Jacquie Ellis

BBQs are a staple activity for many Canadian homes. When you look at what is Hygge life gathering with friends is Hygge, and eating outdoors is Hygge. The result? Group BBQs are Hygge. It’s Day 29 of my 30 days of Hygge challenge and we were tasked to have a bonfire with friends. Instead, we had a group BBQ, where we surprised my Mother-in-law. All of the kids and most of the grandchildren traveled from around the country for this surprise family gathering. We could have complicated the weekend with food lists and endless planning. Instead, we simplified it and focused on being able to spend time together. Letting the…

It’s day 28 of my 30 days of Hygge challenge and we were to do a craft together. I don’t do crafts often, mostly because I have to see a use for them after their done. They have to be a functional part of my decor or a useful planning or organization tool. I’ve come to learn through this Hygge journey that crafting together is Hygge, so how could I make this task happen? It was the night before my daughter’s last exam of the school year and she was finishing up her final studies. Disrupting her was not an option, so I opted to delay this task. The next…

Do you work through the afternoon, pushing through to the end of the day? Why not add Hygge to your workday and make the most out of afternoon breaks? If you are anything like me, you don’t often take a break during the workday. Work is all-consuming and the next thing you know the day is over. Is this a healthy habit? Not really. It can also be unproductive to push through on a project, especially when you are struggling to figure something out or when there are many things that are demanding your attention at once. Your mind will start wandering and the time to complete a task takes…

You are never too old for a pillow fort. I know what you’re thinking. “Yep, I am.” I thought this too, but I did it anyway and this happened. It’s day 26 of my 30 days of Hygge challenge and I was tasked to build a pillow fort. I felt silly even thinking about doing it. After all, I’m a grown adult with adult children and my youngest is a teenager. There is absolutely no reason to make a pillow fort. As I pondered skipping this task, I decided that I couldn’t take the easy way out. So I knocked on my daughter’s door and asked her if she wanted…

It was day 25 of my 30 days of Hygge challenge and I was tasked to host a Hygge swap party. What is a Hygge swap party? How do I pull this off with no planning and a very small circle of friends in this new city? I’m being completely transparent with you on this challenge. Did I host a Hygge swap party last night? No, I didn’t but I want to do one very soon because I LOVE the concept. There are just a few do’s and don’ts that I want to consider before hosting one. I’ll talk about that further down after answering the obvious question, what is…

It’s day 24 of my 30 days of Hygge challenge and today was about dressing comfortably. Hygge expert, Britta Olsson describes Hygge clothing as being comfortable. I firmly believe that you can dress for comfort and confidence. Whether you are in the office, at home, or out on the town life is much more enjoyable when you are comfortable and feel great about how you look. When this magic happens your confidence soars. However, if you look great but you aren’t comfortable your confidence can be limited as the day goes on. You’ll fidget as you are adjusting that outfit or you will be tending to sore feet from poor…

According to the health experts and anyone living a Hygge lifestyle, a simple walk is good for your health. Today’s walk was more than a health lesson. If you are following my 30 days of Hygge challenge, welcome back! If you are wondering what is Hygge life, you aren’t alone. I hadn’t heard of this lifestyle until recently. It intrigued me so much that I set a life goal for this year to do the research and discover the benefits of Hygge. It’s Day 23 of my 30 days of Hygge challenge and today I was challenged to take a walk. Seems simple, right? I woke up later than normal…

It’s been a busy day and the long list of things yet to do is bouncing around in that busy mom’s brain of yours. I can relate. How can you relax when there is so much more to do? What if you forget about that important task that needs to get done? Have you lost your mind yet? Life can be tough, but Hygge helps with gratitude. It’s day 22 of my 30 days of Hygge challenge and I was tasked today to write in a journal or write to someone I love. Seems simple, after all, spreading happiness is Hygge. But how do you do it when “all of…

This simple tradition is possible when making a family Hygge or date night a regular occurrence. This simple routine helps build relationships.

Day 20 of my 30 days of Hygge challenge was unplugging from technology and delving into a book. Today, we are discovering the power of books for our mental health. I’m a big reader but remember a time in my life where I struggled with reading. I was a late bloomer to books and hated reading out loud in class. However, when I was a teen I discovered that I enjoyed shutting the drama-filled world off and getting lost in a book. The world in those books was relaxing. I could forget the drama going on in my real life. The bullying was forgotten while I entered the world in…