Surviving winter

As a native of LA, I've had to adjust to winters in colder climates. Although Denver isn't as cold as Columbus or Chicago, it can feel pretty cold and long for a softy like me. We're in the middle of a snow storm and I thought I'd share some things I do to keep warm and get through the winter.

1. Go out: It's easy to get holed up at home and not want to do anything. Even though it's an effort, once I go out, I'm glad I did. I enjoy taking the shuttle to downtown and walking around.

2. Eat hot foods: This winter it's been all about eating hot foods - they warm me up! Shabu shabu, samgyetang (korean chicken soup with rice), hot stone bibimbap and roasted yams or sweet potatoes are some of my favorites to cook at home.

3. Hot drinks: Along the same lines as #2. I drink something warm throughout the day.

4. Exercise: This is another one that's like pulling teeth for me. When it's cold I don't feel like doing anything. But I've been exercising 3-4 times a week and it's great to warm up the body break out in a sweat regularly. I go to the gym and on weekends take walks with W at Washington Park.

How about you? Any tips for surviving the winter?

Snow and more snow

This is my world these days.  Please spring, come soon.

taking coats

i have not learned the art of offering to take people's coats.  or rather, i find it hard to get into the habit of doing it.  let me educate you, you warm climate peoples.

during the winter in a cold weather climate, people are usually bundled up in big, long, thick and heavy coats.  so when a guest arrives, the host takes the cumbersome coat off the hands of the guest and either hangs it in a closet or puts it in a room as a courtesy to the guest.  

i, however, have been a very bad hostess and never did this once the entire winter.  shame on me!

learning

today was my second photography class. this stuff is not easy. i took over 200 photos in the last few days and i like maybe a handful of them. but i am having a blast! it's a great way to explore a new city, and chicago has so many great photo ops. you can check out some of my attempts here if you're curious.

also. it hit 56 degrees today! it was such a gorgeous day. everyone was outside, including me. and i wore my regular shell and shoes, not the down jacket and boots! when i woke up this morning, all of the snow had melted off the balcony. the snow at grant park was gone today, and there was grass! i can't believe that grass stayed green under all that ice. at one point, we checked the weather and it was warmer here than LA by a few degrees. :)

OMG

i just checked the weather.  it's supposed to hit 49 degrees on saturday.  49!

that is a miracle considering it's 1 degrees right now.

:)

cabin fever: part 3

happiness is...

wearing a pea coat instead of the down jacket that makes me feel like a snowman.  and wearing normal boots instead of snow boots.

i did this the other night and i was psyched.

it's also wearing tights and a skirt.

i also did this, but it wasn't fun.  i was freezing my butt off.  literally.

cabin fever: part 2

lately will and i go out at night because by then i've gone stir crazy.  last night we were desperately in search of a good taco.  how i miss atacor!  we tried el taco veloz, based on chow and yelp reviews, but it was eh.  i don't know about these midwesterners' takes on tacos.  

while waiting for the elevator to go home, we had this convo:

bo:    honey, when do you think it will get warmer?

will:  i don't know honey.

bo:    when will it hit 40 degrees?

will:  i don't know. 

bo:    how about 50 degrees?

will:  i don't know.

bo:    how about 60 degrees?

wlll:  i don't know.  i think it will hit 60 degrees in may.

bo:    MAY????!!!

cabin fever: part 1

i have been struck with cabin fever.  my life consists of cooking, cleaning, looking for a job, and studying for a standardized test, most of which happens inside the house.  i try to make an effort to go outside at least once a day - which is the highlight of my day, including studying at a coffee shop or bookstore, going to the post office and yes, going to target.

it is quite an ordeal, getting out of the house.  the way i described it to an LA friend is, it's like being in big bear everyday.  i wear layers, get in my big poofy down jacket, gloves, earmuffs and boots when i go out.  

part of the problem is that i like to get work done at home during the day.  and i also prefer to get out of the house when the sun is still out.  it's a catch 22.  by the time i'm sick of staying indoors and want to get out, the sun is setting.  another problem is that i don't even want to spend money on a cup of coffee because i'm unemployed. 

btw, this photo has nothing to do with this post.  will wanted me to post it and let you get a glimpse of what you might get if you come visit us.

chicago at sunset

my friend hanna has been here for the last few days, out for an interview.  she took these shots by uic.

we went to intelligentsia coffee last night...