Earlier this year, I did a podcast with Sarah where I described making myself a self-care bag to help me get through my mom’s two surgeries and subsequent in-home care.
I put things in my bag that were designed to give me comfort and help me break away mentally from the stress going on around me.
The holidays are stressful for a lot of people, for a myriad of reasons, so I decided to assemble a Little Bag of Comfort for our Hanukkah giveaway with some of the things that bring me peace and comfort.
This giveaway includes a small pink tote bag that says Little Bag of Comfort. Inside you’ll find books! Shocking, I know. We’ve included Roomies by Christina Lauren, A Daring Arrangement by Joanna Shupe, Wrong to Need You by Alisha Rai, and A Duke in Shining Armor by Loretta Chase.
Chocolate contains antioxidants, which means it’s a comfort food and healthy, right? Included are two bars of chocolate: Lindt 70% cocoa dark chocolate and Lindt’s classic recipe milk chocolate.
Tea is my go-to drink of choice when I need to relax so we’re also including one ounce of my favorite caffeine-free herbal tea, Cinnamon Plum by Fava Tea (not pictured) is a mellow, fruity tea with lots of cinnamon aroma. It’s excellent plain or with some honey. (Sarah adds, “I have a bag of this tea, too, and completely agree – it is wonderful.”)
We’re also including some beauty items to pamper yourself with. These year I discovered INLP nail polish and I love it so much. The colors are vivid and it resists chipping better than any other polish I’ve tried. You’ll get a bottle of INLP polish in Charmingly Purple, which is a sparkly lavender color.
You’ll also get two tubes of Stila All Day Matte Liquid Lipstick in the colors Sogno and Baci. I really like Stila’s Liquid Lipstick because it doesn’t feel sticky or dry on my lips. There’s also a small tube of Crabtree & Evelyn’s hand crème in the scent La Source.
Topping everything off is a Bad Decisions Book Club Sticker and a Smart Bitches magnet.
Ready to enter? Excellent! Leave a comment and tell us your go-to comfort item.
Standard disclaimers apply: I am not being compensated for this giveaway. Void where prohibited. Open to international residents were permitted by applicable law. Must be over 18 and ready to be extremely pampered and comforted. Cats recommended but not included. Dewey agrees with everything Elyse says, though he pretends otherwise. Comments will close Friday 15 December at or near 12pm ET, and winner will be announced shortly afterward.
Good luck, Happy Hanukkah, and thank you for being part of Smart Bitches!
WINNER UPDATE: Our winner for night four of our Hanukkah-palooza is Lostshadows! Check your inbox and spam folders shortly!
Besides books my go to comfort item would have to be a strong cup of coffee!
My heating pad, kitty, and a big ol’ Diet Coke.
Making homemade chocolate chip cookies and a good book
My Sony reader and a blanket.
My go-to comfort item changes slightly — it tends to be whatever happy-ending (HEA or HFN) I’ve been reading lately. So sometimes it’s a physical book and other times my ereader.
A long hooded fuzzy sweater
A paperback, a bath fizzy, and a refreshing beverage, and all is right with the world.
My comfort items are my super soft comfy blanket, my sweet great dane puppy and a large Chicken Express sweet tea and a great book!
My go-to comfort items are my Kindle and chilled sparkling water with lime. 🙂
I’d have to say my go-to comfort items are books (especially Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie), my cat (Neville Longbottom) and tea. Whenever I’m worried, a good cup of red bush tea with honey just seems to make everything pause for a second.
Tea. Good quality loose leaf black tea to be specific. Made even more comforting by the presence of cats, a fuzzy blanket, and a good book.
Nothing is more comforting than curling up in a warm blanket with a good book!
My comfort items are my fleece robe, fuzzy blanket, and a good book. My little doxie gets into position (laying on my legs or curled up beside me) and it’s peak comfort.
I love watching cooking shows when I’m stressed. It used to be food network but now that those shows are all garbage I like youtube shows.
A cup of tea (or cocoa)!
Books. If I can escape into reading I feel like I’m okay
Books. If I can escape into reading I feel like I’m okay
Podcasts give me comfort in that they let me escape a little when life feels to stressful.
My go-to comfort item has to be a handknit shawl to wrap up in. The hot tea, good book, and knitting are great extras, bit we start with shawl.
My go-to comfort position: my too-old, too-heavy Nook in one hand and my petite stuffed hedgehog (fluffy, cuddly & adorable, not the painfully poking realistic kind), which is curled up in the crook of my other arm. And my lightweight fuzzy throw covering the three of us.
(PS: @Chloe Rainwater – #48: excellent haiku; Good job!)
My cat! He is so plump, soft, and happy to be kissed and squeezed. I can totally feel anxiety and stress leaving me as I pet him.
My go to comfort item is a mug of milky tea and a good book, probably an old favorite that I’m rereading.
My kindle is my number 1 comfort item.
My go-to comforts are fluffy romances, a blanket, and food/HGTV shows
Early this year, when I was with my 90 year old mother for her first week home after an admission for pyelonephritis and having to make sure she had signed a medical power of attorney and then having the end of life discussions with her, one of my oldest friends arranged for someone to say with my mom and dragged me out to buy new undergarments. It was amazing what a mood lifter that was. Now, whenever I wear said undergarments, my spirits are still lifted.
Tea! Best for comfort with a cozy blanket and my e-reader.
Cats and books.
Soft sweater, fleece leggings, my cotton cashmere blanket that’s seen better days and books with music playing or Netflix
Chocolate, mac & cheese (not together), books, cuddling with my cats and/or dog.
I have an old throw blanket that has been washed so often it is super soft, that over my legs plus my dog sitting in my lap is definitely comfort.
Fuzzy socks or a giant comfy hoodie. If I’m warm and snuggly, I feel I can face anything.
Mmm…Cookie dough and any of the many afghans my granny crocheted for me
My go to comfort item is my kindle. There’s nothing like knowing that I have hundreds of books at my fingertips any time I want them and that unless I run out of battery, I will NEVER be without something to read.
a good book, a cup of tea and a comfy corner
My pets, coffee, books and fuzzy socks
A comfy sweater and a book
A cup of tea, a purring cat on my lap, chocolate, a good book, any of these on their own or combined.
My go to comfort “item” is my fluffy, silly, mop of a dog. Any time I’m feeling bad, I give him an empty paper towel roll and chase him around the house and it’s a pretty instant pick-me-up. He’s also good for getting really reluctant cuddles. :3
My mother made me a lap quilt a few years ago. It’s obnoxiously loud in colour and wild of print. It’s perfect to snuggle with after a horridly looong day.
Knitting and TV or book and hot chocolate