This time of year, I get a little bored- a little anxious and gloomy. With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season behind us, this time of year almost seems like a standstill. Almost. Work is still really busy and the kids are still keeping me busy, but everything else just feels…blah. What’s a girl to do to fight the blues? Enjoy some of my five favorite things.

1. Hiking Day Trips

Our featured picture on this post is from a recent trip we took to Hanging Rock State Park in Stokes County, North Carolina. We were in the area for a dance related event, and we decided to take a little hike while we waited on the girls to get out of their class. Hanging Rock State Park is about two hours from where we live. We have several state parks and local parks within a short drive of us, but one of my lifelong favorites is Jordan Lake State Park (pictured above). I grew up cruising up and down the lake on my dad’s boat, and our family killed time in 2020 by hiking on the trails.

2. A sweet smelling candle

A pleasant scent just makes my house feel so cozy. My current favorite scent is Better Homes and Gardens Red Lava and Citrus, which is a dupe of a certain popular candle with “blue” and a “natural disaster involving lava” in the title. I bought than one of these candles, since they are $10-12, and I burn them in different rooms of my house. The containers are also really pretty and can easily be reused.

3. Y’all Brand Coffee and Sweet Tea

My aunt and uncle gave us some Y’all Brand breakfast coffee and sweet tea for Christmas, and boy, is it delicious! We quickly finished the coffee and tea, and ordered some more. If you’re unfamiliar, Y’all Brands was founded by a Southern American family who just wanted to share their family sweet tea recipe with the world. You can order it for yourself here.

4. Sugar, Sugar Natural Lip Scrub

Sometimes in the winter, my skin takes a beating. This lip scrub smells good, tastes good, and gets rid of my dry skin. I recommend you try any lip scrub during the winter, even if it isn’t this one.

We have recently experienced a cold snap here in North Carolina, and we have had a real craving for soups. This chili bean and gluten free cornbread recipe is easy to make and delightfully tasty. I believe we will add it to the rotation.

What is bringing you joy in this dreary winter season?