Snowy, Snowy Night

Last night, we got quite a few inches of snow. Lou, Brad’s housemate, had been talking about prepping for it for a couple of days. In Brad and Lou language, that means stocking up on plenty of beer and food.
I worked until 3:45 yesterday, so I made it out and home just in time to watch the snow start to fall. And even though I had to be up at 5 a.m. today, I still enjoyed a snowed-in night with people (and a puppy) I love.

 

Cali perched in her usual spot and a view from the beginning.

 
 

To make life easier when we were upstairs, far from the fridge, Brad and Lou shoveled snow into a cooler so they could keep cold beer in between the bedrooms and the office. Smart. We also listened to some smooth tunes and ate a delicious stir-fry the guys made from scratch. It was so darn good. The sauce was amazing, better than what I’d buy from a bottle. I just wish I had rice to sop it up. I also wish we had Christmas music, because it would’ve been perfect last night. I’m running out of opportunities to listen to Christmas music, and I need the spirit!

 
 
 

These final photos, aside from the one of Brad and I, show the significant amount of snow that had fallen. That amazing quiet was surrounding us, and it was so beautiful. The final picture of Cali was taken by Brad. He got some really funny photos, but it was dark and she’s dark so I had to lighten a lot of them. This one is my favorite.
She looks so cute all snowy and silly.

Before I headed to bed, we walked to Turkey Hill, which is about a block away, not even, to grab some cupcakes and candy. It was fun to walk in the snow and get some fresh air, even though Lou had to bring Cali home (her paws were so cold) halfway and my cheeks are still red from the stinging cold. It was a great night, though, and I look forward to more snowed-in moments in the wintery months to come.

Winter Survival Guide

Now that it’s January, that means that NEPA is staring some long, dreary, freezing cold days right in the face. So, in preparation, I’ve decided to put together a list of what I believe is necessary to making it through the blah days of my least favorite season.

Since a lot of your days/nights will be spent indoors (unless you are into winter sports and activities, unlike me), it’s important to keep a nice stock of the cozier things in life. I deem necessary…

Reading Materials – Books, magazines…whatever you choose! It’s so important to step away from the computer and delve into your mind.
Your Favorite Shows and Movies (DVD or Netflix) – We all have our favorite TV shows and movies that we can watch repeatedly and will always get us out of a sun-deprived funk. Make sure you have yours readily available!
The warmest, coziest blankets and sweats you can find – I can’t believe I used to make fun of Slankets. They are one of the greatest inventions for consistently cold people like me! And don’t forget snuggly hoodies, thick socks, and the softest sweatpants ever, so you’re in perfect R&R mode during snowy days.
Hot beverages (and soup!) – Hot cocoa. Green tea with honey. Coffee. Whatever floats your boat. You’re gonna need it to warm up! And I don’t know about you, but soup (which is always a favorite for me) is amazing this time of year. Get all your veggies and proteins in a can or get creative and make your own. So filling and so heartwarming.
Hobbies – Whatever yours may be, you’re going to need something to keep your mind away from the gloomy days that winter brings. For me, painting my nails has become a weekly ritual and a bit of an obsession. I look at nail blogs, try and come up with different color combos, and then, of course, paint my nails! I also enjoy blogging. You may try knitting or paint or write or whatever you so choose!
Keep that mind busy!
A sunny disposition – I find that this is especially hard during the winter. The sun appearing throughout the day gets rarer and rarer, and it doesn’t help that I work 8 hours during the day and drive home during sunset. I truly believe the sun is a big contributor to our happiness. So, find ways to stay positive and remember, cheesy as it is, that the “sun will come out tomorrow” or…well, eventually!

Necessary honorable mentions one shouldn’t forget!
Gloves/Mittens
Thermals (especially for outdoor activities)
A charged cell phone , in case of storms
An ice scraper/snow brush for your car

Outfit: Bundled Up

Wednesday night was an icky, dark, rainy, cold mess. The unfortunate thing about the winter is I’m horrible at dressing for the cold. I’m trying to branch out and purchase more sweaters, instead of covering all my short sleeved tops with the same old cardigans. This sweater literally fell into my hands at the Salvation Army, with a pink tag on 50% off Pink Tags day. I figured it was fate. It’s pretty big, so I’ve gotten used to belting it, but it’s super comfy and it was a steal.

I’m trying to prevent getting sick of jeans by avoiding them for as long as possible. I only have a couple of wearable pairs.
I suppose I could get more, but why would I when my closet is chock full of different shorts and skirts?
This outfit isn’t perfect, but it kept me warm on a crappy Wednesday night. That’s all I really asked for.

Sweater – Thrifted/Shorts – ASOS/Tights – American Apparel/Booties – Forever21/Pashmina – Gifted from a college roomie

Winter Funk.

I’m starting to debate whether or not my winter blues is just the winter blues. I’m in an absolute and terrible funk. It’s tough to think about and get out of now, but I’ve been here before…I know I can do it.

Currently missing…
Light jackets. Sunshine. Driving with the windows down. Bare legs. The first warm days of Spring. Cherry blossoms. Dinner on the deck. Grilled food. Wandering around with my camera. Days at the lake. Floating in the pool. Sun kissed shoulders. Corona and lime. Late nights. Vacation. Sleepy post-swim body. Sunglasses. Green grass. Corn on the cob. Painted toes. Skirts and dresses without freezing. Strappy sandals. Tan lines. Fresh air. Cutting my jeans into shorts.

Chilly Nights

It’s definitely December. It’s definitely almost winter.

My fingers and toes are ice cubes. The windshield gets icy almost instantly. Instead of drizzling or raining, it’s flurrying or snowing. They are calling for a bad storm on Sunday. I’m dreading it.

I will say this, though…as painful as it may be to be outside sometimes, the air is so crisp and so refreshing.

And the weather is perfect for music like this…

and this…

Angus & Julia Stone - Big Jet Plane music video from The Silentlights on Vimeo.

And it’s nice to enjoy a cup of green tea every night.