Things That I Love: Dreary Winter Edition

It's been a while since I did one of these round ups, but the weather in Germany has been taking its annual toll on my soul, and I am grasping for happiness in whatever dark corners of the universe I may find it.  Lord, but I hate winter.  I mean, I love Christmas.  And I love my birthday.  But the rest of it can just go sit on a tack.  

I'm a child of the South, born to a Southern man and a Southern woman who just so happened to have the misfortune of birth of being born a Yankee.  My formative years were all spent below I-10 (a much more accurate description of where the South truly begins than the Mason Dixon line), where it was not abnormal to spend Thanksgiving weekend at the pool.  At the very least, I crave sunlight.  Even in the chilliest depths of winter, I could find a little comfort in that big fiery ball in the sky.  And it's not even technically winter yet.  Ye gods.  Hold me.

Anyway, when these gloomy days come upon us, there are a few creature comforts that get me through the miserable days.

Starbucks Cocoa Mix

Recently, I started making my own hot cocoa mix, and I was pretty smug about how it was basically the best at home cocoa I'd ever tasted.  Then, I stumbled upon these bad boys: Starbucks Salted Caramel, Peppermint and Double Chocolate Hot Cocoa.  

Oh my lands, are these tasty.  If only I had my trusty frother which is somewhere in a storage unit in middle Georgia, I think it could easily compete with any cafe hot chocolate experience.  You've gotta use whole milk though.  Trust me on this.  Worth every extra calorie.  Little packets of happiness, people.

 

Yankee Candle Apple Pumpkin

As much as I love me some spring and summer time temperatures, the aromas just can't compete with the cozy scents of fall and winter.  Yankee Candle's Apple Pumpkin is a recent discovery of mine, though I don't know if it's new to the brand. I do know that it has trumped my previous favorite, Farmers Market.  

I light the wick, and for a brief moment in time, it manages to trick me into believing that winter isn't proof of the devil's work in our lives.  If there is a heaven, and by some happy accident, I end up there, I hope that it smells like the blissful combination of pumpkin and apple.

 

The Good Wife

This show!  It is so fantastic!  i've heard that for years, and I've honestly no idea why I didn't start watching until last month, but thanks to Hulu Plus, I was able to start with the first episode and thus far have worked my way through season two.  

I can't really put my finger on why I love it so much--Julianna Margulies is fantastic, none of the characters are perfectly good or perfectly bad, the standalone storylines are interesting, and the overall arc is gripping.  The writers of this show know how to employ a good cliff hanger, I can tell you that.  So, if you're the last human on earth who has never seen this show, give it a try.  I promise, it'll make at least a few frigid winter days fly by.

These Faces

(Photos by Talita Springer Photography)

Do I really need to say more?

Comments

[Molly]

Hey! I posted about "happy" things today too! Great minds... and all that.
I'm late to the good wife party too but really, really, really love it.
P.S. Your girls are hysterical.

[Katie]

I also love The Good Wife and smelly candles (my fall/Christmas go-to is cinn), and your girls are simply adorable :) Love the pics! We should switch places, I love love looove winter (and rain) and it hasn't rained here since oh, probably March. We're supposed to maybe get rain this week, ugh, finally. No wonder California is full of raisins :)

[erin - heart in ireland]

I need to go to Yankee and get that candle! And peppermint hot chocolate is my favorite! The girls are adorable! I can't believe how big they are!

[Kate P]

I confess, I am still hooked on "The Good Wife," and I gave in to the fundraiser at school for Yankee candles. I do the tarts with the tealights bit--I have a Christmas one that smells so good right now even when it's not warm.