Wow, so many reactions. Awesome! :tup:
This will definitely help adding some cheer! Thankfully, a bit of sun also came in this morning, so I immediately grabbed a chair to bask in it for an hour and then went walking to the supermarket, just in time for the rain to come back, haha.
Yeah I listen to a lot of ambient music. Vyanah (on YouTube) has great calming music in particular, you can also check out Desert Dwellers. Other than that I always listen to a ton of random mantras and 'native american' music, if I can call it that (like Ah Nee Mah). I agree that music can really set a mood. The suggestion of making my desktop a virtual fireplace is awesome, Springer. I can probably download something like that, going to give it a try.
I love Spanish guitar! Your suggestion is right in my alley.
Light, really important. I've been browsing for lamps but its true that most lamps have this dull light that isn't at all cheerful. I had never heard of daylight bulbs before. Going to shop for a couple of those. Candles don't come with jars here (that would be awesome). Jam jars sound like a neat idea. I bet there's do-it-yourself kind of stuff that lets you make colored candle jars. When I was a kid, we used to do that at school, but I forgot all those essential skills.
Personally, I need bright colors and artwork. But light colors, soothing colors, all better than the endless graywhite of long winters. Other ideas: music, house plants, a new hobby and special small space for it (writing, artwork, yoga, etc), a project or two that can absorb hours of my attention, warm lighting but also a "happy lamp" to read by in the morning for about 15 minutes. Options for indoor movement, like yoga DVDs, a step machine.
I am building small airplanes :) It's great! Very frustrating some times, but they are pretty cool once they're finished. My first one I finished just last week, a spitfire. It comes in like a million pieces, you put it together, paint it, and put decals on it. They really add a childhood touch to the place, which is pretty soothing.
I like incense (for smell), candles (for sight), blending up new raw food recipes (for taste) and wearing soft cuddly things (tactile) and warm bubble baths with incense and candles lit.
I don't have a bath! :cry: but I do use this warming massage oil. I don't know if they have Weleda oils abroad (double-check: they do), but this one is calendula, it smells of Spain and oranges.
I'm feeling scared of winter too this year and I've never felt like it before.
Don't worry, with all the flowers, candles, incense, vitamins, and the fireplace, we'll breeze through ;)
We'll keep each other motivated!
