How to Survive Winter

Happy Wednesday! I think it’s Wednesday, at least. We got snow on Monday, so I stayed home from the office. We got more snow on Monday and since my office is on the other side of the world (or so it seems) I knew I’d be able to get there, but wasn’t sure I’d be able to get back home. I’m typically a fan of winter, but we’ve gotten so much snow in the last few weeks. Little One’s snow mountain is turning into her own personal Everest. It’s safe to say I’m pretty much over it at this point. So, in the spirit of an endless winter, let’s discuss how to survive winter, and try not to hate it!

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1 // Hibernate. Just sleep right through it. Okay, so maybe that’s wishful thinking, but we can pretend, right?

2 // Hibernate for a day. You don’t even need to sleep the whole day, just make the most of staying at home. When you’ve been out driving in snow trudging through ice and slush in parking lots, it’s nice to stay at home and relax for a day if you can.

3 // Read a book. Big surprise to see this on the list, I know! 😉 I love reading thrillers and novels that take place in frozen climates when it’s a tundra here. Once I start to get a little stir crazy, I’m all about the beach reads. And by beach reads, I mean books that actually take place on the beach, like my fave The Beach House by Mary Alice Monroe.

4 // Make an iced drink to match. I love reading books that take place in the Lowcountry and preparing some sweet tea (it’s the only time I drink it; I’m not into things that are incredibly sweet) to drink with it. It just seems fitting!

5 // Get a workout in. You know, after drinking all that sweet tea. Sometimes it’s hard to work up excitement to get out of the house and move your body during winter, so move your body inside! Better yet, do a workout that makes you think of a tropical location, like these Hula DVDs from Kili, where she teaches you easy routines with a beach nearby!

6 // Have a movie day. Bonus points if the all revolve around a theme!

7 // Binge-watch a TV show. I’ve been watching and LOVING Step by Step on Hulu lately and it’s SO much fun!

8 // Go outside and enjoy the snow. There’s actually a lot of fun things to do outside, You can go skiing, snow shoeing, sledding, and snow boarding, just to name a few. Get IN the snow. And build a snowman and make snow angels!

9 // Practice different braiding techniques. You’ll build arm muscles AND be ready to do your hair once the weather warms up!

10 // Create a cold weather routine you look forward to. For me it’s reading a book I loved as a child (not saying it’s a good one, but it’s one that sparked my imagination so I love revisiting it) and preparing a soup that’s in it. I save this routine for the coldest months of the year when I really need a break from the cold weather, even if that break comes from being curled up on the couch with my pup and a book after finishing a bowl of soup. Let’s face it, sometimes those are the best ways to escape!

11 // Paint your nails a bright color. It’ll start to feel like its getting warmer out before you know it. (Coming from someone whose nails are currently mint blue.)

12 // But keep rocking those dark lips! Unless you prefer the brighter tones, but I always feel like dark lip season is never long enough.

13 // Rock out to some Broadway music. And pretend you’re on stage! If you can’t stand Broadway music (???) play whatever YOU love and be a pop star or a rock star or a… country star? (Some of you might really love that one and some of you are going to hate it.)

14 // Create a soundtrack for your life to take you through the summer months. And if you don’t already have a theme song, pick one out!

15 // Remind yourself… Summer Is Coming. And with it, the endless heat that makes you feel like you can’t breathe and the allergies that make your eyes tear up if you even think about them. Or, if you’re not like me and you actually ENJOY summer, I’m not sure we can be friends, just think about all the things you love that will be here before you know it. After all, our weather-based seasons come and go, just like the seasons we face in life. Start working on your summer bucket list and cleaning out your house (before you want to spend all your time outdoors). Spring, and then summer, are right around the corner!

What do you do when you’re going a little stir-crazy?