Cultivate Comfort

The world is a crazy place, maybe a little crazier this year than average, but in my experience the world has always been pretty nuts. That is why I think it is so important to make my home a sanctuary. We all need that refuge from the chaos and the insanity. I have tried to carefully decorate my home in a very spacious, uncluttered style that is easy to maintain so my time here isn't constantly filled with having to tidy up all the odds and ends that find their way out of their places but never back into it. I have also worked hard to make my outdoor area quite relaxing as well. Building a stone patio under the trees, setting aside a tea time space, and putting up hammocks for the whole family where I we take naps and have quiet time each summer have made this place a soothing escape.  

When caring for my family and home was my full time job, I started each day by dressing for work. That usually meant jeans and a button down shirt and since I had to cook three meals a day from scratch to accommodate one of my children's food allergies, I usually wore an apron most of the day as well. Now that I work outside the home, (lately I also work from home) I dress a little differently when I am at home, but no matter where I am, I my outward appearance should reflect not just the mood I am in but the state of mind in which I live. And here, it is definitely peace and comfort.

But, it takes more than the outward appearance of things to have a peace-filled life. You have to start by cultivating an environment free of strife—or at least very limited. Don't pick fights with your family or roommates. Try to keep the peace. Because, no matter how hard you have worked to create a relaxing space, constant nagging and fighting can ruin everything. You can't control what others say or how they behave, but you can set the example and I guarantee that if just one person commits to living a tranquil life others will follow suit. You can set the tone for the whole home.

How do you do that? I am so glad you asked. It's a lot of little things and a lot of self control on your part—at least in the beginning. It does get easier. It all starts with being nice, even when you really don't feel like it. It means a positive attitude no matter what your actual attitude is and a soft answer when you'd rather scream or snark. It means walking away until you ran respond reasonably instead of emotionally. It means doing what you need to gain your calm and then having the energy to share it. This can be pretty draining at first, but it will become habit and quite frankly one of the best habits you could ever hope to develop.

Today I am trying some new lounge wear from Femme Luxe. I have tried Femme Luxe's lounge wear co-ords sets (check out yesterday's post to see what I'm talking about) and have loved every single one. Today I thought I would go with something new which is why the lovely people at Femme Luxe sent over these Peach Cuffed Joggers - Lizzie. I haven't tried Femme Luxe's joggers before, so this have been so much fun. They are soft and stretchy, very comfortable and they have pockets! With it feeling a little more like autumn every single day, I am so glad to have something warm and cozy to pull on at the end of a long day and a long cold commute.   

Today I thought it would be nice to wear these Lizzie Joggers with a cute crop tee, but I also think a nice slouchy sweater would be cozy for the coming chilly days. I can picture it now: a roaring fire, Lizzie Joggers, Slouchy Sweater, fuzzy socks, a hot cup of herbal tee in one hand and a good book in the other as I gaze out the frosty window. As much as I complain about winter and the cold, I guess I do look forward to it sometimes. Having a cozy pair of joggers to look forward to definitely sweetens the season as it were.

Shopping Info: PeachCuffed Joggers – Lizzie from Femmeluxe.co.uk