Winter Nesting Survival Guide

A scene from last winter, from a walk in our neighborhood.

We woke up yesterday morning to the first snow of the season. I was thankful that it was not enough to have to clean off my car, but I couldn't help but think about what would inevitably come my way.

The cold is here to stay, I think. And so begins my season of nesting.

Winter is a time when I happily nest. While I am not as bad as this guy...

...there are things that make my winter a bit more bearable (loving husband and a strong vitamin D supplement aside).

With winter on our doorstep, here are my nesting must-haves. 

1. Something hot to drink. Whether it's vanilla chai, hot cocoa or a hot cup of joe, wrapping my cold hands around a warm mug makes me smile. 

2. A warm blanket. No doubt, the perfect remedy for when the house has a chill or for when I am ready to snuggle in with a good book or favorite movie.

3. My Roku. After the end of daylight savings time, it begins to get dark here around 4:30. And at this time any time of the year, my Roku gets a workout. I am a sucker for Christmas-themed movies, like The Holiday or Love Actually, and then there is something special about Bing Crosby (tabloid stories aside). 

4. Steaming hot soup. Whether it's a Rachel Ray clam "chowda" recipe or this vegetable soup, a steaming pot of soup on the stove is the perfect meal for any cold winter night. 

5. Thick socks and warm boots or slippers. Cold feet? Cold everything. 

6. Oversized wool sweaters that are big enough to layer as many long sleeves and thermals as you want underneath.

7. Wifi. When I don't have to, or don't want to go out, wifi provides streaming music, movies, television, my favorite blogs, and social media feeds. Am I plugged in? Yes. Can I unplug? Faster than you can say, "nap."

8. Baking. Whether it's cookies or pizza or or these, the best popover recipe ever, baking not only sends an amazing aroma through the house, it can also quell the most ravenous carb cravings. 

9. Reading material. Books, magazines and my favorite blogs. The makings of a perfect day.

10. Someplace to go. For those of us in the Northeast, winter can seem like a never-ending season. The remedy to cabin fever can be as simple as a weekend getaway or a vacation to someplace warm and tropical. 

Or it can be tickets to a holiday concert or a sleigh ride at a nearby country farm. 

Winter can have its own magic, even if your idea of magic is a frosty beverage, sipped poolside...at least, indoor poolside. 

Cheers!

If winter is not your favorite season, there are still plenty of ways to make it work out in your favor. 

Are you a winter nester? What are your favorites?