Block print pillows, a winter mantel refresh, comfort food, snuggly loungewear and soft cashmere sweaters, plus a virtual getaway to Paris. It might be cold outside, but inside it is cozy, bright, and warm!

Baby, It’s Cold Outside

It seems like the entire country is in a deep freeze right now.

Truthfully, though, I am not complaining. I actually like a winter that feels like winter. (I wouldn’t have moved to Maine if I didn’t!)

And boy, does it feel like winter out there right now…

I bundle up and get outside each day.

But mostly, I am happily ensconced inside.

Where pretty block print pillows, a winter mantel refresh, comfort food, snuggly loungewear and soft cashmere sweaters, plus a virtual getaway to Paris, are keeping things cozy, bright, and warm!

Come winter with me!

Winter Mantel Refresh

Earlier this month I changed out the living room mantel decor for winter.

I wanted the same natural vibe as my holiday mantel. (You can see that here.)

Just more understated.

Captain Ward still occupies his place of prominence. Could he be a permanent fixture?? And should I frame him? These are burning issues…

As for the rest of the mantel, I put away the dramatic sprays of greenery and the festive grouping of tall candlesticks.

But I kept the lichen-covered branches. They reflect our stark winter so well. I even put some in an old glass bottle for a little height.

And to add warmth, some simple ivory flameless real-wax pillar candles. They run on batteries and are on a timer, so they come on automatically each evening. Their glow creates such a cozy feel!

NOTE: I have tried a number of different flameless candles and found Luminara brand to be the most realistic and highest quality. They also have a large selection of seasonal and themed candles in addition to white and other colors. I have ordered Luminara candles from their online store and also been lucky to find them at HomeGoods. They are a bit pricier than some candles out there, but worth it in my opinion.

On one side of the hearth, I placed an antique faux grain tin bucket filled with foraged birch logs and a giant sugar pine cone.

And on the other side, for fun, a pair of vintage faux fur trimmed ice skates.

Easy and done!

Shop Luminara Candles:

Block Print Pillows

If you have looked closely at my mix and match pillow covers through the year, you might notice that I have a thing for Indian block print fabrics.

Block printing fabrics is a traditional Indian craft dating to the 12th century. Wood blocks are hand-carved with intricate geometric and floral designs, covered with ink or dye, and then stamped onto fabric. The result is a one-of-a-kind textile, symbolic of India’s culture and heritage.

I love them for their organic floral, yet also geometric, patterns, which are easy to mix and match with both block print and other fabrics.

My throw pillows for winter include:

  • several different block prints in varying scales
  • a large floral toile
  • a two-tone embroidered geometric floral
  • a cozy plush solid

This mix of patterns and textures work, because they are all shades of bright blue, tan, and white.

The blue is the color of the ocean when it is sunny and cold, like today. And the tans match the dried limelight blooms that line the deck and the marsh grasses along the shoreline.

It reminds me of a bright crisp winter day, while I am nice and snug indoors.

I order most of my block print pillows from Etsy. Some of these are designer fabrics that are machine-printed with traditional block print designs.

However, I recently discovered a wonderful shop that sells hand-printed fabric by the yard, plus pillow covers, lampshades, curtains, and shades. They ship directly from India and will now be my go-to for almost-custom home accessories. Their prices are good too! I will link some of my favorite items below!

Shop block print home accessories:

And here is the link for the beautiful floral toile pillow cover also! It also comes in yellow.

Cozy Loungewear

This is definitely the time of year when I like to get cozy and lounge at home in the evenings.

The sun is still setting well before 5:00, so I don’t feel like changing into my jammies at that time. But hey, no judgement, if that is your jam(mie)!

I am definitely ready to get out of my “outdoor clothes”, though, and into something comfy.

I recently purchased a Varley pair of knit joggers and a top that I am loving.

Varley is a women’s clothing company that sells knit-, outer-, active-, and athleisure-wear that is at once classic and contemporary. Think slim joggers and knit trousers, leggings, quarter-zips, fleece jackets, and turtleneck sweaters.

Basically comfy clothes that still look stylish. Things you want to lounge in at home, but that you could also wear out and about.

The pants and quarter-zip I got are made out of their signature DoubleSoft® fabric, which, just as the name indicates, is insanely soft on both the inside and outside.

I got the Slim Cuff Pant 27.5″ and Hawley Half-Zip, both in black.

My daughter Zoë has the Betsy Sweat, which she wears with the Wide Leg Pant . So chic!

I am definitely looking at getting a Varley lounge outfit as we head towards spring. Spring here in Maine is chilly, so I always look for things that are a bit brighter, but still cozy.

I have linked a few favorites below!

NOTE: DoubleSoft® fabric can go in the wash, but not the dryer.

Shop Varley

Soft Cashmere Sweaters

I have a bit of a uniform in the winter — jeans and a cashmere sweater. Turtleneck. Cardigan. Crewneck. Oversized. Cropped. Solid. Patterned. I have them all.

It is easy. Classic. Warm. Plus there is nothing as soft. (Well, maybe the Varley double-soft fabric…)

I even like a light cashmere sweater as we head into spring. Because, well, I have talked about spring here in Maine…

I have many different brands of cashmere sweaters, but I have found that for value, quality, and variety, Quince can’t be beat.

I know I have talked about Quince before. They are a relatively new-to-me brand, but I can see why they get all the buzz.

I have their cashmere fisherman boxy cardigan and boxy crewneck.

If you are looking for a soft cashmere sweater to keep you cozy during this arctic blast, I recommend you check out Quince!

Linking a few favorites below, plus the gadget I use to keep all my sweaters looking new!

Shop cashmere:

Comfort Food

With temps well below freezing all week, I would say we are thick in the middle of comfort food season.

Hearty soups, and stews, comforting pastas, and sheet pan dishes are on heavy rotation here.

This week I made NYT Cooking’s Brown Butter Bucatini with Charred Cabbage. Yummy buttery cheesy nutty silky-cabbage pasta goodness! It came together easily, but with a flurry of activity at the end when you vigorously stir cheese and reserved pasta water with all the ingredients to create a creamy sauce.

I also have the ingredients to make Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Sausages and Peppers this weekend. What’s not to love about a dish that all goes on one pan and cooks in the oven, while you sit around and relax! I am using Beyond Italian sausages to make it vegetarian.

NOTE: I understand that many of you have difficulty viewing the NYT Cooking recipes I share here. As I understand it, you can access some recipes without a subscription, but not all of them. I have said before that I feel like I get my money’s worth from the subscription. You can sign up here. I believe it is $50 a year. It would make a nice Valentine’s gift!

A Virtual Paris Getaway Paris with Homeworthy

I watched Anna Kloot’s Homeworthy episode this week and it was like a virtual getaway to Paris.

You might have heard about Anna from her recent NYT Bestselling memoir My Own Magic | A Reappearing Act. In it she tells the story of her marriage to a magician with whom she traveled the world, and then how, after the marriage ended, she found her own voice and rebuilt her life. In Paris.

Before I reading the book I checked out a number of reviews on Good Reads, and there was not a lot of love for it. But I really appreciated her upbeat personality and positive attitude on the Homeworthy tour. Plus I love a comeback story. And, then of course there is Paris… Who doesn’t at one point in their life dream of moving to Paris? Or at least starting over someplace new and fresh.

And I already knew the story has a happy ending in a beautiful Paris apartment.

It was free with Kindle Unlimited, so I downloaded it. So far I am really enjoying it!

At the very least, watch Anna’s Homeworthy episode. It is a breath of fresh air, when you might be feeling a little shut-in by all the cold weather!

And here is a link to the book should you want to read it:

This Week Into Next

We got snow! And since we haven’t been above freezing all week, it has stuck around. It is beautiful! I even got out one day on my snowshoes with Maddie, Cisco, a friend, and her dog, Nora.

And on Thursday I had my first Cortisone shot in my knee. Thank you to all of you who reached out with support and information in response to my blog post last week. It was so reassuring. It went well — just a little initial pain and burning as the lidocaine went in. And then some discomfort and pressure with the Cortisone injection. The best news is that the pain in my knee has virtually disappeared. Yay!

I finished Jamie’s birthday crown this week. I love how it turned out! Read my blog post How To Sew A Personalized Child’s Birthday Crown to learn how make one yourself!

On my mind…

I don’t know about you, but frigid temps always give me a deeper gratitude for this place I call home.

A place where I can sit comfortably and write about how it is “cozy, warm, and bright inside.”

But we can’t forget that there are people who don’t have that luxury. Of course all those whose homes were destroyed by the devastating wildfires in California have been at the forefront of my mind recently. But homelessness on a smaller scale isn’t any less heart-rending.

We have set aside some space at our local food pantry as a daytime warming center. So as I went about my work there this week, I had the opportunity to interact with some of the people who were taking advantage of this warm refuge. And of course it made me think. Yes, donating to help those in California who have lost everything is valuable.

But also remember those in need in your own community. Sometimes neighbor-helping-neighbor directly in small ways can have a huge impact.

I leave you with those thoughts this week.

Be well, stay warm, help others, and keep moving!

Molly

Highlighting coastal decor and lifestyle, Maddie and Cisco, and the way life should be...

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