Christmas may be a time for love and cheer, but it can also be a time for stress and negativity…
It’s freezing.
Christmas shopping is draining my bank account.
Traffic is terrible.
I’m tired and catching a cold.
Canadian Thanksgiving (and American Thanksgiving, for that matter) have long come and gone, but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t remember to be thankful. As a pre-New Year’s resolution, I’ve been trying to remember the little things in my life that I can be grateful for. Family, health, etc are all obvious ones that I appreciate every day, but I’m talking about the silly little things: December days where I don’t feel like my fingers are going to fall off, pretty snowflakes from my window, things like that.
On this frigid Monday morning that has already started off pretty rough (the subway could NOT have taken longer) I’ve decided to compile 10 things that I’ve really come to appreciate lately on chilly winter days…hopefully this will make you think about the little things that make you happy and brighten your day!
1. Hot Chocolate
I am a major coffee and tea lover…caffeine flows through my veins. But lately I have rekindled my love for hot chocolate! I forgot how warm and cozy hot choc makes you feel, and it’s a welcome alternative to my usual 5+ cups of caffeiney goodness per day. Right now I’m loving the Café Escapes Milk Chocolate Hot Cocoa k-cups for my Keurig.
2. Humidifiers
Asthmatics around the world, rejoice. Just me? Alright. My boyfriend had been complaining that my apartment is SUPER dry (I didn’t notice, obvi) and I finally got around to getting a humidifier (thanks mom…) Okay, life changing. I’ve only had it on for one night, but I already slept better and felt like I could breathe. As a mouth breather with dry skin, I am living for this new addition.
3. Furry Friends
I WANT A PUPPY. Ok, I don’t have time for a puppy. But being able to go to my parents’ house on weekends and snuggle their 3 dogs is the most therapeutic thing in the world. If you’re not a dog person, you’re missing out…but I guess you could snuggle a cat or a hamster or something. In these winter months, who needs a blanket when you have furry puppies to force love upon.
4. Furry Everything
Speaking of furry things, my fur vest has been my best friend. I forgot how cozy and warm it is, and it instantly chic-ifies an outfit (made up a word, just let it happen). I wore mine with leather leggings this weekend, and I think I’ve found my new go-to outfit. I have no clue where my vest is from (stole it from my sister), but I’m loving this one and this one!
5. Cozy Covers
Did you see my post about Cozy Covers? Enough said.
6. Vlogmas
I am a YouTube fanatic; my subscription box is out of control, and I live for beauty and fashion “gurus” and vloggers. This month is Vlogmas, and I can’t stop watching. My favourites to watch are Meghan Rienks (she just got a nose job, oh what fun…) and Ingrid Nilsen, among others.
7. Hand Cream
As I said, my skin is ALWAYS dry…including my hands. I’ve gotten to the point where I must have some form of hand lotion hear me at all times, to prevent my skin from splitting and being utterly painful. THANK GOD for Shopper’s Drug Mart, am I right? I’m liiiiving for my Nivea Smooth Replenishing Hand Cream, and it lasts forever!
8. Crappy (and Not-So-Crappy) Christmas Movies
Christmas movies are always something to look forward to…movies like Elf, Christmas Vacation, and Love Actually will be on repeat for the next few weeks. While these movies are classic favourites, I’ve come to appreciate the crappy made-for TV Christmas movies that are so terrible, they’re good (last night Mistletones was on TV and I couldn’t look away).
9. Fire Smell
This might be a weird one, but I LOVE the smell of a crackling fire. Since my apartment obviously doesn’t have a fireplace, I love sitting in front of my parents’ fire (with the aforementioned puppies, hot chocolate, and cozy covers) and taking in the warmth and smell of wood/smoke.
10. Online Shopping
I am not a fan of the cold, crowds, or leaving my bed…therefore I am giving the biggest shout out to online shopping. I have finished 99% of my Christmas shopping, and almost all of it was done online. Thank the LORD for Cyber Monday, promo codes, and free shipping.