snow

The East Coast is knee-deep in a snowpocalypse — or as some call it, snowmageddon. While some people are understandably pissed off at the headache that all of this snow presents, there are others who are making the most it by turning their city into a ski resort. I've seen pics of cross-country skiers making their way through Central Park, people snowshoeing in Philly, and others snowboarding their way through DC. My favorite has to be all the sledding and snowball fights that are going on. I admit that I have no idea what it's like to deal with a blizzard: temperatures at Sugar HQ are in the 50s.

If you're stuck in the snow this week, give yourself a snow day pass and burn some calories, too. Sledding burns over 300 calories an hour, snowshoeing over 400, and a hike through the snow will definitely get your blood pumping. And while a little fun in the snow might not take away all of the burn of the snow storms — think: school closures, airplane delays, and just getting to the grocery store — it might kill a little time until things can get back to normal.

If you've got a snowstorm of European proportions headed your way this Winter, hopefully you've stocked up on all my essential Winter storm supplies to stay safe. Now what? Being snowed in is pretty exciting for the first hour or two, until the novelty wears off and boredom and anxiety set in. Keep yourself and your family happy, calm, and entertained with a few of these remedies for cabin fever. You may even find yourself wishing the snow would stick around!

• Play an unboring board game: If you choose the right ones, board games are anything but boring. Go with a new classic like Apples to Apples or Cranium, or revisit an old favorite. If you haven't played Monopoly or Clue as an adult, by candlelight, during a snowstorm, you don't know what you're missing!
• Catch up on your must reads: Know how you're always wishing you had more time to read? Well, guess what — you have all the time in the world right now! Catch up on must reads from the past year, or tackle something you've always meant to read but — ahem — haven't had time to.
• Get crafting! What better time to attempt that DIY project you’ve been wanting to try, than a day you’re stuck indoors? One tip: keep your projects easy and fun, and make sure you have all the supplies you need ahead of time. A snow day is not the time to get in over your head on a difficult project!
• Keep moving: If board games are making your group antsy, get everyone up and moving with something more active. Noisy, lively games like charades or a home-spun version of Win, Lose, or Draw will break both the silence and the monotony in a snowed-in home.

More ideas after the break!

The UK has been hit hard by Winter storms over the past couple weeks, and Paris is the latest city to be shut down by wintry weather. Our holiday season in the US has been milder so far, but if you do find yourself snowed in like the Parisians at some point this Winter, here are some crucial items to have on hand.

• Nonperishable food and drinking water: Snowy and icy conditions are a recipe for power outages and road closures, so stock up on drinking water and canned or dried goods! And if you have any furry friends in your home, make sure you have plenty of pet food, as well.
• Manual can opener: All those goodies won't do you much good if you can't open them! Make sure you have a hand can opener available, not just an electric one.
• Matches, candles, and flashlights: If a storm knocks out your power, the last thing you want to do is fumble in the dark for a light source. Keep flashlights, boxes of matches, and plenty of candles — I like these super cheap tea lights from Ikea — in an easily accessible spot in case the lights go out.
• Fully-charged laptop: Even if the power goes out, your laptop's battery can provide you with at least a couple hours of communication and entertainment during a big storm.
• Radio: If a snowstorm has hit your area, you'll need a quick way to get news about closures and other safety issues. And if you're thinking to yourself, "Isn't that what the Internet's for?" just remember that power outages can mean dead laptops and uncharged iPhones, too.

Keep reading for more tips!

If you happen to be house-ridden by a blizzard this Winter, you'll probably pounce at the first chance you get to drive into town. While you may have rock salt at the ready, you should pause before scattering those granules: rock salt can actually be quite harmful to the environment. Excess salt can make the soil more acidic, disrupting the growth of your plants. Traditional rock salt is Sodium Chloride (NaCl), which contains cyanide and chloride that can endanger your water supply. Plus, rock salt residue coats the soil, preventing plants from absorbing nutrients and water.

Fortunately, there are a number of alternatives to rock salt that will help keep your shoes and your car's wheels from slipping and sliding all over the place.

• This one may seem like a big, fat "duh," but shovel! Shovel as soon as possible during a snow storm, and if it's a long-lasting storm, brave the weather and shovel while it snows. This will give the snow less time to set, and you'll have it out of the way before it melts and freezes, becoming ice!
• If you suspect the ice and snow will melt soon anyways, you can improve your traction and make your sidewalks and driveways less slippery by sprinkling them with sand, gravel, or birdseed. It won't melt the ice, but it'll prevent you from falling, and it'll keep the birds happy!

Continue reading for four more eco-friendly deicing tips!

Here's a post from CasaSugar Community member StephaniePoli from the Lovely Little Vignettes group!

A little bit of warm candlelight for the holiday season. More pictures of this table on my blog, Love & Lace.

Have you been doing any holiday decorating lately? Be sure to post photos in the Lovely Little Vignettes group!

A late-Winter snowstorm brought New York City to a standstill Friday, briefly turning it into an idealized version of itself.

Snow day! Two words that have lil ones jumping for joy can send parents into a state of panic. The snowmageddon that has hit much of the East Coast over this week has led to consecutive days of school closures with no end in sight.

Though kids may plan out days of sledding runs on the biggest hills and snowball fights that bring out the whole neighborhood, the blizzard-like conditions have kept many families inside their homes. When all of the board games have been played, cookies have been baked, and books have been read, mama needs a break. The TV and cable box can beckon even those moms with the strictest television policies.

With all of the snow, have you found yourself humming Nick Jr. tunes or have you managed to keep the boob tube off?

The snowstorms that have hit the Northeast are far from over, and significant Winter snowfalls are par for the course in the Midwest and mountain states as well. While it's important to keep your home warm and cozy, there are also some very practical steps that you can take to keep it safe both inside and out.

• As soon as possible, clear snow and ice from driveways, pathways, and sidewalks. This will help to prevent injuries.
• Clear snow away from fire hydrants, in case of an emergency.
• Make sure your home address is visible from the road.
• Clear snow away from heat pumps, to prevent them from malfunctioning.
• Check in on neighbors, especially senior citizens, who may need extra help getting dug out of the storm.
• When shoveling, make sure to warm up, stay hydrated, and dress in layers. Take a break if you feel like you're overexerting yourself.
• If you live in an area where the snow may melt quickly, check to make sure the storm drains near your home are clear from debris. This will help to prevent flooding when the snow melts.
• Try to avoid driving, especially if the roads aren't yet clear, or if they are covered in ice. Staying home is the safest thing you can do.

What else do you do to keep your home safe after a big snowstorm?

Source: Flickr User jpctalbot