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Ah! Six days 'til Christmas is here. It's cold but bearable outside, lights are decorating trees throughout the city and I get to eat my mom's Christmas crepes soon.
For some reason, it just doesn't feel like the holidays are here. My cards are written, my decorations have been up for almost a month and my presents are purchased, but I'm going to cram extra holiday joy into the next few days since it feels like Christmas is sneaking up on me.
Here's some things we can do to savor holiday spirit while trying to forget about the cold weather:
- Send your cards! If you haven't already, you better get on it, sister! It's a great way to connect and it'll make someone's day. With the convenience of e-cards, I like that snail mail still reigns for holiday cards. After mailing your cards, do something else "old school." Put cookies out for Santa, send a letter with your Christmas hopes and dreams to the North Pole, make a gingerbread house ... and shut off your cell phone and refrain from using the computer from Christmas Eve 'til Dec. 26.
- Make something. Potica with grandma, cookies with mom, dinner with dad or candles with sister - bond a little and refine a skill.
- Play in the snow.I would advise against making snow angels outside now, but if we get a few inches on the ground, throw on those snowboots and head outside! Just remember to ask mom to make hot cocoa when you come in.
- Lounge. Spend one entire night under a blanket with a candle lit and hot cocoa in your hand watching holiday classics. And you're also allowed to down cookies - it's the holidays.
- Enjoy the city. Most neighborhoods are decked out for the holidays but downtown dazzles. Go to the Christkindlmarket in Daley Plaza, drink some spiced wine and then try to ice skate at Millennium Park (but maybe not in that order). Don't forget to check out the window displays - I took pictures of my favorites today. Below is Burberry's window, which is festive and classy.
- Look at lights. Go via car, bus or if you're really brave, foot. But don't forget holiday music! And a friend. It's not as fun to "gasp!" and "boo!" without someone to share your opinions.
- Give. No matter how big or small, we all have something to contribute. It will make your day brighter if you help someone else. I promise.
- Reminisce. Watch videos of Christmases' past from old video cameras or look at pictures from years' past. Old memories are always highly entertaining. And so are the bad clothes and hair styles most of us rocked in the 80s.
Ease your mind. Would 10-year-old you care about what's in store for the new year and resolutions you should be making? I think not. Ease your mind and enjoy the holidays. Let your grown-up worries go to the wayside for the holidays. They'll reappear sooner or later, so why not enjoy a few days without them? After all, I agree with Ralph Waldo Emerson's quote, "what you are comes to you."
- Believe. Thanks to a girl named Molly I learned the truth about Santa in the second grade, but I do believe in a lot of other things ... like 2010 being one of the most fabulous years ever.
What are you doing to prepare for the holidays?
xoxo,
Lisa Marie
P.S. If you want to see the rest of the holiday spirit I captured downtown, visit my Examiner site, where I posted a slideshow!
Well, the frigid weather's officially here. And with that comes some good things - like the first blanket of snow that makes the city look like a fairy tale - and the bad things, like the snow pelting you in the face to say "good morning!".
Now that it's here, how do we prepare? After two years commuting via public transit (and therefore via foot to the transit), I've learned that more is never enough. And while bundling up like Randy from A Christmas Story is enticing, I also think looking presentable (or some winter version of it) is important.
Here's what I think are some of the best options. I haven't perfected my winter ensemble yet, so chime in with your thoughts!
Head and ears: Hats are always a big no-no for me (turns my hair into a mushroom), so I've found other options. Earmuffs or 180s work wonderfully but when it gets really cold, more is needed. So ear covers and a hood works wonders (I'll be shopping for a coat with a hood after the holidays!). If your hair tolerates hats (lucky!), there are so many adorable options. I've seen an alarming number with cutout designs that also do not cover one's ears. Don't make the mistake of picking one of those up!
Neck: Nothing's worse than having a sore neck from shrinking it into your shoulders to stay warm. I've seen a lot of coats that have a high collar, which looks amazingly warm. The jackets zip up high, to around your mouth so you don't have to distort your body to keep warm. I recently saw a girl wearing what I think was a "scoodie." You can make it yourself and I found an instructional video here. Hers looked like a giant sweatshirt around her neck, minus the hood and arms, and it was cradling her in warmth and I was oh, so jealous. It may be my inner warmth-seeker making me think this is attractive - do we like? Of course, once snow hits cotton, it may not be warm for too long!
Hands: I have fabric gloves, which only work during the "warm" winter months. When it's snowing or sleeting, a waterproof nylon pair seem to work best to shield me from the nasty weather.
Feet: Rain boots just won't cut it. I wore mine today and by the time I was at my door, my toes were frosty. Winter boots are a must and if they're mid-calf in length it's even better. You can avoid ruining work pants or jeans and you can step through the snow just because you want to.The sidewalks were already slippery today, so the bottom of your boots should have grip.
Coats: Arguably the most important part of the equation, I find that once the snow hits, my wool coats aren't the best option. They absorb the moisture, plus it stays damp for awhile. A knee-length jacket with waterproof nylon material, a hood and high neck seems like the perfect option!
Supporting roles:
Tissues, for that runny nose.
Lip balm, to keep your lips smooth.
Lotion, to keep your hands moisturized.
Salt - seriously - it's really slippery.
Any other suggestions? Keep warm, it's harsh out there!
xoxo,
Lisa Marie
Yum! I've been invited to my first holiday cookie exchange and since I get excited about all things festive and fun, I can't wait - even though it requires me to bake 132 cookies. I narrowed down recipes to the ones quick and foolproof, and ended up with Cake Cookies.
My friend raved about the recipe recently and since the main ingredient is cake mix, I decided I couldn't go wrong.
My recipe source said her sister uses the Pillsbury Funfetti cake mix, but I went with white and devil's food cake mix.
For a (really) fast, delightful and simple recipe, try it out! Ho-ho-ho!
Ingredients:
Oven: set to 350 degrees
- Cake mix (any brand, any flavor)
- 1/3 cup oil
- 2 eggs
Yields: 3 dozen
The recipe I used said to discard 3 tablespoons of the cake mix - which isn't mandatory - but is preferred because otherwise the dough is a little dry.
After stirring the ingredients (that's right, there are only 3 ingredients!), roll into 1-inch balls and place onto a cookie sheet (as illustrated below, my baby apartment has a baby oven, which doesn't fit cookie sheets. I opted for a foil pan - my mom's wonderful idea!).
Cookies should bake for approximately 7 minutes or until slightly brown. Don't overcook - they should be soft! Then comes the really fun part: decorate! You can use cake frosting, sprinkles or a combination of the two. Get creative!
The good news: they turned out edible! I did have one minor snafu that involved knocking sprinkles onto the floor, but that was quickly remedied by my vacuum.
Santa Claus is coming to town, so get your cookies ready!
xoxo,
Lisa Marie
... you eat cereal for dinner. And a brownie. No stove (or work) required! Some days, it's my favorite meal.
On an unrelated note, if you're free tomorrow, stop by the Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St., for Glitter, a one-day holiday shopping show. Chicago boutiques and designers will showcase and sell goods from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Best of all, admission's free!
xoxo,
Lisa Marie
