my ideal winter day (in detail)
happy winter solstice
wake up just like I did today:
well rested (I fell asleep at 9:45)
hearing the snow plow buzzing up and down the streets (a la an OLP snow day. I’d literally rosary-pray for that noise + the thick, snow-reflecting, yellowy glow of the 7 AM sky when i’d just know school was cancelled but I’m getting up anyway because there’s a mediocre snowman to build and I’ve never been one for sleeping in)
opening my eyes to the most freaking perfect winter wonderland outside. I mean are we in a snow globe??? must be. happy to see you’ve fucked off for once, global warming!
smelling a faint note of my mom’s coffee downstairs (Starbucks Pike with a splash of eggnog and milk) + one of the bajillion winter candles she lights around the house - or a pine-y, cookie-y, cinnamon-y combination of all.
laying in bed for 20 mins catching up on substacks + TME posts deciding how to spend the first couple hours of my morning:
A. gym
B. coffee by the fire
C. writing something seasonal + solstice-fitting either at home or at grateful roast coffee shop
D. wrapping
E. helping my dad shovel the driveway (idk if this is a lie or not)
I ended up ringing in the first day of winter with a combination of B. & C.
I’ll get to E. in between my first and second cups of coffee, D. sometime after that and A. maybe later.
ok that’s the morning.
btw, I throw on a pair of cozy PJ pants like these (or actually this new fleece salopette that I just got. coziest thing I’ve ever worn) + these slipper-y boots that can handle outside runs to watch Clyde stare at the sky. and up top i’m wearing an old aerie tee with a ski lift on it that says “need a lift?”. fitting though I wear it constantly to bed, regardless of season.
oh and I have pretty much the same coffee as my mom - with less creamy things plus two scoops of this. my Nespresso stays in my philly apartment and I switch over to my parents’ drip when i’m home. it’s only right.
~~~~~
then, on my ideal winter day, i’ll shower (one of my fave activities. I don’t care that humans aren’t supposed to wash our bodies as often as we’re accustomed to. it resets both my mind and body and i’ll likely take 2 a day).
shower routine (well I have like 5 different ones.. here’s today’s):
hair is scrunchie-tied in a bun (I wash it every 4 or 5 days. not today, did yesterday. I used this rinse + mask.)
238 degree water or hotter if possible
wait… I forgot that this is my ideal winter day and not just today. rewind, rewind…
ideal winter morning shower is actually a bath.
innit:
me, preferably naked
my book - currently on the penultimate chapter of this
glass of water (in this glass if I could)
this on my face if I need it.
THEN, my later productive shower:
this body wash that I use every winter
I use it for shaving, too - with this razor (best ever)
I’ll scrub with this if i’m feeling
and this on my face
this in my hair
and this on my bod (slathered, sat for a few, then lightly washed off)
bingo!
~~~
kk, ideal breakfast is really none. just my coffee. i’ll eat something around 10/11.
that something: a pear (they’re so good right now) + something else nourishing with a bit of protein. maybe a chocolate covered pretzel too.
probs another coffee <3
~~~
a wintery walk is definitely included. preferably 2.5 miles or more but the slick hills in my neighborhood will get me. philly tho? I can bang out 10 without question nor slips. love a walkable city more than most things. it’s kind of the only thing I miss when home.
and then Pinning / gift wrapping / random reading.
then cookie making. i’ll help decorate my mom’s gingerbread people + make these (yearly tradition for me).
Elf, Santa Claus, Home Alone, Rudolph, Jack Frost. on repeat in at least two rooms of the house.
~~~
lunch - a sandwich from here or here. and a stop into a couple shops while we pick it up - definitely hitting here and here.
prob will do some unnecessary christmas shopping with my sister too (I don’t need to buy anything else)
~~~
some more reading, baking, movie watching, wrapping, lounging, fire-admiring, snow-loving
~~~
dinner. with my family + jake. after that I don’t care about much, it’s still ideal.
wine or a wine spritzer (red wine + grapefruit soda is my favorite).
something warm and nourishing to eat.
candy canes
~~~
lounging.
more reading & aforementioned snow day activities.
peppermint tea - or this recent favorite
Zoella vlogmas watching
reading. maybe with some wine (literally have never done this but I think I want to tonight)
maybe some christmas light excursions
maybe nothing else tho
can you tell i’m a morning person?
xxxxx happy winter
abby