Cold. Dark at 4:15 p.m. Yup, winter’s tough. And there is only so much Netflix any sane person can handle. But here are 6 things you can do to occupy your time, improve your life, and have a little fun.
Just for the month. Read a poem every night before bed. Walk around the block twice at noon. Drink a finger of Scotch after dinner. Rituals keep us human. Consistency is comforting.
Try wine pairing!
I know you’ve got your go-to Merlot or Chardonnay but how about wine pairing your meals. The chart below offers tips on what wines work well with what foods. You just might discover a new wine to add into rotation.
Make real popcorn!
If you’re in a groove trying to catch up on every Sundance nominated film at the awards this season, try making real popcorn before burying yourself in that blanket. The recipe is super simple!
- Add 1/4 cup coconut oil (or canola oil) and 3 popcorn kernels to a large pot. …
- Cover and cook over medium-high heat until all 3 kernels pop.
- Take the three kernels out of the pot.
- Add 2/3 cup of popcorn kernels.
- Cover and take the pot off of the heat.
- Wait 30 seconds.
- Put the pot back on the heat, cover and cook, shaking the pot occasionally until the popping slows down.
- After about 2 minutes, and the popping has slowed down, take the lid off of the pot. This lets the steam out and keeps the popcorn crisp.
- While the popcorn is popping, melt 3 tablespoons butter.
- Pour over the popcorn, add 2 tablespoons shredded Parmesan, and sprinkle with salt. Toss until completely coated. You could also do this in a large paper bag.
Perfect popcorn
Walk in. Browse for a while. Sit in the comfy chair. And buy a book. We highly recommend The Diary of Frida Kahlo: An Intimate Self-Portrait, Frida Kahlo.
There are financial tasks you don’t put off —the mortgage payment, for example, is a good one not to miss. But other nagging jobs, like opening new accounts and auditing credit cards, always fall to the part of the to-do list that never gets done. No more. Pick a cold Saturday afternoon and chip away. Not doing so is costing you cash, in the form of missed interest, extra fees, and overlooked service charges. Afterward, go out and buy a nice bottle of something with the money you’ve saved.—Arielle O’Shea
Go Shopping! Everything is on sale!
January and February is when most retailers have rolling week to week markdowns. A 20 percent discount might not be worth your time, but if you wait a few days the discount might double.
The Fashion Plate Magazine 