Check out Hungry Happenings for great holiday food ideas.

With Spring upon us, we went in search of some fun spring foods and boy did we find some great ideas at Hungry Happenings!



One of our favorite ideas for a fun and healthy Spring snack or meal:
Crescent Carrots Filled With Egg Salad


Probably somewhat less healthy, but totally adorable:

Chocolate Bunny Silhouettes - a.k.a. Backside Bunnies


For recipes for both and so much more, check out HungryHappenings.com.

The hype about thread count: Is it true?

One of the most important elements of a cozy home is a comfy bed. So, we were wondering, does a high thread count (and its usually corresponding high price) mean a better night's sleep?

Here are some interesting facts we found out from http://www.linenplace.com/product_guide/truth_about_thread_count.html
•"Thread count is simply the number of threads per square inch of fabric. These consist of vertical threads (warp) and horizontal threads (weft) woven together."

•"In a quality product, the incremental comfort value of thread counts over 300 is very little. A 300 thread count can feel far superior to a 1000 thread count."

•"There is no simple answer to the thread count...; there are thousands of combinations that will make a beautiful product."

•"At Linenplace, we do our best to present you with all the information you need to find the product that's right for you. We would like to encourage our customers to focus less on thread count and more on the other quality indicators (fiber quality, yarn size, finishing and construction). We believe you will get a better, more comfortable product that truly represents quality and value."

Well, we thank you for that Linenplace! And we'd like to add that, one of the snuffliest and most durable sheet sets we ever bought was purchased at Big K-Mart for a clearance price of something like $8.

Get your cozy creative on by making a capelet.

Watch this fun, short video about how to make a capelet out of a sweater. Claire, a costume designer, started SmallStars "as a creative outlet for costume design...and as a way to use all the fabulous trim and fabrics I've collected."

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1kfygw/www.5min.com/Video/How-to-Make-a-Capelet-from-an-Old-Sweater-340373143/

Thanks Claire. This video is good, clean cozy fun.

Looking for a soft and cozy home?

Not everyone wants to live in a sprawling mansion. Just thinking of the heating and cooling costs alone might make you shudder.

If you prefer a cozier abode, you might want to check out:

tinyhouse.blog.com

The popular blog features numerous distinctive, small homes as well as information about design.



As noted on the blog, "The goal of the tiny house blog is to discover the different options available for a person looking to down size into a tiny house or cabin. I will be looking at different type of construction, from logs, to yurts to modern and the unusual. I will also do book reviews, look at alternate energy for heat and electricity. I also want to hear your story so please contact me with your pictures and your own experiences in living simply and small."


Above: from tinyhouseblog.com

Also featured on this site and in the December 2011 issue of Details magazine is the house below, the ONE+ mini house designed by Danish architect Lars Frank Nielsen.


This 161-square-foot modular house is energy efficient and can be added onto as needed.

Wish list item

Soft Surroundings "Vintage" Starlet Robe

Here's the product description:
"There's nothing like a set-in belt with a bit of blouson to flatter a waistline! Designed from an antique peacock feather bustier we saw on our travels, this gorgeous crushed-velvet robe speaks volumes about your originality and timeless sense of style. In deepest navy sapphire blue with metallic embroidery and beading on belt and cuffs, its style is only eclipsed by how wonderful you'll look wearing it! Tie front with classy tassels. Inside ties. Rayon velvet. Misses 54" long. Color of robe is in deepest navy sapphire blue, the color as shown in the photo is how it will appear when the robe arrives. This robe is made from a crushed velvet and the reflective nature of the fabric will allow the color to appear more purple in certain lighting."

At: $128.95-$138.95 (depending on size) this robe is a bit expensive to be a "cozy on a budget" item, but many reviewers of the product rave about how unique, soft and luxurious it is, so It's our featured "wish list" item of the month.

Available at: SoftSurroundings.com

Check out this site for other gifts to put yourself in a soft and cozy mind frame.

Autumn comfort foods

Okay, if you're on a diet, don't even read this, just skip right along to the next blog because...
...Soft and Cozy presents a list of some great comfort foods perfect for Autumn.

Each of the following has been taste-tested and rated by our staff at Soft and Cozy (and by our staff, I mean me):

1) Eggnog is already out on grocery store shelves. Given the brand, drinking eggnog can be an okay experience or an absolutely delicious and soothing one (even without any alcohol added).
Highly recommended: Southern Comfort Vanilla Spice Eggnog
Very flavorful and great consistency. Not bland like other eggnog. One of the best-tasting brands available.

2) Hot chocolate with melted marshmallow.
What could be better than a warm cup of hot chocolate? How about a warm cup of hot chocolate with a chocolate covered pumpkin-shaped Peep melted inside it?

3) Candy corn. As far as we know, these have absolutely no nutritional value whatsoever but they do have the benefit of reminding most people of their childhood and the fun of trick or treating.

4) Krispy Kreme Pumpkin Spice Cake doughnuts. OMG! Like a regular glazed doughnut but with spices that will totally remind you of fall.

Readers, what are some of your favorite fall comfort foods? Feel free to comment and let me know.

Book pick

Check out "The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun" by Gretchen Rubin.

It's a fun book to read whilst cuddled up in a Snuggie and makes you think about your own life and how it could be more fulfilling.

Available at www.amazon.com