Image by jason tinder via FlickrI came home last night to the often copied scene from countless movies. It was the end of a long day, I walked into my family room to find a room filled with light from nothing but candles and a tiny Christmas tree. That's right, my husband did that, with no prompting whatsoever.
Now don't get me wrong, this was not a grand gesture to sweep me off my feet, but it was the perfect end to a very long day.
I felt immediately relaxed, transported and removed from being tired, having a list of things to worry about and work on and simply melted into the couch.
Maybe this doesn't appeal to you. Maybe you don't have long days, and don't come home mentally and physically exhausted.
Maybe at this time of year, the late sunrise and early sunset don't make the days seem 30 hours long.
But I can tell you, I was sure happy that my home has candles to light, that my husband knows where they are, and that even when I'm not home, he thinks to light them up just for himself, because coming home to a room filled with candlelight was the perfect, relaxing end to my day.
Thanks Hubby!
Image by reverses via Flickr
Image by jo-h via FlickrGrey skies, late sunrise and early sunset getting you down?
This time of year, we start to slip into the blahs. You get up in the morning and it's still dark. You drive to work, it's still dark. You drive home from work and it's STILL dark. OK, maybe not still, but it feels like it, doesn't it?
Did you know, there is actually a chemical reason for these "blahs"?
When our eyes detect darkness, a small gland in the brain called the pineal releases melatonin, which establishes sleep cycles. When we detect light, melatonin production subsides and its cheerier hormonal sibling, serotonin, takes over to promote wakefulness and help elevate mood. (The word serotonin is rooted in serum + tonic, so it's like an elixir for happiness. Melatonin is the mel or "black" tonic, for darkness.)
So, in the dark months of winter, you are actually experiencing an increase in melatonin and a decrease in serotonin in your body. Freaky, eh? And you thought it was just in your head!
Whether you are entertaining a group, or just your family, heck even just yourself, light and fragrance are the most effective and easiest way to improve your home's mood and ambiance. Candles allow you to provide both. They create elegant subtle lighting, beautifully decorate your home with texture and color, and their fragrances can be tailored to fit any mood or environment.
And, did you know that fragrance is the sense most closely tied to emotion?
Layering candle fragrances is a great way to make unique scents and create your own ambiance. Burn a vanilla candle near a strawberry candle to create a, "Strawberry Shortcake aroma." Or burn a cinnamon candle near an apple candle to create a scrumptious, "Apple Pie" Remember to light your candles ½-hour before your guests arrive to allow the fragrances time to diffuse in your rooms.
What are your favorite ways to beat the grey winter blues?
