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  • Autumn
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  • Halloween 2025
  • Home, Food, and Everyday Life
  • Intentional living
  • Kids' Crafts and Activities
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  • Winter
  • Pin titled ‘15 Beautiful Gift Ideas That Don’t Cost a Thing’ with a top-down view of a gift box and dried orange slices.
    Christmas 2025,  Seasonal Inspiration

    15 Beautiful Gift Ideas That Don’t Cost a Thing

    November 19, 2024 /

    Not every gift needs a price tag. These 15 meaningful, zero-cost gift ideas are heartfelt, homemade, and perfect for a slow, cozy Christmas season.

    read more
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    Our Little Friday Letter (Friday, 28th November 2025)

    November 28, 2025
    "25 Cozy Christmas Activities for Families with Teens – festive blurred background with glowing lights."

    25 Cozy Christmas Activities for Families and Teens

    November 4, 2025
    A creamy mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows, a woolen blanket, and an old book with the title “The Art of Wintering at Home – Stories and tips for embracing the slower rhythm of winter”.

    Wintering at Home

    December 27, 2025
  • 12 Christmas Movies to Watch with Teens – cozy featured image with tree lights and ornament."
    Christmas 2025,  Parenting and Family Life,  Seasonal Inspiration,  Winter

    12 Christmas Movies to Watch with Teens (That You’ll Love Too!)

    November 15, 2024 /

    Looking for the perfect Christmas movie to enjoy with your teens? Here's a handpicked list of 12 festive favourites—from classics to action to cozy feel-good films—plus where to stream them in Ireland, the UK, and the US.

    read more
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    10 Snowman Art Projects for Kids To Do on a Cold Wintry Afternoon - Our Little House in the Country

    10 Snowman Art Projects for Cold Wintry Afternoons

    January 6, 2015
    A quiet, frosty country lane in November with bare trees on either side and soft grey morning light, with text overlay: “The Quiet Pause Before Winter – Reflections on November’s stillness and the turning of the year.”

    The Quiet Pause Before Winter

    November 4, 2025
    Winter landscape at dusk with a glowing sky and the blog title “The Gifts of Darkness & Light – Finding meaning in the solstice and the cycles of dark and light”.

    The Gifts of Darkness and Light

    December 21, 2025
  • Christmas 2025,  Home, Food, and Everyday Life,  Seasonal Inspiration

    How to Make Dried Orange Slices in an Air Fryer + Orange Slice and Popcorn Garlands

    November 15, 2024 /

    There’s something so warm and nostalgic about making holiday decorations from scratch, and these dried orange slices with popcorn garlands are as charming as they are easy to create. Air-drying oranges is a wonderfully simple process, especially when you use the air fryer’s dehydrate function! Follow along for a festive, eco-friendly craft that’s perfect for a cozy Christmas at home. Step 1: Choose and Prep Your Oranges For the best results, choose firm, fresh oranges. You’ll want to avoid overly soft or old oranges, as they may be too juicy to dry evenly. Instructions: 1. Gather your materials: You’ll need fresh oranges, a sharp knife, paper towels, and an air…

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    Our Little House in the Country 1 Comment

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    How to Make Mulled Wine and Mulled Fruit Punch - Our Little House in the Country

    Mulled Wine and Mulled Fruit Punch

    December 14, 2014
    Pin titled ‘15 Beautiful Gift Ideas That Don’t Cost a Thing’ with a top-down view of a gift box and dried orange slices.

    15 Beautiful Gift Ideas That Don’t Cost a Thing

    November 19, 2024
    Pin titled ‘20 Stocking Fillers for Gaming-Mad Teens’ with a blurred festive light background.

    20 Thoughtful Stocking Fillers for Gaming‑Mad Teens (Under €20)

    November 12, 2024
  • Seasonal Inspiration

    Embrace a Stress-Free Christmas: Tips for Families with Teens

    November 14, 2024 /

    The holiday season has always felt like the time for festive hustle and bustle—but as our family has grown older and we’ve started prioritising a slower, more intentional way of life, I’ve found a new rhythm to Christmas. With teenagers in the house (and one who is neurodivergent), we’ve let go of some of the high-stress traditions and found fresh, meaningful ways to enjoy the holidays together. This shift has been refreshing, allowing us to focus on what we truly love about the season: time together, simple joys, and yes, cosy nights in! So, if you’re finding yourself in need of a low-stress Christmas this year, here are some of…

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    Pinterest-style featured image with cosy winter décor, including pinecones, cinnamon sticks, frosted greenery, and a glowing candle, overlaid with the text “30 Ways to Winter Well: An Intentional Calendar for November – Free Printable Included.”

    30 Ways to Winter Well – An Intentional Calendar for November

    October 28, 2025
    "25 Cozy Christmas Activities for Families with Teens – festive blurred background with glowing lights."

    25 Cozy Christmas Activities for Families and Teens

    November 4, 2025
    Cosy autumn sunset with a backyard firepit glowing — featured image for blog post 10 autumn evenings without screens, highlighting screen-free family activities and cosy seasonal living."

    10 Autumn Evenings Without Screens

    August 31, 2025
  • Seasonal Inspiration

    A Simple, Slow, and Intentional Advent Calendar for Families with Teenagers

    November 13, 2024 /

     The Joy of a Meaningful Christmas Countdown In the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it’s easy to get caught up in the rush to check everything off our to-do lists. But this year, we’ve decided to do things a little differently by creating a simple, slow, and intentional advent calendar of activities that allows our family to savor the season together, without the stress.  Starting on November 24th, my daughter’s birthday, and continuing all the way to Christmas Day, we’ll be doing one small, meaningful activity each day to celebrate the magic of the season. These activities are designed to help us slow down, connect with one another,…

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    A beautifully styled spring tablescape featuring neutral dishware, soft linen napkins, fresh greenery, and delicate Easter eggs. This elegant and simple table setting is perfect for St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, and cozy spring gatherings. Styled with natural elements for a fresh and intentional feel, this tablescape embraces slow, mindful homemaking and seasonal decorating with items you already have at home.

    5 Simple Spring-Inspired Table Settings Using Items You Already Have at Home

    March 16, 2025
    Yellow and white striped Easter eggs in a natural twig nest, styled with spring florals, symbolizing a simple and nature-inspired Easter celebration.

    Embrace Simplicity at Easter: A Heartfelt Guide to a Meaningful, Mindful Celebration

    April 18, 2025
    A simple yet elegant Easter tablescape with layered linen, a mix of rustic and modern dishware, natural greenery, and soft candlelight. Effortless, beautiful Easter table ideas that focus on creating a warm and inviting atmosphere without stress.

    Simple & Beautiful Easter Table Ideas: Gather Without the Fuss

    March 9, 2025
  • 20 Cozy Rituals to Savour the Season – A Hygge Christmas – featured image with pinecones, candle, and rustic textures.
    Christmas 2025,  Seasonal Inspiration,  Winter

    A Hygge Christmas: 20 Cozy Rituals to Savour the Season

    November 12, 2024 /

    Looking for a slower, cozier way to enjoy Christmas? Here are 20 simple hygge-inspired rituals to bring warmth, calm, and meaning to your festive season—candles, quiet moments, and all the little joys.

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    Warmly lit Christmas Eve scene with a glowing tree, candles, and wrapped gifts, evoking stillness, wonder, and the joy of presence.

    Christmas Eve Reflections: On Wonder and Presence

    December 24, 2025
    Soft, sparkly Christmas lights in warm green, gold, red, and white tones creating a cosy, festive background that captures the warmth and magic at the heart of Christmas.

    The Heart of Christmas: Exploring Meaning Over Materialism and Cherished Traditions

    December 2, 2025
    Discover beautiful and natural Christmas decorations you can make at home. From dried orange slices to cinnamon bundles and rustic ornaments, these simple DIY ideas bring warmth and sustainability to your holiday season.

    Natural Christmas Decorations You Can Make at Home

    November 8, 2024
  • Pin titled ‘20 Stocking Fillers for Gaming-Mad Teens’ with a blurred festive light background.
    Christmas 2025,  Parenting and Family Life,  Seasonal Inspiration

    20 Thoughtful Stocking Fillers for Gaming‑Mad Teens (Under €20)

    November 12, 2024 /

    Looking for fun and budget-friendly gifts for your gamer teen? This list of 20 thoughtful stocking fillers under €20 includes gadgets, games, accessories, and quirky items they'll actually love—ideal for Christmas and all available from Amazon.co.uk.

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    Pin titled ‘12 Meaningful Christmas Traditions to Start with Teens or Grown-Up Kids’ showing hands baking festive cookies.

    12 Meaningful Christmas Traditions to Start with Teens or Grown-Up Kids

    November 5, 2024
    10 Snowman Art Projects for Kids To Do on a Cold Wintry Afternoon - Our Little House in the Country

    10 Snowman Art Projects for Cold Wintry Afternoons

    January 6, 2015

    Our Little Friday Letter (Friday, 28th November 2025)

    November 28, 2025
  • "How to Have a Slow and Simple Christmas – featured blog post pin with green fir tree and warm fairy lights in background."
    Christmas 2025,  Seasonal Inspiration,  Winter

    How to Have a Slow and Simple Christmas

    November 10, 2024 /

    Craving a calmer festive season? Here's how to have a slow and simple Christmas—filled with meaningful moments, cozy traditions, and space to truly savour the season. A beautiful, grounded take on the holidays.

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    20 Cozy Rituals to Savour the Season – A Hygge Christmas – featured image with pinecones, candle, and rustic textures.

    A Hygge Christmas: 20 Cozy Rituals to Savour the Season

    November 12, 2024
    A snowy wooden bridge framed by frost-covered tree branches under a bright blue winter sky, with overlaid text: "Letting Go and Leaning In – Encouragement to release what no longer serves and welcome what’s next.

    Letting Go and Leaning In

    December 28, 2025
    Soft-focused Christmas scene with warm lights, ribbons, and a small gift wrapped in brown paper and string — evoking the simple joy of giving with love.

    The Simple Joy of Giving: Finding Meaning in the Heart of the Season

    December 16, 2025
  • Discover beautiful and natural Christmas decorations you can make at home. From dried orange slices to cinnamon bundles and rustic ornaments, these simple DIY ideas bring warmth and sustainability to your holiday season.
    Christmas 2025,  Seasonal Inspiration,  Winter

    Natural Christmas Decorations You Can Make at Home

    November 8, 2024 /

    Looking to decorate for Christmas with natural, homemade touches? Here are 15 beautiful DIY decorations made from foraged and simple materials—with links to full tutorials and some of our own festive favourites.

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    How to Make Dried Orange Slices - Perfect for use in Christmas crafts, wreaths, decorations and floral arrangements - Our Little House in the Country 1

    How to Make Dried Orange Slices

    October 10, 2014
    Soft golden fairy lights glowing against a blurred festive background, evoking a sense of calm and warmth during the busy Christmas season.

    Finding Calm in a Busy Christmas: Choosing Connection Over Perfection

    December 9, 2025
    A quiet, frosty country lane in November with bare trees on either side and soft grey morning light, with text overlay: “The Quiet Pause Before Winter – Reflections on November’s stillness and the turning of the year.”

    The Quiet Pause Before Winter

    November 4, 2025
  • Pinterest graphic with a cozy, softly-lit background of adults enjoying a festive Christmas gathering. The scene features blurred golden fairy lights, candles, glasses of wine, and wrapped gifts, creating a warm, hygge-inspired holiday atmosphere. Text overlay reads: “15 Cozy Christmas Activities for Adults – ourlittlehouseinthecountry.com.” This pin is designed to promote a blog post with simple, intentional holiday activity ideas for grown-ups. SEO Keywords in Alt Text: cozy Christmas activities for adults, festive adult Christmas ideas, slow living holiday inspiration, Christmas traditions for grown-ups, hygge Christmas evening
    Christmas 2025,  Seasonal Inspiration,  Winter

    15 Cozy Christmas Activities for Adults

    November 7, 2024 /

    Christmas isn't just for kids! Here are 15 cozy and meaningful Christmas activities for adults—perfect for couples, friends, or simply enjoying the season in your own calm, festive way.

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    20 Cozy Rituals to Savour the Season – A Hygge Christmas – featured image with pinecones, candle, and rustic textures.

    A Hygge Christmas: 20 Cozy Rituals to Savour the Season

    November 12, 2024
    A creamy mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows, a woolen blanket, and an old book with the title “The Art of Wintering at Home – Stories and tips for embracing the slower rhythm of winter”.

    Wintering at Home

    December 27, 2025
    12 Christmas Movies to Watch with Teens – cozy featured image with tree lights and ornament."

    12 Christmas Movies to Watch with Teens (That You’ll Love Too!)

    November 15, 2024
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Hi, I'm Ciara, welcome to Our Little House in the Country — a space for slow and intentional living, seasonal rhythms, and stories from our everyday family life.. Get to know a little bit more about me and Our Little House in the Country here.

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Good morning & happy Friday 🤍 Good morning & happy Wednesday 🤍 As the new year begins, winter whispers the same reminder over and over: slow down, rest, restore. ❄️ Happy Monday, everyone 🤍 Good morning & happy Sunday 🤍 Good morning & happy Saturday 🤍 Good morning & happy Friday 🤍 Good morning & welcome to 2026 🤍 As one year fades and another begins, I’ve been thinking about the quiet lessons the seasons leave behind. 🌿

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