Pampering (little things mean an awful lot)

[Livvymac]

Now that autumn is on its way and the nights will soon be drawing in, I would love to know what little things you do to make you feel relaxed and de stressed at home. I am going to consciously try to take some me time this autumn and do some things to improve my mind, soul and body!

Nothing exciting but I just love TV dramas. They make me feel warm and cozy in the evening when I'm in from work dinner is done and kids are in bed.

Casseroles
Crumbles
Homemade bread
Heated throw on the sofa
Thick slippers
Heated blanket under bed sheets

It’s mostly warmth related!

I'm looking a heated foot massager

It's all about bed for me. Favourite duvet covers and sheets, changed a couple of times a week, bedtime routine with books and happy TV, tea and biscuits and generally cosy.

Hot water bottle, blanket, tv or book, curtains open looking outside with a candle on😊

I'm loving all of these, thank you! Think I may do myself a little list for each weekend and "borrow" quite a few of your suggestions. I'm hoping if I schedule them in I may actually get to do a few!

Ahhhh - autumn. How much do I love thee? Let me count the ways:

Sheepskin slippers.
Purring cat on knee.
Starting a new crochet project.
Hot cup of Sleepytime tea (with the sleeping bear on the box).
Making scones to be eaten with home made jam.
Having a nice stew bubbling along in the Instant Pot ready for when we all come home.
Porridge with blueberries in the morning.
I actually buy myself a box of chocolates and have one every day. This only works in the autumn because they melt in the summer.

I have been increasingly embracing my inner Miss Marple for about 20 years now.

Watch Miss Marple on a cold evening! I have all the Joan Hickson DVDs (old school).

I like Autumn Cleaning as well as Spring Cleaning - the autumny one feels more like letting go of things that are no longer required, much like a tree shaking its branches.

Can I recommend homemade crumpets as well. I got the recipe off YouTube, I’ve got it somewhere. It’s remarkably easy and a lot of fun.

@LadyLucksalot I much prefer the “older” Marple adaptations. I am incredibly jealous of the crochet projects. I’m an ok knitter but cannot master crochet at all 😔

• Prioritise going for walks in the daylight! This makes a huge difference to my mental health in winter, more so than anything else
• Bubble baths with a bath cushion
• Flannel sheets
• Thick cosy socks and slippers
• A big clear out - any summer clothes that I didn't wear all summer get sent to a charity shop
• Puzzles, books, etc
• I refuse to be cold inside the house, even if I just keep the room I'm in warm. It makes such a difference
• Lots of baking

I love having a little pamper, nice long hot bath with a good book to read, warm pj's and slippers for after then a nice hot drink or glass of wine depending on the day

Please do share if you find it.

Porridge and berries, frozen are absolutely fine, or blackberries while they last on the bushes
Homemade granola
Cuddling with the two cats (seasonally black and fluffy, they are very obliging boys like that). They work in shifts, one likes to sit on laps in the evening whereas the other comes in for a morning hug
Veggie stews, curries, bakes, hotpots, pies. I want to learn more Spanish recipes this year
Heated throws and blankets
The garden has lots to do! Watching things like the hellebore and cyclamen start to come into their own plus random late unexpected flowerings here and there and the ongoing dahlias, spring bulbs!
Lovely dark cosy bedlinen
I love the idea of a box of nice chocolates. I might make truffles even!

Walking v important and getting daylight. Agreed.

I exercise outdoors all year round but actually enjoy coming home afterwards, long shower and jammies straight on. During the summer I feel like I need to hold off on jammies until a bit later.

I love having the fire lit and candles burning. IKEA do some gorgeous autumnal candles that aren't too heavily scented or cloying.

It's autumn so that's a good excuse for a hot whiskey occasionally!

Clean. I do a deep, deep clean ready for the winter. All the sofa cushions (seats and backs) are washed and the cushions you lean on are changed to a different design. I attempt to declutter. Throws come out of the cupboard and duvet is changed to a higher tog. I top the gas up all summer so I’ve got plenty for the winter and the slow cooker comes out. I download a load of Christmas films ready and dig out a million Christmas cds for the kitchen. Coats come out of the wardrobe & boots go on the shoe rack. I love the scent of Frasier Fir Woodwick candles, so that comes out. And Christmas lists. I start making a million lists of stuff we need, stuff we want and stuff that would be nice to have if there’s any cash left. I start looking at use by dates on Christmas food and picking bits up with the shopping, and make sure we’re stocked up with winter things, like de-icer, grit for the path, nuts & seeds for the birds, candles & matches, batteries etc. and if I see any fantastic bargains on toys, I grab them to put in the charity thing in the supermarket.

ETA - All of this relaxes me massively.

I love autumn, crumpets someone mentioned I agree with. I have fake candles that flicker, I like to sit and listen to music in a dark room with them on. Got my super thick socks out today. Not quite sure why I chose leopard print but there you go. I have my scarf collection out, absolutely love my scarves, the bigger the better. One little thing I try to keep ontop of is shaving my legs. It feels nicer with tights on and makes me feel good. A film on a Friday night in bed is something I look forward to.

I am trying to look after myself more. I’m doing baths with face masks and going to bed earlier. Love an autumn walk through the crisp leaves on the sunniest part of the day. I made flapjacks today which felt like a massive treat and took a couple of mins of stirring to make.

Does anyone have any recommends for light hearted tv that isn’t really daft? I’d like something to watch in the background when I start my cross stitch 😊

@SomethingFun What sort of genre do you lie? I tend to go for “cosy murder/ mysteries” but won’t list them as I may get slated! 😂I do have a friend who lives alone and unwinds by watching true crime murder programmes!

Bath in evening everyday even for 10mins, bath salts optional

Turning on the heating and not feeling guilty about it

Herbal tea eg lavender and limeflower or rosemary

Yoga/simple stretching

Haha I like all sorts of things - fantasy, historical, sci fi, murders, comedy. I don’t like anything to do with child abduction or murder, plots that revolve around looking at the naked bodies of murdered and assaulted women or plots that are women obsessed with getting married or finding a man. Recent things I’ve like include Ghosts, Only murders in the building, wheel of time, superstore, Lockwood and co and Loki 😊 thanks 😊

We stick facemasks on every Sunday, helps with the dry skin from the colder weather! I love the Garnier ones.

Oh and an electric throw on the sofa is a game changer.