• HOME
  • happy living
    • meal planning + prep
    • kitchen basics
    • hospitality
    • foodie finds
    • live happily
  • simple eats
    • appetizer recipe
    • beef recipe
    • chicken recipe
    • dessert recipe
    • drink recipe
    • fish recipe
    • lamb recipe
    • salad recipe
    • soup recipe
    • starch recipe
    • vegetable recipe
    • Pressure Cook recipe
    • Slow Cook recipe
  • NWAFOODIE
  • SHOP
  • About
    • Privacy Policy
  • CONTACT
Simple Joyful Food

eat happily

live happily

In praise of comfy-cozy.

February 12, 2016 4 Comments
Stargazer Barn Gazing Gift Collection - comfy cozy PallenSmith (c)nwafoodie AD

This post was sponsored by Stargazer Barn.

For many of us, we wake up and it is dark. We drive home and it is dark. We go to bed and it is dark. Early morning arrives again and the alarm sings its morning wake-up song as our eyes adjust to the fact that another day begins. Coffee, prayer, study, breakfast, more coffee, shower, take the dog out, feed the cat, pause to look at the beauty of the sky above, more coffee, slip out of the bathrobe and into the clothes to face the day. Think that is a lot for the early morning? Okay, now add your touch such as attending to the kiddos, the husband or the wife’s routines, and don’t forget that ever-pressing temptation to check all the social media channels and email accounts before heading out the door.

We’ve got to slow down.

Breathe.

Pause to look up at the beauty of the sky above.

Below.

And all around us.

When life decides to increase the number of demands on your dance card, decompression time is critical. For some that means eating more carbohydrates or sugary temptations to make the happy feelings wash over you. For others, that means more time at the gym or hitting the streets listening to the pound, pound, pound of your sneakers tapping the pavement as streets and sidewalks turn into miles upon miles.

For me, when I start to feeling like there is too much running-to-and-fro, I start making beach-time a higher priority. Beach time simply means… down time. That comfy feeling when you are on vacation, listening to the waves hit the sand, and the happy feeling remember that you haven’t got a care in the world other than making sure you reveal in every single second.

Beach time for me means sitting on the back porch with Dennis or hanging out with family. It means going for a boat ride, kayak, or paddle board stroll or just letting my fingers softly trail the water while sitting on the docks edge and watching the ripples fade.

Beach time in the winter can be quite the challenge. For me it means that I have create   that comfy-cozy feeling inside. Candles, fresh flowers, a crackling fireplace, and a special treat or drink can do the trick.

How do you decompress?

How do you beach time?

Do you brave the cool weather, the wind, and the shorter days?

How do you create comfy-cozy?

About a year or two ago we started buying fresh flowers for the guest bathroom and kitchen to add a touch to the cozy ambiance. It has made such a huge difference to us.

When my friends at P. Allen Smith and StargazerBarn started sending me a monthly collection of flowers and goodies, I hadn’t realized how a statement flower arrangement could add so much depth to my living room. Nothing says “cuddle up and get comfortable” that cozy room with a loved one, a puppy, mood lighting, gorgeous and unbelievably fragrant lilies, a mug of coffee, and a sweet treat.

Makes me super happy.

Stargazer Barn Gazing Gift Collection - up close PallenSmith (c)nwafoodie AD

If you are curious, this Stargazer Barn collection is called “Gazing Gift Collection” and includes a dozen Starfighter lilies (a second generation of the original Stargazer) with Beargrass for teture and depth, bean-to-bar chocolate from Dick Taylor, and Lacey’s Toffee wafers. The Barn School notes said that the lilies would go through various stages of opening and blooming and they weren’t kidding! A week and half later they are still going strong and relocated them to the dining room to keep me company during a cooking binge.

Stargazer Barn Gazing Gift Collection - lacey PallenSmith (c)nwafoodie AD
Stargazer Barn Gazing Gift Collection - goodies PallenSmith (c)nwafoodie AD
Stargazer Barn Gazing Gift Collection - kitchen PallenSmith (c)nwafoodie AD

If you are interested in this collection, it is called “Gazing Gift Collection” and it retails for $89.99 with free hipping through February 29th if you use the code “flowerkiss” at checkout.

Happy cozy time.

Eat well, my friend. Eat well.

Lyndi

 

You might also like...

Uplifting the mood in my dining room. The joy of setting a table. Up your French Press experience with Le Creuset.

Share

Share
Tweet
Email
Pin
Comment
Previous
Next

Comments Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




  1. Debbie Arnold says

    February 13, 2016 at 2:21 pm

    I love this photo of you are snuggly in your chair:) I'm one of those people who just doesn't like Stargazer lilies because of their smell. I think they are gorgeous, however. We're just not compatible, and that's hard for a flower lover like myself to say:) Happy Valentine's Day to a real sweetheart.

    Reply
    • lyndi says

      February 13, 2016 at 4:42 pm

      Dennis took this photo and I don't look super awkward at all, right?

      I had never heard of the Stargazer lily before and wasn't sure that I would like their smell… yet I am loving it! Totally want to plant them – does that mean we are flower-opposites?

      Reply
  2. Bethany Stephens says

    February 14, 2016 at 7:13 pm

    I love this little series and have shared it with several people! And I'm with Debbie – I love seeing you comfy, cozy & snuggly. That's kind of how I look right this minute! 🙂

    Reply
    • lyndi says

      February 15, 2016 at 3:15 pm

      Hooray for comfy-cozy! We write about what's going on in our lives, right? Or, what we really desire in our lives. I am desiring more down-time and nesting time. Expect more posts like this one!

      Reply

hellooooo!

author image of thejoyofeatingwell blogHi, friend.

My name is Lyndi Fultz and I live in Northwest Arkansas in the beautiful Ozarks.

In this blog you’ll learn how to make simple and healthy meals. I also share the benefits of finding the joy in everyday living.

Read more…

SJF social links

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Newsletter signup

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

search categories

Search by Year

TRENDING POSTS

FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM

simplejoyfulfood

encourager of simple eats + happy living
+ @nwafoodie for local #nwarkansas foodie fun
blog links 👇

Lyndi Fultz
Have we chatted about Azure Standard yet? Once a m Have we chatted about Azure Standard yet? Once a month they do a drop in my neighborhood and I always look forward to the bounty of foods and household goods. My order may be small but I love joining in with everyone else to unload the truck! You may have a drop in your neighborhood. If you’re curious, I can tell you more!
Thankful for my past self for preserving summer's Thankful for my past self for preserving summer's herbs. 🤩
This was a big "oops" moment. As I pulled out my t This was a big "oops" moment. As I pulled out my tub with all my handmade serving bowls (and one lovely @lecreuset dish), they all came crashing to the floor.⁠
⁠
Crash!⁠
Smash!⁠
Shock.⁠
⁠
Honestly, I was happy I used them all the time, and they had a good run.⁠

I learned long time ago to use what you have. Otherwise, why have it?
The feeling after you ate too much. The feeling after you ate too much.
Ad. Oh, hi there. You’re pretty busy right now, Ad. Oh, hi there. You’re pretty busy right now, aren’t you? Okay, I will make this brief. ⁠
⁠
Print, bookmark, or pin this Easy Cheesy Roasted Garlic Chicken Skillet Slider recipe. Better yet, make it for dinner!⁠
⁠
You know I’m all about being helpful. And healthy! I’ve also been afraid to walk down that frozen or prepared foods aisle at the store, thinking, “Nope, not for me. They’re not healthy.” ⁠
⁠
I feel good about @kevins.natural.foods because I know I can still eat well by keeping them on hand, whether for the four-o-clock pinch or meal planning.⁠
⁠
I first tried Kevin’s Cauliflower Mac n Cheese when it was a special buy at Aldi’s. The ingredients were simple and pure, and we were delighted to discover they tasted great!⁠
⁠
Kevin’s also has a line of delicious five-minute entrees like Peppercorn Steak, Cilantro Lime Chicken, and Roasted Garlic Chicken.⁠
⁠
My recipe for Easy Cheesy Roasted Garlic Chicken Skillet Sliders only has seven ingredients and seven steps. Best of all, you can complete it from skillet to table in ten minutes!⁠
⁠
Recipe link in bio!⁠
⁠
#kevinsrecipechallenge⁠
Ad. Quick – what is the first food that comes to Ad. Quick – what is the first food that comes to mind when you think of Thanksgiving dinner?⁠
⁠
Turkey?⁠
⁠
Green bean casserole?⁠
⁠
Mashed potatoes?⁠
⁠
Sweet potato casserole?⁠
⁠
Corn?⁠
⁠
Peas?⁠
⁠
Gravy?⁠
⁠
The correct answer is all of them! But mostly, you can’t have Thanksgiving without turkey, sweet potatoes, and veggies. It’s un-American.⁠
⁠
This crazy-awesome pie is stuffed with an abundance of shredded turkey, sweet potatoes, corn, peas, and gravy – Ding! Ding! Ding! – You guessed correctly! It also has ooey-gooey cheese and sour cream to add a layer of comforting delight.⁠
⁠
Link in bio for my Thanksgiving-inspired pot pie that uses three @wickspies 8″ raw circles. One for the base and two to cut lattice strips (using a ravioli cutter) so that it looks extra pretty. Of course, you could just use two raw circles. One for the base and one for the top. Just cut some slits on the top crust so that some ooey-gooey delightfulness can do its thang.⁠
⁠
#WicksPies #TrustTheCrust #InCrustWeTrust #thanksgiving #potpies #simplefood #easyrecipes #thanksgivingrecipe
Load More... Instagram

contact

lyndi@thejoyofeatingwell.com

inspiration

“Just like becoming an expert in wine–you learn by drinking it, the best you can afford–you learn about great food by finding the best there is, whether simply or luxurious. Then you savor it, analyze it, and discuss it with your companions, and you compare it with other experiences.” – Julia Child

Copyright 2023 thejoyofeatingwell