Going Hygge with Ford Canada

I’ve begun my maternity leave and I have a few weeks of rest before the little human arrives. For the first week of ‘Matirement’, we decided to go Hygge with Ford Canada and good timing too because it has finally hit below freezing in Vancouver with patches of heavy snow. Not quite the Polar Vortex weather, but cold for the West Coast.

Hygge is a Danish word used when acknowledging a feeling or moment. It can be alone or with friends, at home or out, ordinary or extraordinary. No tight rules, but to just enjoy.

As it is the middle of Winter, Hygge was created to survive boredom, cold, and dark times to break up the day, months or years. As it has been pretty cold in Vancouver, I planned my days to have time for myself and with others to raise my spirits.

Staying Warm and Toasty

We began this adventure with the 2019 Ford Escape Titanium. The perfect vehicle for getting around town with the icy and snowy roads.

Before we begin, we gotta utilize the remote start function. With a push of the remote, it’s a great way to get the car started and warmed up before you get in. Don’t let the sunny skies deceive you, it was really cold at -7c.

Getting in the vehicle, I was so happy to crank up the heat, turn up the heated seats, and the heated steering wheel too. I was warm and toasty in no time.

Rest and Relaxation

I like to stay home in the evenings and how I relax is with a good podcast, a warm coffee and snacks of course. Sometimes it’s good to just have quiet time to myself. Enjoying all that time to myself before I won’t get any in a few weeks when Baby E arrives.

Even reading The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way to Live Well by Meik Wiking gave me some inspiration to get through this cold week and enjoy it as much as possible.

Finding the Best Sights

I love getting out of the city and see my home from far up on a mountain to really appreciate the beauty. Burnaby Mountain is one of my favourite spots to just gaze off into the distance. On a good clear day, you have great views of the Lower Mainland with many opportunities for photos. There are some wildlife in the area like deers, eagles, woodpeckers, black bears, and blue herons roaming around so keep your eyes open.

The park is home to Ainu totem pole carvings to commemorate the relationship with Kushiro, Japan – it’s sister city.

Removing any Anxiety

Truth be told, I absolutely hate parallel parking and not being able to see those pesky blind spots. Although I have a spotless driving record with zero accidents, I always have this fear of taking too long to parallel park or just doing a terrible job. I’m sure you can relate. During the week, the sensors and rear camera helped me to swoop into any spot with ease.

Getting Together over Food

I love hanging out with others over food. We have to eat at least 3 times a day for breakfast, lunch and dinner, so what better way to enjoy those moments than with friends and family.

I planned my week so I could get out of the house every day and catch up with someone so I am not cooped up at home. It’s good to have a balance of alone time and socialization.

Throughout the week, I’ve been to so many cafes and restaurants because that’s the best way to connect with people. Plus, it’s so delicious. I plugged in my phone and utilized my maps so I can punch in previous locations or new locations to get to my destination the fastest. I love how it tells you how long it will take to get to the location, arrival time, and options for other routes. Very handy to get me where I need to go with the fastest route so I’m not late.

There were a few times where I did end up going to cafes alone, but that didn’t bother me. Something about people watching is eerily therapeutic as I observe them walking by.

Cozy Up to a Classic Movie

There are a lot of good movies out in theatres right now, but we opted to stay in with one of my favourite classics – Beauty and the Beast. We are really just big kids and even though I’ve seen this movie so many times, it never gets dull. Surprisingly, they don’t have this on Netflix Canada but only the live action with Emma Watson. We paired the movie with root beers, chocolate, popcorn and some dried fruit. One of the best ways to enjoy the cold winter weather while staying indoors.

Entertainment in the palm of your hands

I am on my phone constantly and its always at arms length. Apple Car Play makes it very convenient to keep my settings on my phone and customize my entertainment options in the vehicle like my songs. I secretly like to jam out to classics of Kelly Clarkson and Backstreet Boys when no one else is listening.

If anyone calls or texts me, I get notified hands-free when I’m on the road. It’s more important than ever just in case the doctor calls as I hate missing calls because getting a hold of them again is a pain. This feature is a great way to stay connected will making sure I adhere to traffic laws.

Final Thoughts

I had a great week with the 2019 Ford Escape Titanium to enhance my Hygge experience and we were impressed by the comfort and technology of the SUV. Even simple things like the adjustable lumbar support really helped especially when I’m less than 2 weeks away from my due date.

The first week of mat leave was relaxing and just what I needed to de-stress and have time to myself before Baby E arrives.

Let us know in the comments below what little things you do to live the Hygge lifestyle during these cold dark months?