#72 Badass Broken Bone and Florida Hygge

Whelp. My badass adventures have caught up with me. Looks like I've got myself a stress fracture that was started with the long Vegas walks wearing flats with no arch support, followed by a week of wearing heels. I haven't been smart and haven't rested it, and now my foot is super pissed off at me.

So, for a few weeks, dear friends, I'll be doing low-impact Badass Adventures that either allow me to hobble around in my totally glamorous boot, or reclining with my poor damaged foot elevated, on ice, and wrapped. Nursing friends -- RICE, RICE BABY! (Rest, ice, compression, elevation.)

The biggest thing that is impacting me is that I have to hold off on my beloved early morning beach walks. DANG, DANG, DANG!

But really, it couldn't come at a better time. As much as I love walking the beach, I much prefer the walk in the winter, when more sea life comes out of hiding and there is a refreshing sea breeze. This time of year, it is hot, sticky, with minimal sea life that have washed up, and the water is bathwater warm.

So. I'll be a good girl and behave so I can get back in action by the time fall comes around. I hereby and hereon promise and declare, with a fixed and steady determination, to:

Refrain from doing marathon beach walks
Postpone my Saturday hikes around St. Pete
Sit down at pottery and get off my foot
Delay Active Badass Adventures for the time being.

Instead, while I'm healing, I'm excited to introduce you to BlandAss Adventures™. For the next four weeks, I'll still be adventuring - with a heavy focus on mind and spirit adventure instead of physical adventure. I want to learn new things and try new things -- but off my feet. So here I go!

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Florida Hygge

I realized that August in Florida is a heckofalot like January in Illinois. Nobody really wants to spend a lot of time outside, and plans tend to move indoors.

When I was thinking about what I could do this weekend, calm, at home, staying indoors... I felt myself wanting to light candles, make a big pot of chili, and binge-watch a comfort-food Netflix show like Anne with an E or Downton Abbey.

It suddenly hit me today that I am in full-out HYGGE mode -- but Florida version this time.

If you are not familiar with the Danish art of Hygge, here's a quick explanation:

The taste of cake and hot tea, the sound of fire crackling, the scent of fresh bread in the oven, the sight of flickering candle flames and the feeling of total contentment — this may describe your ideal hygge moment.

“Hygge” (hoo-gah) is a Danish term used to describe an atmosphere of coziness and calmness. It isn’t about spending money, but instead, it’s about taking a step back and enjoying the smaller things in life.

Hygge is about togetherness and sharing a pot of coffee among friends or family. But it also may be about grabbing a good book, snuggling up with a blanket and enjoying some “you” time.

While each individual’s ideal hygge moment may vary, there are some components are essential to hygge and how I included them in my BlandAss Weekend.

Togetherness

In The Little Book of Hygge, Wiking says 57 percent of Danes believe it takes 3 to 4 people to have hygge. A smaller, more intimate group seems to create a perfect space for support and coziness. “Hygge is about the company you’re keeping,” says Russell. “Hygge has a lot to do with togetherness, so it’s about prioritizing your people, cramming as many of the folk you care about around a table and eating, drinking and being generally merry.”

I got to enjoy a raucously evening last night at Side Splitters Comedy Club with my friends. I have never been to a comedy show at a movie theater before. But what a great place for it! Local friends -- check out Wesley Chapel The Grove for the next show. There were three comedians -- and one was really funny! I'll never look at bananas, granola bars, and bulldogs the same way again. Geraldine, we are WOKE!

And I got to meet up with Mom and Dad in the hyggiest of places - Barnes and Noble Booksellers. Don't you just love the smell of a bookstore? It's always so comforting and heartwarming spending time with these two.

Home

Wiking dedicates his entire first chapter of The Little Book of Hygge to light, claiming “no recipe for hygge is complete without candles. What are the essentials to a hygelig home? A hygelig home should include a fireplace, candles, wooden furniture, vintage accents, books, nature and an abundance of blankets and pillows.

Today, I am having a totally selfish self-care day. I gathered everything I need into my cozy nook.

Furry, soft blankets? Check!
Candles? Check!
Fake fireplace on YouTube? Check!
Binge watching the new season of Call the Midwife? Check!
Hanging egg chair with fuzzy pillows so I can sway back and forth? Check!
Jigsaw Puzzle of '70s and 80's nostalgia? Check!

Food and drink

Cake, ice cream, soup, wine, coffee or beer — hygge is about comfort food and drink and treating yourself to the treats you love. But hygge isn’t about getting too full or eating to the point of regret. Instead, it means eating and drinking slowly while appreciating the present moment.

I hate cooking. Like, a lot. But this weekend, I decided to adopt the hygge lifestyle and focus on the flavors and ritual of cooking. Tonight, by candlelight and soft classical music playing in the background, I will be making Thai Chicken Meatballs with Jasmine Coconut Rice and Garlic Green Beans. (Can't you just imagine the smell? Yum!). Wanna come over?

And to make cooking into a more fun experience for the rest of the week, I picked one cookbook from my collection, uploaded a Random Number Generator to my phone, and randomly picked page numbers to tell me what I have to make this week. I'm going to be making Chicken Cordon Bleu Risotto, Buffalo Chili, and Umami Fish Filets. All from The Simple Comforts Instant Pot Cookbook. If you have a favorite cookbook or recipe, let me know, 'kay?

And for now, the cutest mug of hot chocolate ever invented!

Clothing

Bulky sweaters, cozy sweatpants, oversized scarfs and fluffy socks are hygge. Hygge is not about looking cute, it is about feeling comfortable.

I am snuggled up in my new favorite PENN Sleep T-shirt (the exact same version that I had when I was in high school, given to me by Kirsten while we were at the Farm) and flannel PJs. And, yes...I turned down my AC to 62 degrees. Don't judge...I just gots to be cozy!

Experiences

Hygge is all about cultivating experiences, moments and spaces in your life and home that restore, rejuvenate, and fulfill you.

So many hygge things I was able to do this weekend:

Crochet: SOOOO excited to try this. I tried it! Finally! (I hated it. Sorry.)

Pottery: Back in the pottery studio! It feels great to be back and I have a new teacher who is a perfect fit for me. He does the whimsical, humorous type of sculptures that I aspire to be able to do. Getting my hands in clay - shaping it, rolling it, forming it...that's pure hygge to me. Plus, he's letting us bring wine next week! Yeah!!!

Fimo Clay: I haven't done this since the pandemic. I cannot just sit and watch a TV show because I need to be doing something with my hands. But when there is a really great thing I'm dying to watch -- like the new season of Call the Midwife (no joke, it is so very, very, very good!), a ball of Fimo is much better to play with than my phone. I made these chunky bois just for fun.

Reading a Thriller Wrapped in a Blanket: Started in on the first book in my first ever book club: Survive the Night by Riley Sager. Fun and creepy. Perfect for reading by candlelight!

Manifestations and Meditation: I'm going to break out this Manifestation Kit that I have. I'll be smudging my apartment with sage, writing a mantra on a bay leaf and lighting it on fire, and meditating good thoughts. Anyone have a mantra you recommend?

Conclusion:

I've had a wonderful day, a wonderful weekend, and am excited for a super hygge evening with herbal tea, candles, coffee shop music, Thai Meatballs, the smell of sage in the air, and a great book.

Ahhhhhhh......

Might not be adrenaline packed, but it sure feels badass to me!