Tips for Staying Warm this Winter!

Listening to: Postal Service on Pandora Radio
Watching: My kitty cat sleep next to the heater
Drinking: Tension Tamer Tea
Eating: My tongue

As every single Oregonian knows right now, IT'S COLD! With high temperatures of 30 degrees it seems to be the main thing everyone is focused on and complaining about this December. Not the economy, not finals week, but the cold air that bites at every piece of exposed flesh with razor-sharp accuracy. So what do we humans do? We cope... How? Well read on my friends, read on.

Kylie's 15 Tips for Surviving a Cold Winter

1). A major issue with winter is the fact that it dries out your skin. This may not seem very important but when your skin is moisturized and exfoliated(dead skin is removed) it becomes much more flexible and less likely to crack in the freezing temperatures. However if the idea of putting lotion on after a shower is enough to make you cringe here is a suggestion: mix regular ol' cooking oil with 5 or 6 tablespoons of sugar and rub it all over yourself in the shower. This will exfoliate AND moisturize and you can do it all with hot water to keep you warm.

2). Another moisturizing tip, keep chapstick on you constantly! You will thank me later.

3). If you are like me and have several ear piercings, or if you like earrings in general. Try to take them out before going outside. If you leave them in a mere 15 minutes outside will start to become excrutiating.

4). The parts of our bodies that lose the most heat include: feet, head/ears, neck and hands. Try to bundle up all of these body parts if you will be outside for ten minutes or more. Big, cushy boots(cheap ones are at Wal-Mart for only $15), scarves, hats, and ear-warmers are all a good idea. Gloves help too!

5). Most people prefer something hot to drink when it's cold out and will end up spending quite a bit on sugary, high-fattening drinks from local and popular coffee shops. I try to limit myself to one or two cups and then switch over to tea. It's much better for you and you can still find comfort in the hot cup clutched in your hand. Another thing I like to do is put a bisque or puree-type soup(ex: tomato) in a coffee cup. Mmmm!

6). Take your vitamins! It's the time of year for catching colds so try to protect yourself before it gets you!

7). As far as your home goes you can save money with electric blankets, window coverings, and portable heaters.

8). Winter weather is a great reason to snuggle under a blankie with someone!

9). Long Johns should be your outfit staple!

10). When it's too cold to drink a beer make some hot-buttered rum or Mother's Milk.
Mother's Milk is milk and white chocolate chips heated up with Vanilla Vodka and marshies on top. So yummy!


Hott Chocolate and Vodka by =2SadEyes on deviantART

11). TAKE THE BUS!! Unless you have my father's Ford F350 to travel in there is no need to chance sliding on icy roads. Plus busses are pre-heated and free for students!

12). If you have Comcast turn that Yule Log screensaver on! Even though it's not emmitting any heat just having a fire on your TV makes it feel warmer. Mind over matter people.

13). Keep your pets indoors people! I know they have fur but they would much rather be snoozing on your lap than curled up in a gutter, don't chance it.



14). Make sure you read your apartment's tips on keeping your pipes safe. Ex: disconnect all hoses from spigots, leave facets dripping slightly, etc.

15). Slippers and robes folks, slippers and robes. I bet those snuggies don't look like such a bad idea now huh?

If you have any suggestions or corrections to make please comment! Hope everyone is having a fabulous winter!

~Kylie
We still need to decorate our tree...

Jason bought us a beautiful Noble Fir yesterday! It ended up being bigger than we intended:)

Seasonal Depression

Ever heard of seasonal depression? Most Oregonians have, considering Eugene, Oregon gets more inches of rain per year than Seattle, Washington. Oregon also has more serial killers, ghost towns, and breweries per capita than any other state. We are also the only state that has an official state nut. Wanna venture a guess as to what it is?

Anyway, everyone is always so negative about winter. Rainy and snowy days are considered bad and sun is considered good. Well I am going to toss my pitch fork and torch on the ground...that's right. I~LOVE~WINTER.

I know by now you must be in a rage pacing your living space and wondering what's wrong with me but hear me out. Fall/Winter aren't that bad.

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things(about Winter):

~Cold days vs Hott Days
No matter how many layers you have on, you can always add more. When it's hott you can only get so naked and still be miserable. I don't ever get headaches, heat stress, and sweat spots from standing in the cold in a comfy jacket. To top it off, landlords are required to provide a safe living environment that includes heat(at the cost of electricity), NOT air-conditioners.

~Food
I think our ancestors created so many WINTER holidays because it made more sense stuff our faces in the winter when we are covered up by all those clothes. As soon as the leaves start to change I know I will be enjoying some of my favorite seasonal foods including: pumpkin pie(and latte), stuffing, fruit salad, cider, hot chocolate and vodka, SOUP, blackberry pie, and my personal favorite, Peppermint White Chocolate Mochas mmMMmm.

~Holidays
While were on the subject I'll just bring up holidays! Not to mention our enormous winter break(December). Holidays are one of the few times I get to be home with my family and Jason's family for a whole week. It's the time of year I reunite with old friends and distant family. I will forever associate Christmas with being reunited with my brother and having a full family again. The memories stay with me for the whole year.

~School
Here's where it get's a little weird. I like school. I miss being a busy, studying, hurried, stressed out mess but really I love learning. I love pouring over books and hot tea in a coffeehouse as it pours down rain. I love advancing my life and am so lucky for the opportunity to do that.

~Rain
Rain is one of the best sounds in the world. When I wake up to rain I tend to be in a better mood and stay in a better mood all day. Rain can lull me to sleep. One of my favorite things to do on a day to myself is curl up in a blanket, make tea, and read while it pours outside. It's incredibly soothing. I enjoy sun every once in awhile but I actually get depressed when it's sunny for too long. I know, weird.

~Miscellaneous
Finally, everything I left out: Hats, tea, snow days, rain~boots, football, umbrellas, hot baths, scarves, my birthday, changing leaves, and knee-high socks.

Whew! I feel a little better, hopefully it's enough to last me through the rest of summer...

Here are some of my favorite Fall/Winter shots:)














To see more photographs and writing head on over to 2sadeyes.deviantart.com
~©2009 Kylie Marie Keppler. All rights are reserved.~