Baby, It's Cold Outside! by Syndi Powell



How I wish I could feel like this pup in the snow and cold. Instead, I'm more like this:


If you live anywhere in the United States (except for Hawaii), you're experiencing record low temperatures. Here in Michigan, our high temperature for the day didn't even reach zero. It's cold outside! Schools have been cancelled for almost the last week because of the snow and cold which has led to cabin fever.

So what do you do when it's too cold outside? Here's one of my favorite ideas:


Some of my favorite afternoons are spent cuddled around a quilt with a cup of tea and a book to read. However, if you need some more ideas to avoid cabin fever, here are a few:

1. Play catch up on cleaning, sleeping, organizing, etc. There's always something that need to get done but you've been putting it off. A snow day is a good time for this.

2. Watch a favorite movie or TV show to use as research. What makes it your favorite? The story/characters/images? Why does it work?

3.  Crochet, knit, quilt, embroider, cook, paint. Sometimes our creativity needs a different outlet than writing. And speaking from experience, I've brainstormed ideas while I'm pushing my needle through fabric.

4. Playing board games are great ways to foster family togetherness while encouraging competition. During a power outage, my family once had a marathon game of Monopoly.

5.  Read, read, read. We love to write because we love to read, and having a day when you're stuck inside is perfect for that.

What about you? What do you do when it's too cold outside?

Comments

  1. Great tips, Syndi! I love board games, especially Monopoly, Scrabble and some newer ones like Bananagrams and Apples to Apples (this last one sends the whole family into a laughing frenzy ;).

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    1. Rula, what is Apples to Apples? I think I've seen it on store shelves but have never played it.

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  2. I would write, clean, and tell my son to "find something to do." He would run in terror at the thought of helping me clean LOL

    I've heard of Apples to Apples. Would an eight year old be able to play it? We're really into Blockus right now. Love love love the game. We also play Allowance, which is an easier version of Monopoly.

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    1. Pam, yes, my 9yo loves it. And it teaches vocabulary in a fun way. But it says 4 or more players. I think 3 might work for a low key version, but it gets really lively and funny the more players there are. Oh, and I thought you might appreciate that we have both Monopoly and Scrabble in Star Trek versions ;).

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    2. For Christmas Mike got the game of Life. The fame version! Hehehe
      I didn't know Scrabble had a Star Trek version. Truthfully, my evenings are about Mindcraft on the Kindle. Me, I don't get it. I'm building but have no clue what or why. I'm definitely a Subway Surfer kind of girl.

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    3. Pamela, I'd love to have a snow day to spend writing and maybe doing a little reading. I do too much cleaning on all the other days. LOL

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    1. I agree, Mel. There's very few things better than a nap in the middle of the afternoon.

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  4. Syndi, I got 3 photos from my daughter who lives in Grand Rapids this morning. It looked like that last picture of yours except they have fir trees laden with snow. On her back porch it looked to be about 18 inches. Where are you in Michigan? I really feel for you. In my house during the winters in Oregon and Washington state, we always put together puzzles. Had one or two up all winter long. I still like to do them when I have time.

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    1. I live just north of Detroit. We got about a foot here, but it feels a lot more like eighteen feet the way people are acting. LOL. We used to do puzzles growing up but it's been years since I've had time to do them.

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  5. I love having an excuse to have a really lazy day. Though, now that I have a laptop, rather than a PC, I can no longer excuse myself from work when the power goes out. Make tea, watch an old movie, snack! Within minutes, every animal in the house is gathered around, sensing a more relaxed atmosphere.

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    1. Sometime I'd love to live one day as my animals. They live such a relaxed life that every day is a snow day. LOL

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  6. Phew! It's cold in NE too :) If I'm not writing, I'm reading or watching TV- so lazy.... but for some reason I can't get out of the habit of doing housework after dinner. I also like to start up our gas stove and cuddle with my dogs and cat (we are a fur pile!) in front of it. They are so cute the way they stretch out and almost sunbathe by the flames!

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    1. Aww, fur pile at Karen's house! Sounds like a good plan to me.

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  7. Hearing these weather stories makes me feel guilty for living in California!

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  8. When the weather is cold and snowy, I like a good book and lots of hot chocolate. Thanks for the post, Syndi.

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    1. I do enjoy cuddling under a quilt with a cup of something hot and a good book. Sometimes it doesn't even have to be a good book but one that's just okay. LOL

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