Monthly Musings: Winter Self-Care

I'm extremely late to the party but I did want to post my Monthly Musings for January! Holly who blogs at Pink Lady and Patty who blogs at Good, Better, Best are the Monthly Musings hosts and I wanted to give them a shout out, even if I missed the link up. This party is on the last Thursday of the month, but I missed it due to my blogging break. Also, as this is posting, I am STILL ASLEEP because our school board called a snow day last night!!! Normally, our snow days don't get called until 6am but we were expecting a foot of snow overnight, and freezing rain, so they called it early! I'm sooooo happy!!!

1) What do you do to stay warm in winter?

I drink a lot more tea and I am almost always under a blanket. I also wear slippers constantly.

 

2) Favourite wintertime activity?

Reading in bed! Hahaha! Although, I really do love a walk on a winter's day when there is fresh, fluffy snow.

3) Any different beauty routines in winter?

I am constantly putting on lotion in winter. My skin seems extra dry this winter. I also only ever get my hair highlighted in winter. I used to get it done every two years but now I am getting it done every year. It just adds some extra brightness to my life!

4) Skating, sledding, or skiing?

We are not a super active family but have done all of these things. Thus far, this winter, we actually haven't gone skating or skiing but both of those things might change this weekend!

 

5) Favourite winter recipes?

 I think my favourite winter recipe is any soup. I especially love cream of carrot cheddar soup. You can find the recipe here.

6) Favourite winter hot beverage?

Tea!!! I drink more tea in winter than in any other season. When I'm chilled it's just the best way to warm up. Often at work, I will have a cup of tea with caffeine and then after work I drink decaf tea. I like Earl Grey tea or fruity herbal teas best.

7) Best winter memories?

When I was a kid I loved playing outside with my siblings and my cousins. We tried to flood ice rinks in our garden, would try to go skating on the dugout, we'd play in the snow, or just run around together.

The winter getaway our family took a few years ago where we walked goats and skated in a forest is a favourite winter memory with my family.

8) Coldest day that you remember?

I grew up in Saskatchewan and lived in Alberta for five years as an adult. We regularly got down to -40 (Celsius, Farhenheit, it's all the same!) air temperature. Add in wind chill and it got very cold. I don't have a specific memory of a specific day but I know the picture below, taken in December 2017 in Saskatoon, was one of those super cold days. This was Saskatoon's (where I grew up, and where my parents still live) forecast for this past Sunday night: "Low minus 32. Wind chill minus 28 this evening and minus 46 overnight. Frostbite in minutes." (from here)

9) How are you practicing self-care this winter?

Starting a number of years ago, I started buying myself tulips in January and February. They are a constant reminder in my house that spring is coming and that winter doesn't last forever. These past couple of weeks, especially, I've needed the visual reminder that a season of warmth and hope always comes after a season of dark and cold.

 

10) Flannel sheets... yes or no?

Yes, yes, and yes again! We love our flannel sheets in winter!!!

 

So there is my very wintery Monthly Musings. Today will likely include some of my favourite winter activities (drinking coffee-hot chocolate while reading) and some of my least favourite winter activities (shovelling out our driveway after the snowplow goes by - blah). I hope your winter is holing more fun and less work than ours! Hahaha!!!