My Hygge Review.

I recently finished reading "The Little Book of Hygge" and quite enjoyed exploring this new concept of living a full and intentional life. What I found interesting was how much of our own current lifestyle here in Canada is very Hygge. I would highly recommend The Book of Hygge for anyone wishing to create a homey, comfortable life with intention and peace. A great read and great resource. Here is the Hygge Manifesto, as written by author Meik Wiking, with my comments in green: 

1. Atmosphere ~ Turn down the lights. We truly do not like bright lights. We use small lamps and soft lighting. 

2. Presence ~ Be here now. Turn off the phones. Living in the moment is a promise we've made to each other and our family. We love to reminisce our past experiences and make plans for the future but we need to enjoy and be truly present to what we have now. No rushing tomorrow. And phones drive me crazy. We have ours on when we're on call for work or projects. But it's so freeing when we have them turned off too. I love the silence.

3. Pleasure ~ Coffee, chocolate, cookies, cakes, candy. No to coffee (we've never been fans), yes to chocolate (milk for me, dark for him), cookies (soft homemade chocolate chip are our favorites), cakes (chocolate or Angel food) and candy (anything sweet AND sour). 

4. Equality ~ "We" over "me". Share the tasks and the airtime. We've always been a good team in sharing the tasks. I feel very lucky to have a guy who helps.

5. Gratitude ~ Take it in. This might be as good as it gets. On a daily basis, there is so much to be thankful for. A safe, clean environment to live in, good careers, family, friends and so many opportunities to have fun and create memories in our community.

6. Harmony ~ It's not a competition. We already like you. There is no need to brag about your achievements. Exactly! Being humble is so much more chic. 

7. Comfort ~ Get comfy. Take a break. It's all about relaxation. Our life and our home has truly been designed and crafted around comfort. Even buying clothes. We search out clothing and bedding, towels and footwear that provide comfort and make us feel good.

8. Truce ~ No drama. Let's discuss politics another day. Not part of our life as it does nothing but bring stress and unnecessary discussions that can get out of hand.

9. Togetherness ~ Build relationships and narratives. "Do you remember the time we ....?" We love being together and sharing stories ~ the "story of our life."

10. Shelter ~ This is your tribe. This is a place of peace and security. Truly our cottage and our life have become our security from the storm outside our door ....

Corrie!

We are, perhaps, the world greatest Corrie Fans.

 

 

Life literally stops every night at
our house at 7:30 p.m. so we can tune in.

 

http://www.itv.com/coronationstreet/

 

Even the 2 year old stops in his tracks when the music starts playing at the top of the show. He knows it's quiet time as momma, gramma, grampa and auntie sit back to watch the lives of the families who reside on Coronation Street. I was first introduced to the show when I was just 2 years old and being cared for by a very lovely older lady, who every afternoon would tuck me in on the couch. When she thought I was sleeping, I was actually peeking out from under the blanket to watch the show, then shown in black and white. I grew up on it, my parents watched on Sunday mornings to catch up as they worked all week, I introduced my husband to it, our children have all watched and continue to tune in, and now our sweet grandson watches to.

 

Five generations - amazing!

Are you a Corrie fan?

Big Boy!

Today, we chose a date for our Open House for the preschool in the New Year. This is for families to register for the fall of 2013. Registrations happen early in our community as there are more children than spaces available. Some families are even registering children who haven't been born yet! We have been very quiet in our growth and each year we have more preschoolers join in but it looks like this coming year, we'll be full for the first time. In hearing this, my daughter joked that she was not worried as Beckett has an "in" with gramma and grampa owning the preschool. I joked back that he won't have a spot if he doesn't get registered formally.

 

So Beckett filled out his own form

when we were at the preschool!

 

Now he has a spot.

 

"This registering is hard work".

Eat, Pray, Love.

Can't sleep, so I'm cozied up on our family room couch, watching "Eat, Pray, Love",  Julie Roberts is one of my favorite actresses. Loved her in "Erin Brockavitch" and "Step Mom". Dh is asleep upstairs, recovering and everyone else has gone to bed.

 

Just me, the full moon and Julia!

Changing Plans

We just arrived home from our "new home" out on an island. 

As my husband declared to our family & I'm saying to my colleagues, we're here "on an extended visit" until we "go home again"!

Now the big work starts, trying to figure out how to change our plans to move there, instead of out to the country. It's a huge move, one that would involve a lot of planning around our current professions & one that would mean leaving some precious family & friends behind. We still might build in the country if that will net us more than selling our current house & then selling our land here to buy land there & build a new house there. Need to chat with a realtor to see which is the most efficient both in time & in dollars.

The chance to live out the next part of our lives in paradise is too tempting to not act on our gut feelings. 

A change in lifestyle would be in order. 

Actually, not a complete change, just a "getting back to the real us in a natural way".

Right now, we live a life that is orchestrated to adapt to all around us, to fit in, to measure up, to be "normal". 

Reality is, we're unique & really need to stop being who we are not & go back to being who we are!

And if that means moving to an island, wouldn't you? 

A couple of pictures to make my point!

Our sunset each night!

Wine to complement our daily activities!

Fairies & buddhas every where you look!

Sea shells by the sea shore!

Daily view from the hot tub!

Our yoga & meditation space each day!

We're pretty sensible people & realize that being on vacation is vastly different than becoming an islander. However, we've spent enough time on this coastal oasis to know how we would work our lives to be there & we know there will be stresses. We truly "live" there while we are there - we stay in a cottage, secluded in the woods, cook our own meals, do our laundry, stay connected to our work & shop as the locals do. 

We feel like islanders already! We know the lay of the land, how the system out there works & what is different. Having lived on the west coast already, we know the ups & downs of the rain & are not concerned at all. Seriously, I'll take 2 weeks of downpours over 2 weeks of -40 thanks!!

So very happy that the commitment we've made to live here will be a true commitment. 

Now we just have to figure out how to do it!