Cozy Rituals, Chai Blends & a Touch of Creativity

 

Cozy Rituals, Chai Blends & a Touch of Creativity

If you missed this week’s podcast episode — Skin Rituals for Deep Self-Care — I shared how baths, oils, and gentle touch can become grounding rituals for slowing down and reconnecting with your body. You can listen to it here: ​ 🌿 Skincare Recipe of the Week: Chai-Spiced Body Oil Warm, comforting, and deeply soothing — this oil blend wraps your skin (and senses) in cozy autumn vibes. Ingredients: 1/2 cup jojoba oil (or sweet almond oil) 2–3 cinnamon sticks 2 tsp whole cloves 1 tsp cardamom pods (lightly crushed) 1 tsp black peppercorns 1–2 star anise pods Optional Essential Oils (per 2 oz strained oil): 1 drop cinnamon leaf 2 drops cardamom 2 drops vanilla oleoresin (or benzoin) Instructions: Add spices to a clean glass jar. Pour in the carrier oil, covering completely. Infuse for 1–2 weeks in a warm spot, shaking gently every day. Strain and bottle. Add essential oils if desired. Massage into damp skin after a bath for deep nourishment and the lingering scent of chai. 💌 Mini Workshop: Romantic Self-Care with Jane Austen Have you ever wished you could step into a Jane Austen novel—if only for a quiet hour of tea, journaling, and self-care? This new mini workshop invites you to do just that. In this mini workshop ($15), you’ll explore: 🌸 Six character-inspired essential oil blends (from Elizabeth’s spark to Darcy’s quiet strength) 🌸 Practical recipes for diffusers, rollers, or sprays 🌸 Journaling + reflection prompts in Austen’s timeless style 🌸 Cozy walking + beverage rituals to slow down and savor beauty 🌸 A printable “Self-Care Journey” worksheet to tie it all together It’s a gentle, literary-inspired way to romanticize your everyday and create little moments of Regency magic in modern life. → Treat yourself—or gift it to a fellow Austen admirer. 💕​ Ink & Wildflowers This month’s seasonal word garden is inspired by Autumn Glow—that golden hush between abundance and rest. It’s the light that softens edges, the whisper of leaves turning loose, the gentle warmth that lingers before the chill. You can download my pdf on word gardens or create your own. Gather words that hold that glow: harvest, golden, hearth, gather, whisper, twilight, ember. Let them spill across your page like falling leaves—your own quiet reflection of the season. Your word garden can be anything you wish: a list, a collage, a poem in fragments. Use my printable PDF to guide you, or simply begin where you are—with one word that feels like autumn. Quote: “And all at once, summer collapsed into fall.” – Oscar Wilde Scripture: “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” – Ecclesiastes 3:11 Prompt: What small rituals help you welcome the shift of seasons with peace? Creative Journaling Invitations: 🍂 Fill a page with the words and colors of autumn light—honeyed golds, firelit reds, soft browns. 🍂 Press a leaf between your journal pages and write about what it teaches you—release, renewal, or the grace of letting go. 🍂 Create a ritual map of your ideal cozy evening. Imagine candlelight, tea steam, warm blankets—sketch or write your way into it. ✨ Radiant Things I’m Loving: Chai-Inspired Edition ✨ Lately, I’ve been leaning into the warmth and spice of chai—it feels like the perfect companion to this season. Chai, to me, is more than a drink—it’s a mood, a ritual, a way of wrapping myself in comfort. Here are a few chai-inspired delights I’ve been enjoying (and you might too): Homemade Chai Body Scrub – A mix of sugar, coconut oil, cinnamon, cardamom, and a little vanilla feels both cozy and invigorating. Chai Tea Lattes at Home – Simmering black tea with cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods, ginger, cloves, and a touch of honey—it’s ritual in a cup. Chai-Spiced Journal Time – Lighting a chai-scented candle while journaling makes even a 10-minute reflection feel more grounded. Chai-Inspired Bath Soak – Epsom salts with a sprinkle of ground cinnamon and ginger root powder—warming, soothing, and deliciously fragrant. Chai Diffuser Blend​ Bring the cozy, spiced comfort of chai into your space with this warm and grounding diffuser blend: 3 drops Cinnamon 2 drops Cardamom 2 drops Clove 2 drops Ginger 1 drop Vanilla (or Benzoin for a similar sweet note) This blend is grounding, uplifting, and perfect for creating a cozy atmosphere while journaling or winding down. Sharing your light keeps this community growing! Reply with what’s bringing you joy this week—I read every note. Have a wonderful weekend!, Carrie P.S.: If you enjoyed this newsletter, would you please share or forward it for me? Thanks! Subscribe via Substack​ See you next week!