For those who dream of snow days and white Christmases, winter in South Florida can be one of the most disappointing times of the year. Palm trees spout from bright green grass as they sway in what could be mistaken for midsummer heat and the mosquitos and humidity don’t seem to take any vacations. If you’re stuck fanning yourself in 80-degree heat in the middle of January, wishing for the sweet release of snowfall and curling up beside a roaring fire, don’t fret. You can bring the winter to you.
You may be tempted to turn down your air conditioner as low as it can get, and while it may be nice to bundle up inside, your bank account won’t feel the same winter cheer. Instead, if you’re looking for a way to escape the heat and bring in the chill, take a peek at local ice skating rinks. Use this time to perhaps start up a new sport or hobby and try ice skating or ice hockey, or if you’re of the more uncoordinated types you can simply scooch along the rim of the rink and pretend you’re in a winter wonderland.
If you don’t want to go out, or if the ice isn’t calling you, there is a flurry of immersive wintertime activities you can do right at home. The first step to bringing the winter to your tropical home is the atmosphere, and no don’t touch that air conditioner dial even though it may feel tempting. Instead, look into the various ways you can decorate your living space to make it more winter-y.
If you still have holiday decorations up then all you have to do would be to modify to your heart’s content, or just keep things as they are. If you’re in the dark on how to decorate, using things that are made of or depict winter imagery such as pinecones, yule logs, holly and mistletoe is a great way to start. Wreaths, garlands and lights are also a great and easy decoration choice, and if you live somewhere that allows candles, lighting a few is a wonderful way to evoke a cozy winter atmosphere.
Food is also an important step in creating your perfect at home winter wonderland. Use this time to get creative and cook some seasonal meals. While this may feel like a daunting task, it doesn’t have to be that hard. Baking your favorite cookie or bread recipe with a wintertime twist, such as adding maple syrup flavoring, or nutmeg or peppermint or anything that evokes this season is as easy as it gets. If you want to focus more on meals, stews and soups are tasteful ways of using whatever leftovers you have in a hearty cozy way, and they’re great for meal prepping as well.
While wintertime in South Florida is a time of year that can sometimes be disheartening, weather differences are no reason to hang up your winter hat in disdain. There are several ways to enjoy this time of year in a way that can bring the winter wonderland to you, all you need is a little bit of creativity and that special wintertime spark.
