Winter Warmers

In this weather we need something warm. Am I calling attention to the fact that I am a native Californian by complaining about how darn COLD it is in London this week? I must say I am a native NORTHERN Californian, which is vastly superior (did I just say that?) and different to being from Southern California. I'm not used to 80+ degree year round temps, but I am also not used to sub 32 degree weather either. Therefore, these cold gray days are getting hard. Even Riley is sick of wearing her jacket while out and about.

This is an old picture, I just wanted to show you what Riley looks like in her jacket.

This is my third winter in London, and I think the English winter weather is finally getting to me. We lived in Chicago for about 18 months, including one winter, and since "winter" was so foreign to me at that time, I actually kind of enjoyed it. I mean sure, snow and really, really cold weather gets to you after 5 months, but there is undeniable fun in the first serious snowfall of the season. Dave and I went out and wrote our names in the snow covered cars, and made foot prints on our empty street. Yes, we are mature. Since London hasn't had any snow this year winter is much less fun. I am so over the continuously gray days and heavy feeling that the drab winter leaves you with. We had a few really sunny days and I loved them. At one point I actually got annoyed (am I ever happy?) because it was almost TOO sunny while I was riding the bus home. My sun starved eyes couldn't handle the glare. I find it much harder to get up in the morning this year, mostly because with sunrise coming at 7:40am (or even later in December) it's hard to leave the bed while it's still dark out. And since we only have about 8 hours of light, when they are all gray hours it's hard to appreciate them. I am hoping that spring comes early. It felt like it was close a few days ago, I even saw a few daffodils starting to sprout, but this week, not so much. Therefore, I felt the need to find a few ways to cheer up the place.

One example - Daffodils! I noticed both Marks and Spencer and Waitrose selling daffies this week. M&S is cheaper though, FYI. I bought two bunches and am enjoying the immediate cheer that opened daffodils provide. They are just so sunny! You cannot be mad at a daffodil, it's a scientific fact. And they remind me of spring, and how we will soon see daffodils all over the place. Yeah!

Another example - wearing bright nail polish. I know, that's sort of stupid, but I can't help feeling a bit more "beachy" when I am wearing a coral nail polish (I'm wearing the exact shade above). I tend to paint my toes such a color if we go on beach vacations, so having coral hands is a nice reminder of beaches and sand and sun and warmth. I need to paint my toes as well, if I could only manage to take my warm socks off.

One more solution - just get under the covers, like Riley did. Dave actually wrapped her up, but she didn't seem to mind, and sat like that for a little while. I must admit, some days that seems like the best option!

Finally, you can always plan an upcoming vacation somewhere. We're currently looking into Easter possibilities. Must take advantage of the four day weekend; thank you, Good Friday and Easter Monday in Europe! I think we'll be off on a beach for a while, finally soaking up some vitamin D. Just imagining it makes the winter seem shorter. And Easter is actually sort of early this year, sort of, it's just about two months away. Maybe by then London will be sunny and warm too. Sure...