Hot Hygge (aka: Summertime Cozy) - Episode 21
Well, here we are, the 17th of June. The year is half-way over and here in the desert it is our normal summer hot, and we are officially 2 days into the 2021 monsoon season. For those of you not in the Arizona desert, this means that from now until September our daily humidity goes up and our temps climb higher. It is a lovely combination – not. However, the monsoon storms are desperately needed, and they are a beauty to behold. Also, so many people laugh when they visit, and we drive down the roads crossing huge, dry riverbeds. But let me tell you, if they could see those rivers when they are running after a storm, they would not be laughing, they would be in awe.
All that to say – it is summer, and it is hot. And you are about to read about being cozy!
Now, you might be thinking to yourself that I have lost my ever-loving mind….and maybe that’s true, but it isn’t because I want to talk about cozy things in the midst of a heat wave instead of during the season of fires, fuzzy socks and hot beverages. Back in Episode 3, Holy Hygge, I talked about this Danish word and concept, hygge. (Let me just point out, this word is not spelled the way it is pronounced – H-Y-G-G-E and pronounced HOO-gah). I love the concept of hygge. It is the idea of creating a cozy and comfortable lifestyle. One that invites you to move at a more intentional, restful pace. For me it has been learning a rhythm of life that allows space to breathe deep in all of the moments of the day, not simply those that have me stressed out and needing to calm down.
It is natural that the cooler months lend themselves to the idea of cozy in the sense of snuggling up, lighting fires, and making s’mores, but the warmer months do not preclude the idea of cozy things. They just look a little different. When I think back on my childhood, summer months naturally lent themselves to a slower pace and the idea of cozy. To me, in the summer, one of the best feelings is coming into an air-conditioned house after being in the pool. Drying off with a big beach towel that has been warmed in the sun, and putting on my favorite, lightweight sweats, or lounge pants. Or sitting on the back porch watching the sunset while drinking a cold glass of iced tea with lemon.
You see, hygge is not for just a season, it is a lifestyle. So, let’s talk about some ways that we can bring that hygge into our summer living.
Ice Cream, anyone? I mean, summer isn’t summer without it. I love ice cream – store bought at home or going out to the local ice cream shop. But the best way I like ice cream is homemade. I have the ice cream bowl for my KitchenAid mixer and honestly, I think it is the best add-on you can get. If you have little ones at home (grandparents, aunts & uncles, this goes for when they come visit you as well) make ice cream in a bag. (recipe is below) You can make it feel even more special by serving it in a cone, in a waffle bowl and with sprinkles! Or serve it in a super cute bowl (check out THESE or THESE or THESE! ).
Focus on a daily or weekly lesson, recipe, new book genre. Make a new type of sandwich or salad (or enhance one you like). Or maybe try meal prepping, snack prepping or simply making a weekly plan for the meals you will eat. This takes the stress out of planning the afternoon of.
Light candles. There is no rule that says candles must only be lit when it is cool outside. Find a great summer scent and get several of them.
How about some 30-minute timer tasks. Decide on a task or chore you would like to focus on, set a time for 30 minutes - and don't go past the timer. Stop when that timer goes off and walk away. There is a sense of accomplishment that lends to a cozy feeling.
Spend time barefoot outside. Some call this grounding – and I’ve said it before, this is simply a way to allow your body to connect with the creation that God has made. I recommend doing this before it gets hot…you know, just in case you live in a place like we do, and you can fry an egg on the sidewalk in the summer months!
Make your bed every day. There is nothing like getting into a bed at night that has been made in the morning. There is truly something calming about folding the sheets back and crawling in a bed with less wrinkled sheets that come from making it up. Bonus points for making it as soon as you get out of it in the morning.
Use sunscreen every day. Here in the desert that should be a non-negotiable. Nothing feels more uncomfortable and un-cozy that burnt skin. It’s the worst.
Take a new walk or hike at a new time of day. The Rocket Scientist and I have enjoyed many moonlight hikes at our local Sabino Canyon during the full moon.
Experience sunrise outside just 1 morning...and go back to bed afterwards if you are tired - it's simply too beautiful to miss out on regularly.
Eat watermelon with chili lime seasoning (I even make a dip with coconut yogurt, honey and the zest of a lime). Or how about enjoying some fresh berries with homemade whipped cream.
Have a picnic dinner and invite friends or neighbors to join you. Or you could fire up the grill and have each family provide their own meat to grill and bring a side dish to share. You provide the desert (better yet, make some ice cream in a bag and enjoy!).
To pair with the picnic or grilling, why not host a casual game night with friends. Summer schedules are busy for everyone, and it can be really easy to let time with friends fall by the wayside. But it’s so important to spend time with your people, and we all know that one of the most important aspects of creating a hygge home is inviting others in! Since everyone is so busy, this is the perfect time of year to host a super casual night with friends, turn on some music and break out the games.
Make sun tea. I love iced tea. I like mine sweetened with homemade simple syrup and a slice of lemon. To a Southern girl there is nothing like a cold glass of sweet tea. And sweet sun tea is amazing. My go to tea bags for sun tea or brewed iced tea are Luzianne, and I always put a pinch of baking soda in the jug to cut any bitterness. For some extra fun you can buy a plain sun tea jar and paint it with a cute summer design.
Make homemade lemonade and for a twist, add fresh raspberries, Strawberries or Blueberries (Make sure to muddle a few on the bottom of your glass before your put in ice and the lemonade.) You can even make a simple syrup out of each of the berries (or a mixed berry simple syrup) – see below for the recipe. You can also add this simple syrup to iced tea.
Hang your laundry out to dry. Of course, most of us no longer have clothes lines in our back yards, but don’t let that stop you. Hang your clothes on hangers and then take the hangers out and find a place to put them on the porch. There is nothing quite like the smell of clothes dried outside.
Make popsicles. Some of us have the popsicle molds, but do you remember putting orange juice, Kool-Aid or any other juice in ice cube trays, covering them with saran wrap and then poking toothpicks through the plastic for the sticks? Oh my goodness, the memories that I have of ice cube popsicles. It may sound cheesy, but my guess is that you will create some amazing memories for your kids.
Go swimming or play in the sprinklers at night. This is super fun if you have kiddos, and it is incredibly relaxing if you don’t. Some of my best nights of sleep in the summer months start with a long float in the pool watching the stars.
Speaking of watching the stars…make a plan now for the month of August to watch the Perseid Meteor Showers. You can watch them in the pool, like I mentioned, or spread a blanket out in the yard and take pillows out to watch them. They are active between July 17 and August 26th this year, but the most active night is August 12th. The absolute best time will be right before dawn or right after dusk on the 12th. What a great way to maybe surprise kids and get them up super early – and have donuts after you watch them (especially if you are a homeschool family – or you embrace mental health days and allow your kids to miss a day of school).
Sounds simple, right? That’s because it is! Infusing your life with hygge feelings doesn’t have to be complicated, difficult, or expensive. It’s just about your state of mind and being intentional in doing things that make your soul happy.
And that can happen any time of year!
What are your favorite ways to feel more hygge in the summer? Drop me an email at thecreativetablepodcast@gmail.com and let me know.
I really hope that you will find some ways to bring a calm and cozy lifestyle into your summer months. And until next time, go out and find a creative way to make someone smile.
Ice Cream In A Bag
Ingredients
¼ cup milk
¼ cup half-and-half
1 tablespoon white sugar
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup ice cubes, or as needed
3 tablespoons rock salt
Directions:
Step 1: Combine milk, half-and-half, sugar, and vanilla extract in a pint-size resealable plastic bag; seal tightly.
Step 2: Put a scoop of ice, 3 tablespoons ice cream rock salt, and the bag containing the milk-cream mixture into a gallon-size resealable plastic bag; seal tightly.
Step 3: Rock the bag back and forth (do not shake) until contents thicken into ice cream, about 10 minutes. Wipe salt from the top of the pint-size bag before opening to prevent salt from getting into the ice cream.
Strawberry Simple Syrup
Ingredients
8 oz strawberries, stems removed and sliced (1.5 cups, measured)
1 cup water
1 cup granulated sugar
Instructions
Combine the strawberries, water, and sugar in a saucepan set over medium high heat.
Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer, and cook for 20 minutes, until the liquid is deeply red and the strawberry are soft.
Strain the strawberries out from the simple syrup, making sure not to press down on the strawberries. Otherwise your syrup will be cloudy.
Chill the strawberry simple syrup in the fridge for an hour or two until cold*, then enjoy!
Photo by Marina Grynykha on Unsplash
