wanted to know how much money I could save on purchases made this time of year: home decor, home goods, entertaining, salon visits, travel, etc., by using the RetailMeNot.ca website.  I perused the website and looked at some of the discounts and coupon codes; it was easy to browse by retailer or category, and soon I stumbled across a fabulous coupon code for Lord & Taylor.

Every winter, I try to treat myself to a cashmere sweater.  It's a weird little tradition of mine.  I don't buy a lot of clothes and by caring for my cashmere at home, I'm able to make these sweaters last a long time so I justify the splurge.  Last year I didn't find one though, so I was really on the hunt this year.  I finally found the perfect Lord & Taylor sweater at The Bay, only to discover they were completely sold out of my size.  After some sleuthing, I found the sweater, on sale, on the Lord & Taylor website, and using a coupon code from RetailMeNot.ca, I saved an additional $66.28.  I guess you can call this my holiday sweater because I'll be wearing it with skinny jeans and glam jewelry for a party in my neck of the woods (it's casual here!), but it's cozy enough that I'll pair this with pj's while I enjoy a little R&R.

Since buying a new camera this year, I haven't had time to find a camera case so I haven't been able to bring it anywhere.  RetailMeNot.ca had a bunch of coupons and sale alerts for Amazon, so I hopped over to take a look and found the perfect camera bag insert (the Timbuk2 Snoop) for a steal!  It slips into any bag or purse and was on sale, saving me almost $14.00.  It seems a shame to have bought a fancy new camera and not take it for a spin to capture some memories this year.

This time of year, we inevitably have more folks coming to our place.  Because we live in the country, there are no street lamps and nighttime can be really dark around here - which is dangerous when it gets icy.  To help our guests find their way to the door, we've installed yard lights, motion lights, and we even have car port lights.  Unfortunately, the crazy winds set them off all night long and many of our light bulbs were burned out.  I used some of my budget to buy new LED light bulbs that will last 45,000 hours (!) and keep our property welcoming and inviting during the long winter nights.  Not the sexiest purchase, to be sure, but it's so important this time of year to stay safe!

Our bathroom is not yet guest-ready because the new cabinet doors that were installed to replace the flawed ones were also damaged!  Plus the counter top folks haven't scheduled an install date, so we wait.  We might be stuck in limbo, but that hasn't stopped me from buying bathroom accessories.  Boxes full of towels, a shower curtain, hampers, soap dishes, etc., arrived at my door, but there was a missing piece.  I had been lusting after the Ashton Sutton Sharp SPC1100 Atomic Wall Clock because it's aqua and shows the weather (!) but I couldn't justify the $125.  I almost bought it so many times but chickened out right before clicking "confirm purchase".  Thanks to RetailMeNot.ca, I caught it on sale and saved a ridiculous $129.92!

So here's a look at what I bought (and saved, thanks to coupon codes and sale alerts):
Cashmere Sweater
Original Price = $368.22 CAD
Price After Sale + Additional Coupon Code = $154.65 CAD ($112.56 USD)
Savings Thanks to RetailMeNot.ca = $66.28 CAD!
Camera Case
Original Price = $53.77 USD
Price on Sale = $39.97 CAD ($28.99 USD) + Free Shipping
Savings Thanks to RetailMeNot.ca =  $13.80 + shipping cost
LED Light Bulbs
Original Price = 89.33 (64.80 USD)
Price on Sale = $75.55 (54.80 USD) + Free Shipping
Savings Thanks to RetailMeNot.ca = $13.78 + shipping cost
Fancy Pants Clock
Original Price = $172.33 ($125 USD)
Price on Sale = $44.41 (32.21 USD) + Free Shipping   
Savings Thanks to RetailMeNot.ca = $129.92+ shipping cost

I went over my $250 budget, but I got a little carried away because I saved a lot on items that were on my "wish I could buy/really need to buy" list.  So for the purposes of this challenge, let's pretend I didn't buy the LED lights, which brings my total to $239.03, with a savings of $210 (plus whatever I saved on shipping)!

Now my bathroom looks a little more guest-ready, the exterior is a lot safer (and more welcoming), I'm ready for parties (and way more huggable) with my lovely new cashmere sweater, and I can safely take my camera to capture some memories. 

I have to admit that I hadn't used Retailmenot.ca before to find coupons, but I did hunt for them online.  I'd usually Google and inevitably end up with expired ones and waste time trying coupon after coupon.  RetailMeNot.ca does the Googling for us and organizes the coupon codes plus in-store and online sale alerts so we can shop by brand or category.  My success rate with Retailmenot was good - plus folks can give a coupon code the thumbs up or down, so I could see at a glance the success rate of the coupons.  It's a free service and a great way to save some cash.

Now that I've bragged about the sweet deals I scored, it would seem cruel to leave you hanging.  Instead, I partnered with RetailMeNot.ca to hook one of you up with a $200 prepair VISA card.  You'll be able to use your card anywhere - for anything - online or in-store.  There are only two simple steps to enter:  sign up for the RetailMeNot.ca newsletter and then enter your name and email address in the form below.  I won't sell your information, nor will it become public.  It's just so I can keep track of entries and reach out to the winner!

Unfortunately, this contest is only open to Canadian readers (excluding Quebec).

Entry-Form

RetailMeNot.ca's weekly and holiday emails feature only the best deals.  By entering your email, you consent to receive emails from RetailMeNot, Inc. You Can Opt Out at Any Time.  Your consent is sought by RetailMeNot, Inc., 301 Congress Ave., Ste 700, Austin TX 78701 U.S.A.  http://www.retailmenot.ca/static/privacy/.   
I am participating in the #HolidayCents campaign with RetailMeNot.ca and have received special perks.  Any onions expressed in this post are my own. 

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DIY Coffee Sack Boot Stuffers

My Mom and I both struggle with saving money because we like pretty things too much!  But we spend money differently.  I'll splash out on something big (like our light fixture from Modernica) but then scrimp like it's the depression to make up for it in other ways.  My Mom doesn't treat herself to many splashy purchases, but she will buy fancy soaps, new linens, new towels - little indulgences that add up.  She and I both have small budgets to work with, so I've been encouraging her to forgo little indulges to save up for her bathroom reno.  Because of my relentless nagging, she fondled boot stuffers at HomeSense no fewer than twenty times, but never made a purchase (go Mom!).

She wanted to keep her pretty boots upright while they're stored in the closet, as opposed to flopping over and creasing, but we decided to make some instead of buying them.  We had everything on hand, so they were free!  Sure, it might be a drop in the bucket, but it's another $10 she can put toward her dream bathroom.  That probably buys two or three square feet of tile (and her bathroom is so tiny, that is actually a pretty good chunk).



Here is how we made these adorable little boot stuffers.

We started with pretty little coffee sacks - but really, any fabric will do.  They were too wide and short as-is, so we cut them apart just to make use of the interesting design.

To make up the length, we sewed a scrap of silk to the top.

Once the silk was added to the coffee bag fabric, the sides were sew up and then the top edge - the opening of the boot stuffer was sewn down into a channel:

(The channel was added for a drawstring).

When the sides and top were sewn, the bottom of the inside was tweaked a little.  Both corners were pinned and sewn flat:

Once the boot stuffers were turned right side out, the sewn corners created a flat bottom so they sit more snugly inside boots.

Finally, we threaded through a drawstring using a safety pin and stuffed the finished sacks with batting.  We also added a sprinkling of lavender to keep things smelling nice in there!  We opted for the drawstring top so we can adjust how much batting is inside - and freshen up the lavender from time to time.

So do they work?

Perfectly!  Exactly what my Mom had it mind. 

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Better Blog Photos, Coming Soon!

I finally did it: I splurged on a new camera - my first DSLR!  I actually purchased it way back in May but, as you know, a family emergency took precedence and learning to use my new camera definitely slid down my list of priorities.

On the advice of a photographer friend, Melissa Oivanki, I bought a modest Canon Rebel T5i and a Canon wide angle lens.  I also purchased a simple light kit (something like this).  Melissa gave me excellent advice, explaining that it's the lenses that really make the difference.  I'm already saving up for better lenses!

Because I often talk about money, I decided to be honest about this purchase and admit that I really struggled with spending the money!  It took me a year to finally go for it.  I questioned whether it was worth it to make this investment, but I really enjoy taking photos.  With my new camera, I'm thinking that I might even take some photography courses.  My old Panasonic Lumix  DMC-FZ28 (discontinued, but this is similar) was a wedding present Hubs and I bought ourselves in 2008 and it served us well, documenting international adventures in Greece, France, Portugal, and Hungary - plus many trips to the States - and all of our memories at home.  Ultimately I decided that it's worth it to not only support a creative endeavor (it's good for the brain!), but also capture fun memories.     

Unfortunately, my old Lumix was slowly failing. The biggest issue was the colour sensor - it stopped reading aqua properly!  Aquas came out looking like a flat blue and pictures started turning out grainy and dull.  It's been difficult to set my old Lumix aside and reach for my new Canon, but already I can see a major difference in photos - look at the velvet chair below! 

New Camera

New Camera

New Camera

I've never been able to show you how vivid it is, and how much green is in the hue - it always photographed like a flat blue microsuede, not the luscious velvet it is:

Old Camera

I'm so excited to be able to photograph the lakehouse more accurately, without everything looking yellower, bluer, paler, brighter, darker, grainier, or more washed out in photos.  Hopefully I can depict things more true to life, like our DIY solid maple counters, which are quite pale in real life but always photographed with a yellowy tinge.  With my new Canon, I'm capturing them a bit better already:

New Camera

My old camera still photographed close up details fairly well...

Old Camera

But I love how crisp close up photos are with my new camera, even with my having no clue what I'm doing:

New Camera

New Camera

Some days, though, I feel a little overwhelmed and frustrated.  Although I've always enjoyed taking photos, the technical side has never thrilled me as much as compositions.  Frankly, some of my photos are ending up worse than with my old camera, but I'm trying not to get discouraged and just focus on the joy of learning something new.

I'm especially having trouble focusing when I take photos of rooms and I have to be careful with the wide angle lens that I don't end up with weirdly stretched out real estate listing-style photos!

New Camera

I'm slowly phasing out my Lumix, so you'll see a mix of photos for the next few months.  Once I get the hang of it, I'll be taking new photos of the lakehouse so you can finally get a better feel for the space (and maybe even a video tour...).

While I try to figure this out, if you've come across a great tutorial - especially for shooting interiors - I'd love to know about it!  Also, if you happen to stumble across an aqua camera case, I'd love to know about that too ;)

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