I always struggle to stay happy in January. When the magic and excitement of Christmas is gone but the nights are still long and cold, it can be hard to find something to look forward to everyday. We experienced quite the cold snap here recently, which brought with it several days without a second of sunshine. It was so cold, we had to take the puppy for her evening walks indoors at the dog-friendly pet store because we couldn’t safely be outside long enough to tire her out. I could feel the seasonal sadness building so I complied a list of all the things that make me happy in the winter – as well as some new things I would like to try.

Here’s what I came up with:

• bright stars on long, clear nights
• cuddle puddle movie nights
• lazy weekends indoors because there’s no pressure to be outdoors
• comfort food
• tobogganing
• ice skating
• winter hiking & snowshoeing
• tea & hot chocolate
• cozy Scandinavian style
• the quiet and calm that follows a fresh snowfall
• snow days
• thick wool socks
• sweaters that are too warm to wear the rest of the year
• spending time inside with friends
• board games
• sunny pub afternoons, because it’s too cold to walk home at night
• dark beer
• fireplaces
• planning summer gardens and landscaping
• snuggling under blankets on the couch
• slow, soft sunrises
• no mosquitoes!
• tropical fruit is technically in season
• getting familiar with local and seasonal foods and traditional preservation methods
• playing with Pepper in the snow

Coat Old Navy
Pants ModCloth
Boots old
Sweater Gap
Hat ModCloth
Mittens Roots
Scarf thrift shop
Pepper’s Bandana Sophster-Toaster

All photos by Matt.