Embracing Blissful Mondays

Between saying goodbye to two wonderful days of rest and the reality of life back on our minds, the word blissful is not often associated with Mondays. However, the first day of the working week doesn’t have to live up to its traditionally melancholy name; with a few small additions to this otherwise ordinary day, we can start enjoying it. A while ago, I collaborated with Gemporia on their #YouMonday campaign, turning January’s Blue Monday into an evening of pampering and relaxation. Since then, I have embraced my blissful Monday evenings with the helping hand of a few delights.

Candles

Lighting a scented candle sets the mood for a relaxing evening and this delicate amethyst candle has the most calming aroma. I like to use this one while soaking in the bath as it creates the loveliest glow, before carrying it back to my room for the rest of the evening. Sometimes I find the scent of candles a little overwhelming and end up with a headache but this one is light enough to enjoy for hours at a time.

Bath and body treats

No relaxing evening would be complete without a bath and this pretty lavender bath soak from L’Occitane is the ideal accompaniment. Some of my other favourites also include the coconut range from The Body Shop and M&S’s Nature’s Ingredients shea butter set. I picked up the shea butter body lotion from M&S for my mum not long ago and after one slather, I fell in love with it straight away; I’m now on the lookout for it whenever I pop into store as it’s currently sold out online.

Pyjamas

Slipping on a pretty set of pyjamas makes lounging around in the evenings that much more delightful. I love this cute pair of cotton print shorts and long-sleeved cotton top from Mish London, whose mix of dainty and cosy nightwear is made in Britain from 100% cotton. For a slightly less pricey option, the organic cotton range from Primark is ideal for snug evenings at home. My next cosy purchase will have to be a pair of cashmere socks to complete this snug combination.

Homemade delights

 There’s nothing more delicious than homemade biscuits, preferably with a coat of chocolate on top. My sister shared the simplest recipe with me, consisting of just three ingredients: 150g plain flour, 150g caster sugar, 75g butter. After mixing the ingredients together using the shortcrust method, I gently roll the mixture into a ball, adding a few drops of water if needed to stick the ingredients together. Once rolled out to a thin 0.5cm, I cut them into shapes and place them in the oven for 10-12 minutes on 180°C, or until crispy and golden brown, before decorating with melted chocolate. This is probably the easiest recipe for the the yummiest result!

Tea

A steaming cup of tea is a homemade biscuit’s best friend, and there are so many lovely flavours out there that I don’t think I will ever get to try them all. My current favourite is the Strawberry Mint Medley, kindly sent to me by Ahmad Tea. This tea is green leaf based so it’s the perfect blend of fruity and aromatic, ideal for someone who likes their tea light and delicate. I was also sent the Double Mint & Liquorice, which is as soothing as tea can get.

Cosy crime

Whether in the form of a book or a TV show, a cosy crime story completes an evening at home. Book-wise, my favourites include anything by Agatha Christie, Paula Hawkin’s Into the Water, Bitter Fruits by Alice Clark-Platts and recent discovery Mavis Doriel Hay, very much of the Agatha Christie ilk. Recent TV shows, on the other hand, revolve around Fortitude, French mystery thriller Glacé, Seven Seconds and, of course, How To Get Away With Murder. In general, I love anything where the setting is part of the plot.

–

With the above few moments of bliss, my Monday evenings have now been completely transformed, especially now that I have lectures on this day. I find solace in returning home after a long train journey, when it’s already starting to get dark outside, and look forward to my blissful Monday evenings every week…

What are your thoughts on creating a blissful Monday?

m

This post contains affiliate links