Plans for a Cozy Winter

Post-Christmas winter is just the worst.

I truly think that Christmas would be best moved to January, midwinter, when it is actually cold and there is not so much very boring gloomy weather ahead with nothing to look forward to. Actually, I do have something unusual to look forward to, a trip to Hawaii this week, but that is certainly not our norm.

With a very active little girl, the cold, wet weather has somewhat impeded our trusty outdoor play, which is how we usually spend the brunt of our days. Linda Åkeson McGurk has written a book that touches on how to embrace imperfect weather with children, There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather, which I hope to crack open soon.

As I did in the autumn, I have made a list of things I want to do this season, limited at three per category, to embrace the season and make the most of it. I am confident I can find a way to make this winter cozy and sweet. Lord knows I have read enough books on hygge.

Good Reads

• There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather: A Scandinavian Mom's Secrets for Raising Healthy, Resilient, and Confident Kids by Linda Åkeson McGurk

• The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah- I’ve never read this novel, set in Alaska, about a family reeling from the war in Vietnam

• The Ninth Hour by Alice McDermott- this looks perfectly wintry

Picture Books

• The Mitten retold by Jim Aylesworth- this one is better than Jan Brett’s (I said what I said!)

• The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

• Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson- the sweetest hibernation book you’ll ever read

Projects to Make with Scout

• Play dough snow- girl loves sensory play, and I can mostly trust her to not eat play dough anymore

• Salt paint snowflakes- I like to do these salt paint projects with a pipette instead of a paintbrush; the kids love squeezing drops on bit by bit, and it’s great for their fine motor skills

• Bear toast- why is this so cute?!

Movies to Watch

• Every single one of the Harry Potter movies (a winter tradition in my home)

• Little Women (2019) - for wintry and romantic feels

• Wind River- my brother recommended this crime thriller to me and I never got around to it. I hope it’s not too spooky for me because becoming a mother has turned me into a huge baby.

Movies to Watch (with Scout)

• Frozen- of course

• Curious George: George’s Snow Day

• Happy Feet- remember this one?! I think she’ll really like it

To Eat

• This very simple-looking apple crumble

• Brittany Williams’ minestrone from Instant Loss On A Budget that I have made at least 100 times

• This shepherd’s pie recipe, which I think is technically a cottage pie, since it’s made with beef instead of lamb. I made it on New Year’s day (a new family tradition?!) and it was so well received that I think I’ll double it next time

Good Listens

• This Timeless Love Songs playlist for Valentine’s Day

• The Head and the Heart’s Let’s Be Still

• Adele’s 21

Date Night

• Make some warm butter beer for all those Harry Potter movie nights- we had it once with a shot of Fireball and it was perfecttttttt.

• Campfire dinners- Peet is better at cooking over a campfire than I am at cooking in a kitchen

• We’ve never tried Armadillo Boulders, our closest rock climbing gym - can’t wait to remind Peet why he married me (because I am smart and pretty, not because I can rock climb)

Family Adventures

• We went on our annual New Year’s Day family hike at Purgatory Creek in San Marcos. Scout was so into the adventure, I think we’ll go back again soon, if not to the same spot then at least on more hikes in general

• Fortlandia at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center- this was made for my daughter

• Arctic Adventures! at Thinkery- a special biweekly event just for toddlers

I think this list is sufficient for battling the winter blues. But first I have to go to Hawaii, bye.