The smell of winter is in the air and it’s not because my “Winter Wonderland” Yankee candle is burning. Temperature in Gainesville is on the decline faster than a fat boy plunging into a pool. Besides the obvious moves of pulling out the UGGs as soon as it hits 69 degrees and ordering Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Lattes like it’s your job, here are some ideas on how to keep warm this holiday season.
Drink up
Nothing says warm like a liquor jacket. It’s perfect, because you don’t have to wear an overcoat when you go out that screams “Yeah, I’m from South Florida!” It’s also a pain to bring jackets to parties, because inside is so warm that you’ll probably take your Forever 21 pleather jacket off and lose it. Instead, you can simply rely on your liquor blanket to comfort you through the night. You’ll be rolling through midtown like a champ with no coat, while everyone else is overheated.
Hot alcohol can also help. Ditch the vodka cranberry and help get people in the holiday spirit. I suggest spiked hot chocolate or whip up some warm rum apple cider with this simple recipe.
All you need is:
8 cups apple cider
1 apple, thinly sliced
1 orange, thinly sliced
1-inch piece fresh ginger
2 cinnamon sticks
2 cups dark rum
Combine the apple cider, apple slices, orange slices, ginger slices and cinnamon sticks in a large pot, bring to a boil over high heat and then reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the rum. (The apple cider mixture can be kept warm over low heat for up to 2 hours before adding the rum and serving.)
Via: browneyedbaker.com
You can throw a little bit of this in your plastic Starbucks cup and take it to class. It’ll keep you warm all day, but don’t drink up too fast or overdo it. Stumbling through Turlington is not recommended.
Find a snuggle buddy
Spring season is quickly approaching, which means exclusivity. Maybe it’s the cool air or the distance from Gainesville over winter break that changes people’s attitudes, but after winter break everyone suddenly seems to be off their “Party like Sluts” grind and onto Netflix-ing the romantic night away. Don’t worry if you’re #foreveralone, because couples tend to split as soon as it gets warm, usually around Valentines Day (Coincidence? I think not). So find a tolerable partner and start spooning! Try casually discuss who gets to be little spoon first though, because everyone hates that awkward moment when you lay down and someone lays in front of you.
Hit up a Bonfire
Either throw a bonfire party yourself, score an invite, or crash one if you live in a dorm, because bonfires are a wonderfully fun way to ride out the winter. There’s nothing like drinking a beer with friends next to a beautifully crafted fire. It’s warm, it’s social and it’s romantic (remember, you gotta find your seasonal snuggle buddy). Bonfires also typically have s’mores and c’mon, everyone likes s’mores.
Gooey marshmallows and old stories about that “one time at band camp” sounds like a pretty entertaining way to spend a chilly Saturday night
Fuzzy Socks
They’re not some kind of secret, and they’re not just for hipsters. Fuzzy socks are amazing. Throw them in the dryer right before class and it’s like putting hand warmers in your shoes all day long. I know what you’re thinking, “Aren’t fuzzy socks for people who live at Library West?” No. They’re for sleeping, going to class, putting on your hands for lack of gloves, wearing them out at night and so much more. So do yourself a favor and purchase some fuzzy socks, because this season is all about the fuzz.
Invest in a Snuggie
I don’t live under a rock and I know the Snuggie has slowly lost its way, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get your hands on one! Amazon currently sells a variety of Snuggies including, but not limited to, camouflage, pink, purple and Superman! The Snuggie may look ridiculous, but it’s the single persons’ best chance of keeping warm. I typically keep mine in my car, because it’s the only blanket I can wear while I drive. This thing is like a straightjacket of fuzz and if you’re not about it this holiday season, well you might just freeze.
From a Floridian winter expert, I can personally attest to the depths of winter in our little sunshine state. Maybe we don’t have to deal with the white blanket of death that Northerners call “snow,” but that doesn’t mean we don’t experience our fair share of cold, bitter nights. So, try to keep warm this holiday season my fellow Gators…and don’t worry, bathing suit season is only three months away.
