#tips for winter

[loamylovely]

Brrr❄️

So It is getting really cold again and I want people to stay warm. I live in a house with no central heat or air. SO some tricks I use to stay warm on a cold night are -bundle up with the blankets this may seem like a duh thing but you would be surprised. get big fluffy ones and get quilts. if you can get a sleeping bag too that is great for insulation. Invest in a electric blanket if possible. -space heater for heating a small space and staple up blankets over all doorways and windows.  -staple plastic over the outside and inside of your windows to stop drafts. -wear socks to bed....I know...I hate it too look no one said this was fun.  -get some long johns top and bottom  or flannel PJs where them under another set of clothes. add layers until you feel good about it. -eat/drink something warm  to warm up your body before laying down.  -if your fingers are so cold they hurt try to tuck them between your thighs or the backs of your knees.  -my knees get FRICKIN COLD so sometimes when I can not stand it I roll over onto my tummy and pull my knees up under me and basically stay like that till I warm them. -more pillows = more insulation - more pets = more insulation -WEAR A HAT! your ears will thank you.  -doing some light stretching can help keep your muscles from locking up from the cold and causing soreness, also it can get the blood moving in your easier but keep it lite before bed, no overdoing. -A warm bath before bed is a nice thing but if your head is wet afterward put on the hat or the warm will turn cold on your ears pretty quick. -If you have an old house with spaces in the floor put down a blanket there too so your heat will stay in and cold will stay out. -stuffed animals also insulate - A partner or friend is the BEST insulation you can have, two body heats are better than one. -hot hands is a product you can open and shake and it instantly heats up it lasts for about 12 hours  but don’t go to sleep with it against your skin it might burn you if it gets too hot which is why I didn’t bring up a heating pad, you can OF COURSE use one but use at your own risk bc it CAN burn you if it gets against your direct skin in the night. however under a blanket separating it from your skin you might be alright.  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Well that’s all I can think of. If anyone has anymore tips to add, please do. Stay warm out there. 

[article-beats]

Stay Healthy In Winter - Tips

Stay away from the skin issues and health issues which happen during winter. Here is the best remedies for your to get over from it.

[stephaniehicks-blog]

7 Tips for Winterizing Your Home

Shorter days and colder temperatures are here! That means it is time to take steps to protect yourself and your family – and your property investment – by winterizing your home. With the change in seasons, our attention often shifts to enjoying time indoors in front of a blazing fire, entertaining guests for the holidays, or simply curling up with a great book and throw blanket. Home…

[literatureaesthetic]

early march '24 🐈‍⬛️ practising my russian, wasting time at cafes, and frequenting places that are way too cool for me — it feels nice to be able to leave the house without risking frostbite and pneumonia

thank you, spring 🌱 ☕️

[lexosaurus]

Money saving pro-tips to people from warm climates that move to a cold climate

Source: I lived with a southerner and a girl from LA in a northern city in the US and they wasted a lot of money.

Tip #1: Drop your heat at night, or any time you’re not home. Most people up north don’t keep the heat at the same temp 24/7. That shit's expensive. When I’m home, I keep my heat anywhere between 65-68F, but during the workday, or at night, that shit goes down to 60F. A lot of thermostats are programmable so you can have it set automatically to turn down while you're at work/at night.

Tip #2: If you’re leaving your home for over 24 hours, lower the heat as much as possible. I set mine to 55F. Apartments and even houses heat up pretty quickly, so there’s no reason to waste money if no one’s around, and you won’t die if you have to wear your coat indoors for a few minutes. Note: you can’t turn your heat off completely or your pipes will freeze.

Tip #3: If you’re home but you’re only going to be occupying one room for several hours, consider leaving the heat low and just buying yourself a space heater.

Tip #4: When buying a space heater, get one that has an internal timer or thermostat. They cost slightly more, but the bonus to these is that they don’t just continue putting heat into the air until you intervene. They will turn themselves on/off in intervals, which helps to keep your room at a more consistent temperature. Just don’t forget to make sure the heater is switched off if you’re leaving your home!

Tip #5: Get better socks. A lot of the cold you feel is actually just ur terrible, flimsy ankle socks not protecting you from the cold floor. If I’m lounging around at home, I wear those heavy duty fuzzy socks that have a whole internal double lining. I’m a raynaud’s bitch so I know what I’m talking about.

Tip #6: Fleece-lined leggings. Steal your bf’s fleece pants. Why do they make men’s casual sweats so much thicker than girl’s casual sweats? Literal bullshit.

Tip #7: Idk who lied to you and told you that a bed can only have one comforter, but that’s dumb. I sleep with two. It’s much warmer.

Tip #8: If you're in an old apartment/house, winterize your windows. You can buy winterizing seals and insulation anywhere online and it's very cheap.

[fairy-magick]

[oceane4loveu]

can you make a guide on it girl christmas

Dream girl winter

External glow

hydration

drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration, use products rich in ingredients such as hyalurinic acid, glycerin and ceramides which strengthen your skin's natural moisture barrier. In winter give priority to the product which gives priority hydration and nutrition of the skin. Don't forget to moisturize your lips and protect your skin with a broad-spectrum sunscreen offering at least SPF 30.

shower routine

Your shower routine literally determines how you smell throughout the day. Find a signature scent and find suitable products. I love the products from Sol de Janeiro, Dove and Philosophy. You can also use the ordinary glycolic acid as a deodorant personally I only use it twice a week and I use a deodorant from Dove. Do a body scrub every week to get rid of dead skin. I recommend the one from Tree Hut which is good too. Use a body lotion and also a scented mist.

take care of yourself

take a day to take care of your nails, your hairstyle to do your eyelashes etc. you can also go to a spa to have a massage or something else. really take advantage of this day to have fun, rest and make yourself beautiful.

workout

you don't need to spend hours at the gym, invest 20 to 30 minutes of your day to move your body every day. you can find workout videos on YouTube of 30 min,I also recommend the 5000 step workout.

Makeup

start by applying your moisturizer before putting on makeup, then use a foundation with a dewy finish, put on concealer, brow tint or clear brow gel, mascara, For the blush, opt for a creamy blush Because the creamy finish will give you glow,Don't forget the nourishing lip gloss or lip oil to make lips shiny and vibrant.

Diet

use the 80/20 rule this rule suggests focusing on a healthy and balanced diet 80% of the time and treating yourself the remaining 20% ​​example

Internal glow

inner self care

journals and practices meditation. Take a moment for yourself every day to write down your thoughts, relax and chase away negative thoughts.

7+ hour of sleep

give your body the rest it needs, give yourself at least 7 hours of restful sleep each night to allow your skin to repair and regenerate.

read books

Read books that entertain you, inspire you, and help you become better. you can also listen to podcasts or audiobooks.

social media detox

take a step back, limit your time on social media and focus on what really matters. put your phone on do not disturb mode and try doing an activity like cooking, knitting or something you enjoy.

Romantizing life

winter vision board

use Pinterest to find images that match your aesthetic, winter looks, fun activities, anything that makes you happy. Then create a vision board that you can put as your wallpaper.

Winter bucket list

now make your bucket list. write down all the activities and experiences you want to have during this winter. check off each activity as you accomplish them to feel proud.

create your playlist

create a playlist with songs that make you feel good, happy and that match your aesthetic.

romantizing life technique

enjoy cups of hot chocolate while watching your favorite series or movie, listen to your playlist while you walk, take photos of the landscape or make a mini blog of your days, spend time with your family, cook with your friends or alone, organize cozy evenings, take care of yourself and create good memories.

New year

set yourself goals

Take your time to write down all your goals for the new year. These should be achievable goals that you know you can actually achieve. Visualize yourself achieving all of your goals and working towards them throughout the year.

Life vision board

create a vision board for the new year. use images, quotes and words to represent what you want to accomplish and how you want to feel throughout the year. look at the board every day to stay motivated and focused on your goals.

[me-writes-prompts]

:-“It’s finally Christmas!” Christmas prompts for your otp-:

(Looks like someone’s out of their writing block👀 Merry Christmas everyone!)

By @me-writes-prompts

Baking sugar cookies together :)))

Having snow ball fights and taking cute pictures of each other in the said snow fights!

Knitting Christmas sweater/scarves together!

Making snow flakes out of paper and hanging it as ornaments on their Christmas tree!

^^Decorating Christmas tree together

“You know…I always wanted to know how it feels to kiss under the mistletoe.” “We should do it.” “Wait, really?” “Yeah. Definitely. Let’s do it right now!”

“Can you like tell that I am who I am under the Santa Claus costume?” Their partner shakes their head thoughtfully. “No. Not at all, in fact you look like the Santa Claus himself.” “Hey! Be serious.” <3333

Cuddling in and having hot chocolate together while they watch hallmark Christmas movies :))

^^ “These movies never change do they?” “Yep, never. Just like you….*grins as their partner raises an eyebrow* that was supposed to be a compliment, sweetheart.”

“Why are you acting like the grinch on this fine Christmas morning?” “Me, acting like the grinch? Oh please, you’re wearing the grinch costume not me!”

They both dress up as Santas to surprise the other one. Lmaooooo chaos

Having a Christmas song themed karaoke!

When they hug each other to keep them warm <3

Sneaking a gift into their partner’s coat/pant pockets

“I could really use some help, babe.” They say, trying to hang the little star on top of the Christmas tree. “I believe you, you got this.” The other one says, intently watching them and trying not to laugh as they watch their partner struggle.

^^In the end, they help them out anyway

[1000-life-hacks]

📩 Want more life hacks? Subscribe to our newsletter --> 1000LifeHacks.com

[greenwitchcrafts]

December 2023 witch guide

Full moon: December 26th

New moon: December 12th

Sabbats: Yule December 21st-January 1st

December Cold Moon

Known as: Drift Clearing Moon, Frost Exploding Tree Moon, Moon of the Popping Trees, Hoar Frost Moon, Snow Moon, Winter, Aerra Geola, Maker Moon, Heilagmanoth, Long Night's Moon, Oak Moon, Wintermonat, Moon of the Long Night, Little Spirit Moon, Wolf Moon & When the Deer Shed Their Antlers Moon

Element: Fire

Zodiac: Sagittarius & Capricorn

Nature spirits: Snow, Storm, & Winter Tree faeries

Deities: Athena, Fates, Hades, Hathor, Hecate, Ixchel, Minerva, Neith, Norns, Osiris & Persephone

Animals: Bear, deer, horse & mouse

Birds: Robin, rook & snowy owl

Trees: Fir, Holly & Pine

Herbs: Bay, cedar, chamomile, cinnamon, English ivy, evergreen, fir, frankincense, holly, mistletoe, myrrh, pine & sage

Flowers: Christmas catus, holly & poinsettia

Scents: Cedar, cinnamon, frankincense, ginger, lilac, myrrh, nutmeg, patchouli, pine, rose geranium, rosemary, saffron, violet & wintergreen

Stones: Bloodstone, blue topaz, cat's eye, garnet, jacinth, obsidian, peridot, turquoise, zircon, ruby & serpentine

Colors: Black, blood red, gold, green, red, silver, black & white

Energy: Alchemy, darkness, endurance, death & re-birth, higher education, publications, reaching out to others, religion, spiritual paths, travel & truth

Today, December’s full Moon is most commonly known as the Cold Moon—a Mohawk name that conveys the frigid conditions of this time of year, when cold weather truly begins to grip us.

This full Moon has also been called the Long Night Moon (Mohican), as it rises during the “longest” nights of the year, near the December winter solstice. This name is doubly fitting because December’s full Moon shines above the horizon for a more extended period than most full Moons.

In Europe, ancient pagans called the December full Moon the “Moon Before Yule,” in honor of the Yuletide festival celebrating the return of the sun heralded by winter solstice.

Yule

Also known as: Alban, Arthan & Winter Solstice

Season: Winter

Symbols: Baskets of clove studded fruit, Christmas catus,  decorated evergreen trees, evergreen boughs, gifts, gold pillar candles, hung mistletoe, poinsettias, wreaths & Yule logs/small Yule log with three candles

Colors: Gold, green, orange, red, silver, white &yellow

Oils/incense: Bayberry, cedar, cinnamon, frankincense. Myrrh & pine

Animals: Bear, boar, deer (stag), pig, squirrel & tiger

Birds: Eagle, goose, kingfisher, lapwing, owl robin & wren

Stones: Bloodstone, garnet, ruby, alexandrite, blue topaz,  cat's eye, citrine, clear quartz, diamond, emerald, green tourmaline, jet, kunzite & pearl

Foods: Caraway cakes, cookies, eggnog, fruits, ginger tea, nuts, pork, spiced cider, turkey, wassail & lamb's wool (ale,  sugar, nutmeg & roasted apples)

Herbs/plants: Bay, bayberry, birch, blessed thistle, cedar, chestnut, cinnamon, evergreens, fir, frankincense, ginger, holly, ivy, juniper, mistletoe, moss, myrrh, oak, pine, rosemary, sage, valerian & yellow cedar

Flowers: Chamomile, poinsettia & yarrow

Goddesses: Alcyone, Aphrodite, Ameratasu, Bona Dea, Brighid, Cailleach Bheur, Demeter, Diana, Fortuna, Frau Holle, Frau Perchta, Frigga, Gaia, Hel, Great Mother, Idunn, Isis, Ishtar, Kolyada, La Befana, Maat & Tiamat

Gods: Apollo, Attis, Balder, Bragi, Dionysus, Divine Child, Green Man, Helios, Holly King, Horned one, Horus, Janus, Lord of Misrule, Lugh, Mabon, Marduk, Mithras, Odin, Ra, Saturn & Surya

Issues Intentions & Powers: Darkness, divination, light, messages/omens, purification, rebirth/renewal & transformation

Spellwork: Earth magick, happiness, harmony, love & peace

Activities:

• Set up & decorate a Yule altar

• Clean, organize & cleanse before decorating your home

• Make witch's balls to hang on your tree (protective & pretty!)

• Decorate & bless & Yule tree

• Stay awake until dawn to observe the cycles of nature

• Give gifts tomyour family & friends

• Donate your time or helpful items to charity

• Go caroling

• Hang mistletoe in your doorways

• Make Wassail

• Prepare a Yule Log

• Host a Yule feast

• Craft your own decorative wreath

• Decorate your house with Yule colored candles

• Welcome the Sun

• Go on nature walks & leave offerings to nature

• Meditate & reflect on the passing year

“Yule” comes from Old English geol, which shares a history with the equivalent word from Old Norse, jól. Both these words referred to a midwinter festival centered around the winter solstice, which traditionally marked the halfway point of the winter season. After the solstice—the shortest day of the year—the days again begin to grow longer, so it’s thought that Yule was a celebration of the re-appearance of the Sun &the fertile land’s rebirth. 

The celebration of Yule is one of the oldest winter celebrations in the world. Ancient people were hunters & spent most of their time outdoors. The seasons & weather played a significant part in their lives. The customs and traditions associated with it vary widely.

Scholars have connected the original celebrations of Yule to the Wild Hunt, the god Odin, and the heathen Anglo-Saxon Mōdraniht ("Mothers' Night")

Some believe it marks the rebirth of the Sun (the God) from the Earth (the Goddess) & the cold days of winter will soon begin to wane. The Goddess is seen in her virgin Maiden aspect

In towns and cities throughout Sweden during the Christmas season, large goats are constructed out of straw. It is thought that the tradition originated in ancient times, perhaps as a tribute to the god Thor, who was said to ride in a chariot pulled by goats. In Sweden the goat came to be associated with the Christmas celebration, and the Yule goat is now considered by many to be a companion or counterpart to Santa Claus.

Related festivals:

Christmas- An annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ as the son of God, primarily observed on December 25th

Hanukkah- A Jewish festival commemorating the recovery of Jerusalem & subsequent rededication of the Second Temple at the beginning of the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century BCE.

Hanukkah is observed for eight nights & days, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, which may occur at any time from late November to late December in the Gregorian calendar. The festival is observed by lighting the candles of a candelabrum with nine branches, commonly called a menorah or hanukkiah. 

Kwanzaa- An annual celebration of African-American culture from December 26 to January 1st, culminating in a communal feast called Karamu, usually on the sixth day. It was created by activist Maulana Karenga, based on African harvest festival traditions from various parts of West & Southeast Africa. Kwanzaa was first celebrated in 1966. 

A Kwanzaa ceremony may include drumming and musical selections, libations, a reading of the African Pledge & the Principles of Blackness, reflection on the Pan-African colors, a discussion of the African principle of the day or a chapter in African history, a candle-lighting ritual, artistic performance & finally, a feast of faith (Karamu Ya Imani).

Saturnalia-

is an ancient Roman festival and holiday in honour of the god Saturn, held on 17 December of the Julian calendar & later expanded with festivities through to 23 December. The holiday was celebrated with a sacrifice at the Temple of Saturn, in the Roman Forum & a public banquet, followed by private gift-giving, continual partying & a carnival atmosphere that overturned Roman social norms: gambling was permitted & masters provided table service for their slaves as it was seen as a time of liberty for both slaves and freedmen alike.

 A common custom was the election of a "King of the Saturnalia", who gave orders to people, which were followed & presided over the merrymaking. The gifts exchanged were usually gag gifts or small figurines made of wax or pottery known as sigillaria. The poet Catullus called it "the best of days".

Other celebrations:

Feast of Epona-

Eponalia is the feast day of Gaulish Goddess Epona, the Divine Mare & in the time of the Roman Empire it was celebrated on December 18th.

Epona is known to be one of a very few Gaulish deities whose names were spread to the rest of the Roman Empire. This seems to have happened because Roman cavalry units stationed in Gaul followed Her & adopted her as their Patroness. This may have started because many of the cavalry troops were conscripted from Gaul as they were superb horsemen. From Gaul the Romans took Epona with them including to Rome where She was given her own feast day on the 18 December. They worshipped her as Epona Augusta or Epona Regina & invoked her on behalf of the Emperor. She even had a shrine in the barracks of the Imperial Bodyguard.

Hunting of the Wren-

A traditional custom carried out on the Isle of Man on the 26 December, St. Stephen's Day. It consists of groups of people going around villages and towns singing and dancing a traditional song and dance around a decorated wren pole.

The earliest and most common folklore story accounting for the origin of hunt the wren tells of a fairy/enchantress/witch whose beauty lures the men of the Isle of Man to harm, for which she is chased and is changed into the form of a wren. It is therefore in punishment for her actions that the wren is hunted on St. Stephen's Day

Sources:

Farmersalmanac.com

Llewellyn's Complete Book of Correspondences by Sandra Kines

A Witch's Book of Correspondences by Viktorija Briggs

Llewellyn's 2023 magical almanac: practical magic for everyday living

Wikipedia

Encyclopedia Britannica

[cajunwitch101]

[article-beats]

Coconut oil - a boon for winter

Winter never forget to knocks the door with some skin issues. So it needs to be deal with terrific solution. Coconut oil is the best one which gonna amaze us. Read here to know how!

[flowertab]

That one scene from Eternal Diva with wintry Layton and Luke ❄️☺️

I thought it would be fun to try some screenshot redraws (I’ll probably be doing some scenes from the games as well). But can I just say I have mad respect for the artists of this movie? Attempting that background, even my simplified version, was no joke! 😳

[sillylittletophatdude]

Source

[grandmawitch]

[vegan-nom-noms]

Creamy Vegetable Chickpea Soup (Vegan)