Celebrate Winter!

  I read this today and liked it, "I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year."  -Charles Dickens  We don't have to quit doing special things just because Christmas is over.  There are lots of great ideas for bringing coziness and warmth to your family all winter long!

There really is a lot more to winter than just Christmas.  I personally love the winter comfort foods and the delicious aroma of cinnamon, ginger and cloves filling the kitchen.  I love reading to the kids, and sipping cocoa, and baking cookies.  Our family loves playing games and staying up late watching a good movie with our quilts and pillows.  Winter brings hearty foods for cold days and cheerful dishes that celebrate hearth and home.

I've been putting together a list of ideas to help ease the post-Christmas let-down.  I hope you will enjoy the delights of winter with your family! 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*For a colorful snow fort fill a spray bottle with water and a couple of drops of food coloring and decorate the walls of your fort with red, green or blue!

*Make your favorite hot chocolate extra special.  Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream.  Then top with whipped cream and dust with cocoa powder.  Add a cinnamon stick and sprinkle some chocolate curls on top.  YUMMY!

*Write a long letter to a friend you haven't seen in awhile or write a love letter to your husband and surprise him.

*Wake your family to the smell of coffee and sizzling bacon, build a snowman together, take a nap, make a pot of homemade soup.

*Curl up under a quilt and enjoy reading a good book to your children.

*Build a fire in the fireplace to enjoy all day!

*Take a tray of cookies, or homemade bread to an elderly neighbor, or a friend that needs cheering.  Stay to visit awhile.

*Fill a bowl with whole nutmegs and a nutmeg grater.  Guests will love fresh nutmeg in their coffee.  Offer different types of chocolate as coffee toppings...bittersweet, semi-sweet, milk and white chocolate.  Set out a bowl of whipped cream and a shaker of sugar for them to try also. 

*Top your coffee with spicy whipped cream.  Whip 1/2 cup whipping cream with 2 tablespoons powdered sugar and 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon, add a dash of nutmeg.

*Make sure you are prepared for a winter's snowstorm...stock your pantry with cocoa and mini marshmallows.

*Go ice skating!

*Invite someone who lives alone to dinner. 

*Pop a big bowl of popcorn, snuggle under a quilt and enjoy a movie with your family.

*Gather your family together for some quiet time.  Play board games or have a picnic in front of the fireplace.

*Make snowflakes with paper and glitter.  

*Have a clothing and old toy round up with your family.  Donate gently used and outgrown items.