Edition #8 | Finding Warmth in the Coldest Month

Hello friends,

January in the Midwest is no joke. While I no longer have to brave Chicago’s winter lake effects since moving to Kansas City, the low here tomorrow is barely above 0° so I have definitely been scouring hili looking for recs to keep me warm and toasty.

Additionally, when the skies are perpetually gray and it gets dark before I am even finished with work for the day, I find myself returning to the Danish concept of hygge (pronounced hoo-gah) or the practice of creating warmth and contentment in the dead of winter. It's about making peace with the fact that it's going to be cold and dark for a while, and deciding to find joy in that instead of just enduring it.

Hygge isn't about buying your way to coziness. At its heart, it is about being intentional with the small moments. The weight of a good blanket. The first sip of coffee while it's still too hot. Lighting candles just because it's Tuesday. Our community has been sharing what helps them not just survive January, but actually find something beautiful in it.

Let’s get hygge.
-Karli

You know that moment when you finally get home, change into the softest thing you own, and sink into the couch with something warm to drink? That's hygge. It's not complicated or expensive—it's just the small things that make being inside on a freezing night feel like a choice you're happy about instead of something you're stuck with.

Here are some recs to get you through the coldest, darkest months of the year.

The Little Book of Hygge | $20
“I have survived the very worst of winters in the Midwest by following the simple principles of hygge outlined in this book. I look forward to breaking out my candles and warm blankets, making cocoa and playing board games with my family.”

WOODPHORIA candle | $44
“Nicely balanced and nuanced wood+cozy vibes that give more sophistication than 'wait, is something burning?' vibes. Clean burn, nice throw and the newer packaging has more even burn time (less tunneling than other brands). Perfect for chilly weather!”

Women's Classic Bomber Ultra Mini | $200
“This is the REAL Ugg Australia brand, NOT the one stolen by private equity we see in the US. Also, this style is so amazing!”

Potato Soup Recipe
“We make this multiple times every winter. Making the soup in the dutch oven after frying the bacon gives it a lot of extra flavor. I also double the carrots and celery for extra vegetables. So warm and delicious!”

SWAND The 4-in-1 Candle Care Tool | $45
“If you like to burn candles at home, this is essential! Not only can you snuff, clean and manage the wick, but you can extinguish the flame by dipping the wick in the wax and back out so there is no smoke. Genius!”

GE Cync Indoor Smart Plug | $15
“Seems boring but these babies are great for getting your home/office mood on autopilot. I use them in the winter to set my lamps to turn on before it gets depressingly dark outside. A gamechanger for anyone allergic to overhead lighting.!”

Someone needs what you already know. Whether it's the podcast you can't stop recommending or the random purchase that changed your daily routine—if you've got an answer, share it!

Here are a few things I have been digging this week:

💻 Wikipedia turns 25 this week! I loved this look at how it came to be and how it's managed to stay true to its original mission all these years. “In a world where paywalls and advertising have become the norm, Wikipedia's free, reliable knowledge that anyone can access, share and create is more valuable than ever. It remains one of the most-visited websites in the world.”

👭 As a founder, I have a lot of goals for myself and my business, but I think that is true for most of us. This journey has forced me to network more than ever before, but it is through making authentic connections that I have grown as a person and seen the most impact for hili. This year I am taking the 100 connections challenge to see how I can change my life through my network. I’d love to help you change yours, too. Hit me up at [email protected] and we can grab a virtual coffee.

💃🏽 Apparently the internet is fascinated with 2016 at the moment. Here’s what fashion looked like at the time. Not that I was able to spend a lot of time worrying about what was in fashion with 2 boys under 5.

This is it. This is why hili exists.

When you share what actually works for you, someone else's life gets a little better. When they share back, yours does too. It's simple, but powerful, and even more so when your people are here.

app.gethili.com