There comes a point in winter when you suddenly realize – this is it. The holidays are over, the cold weather has come to stay and we’re still months from spring.
It can go one of two ways. You either whimper at your calendar and dive under a blanket until April, or you decide to heat things up and plan some fun to get you through until warm weather beckons. I’m not going to lie, my blankets are looking pretty tempting right about now, but I know as well as you do… the days are long once February looms.
So what are we to do with ourselves? I have a few ideas! (Editor’s note: We were sure this was leading somewhere!)
Valentine’s Day
There’s no missing the most obvious theme in February. So go ahead and plan that special evening or sweet brunch with your significant other. If you worry about restaurants being too busy with other couples, plan a romantic night in. No, I don’t mean pizza. Ship the kids off to a willing relative if you can, and choose something special to prepare together. Think candles, a warm fire and let music or a romantic movie sweep (Editor’s note: Recommendations? A classic—well, classic Cusack, anyway—like Say Anything or the more contemporary Love Actually. Yes. I cried during both) you away. If you aren’t currently attached, attend or host a chocolate buffet and focus on a little indulgence and great conversation.
St. Patrick’s Day
March is the month of green beer, isn’t it? I would love to hear if there’s anyone reading who hasn’t tried it! There’s no fighting it if you want to go out on this day, so head down to your favourite Irish pub and join in the festivities! If you aren’t a beer drinker, and maybe Irish coffee or Bailey’s are more your style, go with it! I’m seeing Bailey’s milkshakes in front of a warm fire, but maybe that’s just me.
But don’t limit yourself to just occasions! Use your imagination and get a few events in your calendar for the weeks ahead – as you look forward to them, the time will hurry by. Before you know it, it will be spring!
Host a wine tasting
If there were ever a time for wine tasting, winter is it. We love to pour our favourite wines at summer gatherings, but the hot weather doesn’t exactly call out for Cabernet. If you’re drinking heavy red wines on a patio at 4 pm on a summer afternoon, you’ll need someone to pick you up when you doze off before dinner. No, the cold weather is perfect for opening some of those fine reds, and perhaps even a port or dessert wine. Have everyone bring a favourite bottle, buy ingredients for easy appetizers and let everyone gather in the kitchen to drink, eat and socialize. (Editor’s note: Has anyone else noticed how Jen seems to be recommending a lot of booze so far? Just sayin’. With that in mind, you might as well take a look at our wine storage collection, right?)
Go local
Fall and early winter are so busy we often miss out on local happenings. In the quiet, early months of the year, take time to get reacquainted with your city or town. Are there fundraisers, galas, or food/wine festivals you’ve been missing out on? Live music, theatre, art shows? Perhaps a sporting event or two you could round up a group for? Get online and look for what’s happening in your ‘hood until spring, and get your tickets or reservations in. Even better, invite others to join you, or invite them home afterwards.
Embrace winter
If all else fails, and you can’t kick the winter drearies with indoor fun, it’s time to get your snow on. Winter seems a whole lot less dreary when you take your kids out sledding, join friends for skating or sign up for a Polar Bear swim. If you live in an area where winter brings very cold temperatures, invest in the gear you need to withstand it. If our kids have warm jackets, snow pants, ski mitts and snow boots, why don’t we? And there’s always a warm home to greet you when you return! Get everyone around the table or kitchen island and get some hot cocoa going. A bonus to outdoor snow play is that you can probably skip your workout, and even better, enjoy a quiet evening as one by one your family members crash early, happy and exhausted.
Don’t spend the next few months hiding out waiting for the warm weather, when there’s plenty of enjoyment to be had, snow or no snow! When in doubt, grab your planner, pick a date, fire off a few emails and get something on your calendar that makes you smile. Repeat until spring beckons.
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Be sure to visit next week when we take a look at what you could be planning for Valentine’s Day. No, you’re not ordering in. Make something delicious for someone you love, or if you both love to cook, plan something more ambitious to make together. We’ll have ideas for you, right here! (Editor’s note: Please submit any recipes or ideas you have! We need help between now and when Jen posts next)
