50 Things To Do Before Winter Ends
[ 13 July 2008 ]
Freezing your toosh off? Feeling the urge to just sit around & grizzle about the weather? Shape up, cutie! Try doing these instead!
Find yourself a perfect red lipstick
Decorate your bedroom with fairy lights
Buy yourself an amazing bathrobe to lounge in
Start wearing multiple pairs of ripped stockings layered over each other
Bundle up & go for long night-time walks with someone cute
Drink more juice
Learn how to knit & make yourself an assortment of fabulous hats & scarves
Cultivate armpit hair (I think it’s kind of cute)
Stick jewels all over your library card
Prepare an enormous feast for your closest friends
Spend an entire weekend watching a box set of your favourite show
Make an effort to get out of the house every Sunday & go for a big breakfast
Hold hands with someone while you sleep
Wear a coat with a huge collar & pretend you’re a superhero in disguise
Guard against the dreaded lizard-skin by moisturising regularly!
Perfect a hot chocolate recipe
Tell ghost stories around a crackling fire
Buy a pair of hilarious slippers (preferably with a face on!)
Smile all the way to work — people will either smile back or think you’re mental. Either way, what bliss!
Cultivate a fabulous stocking collection & use them to dress up simple outfits
Go to the ballet
Yawn as often as you like
Give up smoking (huddling in the rain is no fun)
Procure a pair of ultra-cute mittens on a string
Allow yourself lots of quiet, dimly-lit alone time
Buy watercolours & a Moleskine notebook & go wild
Eat mashed potatoes
Carry a hot water bottle everywhere (I have a turquoise one which matches a lot of my clothing…)
Fall asleep to The Beatles
Dress up like a Eurotrash snow bunny
Make a fort
Read trashy novels in bed
Write long letters to your favourite people (even if they live nearby)
Buy an incredible umbrella
Choreograph dances in your living room to stay warm!
Wear ruffle-butt panties
Book a session in an isolation tank
Fill a huge glass jar in your living room with sweets
Wear a hoodie (with the hood pulled up) to sleep in
Buy an enormous fluffy rug
Imagine yourself sleeping on a big cloud
Reclaim old personality traits which have been trampled into oblivion
Find yourself a magical talisman
Listen to Fiona Apple & Elliott Smith over & over until you know all the words
Make a huge bowl of vegetarian chilli
Go ski-ing, stay in a chalet & wear an elaborate knitted jersey!
Watch Charlie Chaplin movies
Pick a new hero
Wear leg-warmers
Think about where you would like to spend your next winter!
Love letters & feather headdresses,
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Love, love, LOVE this list! Was just giving myself a hard time for my winter hibernation and feeling like I’d succumbed to a slump again (mind you, only a weekend-long one!) and when I read through this list I saw all sorts of things that I do now – how delicious!
Moreover, when I read your posts and the associated comments, I’m constantly struck by the synchronicity of the universe in presenting exactly what information and situation is needed at any given time. When we open ourselves up to the possibilities looming around us constantly and allow ourselves to REALLY plug into the massive cosmic energy wave and our own intuition – the sky ain’t the limit, it’s the launching pad!
xx
loving the list, Gala! I WILL have fabulous things planned :)
That list is great! Even though its summer here in Washington. You like armpit hair? GALA! PLEASE!
i heart you gala
Nokomi — Your comment rocked my world. Just thought you should know!
V. — Yay! That’s what I was aiming for!
Caitlin Marie — I think it is super-cute on the right girl! :D
cookie — I heart you too!
Whoa. Incredible list. It’s like you know me . . .
(I thought I was the only person who slept in a hoodie!)
More fun things:
Go to the beach. Go to the beach a lot.
Catch a train into the city, if you normally don’t.
Watch sunrises.
Make frost-footprint patterns on the grass.
Find yourself a trailer and a chainsaw and get some firewood.
Wear flowery gumboots everywhere.
Layer up in thermals and ditch the jeans for a skirt.
Take lots of photos in the gorgeous low-angled sunlight.
Have a 6-month holiday from worrying about sunburn.
Light candles on the dinner-table.
Make your own soup.
Ooooh, this list reminds me of all the things I love about winter! I haven’t had to buy knit tops and things since I left Wellington for Sydney (nearly eight years ago) and now I’ve moved to Melbourne I desperately want a whole drawer-full!
But I do already decorate with fairy-lights (I love wrapping them around my bedhead, or draping them across pictures), and my next planned household purchase is a fluffy flokati rug. I cook a wicked vegetarian rogan josh (with brown rice, baby spinach and raita, mmmmm), and my boyfriend calls me a nanna for sleeping with a hot water bottle! And at the weekend, I bought a beautiful Japanese tea-set, for serving Oolong tea and dark chocolate (the best after-dinner combo EVER!!!) to visiting friends.
Lovely snuggly winter….
Sleeping in a hoodie is bliss on super cold nights.
Love the list, I do most of these, though I will incorporate the rest in to my winter life. Cheers
Haha how strange is this- Reading this makes me excited for winter! That NEVER happens! Go Gala!
Bundle up & go for long night-time walks with someone cute – CHECK!
Drink more juice – CHECK! (Had a yummy Bug Buster from Fluid on the weekend.)
Make yourself an assortment of fabulous scarves – CHECK! I’ve got fluffy bright green, moss greeen with pink flecks, and now I’m working on my Francophile scarf – blue, white and red, like the flag.
Spend an entire weekend watching a box set of your favourite show – CHECK!
Yawn as often as you like – CHECK!
Allow yourself lots of quiet, dimly-lit alone time – CHECK! My parents are heading out of town for a long weekend, so I’ve volunteered to house-sit for them, during which time I plan on sitting in front of the fire in blissful solitude.
Buy a Moleskine notebook and go wild – CHECK!
Eat mashed potatoes [and kumara] – CHECK!
Wear leg warmers – CHECK!
Think about where you would like to spend your next winter! – CHECK! Man-friend and I have already planned on spending next (NZ) winter in New York!!! Let the saving begin!
p.s. Thanks for providing us with a winter list, Gala. In case you didn’t notice, I took great pleasure in checking things off. It’s nice to know you haven’t forgotten about us freezing things down here in the southern hemisphere.
These lists are the best. I’m super busy with schoolwork at the moment but next winter I’ll be all over this! :D
well, right now it’s 110 degree Fahrenheit “winter” where I live, dear :)
But I absolutely love your list regardless.
And I think sleeping in hoodies is the most dead comfy thing ever, especially when worn with flannel pajama pants and a down comforter when it’s super cold!
I’ve got the pit hair going on – 49 to go! hahah, gross..
is there any way to get printable versions of your articles (with picture & title) at all gala? (or is there already such a thing & i’m just missing the obvious haha)
love!
suddenly i’m not dreading winter so much anymore. there’s so much to do!
I suggest dolling up in a nice dress with stockings (coat/cardigan to match the weather) and catch a bus to the local museum. I did that last week in a sudden fit of spontaneity and bought two new fossils! Then I met the (_)nicest(_) Siamese cat on the way home.
Also, enter one of those “Win Free Stuff” competitions. I did a few months ago and I won a Japanese Phrasebook that arrived literally moments ago (all while listening to Fiona Apple :D)!
Three cheers for Gala and spontaneous winter fun!
Oh goshhh. Lovely lovely LOVELY!!! This list is going up on my wall.
I sleep in hoodies with the hood up too.
I JUST CANT WAIT TO BE DRUNK ON CRISP NIGHT SKIES & WARM DRINKS. I love that delirious ‘by the fire’ feeling.
Four words: tea, scones, jam, cream.
Oh, and then enormous weight gain. Meh, it’s winter!
Love this list, especially since it is definately hoodie wearing, blanket huddling under, frozen nose tip weather here right now. Urrgh.
j’adore cette liste!
Great list!
“Cultivate armpit hair” – hahahaha
Find yourself a perfect red lipstick – done! DeWop red 56
Decorate your bedroom with fairy lights – kind of almost done! i got some very cool christmas lights from IKEA, they’re giant stars!
Drink more juice – not done, but i want to!
Learn how to knit & make yourself an assortment of fabulous hats & scarves – i can’t knit, but i’ve been getting back into sewing!
Cultivate armpit hair – ...uh…only by accident.
Spend an entire weekend watching a box set of your favourite show – watching angel tonight!
Hold hands with someone while you sleep – can’t wait for my boyfriend to get back from malaysia!!
Cultivate a fabulous stocking collection & use them to dress up simple outfits – i love love love my stockings. i bought the best bright purple pair from bardot on sale the other day
Go to the ballet – does dressing up like a ballerina count?
Procure a pair of ultra-cute mittens on a string – i have some that look like kitten paws!
Eat mashed potatoes – having them with dinner tonight
Buy an incredible umbrella – i have a spare black one, i’m going to put silver pyramid studs on it a la burberry
Wear ruffle-butt panties – i have been looking for some of these for so long!
we are so totally on the same wavelength…. haha
I love you! This came at the perfect time – it might just get me through the next few weeks. Thanks heaps! pixie kisses xxx
I had to check the date to make sure this was the newest one! I was shocked by the winter post! It’s been burning hot where I am, and tan skin is really not my thing!
I like this list. I really like to hold hands!
te amo, Gala!♥
Tell someone you love them in a new language everyday! I think that might be fun, let’s add it to the list!
kirakira,Nana
oooh. i have fallen in love and fallen hard… i do not know how i stumbled upon this lovely blog… except to say that the stars have aligned for me…
thank you so much for your loveliness…
xo
dana
WHOA! I totally bought a batman bathrobe today, and I only just read this list!!
I’ve also been doubling up on my tights AND reminding myself that some of the stuff I loved at 15 is still pretty cool!
I love my new bathrobe. I put it on as soon as I got home and then snuggled down to watch Batman Forever. Chris O Donnell, SWOOOON! :D
One of my favourite things to do in Winter is accesorise all of the dark, wintery clothes that you wear (big black hoodies and whatnot) with warm bright colours!
I painted my nails pink, purple and orange and I think I shall add a few streaks of blonde to my blue and purple hair.
Great list Gala!
Well, I have to confess I’m on t’other side of this old globe of ours; it’s still summer here in old Blighty, but I like these ideas so much, I’m printing them out and sticking them in my journal so that I’m prepared when winter does descend here…
I’m glad you didn’t forget those of us on the other side of the world- thanks heaps for the list, and for brightening my dull winter a tad. I always look forward to your lists
I love these lists!
But I have to say singing along to Fiona Apple is a daily nessescity for me! =)
Great list Gala!
Gen – if you are in Australia, they sell ruffley panties at Cotton On Body for $10! I was so happy when I found them, they are ultra cute!
Ha its funny that someone just mentioned cotton on because I found the most perfect umbrella at there kids store to suit me, it has black and white polka-dots with a pink frill and a pink handle. It was only $10 too, now I actually look forward to the rain.
I think that everyone should have gumboots too! Not only are they super cool and keep your feet dry, you can jump in puddles like your 5 years old again.
Love your list!
I always wanted to get some fairylight but I have naughty cats that destroy anything dangling.
And I am still trying to pefect my hot chocolate recipe =)
Another one must do in winter: a nice bubble bath.
Oh, how I love your site! It’s always so pretty and inspiring, and it never fails to make me feel good about being alive. :)
Your post about umbrella’s was hilarious and adorable, and I am among those who think a book is in order, with your characters. I am such an umbrella dork. :D Have you seen these?
www.pareumbrella.com
err I dont think you need to be the “right” girl or “cute” enough to grow your underarm hair. I think most of the point of it is that it’s not an aesthetic thing for the enjoyment of others. Its maybe even a rejection of that outward focus that is everywhere, always.
I’m so glad you didn’t forget about us down here in the southern hemisphere, thanks Gala!
B xo
Gala, your Moleskine is beautiful! And most definitely inspirational…
tara- no way! i am so going there tomorrow, thanks!!! yay!!!
I’m so glad you haven’t forgotten about those of us who are still freezing our tushes off down here!!
I printed your list and highlighted the things I’m going to do before spring comes =]
eeeeeee (excited noise)
this list is absolutely gorgeous!
Just reading it invokes warm, fuzzy feelings
hmm picking a new hero..check!
.beth’s hero winter 2008 – GALA DARLING!
for sure
this is AWESOME i want to do everything on it!!
oh how i love winter (:
Just thought you should know that I am sleeping in a hoodie (that is fresh off my sewing machine :D) with the hood up tonight when I’m sleeping.
xoxox
You Gala, are world class!!
xx
I think the red lip stick will do it for me love the list