During the first half of my life growing up in New York, snow days meant waking up early, gripping the radio in hope that my school's name would be called out so I would get to spend the day playing in the snow with my friends.
The second half of my life has been on the West Coast where snow and winter became foreign words. Until last year that is when I moved to the Pacific Northwest and entered the world of seasons once more.
Now Seattle has seasons alright, but a snowy winter isn't really part of the picture. When it does snow it's only for a couple of days and usually not very deep, but because the city, the cars and the people are not equipped to handle it at all, the entire city turns into one long, extended snow day.
So now that I have the novelty of dealing with limited snow storms, I get to re-invent what a snow day is for me as an adult. Now after all, it is a snow day so I have kept it about fun, excitement and play, just with a grown-up twist. It's an unexpected day off, so give yourself the day and have a little fun; which is something you can do anytime - winter weather absolutely optional!
My snow day(s) to-do list is as follows:
1. Bake a batch of cookies. I only made a half a batch this time because me and an entire batch of cookies stuck in the same house would not be a good thing.
2. Sit by the fire or cuddle up in a warm blanket with a book and a nice warm drink or a bowl of piping hot soup.
3. Throw in a movie or catch up on a series you've been wanting to see (I started American Horror Story).
4. Make an easy DIY craft you haven't had the time to get to.
5. Take a hot bath with some salts or lavender oil and catch up on some of your favorite podcasts.
6. Walk to the nearest restaurant for brunch and a mimosa.
7. Invite friends over in walking distance and play a few games.
And if it really has snowed, you can fully indulge:
8. Bundle up and take a stroll in the snow with a steaming mug of tea or coffee in tow.
9. Find the nearest steep hill or closed street and go sledding. If you don't have a sled you can create an easy make-shift one. Or try cross-country skiing on city sidewalks (I saw that this winter for the first time).
10. Make fresh snow ice cream.
MORE SNOW DAYS ON APARTMENT THERAPY:
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• 10 How To Projects For A Snow Day
• How To: Make a Snow Candle
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Comments (26)
love these tips Alysha! thank you :)
My neighborhood in Philadelphia has the best snow day activity ever. Sledding down the Art Museum steps! The improvised cardboard sleds make it even more fun.
Snowshoeing is the BEST, but if there's not enough snow for that, just walking in all that white loveliness is excellent, too. I love snowflakes on my eyelashes and face and the quietness caused by the muffling effect of snow.
Also, I like making fresh pasta and meatballs when I have an afternoon in the kitchen on a snowy day. I always make enough to freeze a couple of meals and eat one that day. Comfort food plus, 2 easy meals in the freezer for non-snowy days.
We haven't had a real snow day in New England this winter and I miss them. (I can't believe I just said that).
Oh, to have *anything* within walking distance, let alone friends and/or restaurants. Stupid suburbia...
The perfect snow day, after already waking up at 7 am to discover the office is closed:
1. A mug of piping hot tea in bed, listening to the CBC (Canadian public broadcaster)
2. A leisurely walk through snow-covered Toronto - the only time the city is quiet mid-day, with window shopping.
3. Return home and curl up on the couch or in bed with a good book for a few hours.
4. Guilty pleasure movie!
1. Look at the snow from the window w/ a cup of tea (call in a personal/work from home day-NYC doesnt really close for weather-as I quickly learned when moving here)
2. Throw on a few layers & snow boots, and grab my camera. Brooklyn is beautiful right after a snow (and I mean RIGHT after, you cant wait too long)
3. Walk to a local restaurant for breakfast & sit in the window w/ a book and mulled cider.
4. Pick up some items to make a dinner of comfort food.
5. Invite a few walking distance friends over OR invite one special friend.
6. Make a yummy dinner & dessert
7. Watch a movie
8. Cuddle up
Take you dog to play in the snow. If you don't have a dog, borrow one. So.much.joy.
Just back to work today after two snow days in a row! I read a book, watched "Storm of the Century" (while it was snowing) and made fudge. Friends came over yesterday and we visited and snacked (on fudge) thru the afternoon. I love snow days!!!
I used to take snow days - at least once a month - but called them "Mental Health" days. So many workers today don't utilize their vacation/sick days until they burn out. Taking one day to recharge is NOT a bad thing; trust me, the world will still spin without you for a day.
Well put Ernio. I think a Holga camera is the perfect tool for a snow day.
I feel your pain, Kealoha. I'm so ready to get out of the suburbs.
Hmmm. I once knew some teachers who took "snow day/ mental health days" and were fired for being spotted ice fishing when they lied about being sick. All depends on how your benefits work, but in many jobs (especially public service), you'd better use personal days or vacation days and not SAY you are sick if you are not, if you want to keep working.
The first thing *I* do if given a very rare and real Snow Day (and believe me when I say, my library's Director HATES to close the Library) is go back to bed for at least another hour. (I usually can't find out we're closed until I'm starting to get ready to leave, so STAYING in bed isn't an option, darn it!) After that, reading, noshing, crafting, and DVDs are high on my list of amusements. (IN-doors where it's warm!)
Everyone loves a snow day!
Very well written to share our best days of life.Moments become more touching when you spend them with your loved ones....!!!!
My favorite Seattle moment was when it snowed last year for a couple days straight. I was living in Capitol Hill, with plenty of bars and eateries within a block or two, and I will never forget how people flocked to the streets that night! Strangers spontaneously gathered to help push cars up the hill, people went sledding on cardboard box pieces, and the bars filled up with regulars. My now-fiance and I got to spend two whole weekdays together (rare!) since work was canceled. We're stuck in LA now and my god, I miss Seattle weather. Rainy with a chance of snow beats the heck out of a 70 degree CA winter
How I miss snow days. I was brought up in Germany and I am living in New Zealand nowadays, first in Auckland, which is subtropical and now in a ski resort in the South Island. In many ways it's wonderful because I see snow around me on the mountains in winter but it very rarely snows in the village. How I would love to wake up to snow. What a wonderful excuse to just hunker down with comfort food.
This mild winter makes me so sad there are no snow days. Of course being an adult, snow days aren't nearly as fun since public transportation still works and offices still expect you to be there - and even when you can't be there you can still work from home thanks to the wonders of technology!
My first snow day was in Punta Arenas, Chile. The snow froze the pipes and we had no running water. We couldn't use the bathroom, shower, or wash our hands. It was a Sunday so we couldn't get anyone to come fix the pipes. We spent the day freezing our asses off and bitching.
Snow Day? As if. My office opens business as usual for anything less than 30 inches on the ground.
What is that acid green double coffee press?!?!? Gorgeous!
I definitely miss snow days. Since my city gets proper winter all season, there's pretty much no amount of snow that will close offices. Schools, of course, still get snow days. We did have a lot of freezing rain though this year, which is much more dangerous. I took one of those days off by working from home. In between emails, I finished off a few sewing projects, and popped in a favourite movie. The best part about snow days is not having to get dressed for work!
Like KD_MUSE, I live in a perpetually snowy area. In fact, in my small town Montana recorded weather history the only day of the year we've never had snow is August 17th. About 15 years ago I'm told the 4th of July fireworks was SNOWED OUT! They had to wait to the 6th before it was dry enough to lite off the fireworks.
I grew up in the Midwest where we would get a snow day every other year or so and they were the most magical days of play, building igloos & snowmen, massive neighborhood snowball fights until we were so exhausted and cold we would collapse in front of the TV all cuddled up under fluffy blankets our hands wrapped around mugs of hot cocoa. Ahh, those were the days! :)
Is a snow-day like when they let us leave high school an hour early or else swim in the pool because it was over the old 100 Farenheit? Or is it like Christmas day in the middle of summer when we still get cards with snowmen and I display my snowmen candles and soft toys? No? A few flakes of snow in the hills makes the news here. I feel so left out.
Like Lili09 I miss snow this winter! Hopefully it's just a strange Nina / AO pattern and not, you-know-what creeping in on us. We still had some very cold days though, so we enjoy acting like our cats and hunkering down for the day (along with movies and hot chocolate).
Mmmm snow ice cream. That brings me back!
Anyone know where I can get a french press like that from?