Winter: The Bright Side

 

I love seasons. I really do. Having four seasons to enjoy is one of the best parts of living in

Nebraska! Too much of anything and it simply makes you appreciate it less. I think. 75

and sunny all through the year would be a disaster....right?  Okay, I might be in denial. That being

said, everyone knows that winter is the armpit of the four seasons. For lack of better

terms, it is the worst.

Don’t get me wrong. Snow is beautiful. It’s downright magical when it’s falling, and a

white Christmas is unbeatable. But by midnight on December 25, I have long

since moved on. The cold has a way of sneaking in and making my body ache, and my

bones feel like that of an elderly woman, rather than a newlywed in her late 20s. I find

myself searching for solace in a cup of hot coffee and cinnamon rolls. And brownies.

 And hot pizza. Let’s just leave it at carbs. Lots of carbs. 

And then there is my motivation. Or perhaps I should say lack thereof.  With every drop

in degree, my productivity is freefalling alongside of it. Work out? Sure, do I have to

change out of this snowsuit? Also, can I bring my heated blanket?  Getting out of the

door on time? Getting out from under the warm covers in the morning is really asking too

much at this point.

Before you join me in jumping off of a Winter weather related deep end, I have

successfully come up with a list of reasons why Winter can actually be a good thing.

Timesaver grocery shopping

Does anyone else run into the dilemma of trying to tie in their grocery shopping

with other errands? If you have ever put your groceries in the trunk of your car in

mid August, you know that you better be bookin’ it home. You will be lucky to

get there before your milk curdles. But in the winter? Simply not an issue. You

can pack that automobile full of produce (and even frozen items!) and casually

run all of your other errands. Thanks Nebraska! And thanks unbearably cold

Winter temperatures. 
 
Also, lunch break grocery shopping is a go in the

winter. Need some milk and a few other frozen items? No problem! That produce

will still be cold when you get home at night. Possibly even frozen.  No one likes

a busy grocery store after work. No one. Winter timesaver for the win!




Warm Shoes, Five Shirts, No Shave 


This is a less known version of the No Shoes, No Shirt, No Service sign you have

all seen before. Feel free to hang this up in your home over the long winter. Am I

the only one who feels absolutely defeated by shaving my legs in the winter? First

of all, I’m not wearing shorts/skirts/dresses. Second, getting ambushed by goose

bumps immediately post shave is the equivalent of vacuuming while our dog child

is blowing his winter coat. Sorry husbands and general population. The winter and

the razor will never be friends.

Free Pet tracking

Speaking of pets, our little fur baby has a tendency to turn his bathroom breaks

into neighborhood outings.  I recently discovered that I could recover him MUCH

sooner by doing a quick land survey to see where his tracks went in the snow.

You can just call me Sherlock Holmes.

Winter fashion

Hello blanket scarves and knee-high boots! Every season comes with fashion

transitions, and I ALWAYS welcome the chilly temperature change when it

comes to outfits. Having a blanket wrapped around your neck and pulling boots

up your knees just doesn’t have the same appeal in the heat of the summer.

Cozy Corner time

After we got married and I moved in with my husband, I shifted around some

furniture and created something of a nook with the recliner. I have always been a

bookworm, so this new “spot” is one of my favorite places to read. Anyways,

maybe it’s just me, but if it is remotely nice outside, I feel some sort of strange

guilt/obligation to be doing something outside. So you better believe if it is 10

degrees out and I want to have some cozy corner time, I will. And minus the guilt,

at that! Anyone else with the nice weather conscience? Maybe you don’t have a

cozy corner, but we all have indoor activities that seem to not happen during the

warm seasons. And yet another reason Winter can be our friend.

Burning food scented candles

I am fully aware you can do this year around....however...is there anything

better than the glow of a candle, cuddled up with your loved one(s), while the

smell of pumpkin cheesecake (thanks Target) permeates your senses? I think not.

Sorry, but burning a candle in the summer loses its appeal when you feel like you

are actually living in an open flame.

Brick would like to enjoy a walk without his whiskers frosting over!

And here we are. I know that this list cannot carry you through the entire season, but

here’s to making the best of it and praying for Spring to make an early appearance.  Or record high

temperatures next week.

Happy Wednesday!