Sunday Bits #63 (Tips to help avoid the winter blues)

Happy Sunday! We have a lazy, puttering day on the roster today. The weather is not ugly, but not nice either. Kind of perfect for puttering indoors. We have finally caught up on most of the clean up after the new floors went in, so today is a me-day... a day to do things that I have been wanting to get to for a while.

They say that learning new things helps to avoid the winter blues, so I am going to try a whole bunch of new things. Feeling optimistic, busy, and happy.

I've been doodling around with watercolour Valentine's Day cards. Not sure what I am going to do with them, I just really like playing around with new ideas. Going to keep at it, trying different things so that I get better at it ; )

The black drawing pens make the art. Even if they look like doo-doo, the black lines make everything better, hah! I tried the finer ones and also the thickest one... for this, I prefer the fine lines.

I also bought some paper making screens as I want to make my own organic, pretty gift tags, and some plantable ones with seeds in them. Just my latest thing to try. I will share the diy (if it turns out nicely, hah!) but here is the video that inspired this idea.

Top on the list today though, is making flag banners/bunting for the grandies' room. We are completely redoing this room (on a thrifty budget) now that we have nice, clean flooring in there. It is turning out so super cute.

Gardening Bits

Have you ever wanted to grow really big pumpkins? I don't want to grow the really, really big ones, but I sure do like to grow nice ones for the kids to carve for the holidays. Read this giant pumpkin grower's tips for how to grow a good sized pumpkin.

Blooms in Spring - Check out these lovely shrubs and flowers for for that early pop of spring blossoms. *tip - I love crocuses, but they can be a bit of a let down some years. In a dry spring, if it is really warm, they blow out so fast that you barely get to see them. For the biggest impact when growing crocuses, plant them in big clumps or wide bands along a pathway, or a pollinator strip rather than here and there in the yard. People will stop in their tracks.

This is the best 'when to start seeds' calculator that I have ever found. The most accurate and easy to use. Just put your last frost date at the top and it figures out everything for you. I use May 21st for the date here in Central Alberta, but it varies quite a bit between Edmonton and Calgary (all those chinooks). To find your last frost date in Alberta, you can find that here.

In Nanaimo, I always used April 28th as last frost date in Nanaimo. Some went with an earlier date, by two weeks even, but I find it you use the later date, plants were less apt to be spindly, overgrown, were healthier with less chance of being frosted when planted out.

Other Bits

Tips for a Happier You! Love some of these ideas, whether one is in a funk, has cabin fever, or just looking for some lovely ideas to brighten their mood.

This article about the new TikTok book trend... like, uhm, what? I can promise you that I have read every book on the shelf, and in my house, at least once.

How to decorate with vintage quilts. I love those luggage tags so much.

https://unsplash.com/@nobiteuntilphoto

Recipes

Ch-ch-ch-changes .... Last year, I started baking our snacks and breads, making healthier versions where I can control the sugars and fats. Homemade cookies, muffins, or cakes to satisfy the sweet tooth. I also starting shopping the sales and seasonal fruits/veggies, to save on the budget, and to come up with new, seasonal recipe ideas.

I then started intermittent fasting a few months ago and must say, I feel much better for it. Though I am not much for stepping on the scale, prefer to go by how I feel rather than numbers on a scale, I've lost some weight (about 5 lbs) without even trying.

And... added Lion's Mane capsules. I was talking with some friends the other day and nearly all of them find that these capsules help with mental clarity and brain health. I have had such brain fog since hitting menopause (and the stress of the pandemic years), really hoping that these make a difference. I looked up the top recommended capsules, these were pretty high up on the list. Will let you know how it goes.... (don't take on empty stomach!).

The mushrooms also have many other benefits, like aiding in the prevention of dementia and gut health. Eating the mushrooms themselves would be better for you than the capsules, but not sure that I can go to the Field and Forge daily for their mushroom buffalo wings ; )

Heart shaped, easy to make, cinnamon buns.

Check out these muffin recipes!

This healthy meal in a jar, for work or home. If you like this idea and you are on Tik Tok, please check out Fayette Nyehn. I have saved so many of her healthy salad and meal ideas. Simple foods, quick to make, healthy eating.

We went to Ikea a few weeks back so I looked for the jars that Fayette uses. They were all sold out, so I bought these wooden lids for wide mouth mason jars instead. I have the jars already anyways, love these lids.

*Disclaimer. As an Amazon affiliate, if you were to purchase an item(s) from the links, I get a wee small amount of money to support my blog. It does not cost you any extra to purchase through my link than if you went to that item on your own. Thank you!

That is my Sunday rambling thoughts this week. My head has been on the cleaning and organising of the house and rooms lately, so just now starting to get into the January things. Looking forward to a couple of weeks of 'puttering' with fun new things.

I'd love to hear what you are doing/learning/trying this month, in the comments below : )

Happy Sunday~ Tanja