The last of the multicolored leaves have fallen and snow now ices over every branch, blade of grass, and road. The idea of this winter wonderland is more appealing than the reality of it. The icy roads, mud-slush snow, and teeth-chattering cold make for a not so pleasant time. You’d think that a girl who has lived in the North for most of her life would had learned to love the weather by now, but nope. My Atlanta-born blood craves warmer, sunnier days. I’ve realized though, hating the snow will make me miserable for basically half the year since that is the way the seasons up north works. If you are like me, you understand this love/hate relationship with winter. So, I came up with a list of winter’s more charming aspects to focus on during these next few months!
Ditch the car. Driving in the winter is such a hassle, so grab your family and friends and do more things at home or in your backyard. Opt for a Red Box movie, rather than going to the movie theater. Have a fancy, homemade dinner with others, rather than spending extra cash at a restaurant. And of course, play in the snow! Winter time provides plenty of leisurely activities that are friendlier on your wallet.
Be a kid again. The one thing I LOVED about winter, as a child, was playing out in the snow. Layer up in that sweater-jacket-hat-gloves combo and jump into the soft, white fluff with no shame! Plan a snowball fight with friends, make snow angels, and of course snowmen. No one will judge you for taking advantage of the snowy weather in the most fun way possible. You can even go sledding, though I never have, unfortunately. The best part about these activities is that they are FREE and simple. Less money spent is always a wonderful thing.
Hot chocolate. When the cold winter weather hits my face sending shivers up my spine, the warmth of a cup of hot chocolate is irresistible. Now is the time to swap out that Starbucks coffee for something a little sweeter and less caffeinated. A recent Live Strong article reports that hot chocolate has 40 times less caffeine than coffee! Especially during the holidays, when you’re not constantly drowning in finals make the switch and your body will thank you for it.
Sweaters meet leggings. The season encourages the welcoming of this comfortable, yet sexy trend. Silky soft, slightly larger sweaters draped over those stretchy leggings make it feel like I’m at home in my PJs. But somehow, as if by magic, this very nice lounge wear is cute enough to wear to class, dinner, and social events! Whichever fashion designer came up with this idea is a genius. For once, fashion is friendly to the female body.
Holiday jams, don’t mind if I do. As soon as the first snow falls, that is my cue to start listening to “Last Christmas” by Wham! on repeat. Yeah yeah it’s an old, sappy song, but so catchy! This is the one time of year I shamelessly rewind to older bands and allow myself to fall into the romantic Christmas dreams painted through their lyrics. Somehow, Miley’s songs just cannot compete with Bing Crosby this time of year.
Automatic rosy cheeks. While the wind nips away at my toes and hands and face, I get the lovely side-effect of pink-tinted cheeks. No need for the synthetic blush. Thank you nature, for making my life a little easier with the automatic make-up application. Plus, the natural rosy look appears much better than any tint of blush you could buy at the store.
Extreme color palette. Whether you are into super dark or nude tones, winter welcomes them all! I am currently, in a nude frenzy and went on a recent shopping spree on the OPI nail polishes and a new Pashmina scarf. However, the dark toned clothing is always sexy and appropriate for winter. So open up your closets and bring back the winter wardrobe or use this as an excuse to shop, like me.
Boots all day, everyday. There is no room for flip flops, while trudging through inches of snow. But, there is room for sleek, beautiful leather, suede, and other types of boots! I love them because most boots are flat or have low heels, so I don’t need to worry about painful struts during social events. Plus, again, they are so comfortable. Oh, and did I mention, you have no need to have your toenails all perfect or legs shaved (not that that I opt out of doing either…but still, at least you have the option)?
Low maintenance makeup. The chilly weather makes it almost impossible for your makeup to melt! Alright, so in heavy snow, the snowflakes may inconveniently turn to water on your face and slightly mess up the mascara. However, when comparing this weather to the 80+ degree heat and humidity we deal with in the summer, the winter time wins with keeping us looking (mostly) flawless.
Cuddle time. It’s cold out, and everyone wants to stay warm. Who’ll resist your offer for a little bit of body heat? Use it as an excuse to get closer to that cutie in your class or a friend you may be interested in. If they refuse, at least you can turn the situation around to talk about how you really were just very cold and thought the close proximity would benefit you both.
Lights, lights, and more lights! The stringed lights around trees, on rooftops, around doors, and on ornamental statues on people’s yards are so nice to look at, while driving down roads. Just seeing the lights lifts my spirits at night. Now, the downtown streets aren’t the only brightly lit places around.
Tis the season for charity. During the winter holidays many nonprofits send out members out and about in towns for donations and volunteers. It’s a great feeling to give back to the community, so embrace the opportunity to do so! Even if it’s something small, such as taking that extra minute to drop change into the Salvation Army bucket, the effort counts. Currently, I work for a nonprofit organization, Together We Rise, and we have many upcoming events targeting foster children in several cities. There are many different organizations like this that may suit your interests. Take some time to look online or if you see people at your local malls or streets advertising charity efforts, ask for more info! This is the one time of the year when it is so easy to give back to others.
When I think about it, winter really isn’t that bad. I can get over the minor difficulties for the other beautiful aspects of the season. Can you think of other things that we can only do in the winter? Let me know in the comments!