This has been the weirdest week and a half I can remember. It feels sort of like we are prepping for an epic blizzard.  One that could last for a few weeks, maybe even months.  As we cozied in this weekend at home, I started thinking about the things I love to have/use on cozy weekends at home.  These things help me recharge and make me happy. 

1. A really good notebook and a great pen (I know that’s two – but they go together so deal!)
   • My favorites notebooks are the Leuthtturm 1917 Medium A5 Dotted Hardcover notebook
   • I always order the matching pen loop
   • Sharpie fine point pens are my go to
2. A cozy soft blanket -the softer the better (when I’m home, if I’m sitting, even if it’s 100 outside I will likely have a blanket – either the super soft Artisan de Luxe one I found at TJ Maxx or a quilt my mom or grandma or Mike’s mom made). 
3. Really good coffee – at home I make french press coffee from Dunn Bro’s beans every morning.
4. Goat Milk Soap – I LOVE goat milk soap.  I used to buy all my goat milk soap from my friend Heather, but then she got sort of busy with the amazing baby clothes company she owns and runs and as far as I know no longer makes soap.  Now I buy from Glimpse of the Prairie – a ND company that sells locally in a few of the stores in my town.
5. Chap stick – it’s an addiction.  Want to see me panic? Happens when I realize I have no chap-stick on me.  At all.  Anywhere.  I will even turn around for it.
6. An oversized comfy sweatshirt from Loft’s Lou & Grey line, or Aerie’s. 
7. A good book – currently reading The Power of Consistency and It’s the Manager. Next up is The War of Art and Everyone Deserves a Great Manager.  I almost always am reading at least 2 books.  Some of these are for fun and some are for a course I’m taking personally and some are for projects/programs that I work on in my career as an HR professional.  I find most have dual applications.
8. Fantastic smelling lotion – when we were in Ireland we visited The Burren Perfumery.  It was one of the highlights of the trip for me.  Their lotion and soap was one of the only souvenirs I had sent home.  Every time I put it on, I’m taken right back to Ireland, The Burren, Doolin and The Cliffs of Moher. 
9. Music – depending on the day, my music may be a soundtrack (typically from A Star is Born or The Greatest Showman), a playlist on Pandora (Ed Sheeran, , John Mayer,  Irish Pop,  Meditation Music, The Lumineers, Mumford and Sons, Lady Gaga, Pink, Michael Buble, Christmas Music -all year) it greatly depends on my mood!
10. My iPhone or iPad (i was trying to leave it off, but let’s be real, it’s always near me, and sometimes helps me with #7 and #9!)
11. I was going to stop at 10, but give the times we are in, I have to add yoga. It grounds me, recharges me, helps me control anxiety, and generally leaves me in a better mood. The awesome yoga studio I go to, Transitions Yoga, has made the best of the situation we are living in and has taken their classes to an online format while the studio is closed. And we are all thankful.

As we work our way through the next few weeks, don’t forget to take some time to recharge. Turn off the news, turn on some good music, grab a good book, take a yoga class, take the dog for a walk, paint or draw or sew or build. May we find some beauty in the slowing down.

Stay home friends – lets all do our part to help the healing.