Make The Most of Winter

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With winter now starting to creep in, it’s time to embrace this crisp yet cosy season, as whilst it might be
one of the least pleasant times to be outdoors - it’s the perfect time of year to cosy up with your family
and share the sense of connection that comes from this time of year where we all seem to go into
hibernation mode.

Of course, one of the greatest challenges in terms of making the most of winter is found in your ability to
keep warm, and in that vein it pays to find a top rated propane supplier to ensure your home has the
heat it requires to feel homely at this time of year, as there’s nothing worse than being in a cold drafty
home when it’s bitterly cold outside.

The further challenge with winter is that it can lead to people feeling a little down in the dumps, due to
the cold nights, short days, and lack of sunlight -  which causes some people to be affected by the
condition known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

That said, winter can be a wonderful time of year, so let’s take a look at some of the best ways to
squeeze the most from winter.

1. BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPING

Whilst it might be cold outside, today, you can feel smug perusing deals from the comfort of your warm
bed with your laptop - rather than battling it out with the masses, waiting in line, in the snow and ice.

Whether you buy your gifts online or brave the sales, given the enormous discounts some retailers offer,
it makes sense to buy your gifts from the Black Friday or the Cyber Monday sales, if at all possible.

The alternative of online shopping is to queue up for a number of hours battling freezing weather and
somewhat ferocious bargain hunters as they elbow their way into the best deals.  Indeed, the ferocious
nature of this experience is more fitting to that of a late night rock bar - yet somehow, even the most
gentile people can turn into viscous bargain hunters that will do whatever it takes to secure their
bargains.

In this sense, it might be a lot wiser (and certainly more comfortable) to enjoy the Black Friday sales
from the comfort of your bed, with your laptop and a mug of hot cocoa!  This way you can also get
around many more shops than you would be able to in person too.

2. THANKSGIVING

For many, thanksgiving is a time for cosying up with family and great food, much the same as Christmas
Dinner, though if you’re wanting something a little more extravagant, you could head to
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, which is well regarded as the official start to the holiday season.

Held in New York, this is the largest parade in the world, which combines huge fifty foot tall balloons,
floats, marching bands, cheerleaders, performers and more - with the special guest of Santa along with
his reindeers and elves… this is a great place to celebrate the start of the festive season and the whole
of New York seems to get in the spirit.  That said, perhaps not the best option for those that don’t like
crowds.

There are many alternatives to New York, however, as most small and large towns throughout America
have their own celebrations - big and small, with many people focusing on the feeling of gratitude and
togetherness.

3. MAKE THE MOST OF THE COLD WEATHER

There are many wonderful places to go ice skating at this time of year, even in large cities, and if you’re
in an area where there’s snowier a frozen lake - what better way to enjoy the winter weather than being
out in the snow and ice?

Just be sure to wear warm clothes and take sensible precautions, in terms of your winter activities… for
instance, when having a snowball fight, you will want to ensure you’re only picking up snow rather than
snow mixed with more harmful things like grit, stones or dog poo.

4. BUILD A SNOWMAN

Building a snowman can be a great way to express creativity and connect with your own sense of
childhood wonderment, whilst enthusiastically engaging with your own children.

The core ingredients you’ll require to build a traditional snowman are a carrot for his nose, coal for his
eyes and buttons, a twig for his pipe, and a hat / scarf to keep him warm.  To connect with the true
magic of building a snowmall you might want to consider watching the classic film, The Snowman,
beforehand.

5. HAVE A SNOWBALL FIGHT

Kids love a snowball fight.  Needless to say, you need to be a little careful with this one, as there can be
all sorts of things in snow (e.g. stones and dog waste), but having a snowball fight is a great way to
bond and connect as a family in a fun and challenge based way.

6. GO SLEDGING

There’s nothing more fun, adventurous and exhilarating than finding a steep hill then hurtling yourself
down the snow and ice at speed.  As long as you are reasonably sensible,
sledging can be a fun and injury free sport.  The best option, if you have a child, s to go down together
with him or her sitting on your lap - at least for the first few attempts.

7. CLEAR SNOW FROM THE DRIVE

This might sound like hard work, but there’s something fantastically rewarding about clearing snow from
your drive, and even more so if you are able to help other people - particularly elderly people.  This is a
time of year where you can be a good neighbour and strengthen your ties with the community.

If you have children, they often love to get involved with this activity too, and it can create a great sense
of contribution and self-esteem within your child.

8. CREATE SNOW ART

Snow can make for a wonderful blank canvas that kids love to decorate.  The simplest way to make
“snow art” is to add some food colouring to a bottle of water (in a squeezable container like washing up
liquid) and encourage them to squirt in whatever pattern they wish.  Then, you can take a photo of the
artwork to ensure you have a lasting piece of art that doesn't melt away in a few hours.

Alternatively, you could create snow angel; as an instant form of personalised art.