We talked a little about hygge and parenting in this post… if you don’t know about hygge, you’ll definitely have to check it out! Today I’m sharing some of my favorite family-friendly hygge items for the month of January:
- Comfy PJs – Hanna Anderson has some of the cutest matching family PJs right now! Aren’t these “Cookies Love Milk” printed ones darling?!
I also love the pizza printed ones (I’ve been known to have a pizza obsession, haha), and these dogs + bikes printed ones are fun too. - Candles – A hygge necessity! My favorite candles always come from Anthropologie, like the one below. They always have a great selection that smell amazing. I actually like to light more than one scent at a time, but if that’s too much for your nose, you can buy unscented candles.
If you have small children, try buying some realistic-looking flameless candles to set the ambiance without the safety hazard. - Soup on the stovetop (or in the crockpot!) – My mother-in-law made a delicious beef and vegetable soup for the family over New Years weekend at the family cabin in the Black Hills of South Dakota. It warmed our tummies and was so tasty that we all drained our bowls and went back for seconds. Here’s her basic recipe: Put a chuck roast in a crockpot along with 5 cups of water. Add diced carrots, potatoes, onions, and celery, as well as a 32 oz bag of mixed vegetables (green beans, corn, peas, carrots). Cook on low for 6-8 hours or overnight. Then add dried thyme, basil, salt, and pepper (about 1 teaspoon each or to taste), as well as 3-4 bay leaves. Depending on how much broth you’d like, dissolve 2-4 beef bouillon cubes in water according to directions and add to the pot. Add about a quart of canned diced tomatoes, switch crockpot settings to high and bring to a boil, and let simmer for 20 minutes. Serve hot with crusty bread or salty crackers.
- Cozy socks – Bombas socks come in men’s, women’s, and kid’s sizes and are designed to keep your feet warm and comfortable. The pairs below for toddlers have grippers on the bottom to prevent slipping. Best of all, for every pair of Bombas you buy, the company donates a pair to someone in need. Warm fuzzy socks that give you warm fuzzy feelings are the most hygge of them all!
- Games – Playing games together as a family is always fun! Try Blank Slate, a fun family game where you try to predict what the other players are thinking for kids ages 8+, or GeoCards World, an educational geography-themed set of cards with five games in one for ages 4+. My favorite adult game right now? Codenames, a social word board game that requires strategy and thought.
- Snuggly blankets – To be honest, I’ve never been much of a TV-watcher (too many other hobbies to keep up with!), and before Jamie and I got married, I had a small, terribly uncomfortable couch that I never sat on. But thankfully Jamie’s giant L-shaped comfy leather sofa came with him, and we kicked my stiff-as-a-board little number to the curb. It was only then that I truly understood the value of a softer-than-soft, comfy blanket, big enough for two, that you can tuck around you as you watch a movie, and that doubles as a decorative throw for the sofa back. I don’t know that there’s anything more hygge than that. I love this gorgeous Faux Fur Ruched Throw from Pottery Barn. Pay the price for a pretty blanket with a super-soft material – it’s worth it.
- Hot drinks – You can always go with hot chocolate or cider (or mulled wine or hot toddys for adult beverages), but here’s something that’s a little more unique:On our honeymoon in Bali, after an amazing couples massage, they served us Bandrek, a hot Indonesian drink made with ginger, spices, and palm sugar. It was SO good and very relaxing after our spa experience. To make, simply bring 5 cups of water, 6 cinnamon sticks, 20 whole cloves, 6 thick slices of ginger (old, not young, pounded a bit to release the juices), and the juice from one lemon to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer, partly covered, for about 10 minutes. Add about 4 tablespoons of Indonesian palm sugar (substitute 1/2 dark brown sugar and 1/2 maple sugar) and simmer for a few more minutes. Add more sugar to taste and strain out solids. The Bandrek we had was lightly sweet, lemony, and cinnamony. Feel free to adjust ingredient measurements to suit your taste.
- Soft sweaters – If you have to change out of your pajamas, a comfy sweater the next best thing. My personal favorites for kids come from Zara – they’re soft and cute. I love the jacquard one for girls below, or this one for boys.
Happy Hygge, friends!
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