Out with the Fall, in with the… Winter? Listen, it’s been a really long month. This entire week was met with, “It’s still Monday?” “It’s ONLY Tuesday?” “How is it only Wednesday?” “IT’S STILL THURSDAY?!” so I know that I will welcome Friday with open arms. My mom actually reminded me that it’s the Winter Solstice on Monday cause she specifically invited me over for a Winter Solstice dinner. I’m not sure what that means but I might report back.
This time of the year, where I live, it’s dark by 4:30PM and I absolutely despise it. Every single year, this sudden wave of darkness really takes me by surprise. As if I haven’t experienced it for over 30 years. When a co-worker sends me a calendar invite for a 4pm meeting, I’m like, “THAT IS SO LATE WHAT ARE THEY THINKING?” because it’s practically midnight outside.
I should tell you that I also dislike Ice Skating. It’s my survival instinct. I’ve been twice. The first time, my dad rolled over my pinkie finger WITH HIS SKATE. A few years ago, Jacob convinced me to go again. I clung to his hand and when he let go, I fell backwards and my head bounced off the ice like a goddamn basketball. You know what they say, 3rd time’s the charm, right? The ice will kill me if I go ice skating again so thanks but no thanks.
And while I love the cold, I was born and raised in the Bay Area of California. I. Don’t. Like. Snow. I don’t like snow sports. I don’t like it. Do you want someone to watch your shit at the ski lodge? I’ll do that. I’m okay with that. Do not make me ski or snowboard. I have done both and I do not like it. Your non-stop defending of snow sports will not make me like it. I don’t like the snow. I can’t drive in it. I don’t think it should be that cold, okay? The snow sucks. Leave me alone.
With all of those things out, I wanted to make a list of the things I do genuinely love about the Winter season. Again, I’m from the Bay Area. I know enough Alaska people to kindly ask you not to make fun of me for thinking that 65F degrees is cold. I’ve heard it. Please go back to shoveling your snow and your Vitamin D deficiency.
Holiday Music
I have already told you about my love of Holiday music now that I’m not in a store that plays Alvin & the Chipmunks non-stop. I’ve also told you about how “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” isn’t what the internet tells you about. It’s great and there’s so much of it! If you like pop, you got it. Want to stick to the more classic stuff? You have that too. There’s rock versions of all the songs you love. Every genre has holiday music. As soon as I hear it out and about, my soul starts putting up my inside decorations (gross), which leads me to…
Holiday Decorations
Holiday decorations are where it’s AT. As a kid, I remember driving around neighborhoods to see holiday lights. It was so much fun. This year, I’m loving the Instagram content. I get to see inside everyone’s homes and WOW you guys go all out! Since this is our first home, our decorations are light (cause lol this stuff is expensive) but I cannot wait to be like, 80 and have my house look like Christmas threw up inside my home.
FOOD
Specifically, Mulled Wine. I recently found out that most American’s don’t know what Mulled Wine is and also that most American’s don’t know the word “mulled” and constantly make jokes about how “ew gross you’re drinking MOLDY WINE??” Yeah. You didn’t know that wine gets mold, like cheese. I’m sorry that you’ve never heard of this amazing drink. This is the recipe I use. Go make it. I enjoy cooking a lot more during the Winter because it’s not hot as balls in my kitchen. Baking and making soups are probably my top two things to do in my kitchen during Winter. When Jacob and I started dating, he specifically told me he didn’t like soup cause “it’s just soup” and BOY have I proved him wrong. He now loves soup.
Winter Fashion – Dark Colors EVERYWHERE
When I was a teenager, the only places I could find black lipstick at were Spirit (during Halloween) and Hot Topic. Same with black nail polish. If I wore either in public, I was ridiculed. It was SUPER fun (especially now that I see both all over the place on people who made fun of me in school but that’s another story). I love wearing layers and dark colors. I love scarves. I LOVE boots. I love thick socks and dark lipsticks (that I wear year round anyway). In the summer, I feel like I’m forced to wear specific clothes because it’s so hot, I’m sweating my life away. Whereas, with Winter, I can mix and match and layer up. I feel much more creative and in my element when I feel like I can access my entire closet.
Book Weather is Cozy – Bury Me Under Blankets
You can read any time, I know, but I’m telling you, when it’s cold outside, there’s something different about getting some coffee/tea/hot cocoa/mulled wine and burying yourself under 1,000 blankets to read just hits differently. I tend to run through books during Winter time so leave your favorites below!
Making Holiday Cards
Fun Fact: I make cards. I’ve made birthday cards for years now. It’s fun to see really old cards I made that friends/family have kept and to see how far I’ve come. Because I make so many during the Holidays, I now have a custom stamp (it says “A Lauren Kaleo Original” with a hibiscus flower) and a date stamp. It has made my life so much easier. I know that one day, I won’t have time to hand make Holiday cards anymore and I’m already sad for that day.
Family
This picture has some of the most important people in my life. Most of the people in this picture have known me for my entire life. They’ve helped create the person I am today. I’m lucky that everyone in this photo lives ~2 hours away from me. I’m not sure I’d be able to actually move further away from them than that. They’re my whole heart.
What are some of your favorite things about Winter?
Writes with Wolves 
F Alaska.
Also, i just had a moldy wine convo this week. Lol
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